Relic Entertainment's upcoming strategy game Dawn of War 4 introduced the Adeptus Mechanicus faction this week through a cinematic trailer, but the reveal became an accidental comedy showcase for the game's alien antagonists, the Necrons, who performed with all the combat effectiveness of storm troopers in a shooting gallery.
The trailer follows Magos Dominus Nulpherus-1 and a tech priest as they descend into a Necron tomb hunting for ancient technology. The expedition goes sideways when the robotic xenos faction awakens, transforming the mission into a desperate fight for survival.
Here's where things get awkward. Despite overwhelming numbers, the Necrons move with glacial speed, fire their weapons with stunning inaccuracy, and seem to take turns missing point-blank shots. When Sicarian Ruststalkers engage them in close combat, the Necrons crumble like cheap plastic rather than the hardened killing machines they're supposed to be. Victory eventually comes, but only after the Necrons have suffered losses that strain credibility against a mere two Adeptus Mechanicus warriors.
The Warhammer 40,000 community wasted no time calling out the disparity. YouTube comments, Reddit threads, and fan forums filled with ribbing about the Necrons' performance. "Dude, did these Necrons roll all 1's with 20 dice?" one commenter asked, referencing tabletop game mechanics. Another quipped that the machines "got teleported from the Star Wars universe," a jab at the original trilogy's stormtroopers. One user joked about the tech priest's newfound status as "the strongest in all 40,000 years."
The backlash highlights a tricky balance in faction reveal trailers. CGI cutscenes exist to showcase faction identity and build hype, but they can unintentionally undermine lore when presenting new factions as dramatically overpowered. Previous Space Marines trailers for Dawn of War 4 landed better with fans and actually demonstrated gameplay mechanics worth discussing.
Dawn of War 4 remains undated but is expected to launch on PC sometime this year. Fans are hoping the next faction reveal trailer strikes a better tone, one where the antagonists at least pose a credible threat.
Author Emily Chen: "This trailer did the Necrons dirty. When your reveal video becomes a punchline about how weak the enemy faction is, you've missed the mark."
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