Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Characters & Roles guide screenshot

Characters & Roles

Characters & Roles Guide for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II



Overview



This guide covers every playable Hero and squad in the single-player campaign of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (2009, Relic Entertainment). You command a small army of Space Marines from the Blood Ravens Chapter. Each Hero leads a squad and has unique abilities, weapons, and skill trees. Understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and synergies is crucial for victory. This guide covers the five permanent Heroes: the Force Commander (customizable), Avitus (Devastator), Tarkus (Tactical Marine), Cyrus (Scout Sergeant), and Thule (Dreadnought). Additionally, we discuss their squads and roles.

Table of Contents



  • [Force Commander](#force-commander)

  • [Avitus – Devastator Squad](#avitus--devastator-squad)

  • [Tarkus – Tactical Marine Squad](#tarkus--tactical-marine-squad)

  • [Cyrus – Scout Squad](#cyrus--scout-squad)

  • [Thule – Venerable Dreadnought](#thule--venerable-dreadnought)

  • [Squad Synergies & Team Composition](#squad-synergies--team-composition)


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    Force Commander



    #### Background

    The Force Commander is the player’s custom character and the leader of the Blood Ravens’ strike force. You choose their name, appearance, and voice. They are a veteran Space Marine tasked with purging the Tyranid, Ork, and Eldar threats on the jungle world of Typhon. The Force Commander is a versatile hero, capable of adapting to any role through wargear and skill choices.

    #### Role & Playstyle

    The Force Commander is a frontline leader who can be built as a melee brawler, ranged support, or hybrid commander. Their default loadout is a bolt pistol and chainsword, but they can equip heavy weapons (like a plasma gun) or two-handed swords. Their skill tree boosts leadership, survivability, and area damage.
  • Strengths: High adaptability; can fill any gap in your team; good survivability with armor and health upgrades; strong leadership abilities (Inspire, Battle Cry) boost nearby allies.

  • Weaknesses: Jack-of-all-trades but master of none unless specialized; less raw damage than dedicated classes like Avitus; must choose a build direction early to avoid being mediocre.


    • #### Unlock Conditions
    Available from the first mission (“The Defense of Angel Forge”). You create the Force Commander during the opening sequence.

    #### Recommended Equipment & Builds
  • Melee Brawler Build: Equip a Power Sword or Thunder Hammer for high melee damage, reinforced armor (e.g., Artificer Armor), and accessories that boost health or attack speed. Skills: Focus on Battle Cry (increases squad damage) and Furious Charge (knockback).

  • Ranged Commander Build: Use a Plasma Gun or Meltagun for anti-armor, long range. Skills: Max War Cry (debuffs enemy damage) and Inspire (heals morale).

  • Support Build: Equip Banner of the Blood Ravens (aura buffs) and skills like Field Repairs (heals mechanical units) and Command Relay (increases sight range).


    • #### Team Synergy
  • Pairs well with Tarkus to form a durable frontline; Tarkus’s suppression helps protect the Force Commander in melee.

  • With Cyrus, the Force Commander can use stealth to initiate ambushes.

  • Thule benefits from the Force Commander’s morale and healing skills.

  • Avitus appreciates any enemy suppression or debuffs the Force Commander provides.


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    Avitus – Devastator Squad



    #### Background
    Brother-Sergeant Avitus is a Devastator Marine, a heavy weapons specialist. He is a grim warrior who respects firepower above all else. His squad is equipped with heavy bolters and later upgrades to more devastating ordnance. Avitus is the team’s primary source of sustained ranged damage.

    #### Role & Playstyle
    Avitus is a ranged artillery and fire support hero. He excels at holding positions, suppressing enemy infantry, and destroying armored vehicles from a distance.
  • Strengths: Highest sustained damage output from range; can suppress groups of enemies (pinning them in place); heavy weapons ignore some armor; good against hordes and light vehicles.

  • Weaknesses: Extremely slow movement speed; vulnerable in melee; requires a good firing position (cover or high ground); low health for a Marine; abilities have long cooldowns.


    • #### Unlock Conditions
    Join in Mission 2 (“The Defense of Graia”). Avitus is rescued from an Ork attack.

    #### Recommended Equipment & Builds
  • Heavy Bolter – Default, excellent vs. infantry. Upgrade to Heavy Plasma Gun or Lascannon for anti-armor.

  • Skills: Prioritize Suppressing Fire (increases suppression duration), Barrage (area attack), and Fire Position (increases damage while standing still).

  • Wargear: Take Advanced Servo Harness (increases health and allows slow movement while firing), Auto-Targeting System (increases accuracy).


    • #### Team Synergy
  • Needs protection: Pair with Tarkus or Force Commander to screen enemies.

  • Cyrus can place proximity mines or decloak to reveal hidden enemies that threaten Avitus.

  • Thule can tank damage and knock back attackers, keeping Avitus safe.

  • Avoid leaving Avitus alone; he is easily flanked.


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    Tarkus – Tactical Marine Squad



    #### Background
    Brother-Sergeant Tarkus is a veteran Tactical Marine, embodying the classic Space Marine virtues: courage, discipline, versatility. He leads a squad of Tactical Marines equipped with bolters and frag grenades. Tarkus is a reliable all-rounder.

    #### Role & Playstyle
    Tarkus is a balanced infantry squad that can handle most situations: medium range firepower, grenades for area damage, and decent melee capabilities.
  • Strengths: Versatile; good damage at all ranges; frag grenades clear groups; can capture points quickly; morale is high; squad can be upgraded with special weapons (flamer, plasma gun).

  • Weaknesses: No extreme specialization; lacks heavy armor; poor against vehicles without upgraded weapons; grenades have limited range.


