Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising is an expansion developed by Relic Entertainment and published by THQ. Released in 2010, it added a dark new dimension to the game: Corruption. The Blood Ravens returned to Aurelia only to find Chaos forces invading from the Warp. A lost Blood Ravens ship, the Judgment of Carrion, had emerged bringing old secrets and new threats.

The Corruption system was the heart of the expansion. Every decision, every action could influence the corruption of squad leaders. Using powerful Chaos equipment or making questionable tactical choices increased corruption, while noble deeds reduced it. Highly corrupted characters gained powerful but dangerous abilities.

The story was masterfully woven and ended with a shocking revelation: one of the Blood Ravens was a traitor. Who the traitor was depended on player decisions, leading to different endings and enormous replayability. The narrative quality reached a peak many consider the best moment in the entire Dawn of War series.

Chaos Rising also added Chaos Space Marines as a playable faction in multiplayer, complete with their own daemonic units and corrupt abilities. The expansion was praised for its dark atmosphere, moral dilemmas, and gripping story.