Players-controlled provinces can be attacked by the AI-controlled factions, and the player may either auto-resolve the conflict or fight off the invaders. On hard difficulty, both players have normal health and the player starts with just 200 planetary requisition. On normal difficulty, the AI has normal health and the player has 200% health and starts with 400 planetary requisition. On easy difficulty, the AI opponents have just 25% of their usual health for all their units while the player has 250% health for theirs and starts with 600 planetary requisition. It is used to purchase special honor guard units to accompany the commander around the map or purchase garrison units to hold critical territories. This requisition is distinct from that used in normal battles and is tracked separately. The goal is to gain control over provinces by fighting for ownership of the territory and, ultimately, to annihilate all of the opposing factions.Д«y controlling certain territories, the player can gather planetary requisition at the beginning of each turn on the metamap. The meta map is a turn-based strategic map showing each of the seven races and the respective provinces under their control.

In Dark Crusade, a new type of campaign known as a meta map campaign was created, different from the linear storyline of the previous two games. The player is forced to change factions at certain points within missions and in later missions can change at will (that is, one can change from Eldar to Imperial guard and back, but not switch to Chaos or Ork). In the Disorder Campaign, the player leads Chaos and Ork forces. In the Order Campaign, the player leads the Imperial Guard and Eldar forces to awaken the Titan and defeat the Necrons. The campaign is divided into two halves, the Order and Disorder campaigns. In addition to this, the Ork Warlord Gorgutz has chosen the planet as the site of his Waagh and the forces of Chaos are present, as well. However, Farseer Taldeer of Ullthwe Craftworld has foreseen that Necrons would soon awaken on that world and she must move to stop them. In the Winter Assault campaign, General Sturnn of the Imperial Guard has been tasked with salvaging the Imperial Titan Dominatus discovered on the planet Lorn V with the aid of Space Marines of the Ultramarines chapter.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Dawn of war soulstorm campaign