    • #### Unlock Conditions
    Available from Mission 2, joins alongside Avitus. Later gets his own squad after Mission 4.

    #### Recommended Equipment & Builds
  • Default Bolter – Good general purpose. Upgrade to Plasma Gun for anti-armor, Flamer for anti-infantry hordes.

  • Skills: Focus on Grenade Volley (increases throw range and damage), Tactical Advance (move speed buff for squad), Focused Fire (increases damage vs. a single target).

  • Wargear: Reinforced Armor (increases squad durability), Teleport Homer (allows instant drop pod reinforcements).


    • #### Team Synergy
  • Works well with any hero; his flexibility fills gaps.

  • With Force Commander, both can advance together and use grenades to soften targets before melee.

  • Cyrus can provide scout support while Tarkus holds the line.

  • Avitus benefits from Tarkus’s suppression and grenades to clear enemies that get too close.


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    Cyrus – Scout Squad



    #### Background
    Sergeant Cyrus is a Scout Marine, master of stealth and reconnaissance. He and his squad are trained in infiltration, sabotage, and long-range marksmanship. Cyrus is the team’s stealth expert and sniper.

    #### Role & Playstyle
    Cyrus is a stealth attacker and recon unit. He can cloak to move unseen, place proximity mines, snipe high-value targets, and call in orbital strikes. His squad is fragile but deadly when positioned correctly.
  • Strengths: Invisibility provides massive tactical advantage; sniper rifles can one-shot infantry; mines control chokepoints; can disarm enemy traps; high mobility.

  • Weaknesses: Extremely low health; no heavy armor; low sustained damage; mines have limited ammo; requires micro-management; poor in melee.


    • #### Unlock Conditions
    Joins in Mission 3 (“The Liberation of Meridian”). You rescue him from Dark Eldar captivity.

    #### Recommended Equipment & Builds
  • Sniper Rifle (default) – Best for picking off heroes and special units. Upgrade to Shotgun (close-range stealth) or Needle Rifle (anti-infantry poison).

  • Skills: Max Cloak (reduces energy drain while invisible), Mine Field (increases mine damage and capacity), Targeted Shot (increases critical chance).

  • Wargear: Cameleoline Cloak (improves stealth), Anti-Armor Mines (effective vs. vehicles), Recon Drone (reveals map for a short time).


    • #### Team Synergy
  • Scouts ahead of the main force: Mark targets for Avitus or Force Commander.

  • Place mines near Thule to protect his flanks.

  • Use stealth to revive fallen squadmates without drawing fire.

  • Tarkus can provide a distraction while Cyrus flanks.


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    Thule – Venerable Dreadnought



    #### Background
    Brother Thule is an ancient Venerable Dreadnought, a walking tank encasing the shattered body of a legendary Blood Ravens hero. He is incredibly durable and carries heavy weapons. Thule is the team’s ultimate tank and heavy assault unit.

    #### Role & Playstyle
    Thule is a mechanical tank and heavy assault hero. He can absorb massive damage, crush infantry, and tear apart vehicles with his twin-linked weapons. He has no cover mechanic but has high armor and health.
  • Strengths: Highest durability in the game; immune to morale damage; can be upgraded with Assault Cannon (anti-infantry) or Lascannon (anti-tank); Dreadnought Charge knocks back enemies; Smoke Launcher provides cover for allies.

  • Weaknesses: Slow movement; very large hitbox (can be hit by area attacks easily); cannot use cover; no evasion; vulnerable to anti-tank weapons; repairs require consumables or a hero with field repair.


    • #### Unlock Conditions
    Joins in Mission 5 (“The Defense of the Factory”). You recover his sarcophagus and later repair him into a Dreadnought.

    #### Recommended Equipment & Builds
  • Weapons: Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter (vs. infantry), Twin-Linked Lascannon (vs. vehicles), or Dreadnought Power Fist (melee).

  • Skills: Max Armor Plating (increases resilience), Dreadnought Charge (cooldown reduction), Self-Repair (auto-heal over time).

  • Wargear: Reinforced Carapace (extra armor), Targeting Array (increases ranged accuracy), Banner of the Fallen (aura increases allied morale).


    • #### Team Synergy
  • Forms an immovable frontline: Pair with Force Commander and Tarkus to create a wall.

  • Cyrus can use mines to protect Thule’s vulnerable sides.

  • Avitus can stand behind Thule and fire safely.

  • Keep a repair kit or a hero with “Field Repairs” (Force Commander) nearby to heal Thule.


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    Squad Synergies & Team Composition



    In campaign missions you can take up to four squads (including Force Commander). Choose your team based on mission objectives:
  • Defense / Hold Position: Avitus + Thule + Force Commander (support). Use suppression and tanking.

  • Assault / Objective Capture: Tarkus + Force Commander + Cyrus. Fast-moving, versatile.

  • Stealth / Sabotage: Cyrus + Force Commander (stealth wargear) + Tarkus (backup). Use mines and sniping.

  • Anti-Armor: Avitus (Lascannon) + Thule (Lascannon) + Tarkus (Plasma Gun). Focus fire vehicles.


Remember that each hero’s skill tree allows for specialization. Experiment to find combinations that suit your playstyle. In the late game, you may also control Dreadnought Thule as a separate unit, making four squads total.

Important: Heroes cannot die permanently in the campaign, but if their squad is wiped, they retreat and can be reinforced later at a cost of Requisition. Keep your heroes alive to avoid losing progression.

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Final Notes



This guide covers all playable characters in the base campaign of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II. For the expansions (Chaos Rising and Retribution), additional heroes like the Librarian, Apothecary, and Chaos Lord become available, but those are not covered here. Master each hero’s unique abilities and you will dominate the battlefield in the name of the Emperor!