Players take control of one of the four factions: Ultramarines, the World Eaters, the Evil Sunz, or the Eldar of Craftworld Iyanden, and battle for control of the planets of the long-lost Herakon Cluster.  Each faction has unique armies and play styles, and each player has specific objectives (defined by objective tokens). Players must build up forces, expand their strategic options, and engage in battles to be the first to claim all their objectives to win the game.