Total War: Warhammer 3 — List of factions and how they play

Total War: Warhammer 3 is currently available, capping off the trilogy of games developed by Creative Assembly. There’s more to come though, with free and paid DLC on the way, alongside major updates that’ll shake up the experience. As such, we’ve put together a guide on understanding each of the factions in Total War: Warhammer 3, with a brief overview of who they are and how they play.

Total War: Warhammer 3 — List of factions

Total War: Warhammer 3 launched with seven different factions, eight if you include the launch DLC. This is far more than the two prior games, which each launched with four distinct factions.

Eventually, Creative Assembly plans to release a free DLC that will combine all three Total War: Warhammer games into one grand strategy experience, adding prior factions to the roster. We’ll be sure to update this article with all of those once the eventual merge happens.

Daemons of Chaos

• Legendary Lords: The Daemon Prince

The Daemons of Chaos, or Chaos Undivided, are a faction that draws on the forces of every single Chaos God. The Daemon Prince can be customized like in an RPG, swapping in different body parts that bestow different bonuses. As such, this faction is ridiculously flexible, able to adapt to almost any situation. Their roster can be slow to grow however, especially if you opt to spend equal effort on each Chaos God.

Grand Cathay

• Legendary Lords: Miao Ying, Zhao Ming

Cathay is all about balance, with the Yin and Yang mechanic affecting the strategy portion and battlefield. By building around balance, players will see massive bonuses, which is necessary given the lack of strong calvary and early-game infantry. Cathay can also access trade caravans, making investments early on and risking them for possible large-scale payouts.

Khorne

• Legendary Lords: Skarbrand

Embodying the fury of the Blood God, Khorne’s forces deal massive melee damage, with truly terrifying infantry prowess, including the heavily armored Chaos Warriors. This faction has limited ranged capabilities however, with only the Soul Grinder and Hellcannon available for hitting targets far off.

Kislev

• Legendary Lords: Tzarina Katarin, Kostaltyn, Boris Ursun (unlock)

Icy Kislev is a hybrid-focused faction, with infantry like the Kossars and Ice Guard that can both shoot and hold their own in a pitched melee. Coupled with the unique Lore of Ice and Lore of Tempest magics, Kislev doesn’t have many weaknesses. Katarin and Kostaltyn do start in a cold civil war though, as both attempt to recruit followers to confederate the other.

Nurgle

• Legendary Lords: Ku’gath Plaguefather

Nurgle takes the motto “slow and steady” to its maximum theoretical breaking point. With a roster of slow units and slow campaign map growth, you won’t be getting anywhere quickly. Nurgle’s troops are extremely tough however, while the player can also unlock deadly plagues to unleash on the world, softening them up before attacking or defending.

Ogre Kingdoms

• Legendary Lords: Greasus Goldtooth, Skrag the Slaughterer

Ogres, my lords, ladies, and theydies, are a brutish species but what they lack in brains, they make up for tenfold in brawn. In battle, the Ogres play like a wrecking ball faction, using smaller numbers of individually larger infantry and calvary to pulverize enemy frontlines. This does mean they are vulnerable to being outflanked however, given their lack of numerous units.

Slaanesh

Slaanesh places an emphasis on killing speed, with extremely fast units that can outpace almost anything in the game. They lack armor and ranged capabilities though, which is where Slaanesh’s seduction mechanic comes into play, as the player will need to mind control enemy units to win key battles and undermine defenses.

Tzeentch

• Legendary Lords: Kairos Fateweaver

Tzeentch is all about direct magical manipulation on the campaign map, influencing other factions in subtle or not-so-subtle ways, guiding and shaping the tides of war as needed, such as forcing a particular faction to give up a settlement. In battle, Tzeentch’s troops all have magical barriers, as well as the most powerful ranged options and destructive magic of the four Chaos Gods.

More to come!

This list will expand as time goes on, so check back frequently for updates on new DLC and other additions. Total War: Warhammer 3 is a great foundation, and as it grows, it’ll be in the ranks of the best PC games of all time.