Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution is the second and final standalone expansion to the critically acclaimed Dawn of War II series. Developed by Relic Entertainment, it marks a significant shift in the sub-series by reintroducing traditional RTS elements—such as base-building light and larger unit counts—back into the tactical squad-based formula. Set ten years after the events of Chaos Rising, the expansion follows the sub-sector Aurelia as it stands on the brink of an Imperial Exterminatus, forcing six different factions into a desperate battle for survival and supremacy.

The First Multi-Race Campaign

For the first time in the Dawn of War II saga, Retribution features a Multi-Race Campaign. Players are no longer restricted to the Space Marines; instead, you can choose to lead any of the six playable factions through a customized single-player story. Whether you are leading the Orks of Kaptain Bluddflagg on a quest for “shoutey” hats or commanding the Imperial Guard in a grim defense of the sector, the campaign offers unique dialogue, mission objectives, and cinematic endings tailored to your chosen race.

The Hammer of the Emperor

The expansion’s headline addition is the Imperial Guard, the massive military arm of the Imperium. Unlike the elite, low-count squads of the Space Marines, the Guard rely on vast numbers of infantry, specialized commissars, and the sheer crushing power of heavy armor. From the versatile Leman Russ battle tank to the colossal Baneblade super-heavy tank, the Imperial Guard brings a fresh, industrial scale to the tactical skirmishes of the Aurelian sub-sector.

Tactical Evolution and Steamworks

Retribution introduced several technical and mechanical refinements to polish the experience. It famously transitioned the series from Games for Windows Live to Steamworks, providing a more stable multiplayer environment with integrated matchmaking and achievements. Additionally, the gameplay was tweaked to allow for larger army sizes in both the campaign and multiplayer, bridging the gap between the intimate tactics of Dawn of War II and the grand-scale warfare of the original series.

Key Features

Six Playable Factions — Command the Space Marines, Chaos Space Marines, Orks, Eldar, Tyranids, or the newly added Imperial Guard.
Non-Linear Multi-Race Campaign — Experience the story from six different perspectives with unique heroes and branching upgrade paths.
The Imperial Guard — Master a new faction defined by mass-infantry tactics and the most powerful armored vehicles in the game.
Expanded Army Building — Unlock and produce a wider variety of units in the campaign, allowing for larger-scale tactical engagements.
The Last Stand Expanded — Battle through waves of enemies in the fan-favorite cooperative mode with new heroes, including the Imperial Lord General.
Standalone Experience — Engage in all campaign and multiplayer content without needing the original Dawn of War II or Chaos Rising.

Summary

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution is the definitive conclusion to the Aurelian saga. By providing a campaign for every race and reintroducing larger army mechanics, it offers the most complete and replayable package in the Dawn of War II lineup. It is a high-stakes tactical journey that captures the scale of the Imperium’s desperation and the ferocity of its enemies.