Dawn of War 4 has something no other Warhammer 40,000 video game has: a playable Primarch
Blog Andrew Joseph 05 Dec , 2025 0
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 Something that has never been seen in a video game before has been confirmed to be added: playable Primarchs.
In Warhammer 40,000 lore, the Primarchs were genetically engineered demigod-like warriors created by the Emperor of Mankind to lead the Space Marine Legions. They are vastly superior to other humans, possessing superhuman strength, speed, and intelligence, and each is designed to embody a specific characteristic or aspect of warfare, such as a master strategist or an expert in stealth.
While Primarchs have appeared in Warhammer 40,000 games before (Robert Guilliman, the Primarch of the Ultramarines, and Mortarion, the Daemon Primarch of the Death Guard Chaos Space Marines), there has never been a Primarch available for players to play in the Warhammer 40,000 games – until now.
Dawn of War 4 developer King Art Games has confirmed that Dark Angels primarch Llane El'Jonson will be playable towards the end of the story campaign, which is co-written by Black Library author John French (Dropsite Massacre, Cypher: Lord of the Fallen). This also confirms that the Dark Angels are the second playable chapter of the Space Marines in the game, alongside Dawn of War veterans Bloodraven.
A new story trailer shows the Dark Angels emerging to aid Bloodraven in their fight against the Orks and Nyx on the war-torn world of Kronos. At the end of the trailer, we see a lion wearing a helmet.
Here is the official synopsis:
The trailer first shows how the Blood Ravens, led by Captain Cyrus and Chief Librarian Jonah Orion, arrive in orbit above Kronos at the start of the game. After a fierce orbital battle against Warboss Gorgutz and his Orks, both factions found themselves on the planet, where Guzkuta – the second Ork commander – was waiting.
Elsewhere on Kronos, as the time mage Totemek begins the Necron invasion, techno-archaeologists Potentia Delta-9 are investigating the planet's lost knowledge, awakening Kronos' dormant tombs in search of secrets.
The Empire's armies are besieged on all sides, their last stand losing strength and their defenses on the verge of collapse… until at the critical moment it becomes clear they are not alone: the Dark Angels have arrived.
The Dark Angels are one of two factions of Space Marines in Dawn of War 4, and are a fully playable faction in all game modes. Here are the key points:
● In the Space Marine campaign, players will be tasked with commanding the Blood Ravens and Dark Angels, and they can choose the missions they want to perform.
● The Dark Angels have their own Space Marine campaign commanders: Captain Astoran and Chaplain Ezreal.
● The Dark Angels have their own unique identity and history. As Space Marines, they share core strategies, tactics, wargear, and weapons, while still maintaining the Chapter's unique style and abilities.
● The Blood Ravens often engage in small conflicts that require tactical skill and sometimes stealth, while the Dark Angels deploy their full force on the largest battlefields. Precision strikes and total war.
● When the saga reaches a turning point, Llane El'Jonson himself arrives on the battlefield, giving players the first-ever opportunity to wield the legendary power of the Space Marine Primarch in a climactic, unforgettable finale.
Ahead of today's announcement, IGN caught up with Dawn of War 4 director Jan Tyson to learn all about Leon El'Jonson's arrival. Dawn of War 4 will be released on PC sometime in 2026.
Wesley is IGN News Director. Find him on Twitter: @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at [email protected] or privately at [email protected].