FACTION DOSSIERS / 04 CONFIRMED
Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000
factions.
Four factions are announced for launch: Space Marines, Astra Militarum, Orks and Aeldari. Warhammer Community ↗
QUICK ANSWER
Which factions are announced for Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000?
The announced Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 launch factions are Space Marines, Astra Militarum, Orks, Aeldari. The closed-beta notice excludes Aeldari and lists the other three factions for multiplayer and custom battles. Chaos Space Marines belong to future plans, with no date or DLC order established by the cited FAQ.
Official evidence: Warhammer Community · Creative Assembly · Creative Assembly · Creative Assembly / SEGA. Checked . Scope and individual records appear below.
Space Marines
Armour. Precision. Resolve.
Astra Militarum
Strength in numbers.
Orks
A war without restraint.
Aeldari
Precision from the shadows.
No matching factions. Clear the search or change the availability filter.
How do the announced factions differ?
These are official pre-release descriptions of Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 factions. They describe an identity, not a tested tier list or final balance.
| Faction | Announced identity | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Space Marines | Space Marines are described as a small, heavily armoured force built around powerful individual warriors. | Checked 2026-10-12 |
| Astra Militarum | Astra Militarum combine massed soldiers with tanks and artillery. | Checked 2026-10-12 |
| Orks | Orks field large mobs, unpredictable weapons and ramshackle war machines. | Checked 2026-10-12 |
| Aeldari | Aeldari are presented as fast, elusive fighters using psychic power and precision weapons. | Checked 2026-10-12 |
Which faction should I explore first?
Start with the identity that interests you, then read its dossier. This is a reading guide based on the official descriptions above; it does not rate learning difficulty or promise a winning first campaign.
- Interested in a small, heavily armoured force? Read Space Marines.
- Interested in massed soldiers, tanks and artillery? Read Astra Militarum.
- Interested in large mobs and ramshackle war machines? Read Orks.
- Interested in speed, psychic power and precision weapons? Read Aeldari.
Are Space Marines the best faction for beginners?
The closed beta is PC-only through Steam. It includes part of the tutorial, two opening Space Marines campaigns, multiplayer and custom battles, and advanced customisation. Creative Assembly ↗
The beta offers opening Space Marines campaigns, but that test selection does not establish the easiest faction at launch. A beginner recommendation or strongest-faction ranking needs tested mechanics, mode and balance data. This guide has no verified difficulty comparison and does not infer one from tabletop rules or another Total War game.
For a look at a different force, watch the official Astra Militarum vs Orks battle replay. For a personalised identity, read army customisation.
TEST SCOPE ≠ LAUNCH SCOPE
Closed beta availability
| Faction | Announced launch | Closed beta |
|---|---|---|
| Space Marines | Confirmed | Campaigns & battles |
| Astra Militarum | Confirmed | Multiplayer & custom battles |
| Orks | Confirmed | Multiplayer & custom battles |
| Aeldari | Confirmed | Not in closed beta |
Space Marines, Astra Militarum, Orks and Custom Factions are listed for beta multiplayer and custom battles. Aeldari are excluded from this test. Creative Assembly ↗
These are launch announcements, not a statement that the game is available now. See the release date and platform briefing.
Are Chaos Space Marines a launch faction?
Chaos Space Marines are not a launch faction. Creative Assembly includes them in future plans, but the cited FAQ gives no release date or DLC order. Creative Assembly ↗
The four factions above are the announced launch selection. Future plans do not establish a fifth launch faction or a dated DLC roadmap. This guide does not assign release dates to Chaos Space Marines, Tyranids, Necrons or other unannounced additions.
Does Aeldari absence from the beta mean they are missing at launch?
No. Aeldari are in the announced launch list but excluded from this beta. Test availability and launch availability answer different questions.
Custom armies are another separate distinction: see army customisation and established sub-factions.
- Announcing Total War: Warhammer 40,000! Warhammer Community
- Closed Beta — scope and selection Creative Assembly
- Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 — announcement and FAQ Creative Assembly
- Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 — Steam store Creative Assembly / SEGA
Latest claim verification: · Scope: Pre-release announcements · September 2026; Public announcements · October 2026. Each claim may have its own verification date.