Dawn of War Multiplayer Beta - Heroes Guide - Part 1 | Counterfeitculture.com: Video game news and commentary

Dawn of War Multiplayer Beta - Heroes Guide - Part 1

by Danny Internets

January 29th, 2009 - 1:32 am

Armies of the 41st Millennium

This part of the beta impressions series provides an overview of all of the different armies and units available in the multiplayer beta, freely available to all players via Steam as of today, January 28.

You may notice that Dawn of War 2 doesn’t exactly boast an overabundance of units, even compared to pre-expansion Dawn of War 1. With Relic Entertainment’s recent comments about combating piracy by providing ample DLC, making un-updated versions of the game far less desirable, it has been suggested that there are more units on the way. I certainly hope so, because the lack of variety in the current beta build is very disheartening to fans of the original.

Dawn of War 2: Space Marines

The Space Marines: Roid Rage in the 41st Millenium

The Space Marines represent mankind’s masterpiece in the art of making war. Genetically engineered behemoths that can shrug off artillery shells and punch through brick walls, these guys take ass-kicking to a whole new dimension. They may be few in number, but they make up the most durable basic infantry in the game. The Space Marines are a mostly firepower-oriented army in Dawn of War 2, though they do have access to capable melee units, such as the Venerable Dreadnought and Assault Terminators.

Force Commander

Offensive hero designed to inflict direct damage and buff nearby units. Analogous to the Space Marine hero unit in DoW1. Able to take a beating as well as dish one out. Upgradeable with melee weapons designed to kill infantry or vehicles.

	For the Emporer Target squad temporarily receives less damage and becomes immune to suppression but moves slower.
	Drop Pod Drop Pod in a Tactical Squad and reinforce nearby squads.
	Deep Strike Terminator Assault Squad Deep strike in a Terminator Assault Squad.
	Deep Strike Terminator Squad Deep strike in a Terminator Squad.
	Orbital Bombardment Calls down a massive orbital strike from a battle barge.

Apothecary

Defensive hero designed to heal friendly units, revive allied commanders, and make other Space Marine units temporarily invulnerable.

	Larraman’s Blessing All allied commanders who are currently unconscious on the battlefield are revived.
	Drop Pod Drop Pod in a Tactical Squad and reinforce nearby squads.
	Angels of Death Your infantry becomes temporarily invulnerable.
	Deep Strike Terminator Squad Deep strike in a Terminator Squad.
	Orbital Bombardment Calls down a massive orbital strike from a battle barge.

Techmarine

Supporting hero able to call down Venerable Dreadnoughts that buffs allies, increase friendly unit ranged damage, and create gun turrets anywhere on the battlefield. Upgradeable with powerful ranged weapons, but a useless presence in close combat.

	Blessings of the Omnissiah Repairs all allied vehicles for a duration.
	Drop Pod Drop Pod in a Tactical Squad and reinforce nearby squads.
	Venerable Dreadnought Drop Pod A more powerful dreadnought. Effective in melee. The sight of a Dreadnought killing enemy units inspires nearby troops, increasing their stats temporarily.
	Deep Strike Terminator Squad Deep strike in a Terminator Squad.
	Orbital Bombardment Calls down a massive orbital strike from a battle barge.

Orks: The Green Tide

Evolved with hybridized photosynthetic traits from their plant ancestors, Orks are a barbaric but deadly race of cunning beings that exist for the sole purpose of creating carnage and bashing skulls. Ork units tend to be numerous yet fragile and can be configured to be either a powerful melee or shooting force depending on the selection of hero.

Warboss

Offensive hero designed to kick ass, take names, and yell real loud. Hits like a truck and he’s about the size of one too.

	‘Ard Boyz Target squad temporarily receives less damage.
	Use Yer Choppas! Increases the melee damage and chance of triggering a special attack of a target squad.
	Call Da Boyz! Reinforces and temporarily increases the speed and damage of your squads around your commander.
	Roks Order a massive Rok strike on a targeted position.

Kommando

Infiltrating hero designed to assassinate vulnerable targets and raid resource points. Able to infiltrate self and friendly units.

	Hide Infiltrates target squad for a duration.
	Kommandos Is Da Sneakiest Spawn a Kommando squad at target location.
	Call Da Boyz! Reinforces and temporarily increases the speed and damage of your squads around your commander.
	Roks Order a massive Rok strike on a targeted position.

