Deep Silver and KING Art Games have unveiled the Necrons as the third playable faction in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV. The RTS sequel, launching September 17, 2026, features the ancient mechanical race reclaiming the tomb world of Kronus through a methodical, expansion-focused playstyle.
The Necrons are returning to the battlefield in a series of faction deep-dives, following previous reveals for the Orks and Adeptus Mechanicum. This latest reveal focuses on the methodical playstyle, built around relentless expansion and overwhelming the battlefield over time
of the deathless machines. Per Deep Silver and KING Art Games, As they reclaim Kronus, they expand their domain to earn resources across the battlefield by restoring ancient structures and activating their Power Matrix, steadily turning the war in their favor.
Reclaiming Kronus via the Power Matrix
Gameplay for the Necrons revolves around the reclamation of Kronus. Rather than traditional resource gathering, players expand their domain by restoring ancient structures and activating their Power Matrix. This process earns the faction their Dominion resource and physically alters the map; the more they restore, the more the map changes to look like an ancient machine tomb. This transformation provides increased access to ancient technology and the faction’s most powerful units as they build an army intended to wipe off all biological life on Kronus.
The strategic hub of this expansion is the Tomb Citadel. This structure serves as the central production engine for all Necron units, anchoring the growing empire as it spreads across the battlefield.
Commanders Thothmek and Ahmnok
The faction is led by two distinct commanders with specialized abilities. Thothmek, a powerful Chronomancer of the Szerkhan Dynasty, can bend time to his will to disrupt enemy movements and accelerate the reanimation process for Necron forces. According to the Warhammer Community website, Thothmek commands a vast Necron fleet and is determined to retake the planet regardless of how many Space Marines, Orks, and Skitarii they have to blast through first.
Contrasting Thothmek’s temporal control is Ahmnok. Once the ruler of Kronus, Ahmnok is described as being entirely consumed by the urge to annihilate all biological life on the planet.
The Necron Army Roster and the Void Dragon
The available unit roster blends ranged and melee weaponry with specialized constructs. The Necrons, who sacrificed their mortal bodies and souls for immortal mechanical forms, utilize self-repairing legions and unyielding constructs. Verified units include Necron Warriors, elite Lych Guards, towering Triarch Stalkers, and swarms of Canoptek Scarabs capable of ripping enemies apart with their claws.
For high-impact strikes, players can summon a Shard of the Void Dragon, an ancient, godlike being, whenever they want to truly decimate their enemies. This represents the faction’s most powerful available unit in regular skirmishes or multiplayer games.
The relationship between these shards and the Necrons is uniquely strained.
Release Dates and Edition Details
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is scheduled for a PC release on September 17, 2026, though it launches on 18 September 2026 in Australia. However, players who purchase the Commander Edition can deploy three days early on September 14.
| Edition | Release Date | Current Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | September 17, 2026 | 10% Pre-order Discount |
| Commander Edition | September 14, 2026 | 10% Pre-order Discount |
Year One Roadmap and Future Factions
Post-launch support for the title is structured around a “Year One” plan. This includes free updates that will bring back the Crusade Mode, a Mission Editor, new maps, game modes, and additional Commanders.
The developers also intend to release two large-scale story expansions. These will deepen the narrative conflict on Kronus and introduce a new playable faction to the game. KING Art Games and Deep Silver stated in a press release that the game delivers an experience featuring four factions in an epic story that spans multiple non-linear campaigns,
alongside multiplayer combat and fan-favourite modes including Last Stand and Skirmish.
With the Necrons now revealed, only one faction trailer remains: the Space Marines. This final reveal is expected to feature the Dark Angels and their Primarch, Lion El’Jonson.
