What Blood Ravens and Dark Angels share
Both Chapters belong to the Space Marines, an elite army built around strong individual squads, upgrades, preservation, fortifications, and rapid redeployment. The official campaign includes both Chapters, so this is more than a cosmetic paint choice. However, the publisher has not released a complete side-by-side roster or balance sheet.
For faction-wide systems—including orbital structures, Reserves, the Thunderhawk Relay, and on-field reinforcement—see our Space Marines faction guide.
Confirmed Chapter differences
| Area | Blood Ravens | Dark Angels |
|---|---|---|
| Official identity | Flexible strategic combat | Shock-and-awe warfare |
| Named characters | Cyrus and Jonah Orion return in the story | Company Master Astoran, Chaplain Ezrael, and the Lion appear in the official cast |
| Named elite formations | Complete Chapter-specific roster remains TBA | Deathwing and Ravenwing |
| Commander selection | Distinct commander options are confirmed | Distinct commander options are confirmed |
How Deathwing and Ravenwing shape the Dark Angels
Deep Silver describes the Deathwing as slow and punishing, while the Ravenwing uses hit-and-run tactics. Together, those formations suggest a choice between heavy battlefield presence and mobile pressure. That is a useful strategic frame, but it is not yet a verified build order: unit costs, tech requirements, availability, and exact counters remain unpublished.
Deathwing should appeal to players who want an elite unit to anchor an engagement or punish enemies that commit into its reach. Ravenwing offers the opposite battlefield idea: reach a vulnerable location, apply pressure, and reposition. This interpretation follows the publisher's role descriptions, but exact speed, durability, weapons, and production tiers still require testing.
The important distinction is that Dark Angels do not appear to be a wholly separate fifth launch faction. They are a playable Space Marine sub-faction and campaign Chapter, sharing many units with the Blood Ravens while gaining distinctive elite access and Commanders.
Why commanders matter
In the multiplayer developer AMA, KING Art Games says commanders are selected before a match and produced from headquarters. The developers also call commanders the biggest difference between sub-factions. That means Chapter selection should affect more than appearance, although the full set of abilities and matchups is still TBA.
Campaign names should not automatically be converted into a multiplayer roster. The official cast confirms story characters, while the AMA says multiplayer generally uses generic faction Commander units outside campaigns. Our Commander guide maintains that evidence boundary.
Campaign role and story context
The Blood Ravens travel to Kronus under Cyrus and Chief Librarian Jonah Orion to recruit aspirants and rebuild their Chapter. An Ork ambush disrupts that mission and leaves the Imperial forces under pressure. The Dark Angels answer a call for aid and make a critical intervention, allowing the Space Marines campaign to place both Chapters under player control.
Deep Silver also lists Alistair Petrie as the Lion in the English voice cast. That confirms the character's presence but not mission count, playable status, or the extent of his involvement. See the voice cast and character guide for the complete announced ensemble.
Which Chapter should you follow?
- Follow Blood Ravens if you care most about the returning Dawn of War cast and a flexible Chapter identity.
- Follow Dark Angels if Deathwing resilience, Ravenwing mobility, and a more specialized shock-assault theme appeal to you.
- Wait for hands-on data before choosing based on competitive strength; no reliable tier list exists before launch.
Evidence-based pre-launch verdict
Blood Ravens are the safer recommendation for players who want the main returning narrative and a broadly flexible identity. Dark Angels are the more distinctive choice for players already attracted to Deathwing, Ravenwing, and shock assaults. Confidence is medium because the high-level identities are official, while exact multiplayer rosters and balance remain unpublished.
What remains unconfirmed
- Complete Chapter-specific unit and Commander rosters.
- Unit prices, statistics, production times, and tech requirements.
- Whether every faction-wide unit is shared by both Chapters.
- Matchup-specific strengths, counters, and competitive tier placement.