Mekboy

Support class hero with an emphasis on ranged weaponry, similar to the Techmarine. Able to support other units but not effective in a front line role. Like the Techmarine, Mekboys can build defensive turrets anywhere on the battlefield (and also Waaagh Banners).

	More Dakka Temporarily increases the ranged firepower of a targeted squad.
	Kult of Speed Temporarily increases speed and firing rate of all allied vehicles.
	Call Da Boyz! Reinforces and temporarily increases the speed and damage of your squads around your commander.
	Roks Order a massive Rok strike on a targeted position.

The Eldar: Psychic Laserbeam Ninjas

An ancient race with advanced technology, the Eldar were formerly masters of the galaxy but are now in the twilight years of their civilization’s decline. They do not colonize worlds, instead preferring to exist on enormous planet-sized space stations known as Craftworlds. Though few in number, the Eldar are as dangerous as they are mysterious.

Warlock

Offensive hero

	Webway Gate Allows infantry to travel between gates.
	Swift Movement Temporarily increases the speed of all allied infantry.
	Conceal Target squad temporarily receives less ranged damage.
	Eldritch Storm Creates a large psychic storm, disrupting and damaging enemies in a large radius.

Warp Spider Exarch

Extremely mobile hero able to teleport both self and other units around the map. Specializes in ranged anti-infantry guns but can be upgraded to be effective in close combat (but sacrifices firepower).

	Webway Gate Allows infantry to travel between gates.
	Crack Shot Temporarily increases the ranged damage of a target allied squad.
	Spider’s Brood Teleport in a Warp Spiders squad to the targeted location.
	Eldritch Storm Creates a large psychic storm, disrupting and damaging enemies in a large radius.

Farseer

Support class hero

	Webway Gate Allows infantry to travel between gates.
	Farsight Temporarily reveals the fog of war in the targeted area.
	Summon Seer Council Spawns a Seer Council at your HQ.
	Eldritch Storm Creates a large psychic storm, disrupting and damaging enemies in a large radius.

Tyranids: Time to Crap Your Pants All Over Again

The last sound you’ll hear before a Tyranid biomass swarm eviscerates you will probably be the emptying of your bowels. The Tyranids aren’t just scary, they are the stuff of nightmares. These aliens take many forms derived from the genetic material they assimilate when plundering entire planetary systems, evolving new mutations to adapt to different situations. They are so adept at exploiting nature in this fashion that they are even capable of space travel using entirely biological vessels.

Hive Tyrant

Offensive hero capable of specializing in shooting or melee. A powerful psycher in his own right, the Hive Tyrant directs the lesser members of the swarming biomass. He provides synapse range for other Tyranid units and is himself immune to suppression.

	Brood Nest Brood Nest allows nearby Tyranids to reinforce. Reinforces Gaunts for free.
	Warrior Vanguard Mycetic spores spawn Warriors and reinforce other nearby Tyranids.
	Without Number Creates additional Tyranids at your base.
	Tyrannoformation Capillary towers erupt from the ground, damaging enemies and tyrannoforming the area. Provides bonuses to nearby Tyranids.

Lictor Alpha

The Lictor Alpha is an infiltrating hero that specializes in ambushing and assassinating other heros and small units. While quick and deadly, perhaps the Lictor Alpha’s most useful skill is the ability to pull enemies closer to him, perfect for scoring the kill on fleeing units and heroes.

	Stalk Reveals enemy commanders on the map.
	Mycetic Spores Mycetic Spores spawn Gaunts and reinforce other nearby Tyranids.
	Without Number Creates additional Tyranids at your base.
	Tyrannoformation Capillary towers erupt from the ground, damaging enemies and tyrannoforming the area. Provides bonuses to nearby Tyranids.

Ravener Alpha

The Ravener Alpha, while capable in close combat, is primarily a support class hero. His primary function is to burrow underground and create tunnels at different points on the map which allow for faster transportation of allied units.

	Catalyst A target Tyranid unit is spurred into a suicidal frenzy, increasing its damage but making the unit die at the end of the duration.
	Spore Mines Drops down a group of Spore Mines.
	Without Number Creates additional Tyranids at your base.
	Tyrannoformation Capillary towers erupt from the ground, damaging enemies and tyrannoforming the area. Provides bonuses to nearby Tyranids.