Multiplayer modes are currently limited to a victory point control tug-of-war and annihilation. Upon playing, it quickly becomes clear that the interface is very different from the previous Dawn of War games. Although the multiplayer gameplay video demonstrate the changes already, there's nothing like using them first-hand. Base building is a thing of the past, leaving players free to focus on a single base structure for unit purchases and technology upgrades. Requisition and energy control points need to be captured, and taking a Power Node automatically constructs a generator, which can be improved. Altogether, it's a lot to get used to.

Strong emphasis is given to the hero unit. A hero must be selected before the game starts and will more-or-less determine a player's role, which includes offense, support/stealth or defense. Each hero comes with a range of special abilities that unlock for purchase as it levels up. Additionally, only specific hero types can place defensive structures. Players will have to pay a fee to revive a fallen hero, which is determined by the hero's level and how long its been out of commission.

Like with the previous Dawn of War games, players have to take into account individual unit health and squad health. However, players will need to return to a base or friendly outpost in order to replenish squad numbers, which could mean having to retreat considerably more often than with the first game. With the exception of the Tyranids, squad numbers look significantly reduced, especially for the Space Marines. The game compensates by offering different squad types instead of using weapons to customize basic ones. For example, players will need to specifically build a heavy machine gun squad to help support standard infantry. Each squad comes with its own upgrades to help improve its specialization.