Proxy Studios and Slitherine shipped the first turn-based 4X game set in Warhammer 40,000 on 12 July 2018, and it strips the genre down to the part 40k actually supports. There is no diplomacy on Gladius Prime: you win by completing your faction's quest line or by killing everyone else. Four factions launched with the game, Space Marines, Astra Militarum, Orks and Necrons, and seven more arrived as DLC over the following five years: Tyranids in 2019, Chaos Space Marines in 2019, T'au in 2020, Craftworld Aeldari in 2020, Adeptus Mechanicus in 2021, Adepta Sororitas in 2022 and Drukhari in 2023. Each one runs a different economy, so switching faction changes far more than the unit art.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space Marines | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Astra Militarum | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Orks | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Necrons | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Tyranids | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War tier list.
A-Tier: Space Marines
Space Marines is a top-performing option in Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Tactical Space Marines | The Space Marine line infantry and the unit the rest of the roster is built around. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Five resources with faction-specific economies | Ore, Food, Energy, Influence and Requisition are the five, but no two factions use them the same way. |
How to Play Space Marines
Space Marines focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Tactical Space Marines does the damage and Five resources with faction-specific economies keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Astra Militarum
Astra Militarum is a strong option in Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Leman Russ Battle Tank | The Astra Militarum workhorse armour and the point where a Guard army stops being fragile. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Cities that claim tiles with influence | Cities expand by acquiring surrounding tiles, and every city tile carries an upkeep of 1 Influence per turn, so unchecked sprawl quietly bankrupts you. |
How to Play Astra Militarum
Astra Militarum focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Leman Russ Battle Tank with Cities that claim tiles with influence and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Orks
Orks is a strong option in Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Necron Warriors | The Necron basic infantry, slow and unglamorous but backed by an economy that sustains them on Ore rather than Food. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Faction quest lines as a victory route | Every faction has its own scripted quest chain describing what it is doing on Gladius Prime, and finishing that chain is a win condition in its own right. |
How to Play Orks
Orks focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Faction quest lines as a victory route covers the gap Necron Warriors leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Necrons
Necrons is a specialized option in Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Ork Boyz | Cheap, numerous and the engine of the Ork economy, because every attack generates Influence and every kill pays Ore. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Wildlife and artefact guardians | Gladius Prime is already occupied when you land. |
How to Play Necrons
Necrons focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Wildlife and artefact guardians rather than raw numbers, and Ork Boyz is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Tyranids
Tyranids is a specialized option in Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Baneblade | The Astra Militarum super-heavy and the payoff at the end of a long Ore investment. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Terrain that decides the fight | Wire weed is a bio-engineered acidic plant that consumes all movement points on entry, allows zero building slots and damages whatever stands in it every turn. |
How to Play Tyranids
Tyranids focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Baneblade and Terrain that decides the fight pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Astra Militarum: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Space Marines once you understand core mechanics and have access to Tactical Space Marines
- Keep a Orks setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Tyranids for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Pick your faction by its economy. Space Marines run on Requisition and Energy, Necrons feed population with Ore, Astra Militarum and Orks need Food, and Orks additionally need to be attacking something every turn to stay solvent.
- Track Influence separately from everything else. Each city tile costs 1 Influence per turn in upkeep, and heroes plus their items also come out of Influence, so a wide empire with no Influence income seizes up.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Guides
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Overview
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Tier List
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Walkthrough
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Beginner's Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Tips & Tricks
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Weapons Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Combat Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Boss Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Maps & Locations
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Crafting Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Classes & Characters
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