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Total War: WARHAMMER – Every Race You Can Play As

Total War: Warhammer Chaos Warriors

Dwarfs in Total War: WARHAMMER

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Dwarfs rely on their ingenuity to overcome their foes in battle with a mixture of their brute force and mechanical inventions.

Starting region

  • Karaz-A-Karak

Special Gameplay Mechanics

  • Can only capture territory belonging to Greenskins or other Dwarf factions.
  • Grudges: Enemy actions result in Grudge missions, all of which must be settled in order to achieve campaign victory.
  • Use Underway: Armies can choose to use the network of underground tunnels to avoid impassable terrain and enemy armies.

Special Units

  • Irondrakes: Short-ranged missile infantry.
  • Slayers: Hand-to-hand combat units.
  • Gyrobomber: Flyers with guns and bombs.

Playstyle

  • Durable, strong leadership.
  • Strong artillery have great range.
  • Strong economy and trade options.
  • Large technology tree with military and civic branches.
  • Magic resistance.
  • Expensive unit recruitment cost and upkeep.
  • No calvary options.
  • Small military unit sizes.
  • No magic use.

The Empire in Total War: WARHAMMER

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The Empire leads the human race in its robust political civilization.

Starting region

  • Altdorf

Special Gameplay Mechanics

  • Can only capture territory belonging to Vampire Counts, or any other Human factions except for Norsca.
  • Offices: Lords may be assigned into offices, granting them a unique title and bonuses.
  • Technologies: Branches are linked to various buildings.

Special Units

  • Demigryph Knights: Calvary unit good for charging.
  • Luminark of Hysh: Chariots that can act as support units.
  • Steam Tank: Short-ranged turret with a cannon.

Playstyle

  • A lot of confederation options.
  • Well-balanced unit roster.
  • Fractured Empire, whereby the provinces of the Empire are ruled by Elector Counts over whom the Emperor has tenuous control at least.
  • Numerous enemies.

Greenskins in Total War: WARHAMMER

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Greenskins are brutes with low technology but incredibly large armies to overtake their foes.

Starting region

  • Black Crag

Special Gameplay Mechanics

  • Can only capture territory belonging to Dwarfs or other Greenskin factions.
  • Fightiness: Armies have a fightiness rating which rises when fighting and raiding, and falls when inactive and as a result of being defeated.
  • Animosity: Low fightiness leads to in-fighting between troops resulting in attrition.
  • Waaagh!: High fightiness will spawn an allied Waaagh! army which can be sent against the enemy.
  • Use Underway: Armies can choose to use a network of underground tunnels to avoid impassable terrain and enemy armies.

Special Units

  • Doom Diver Catapult: A missile launcher.
  • Arachnarok Spider: Big spider that provides passage for bowmen atop it.
  • Giant: A literal giant.

Playstyle

  • Large unit sizes.
  • Cheap unit upkeep.
  • Bonuses to income derived from raiding and sacking.
  • Goblin units have brittle leadership.
  • Limited technology tree.
  • Cannot trade.
  • Limited economic buildings.

Vampire Counts in Total War: WARHAMMER

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The Vampire Counts are living abominations that strike fear and destruction against their enemies.

Starting region

  • Castle Drakenhof

Special Gameplay Mechanics

  • Can only capture territory belonging to other Vampire Counts factions, or any Human factions except for Norsca.

Special Units

  • Hexwraiths: Calvary units that are good against small targets.
  • Terrorgheist: Flyers that destroy from above.
  • Varghulf: Powerful melee fighters good against infantry.

Playstyle

  • Strong battle magic options, including raising of new units from the dead.
  • Units cause fear, impacting enemy leadership.
  • Crumbling: Instead of routing, units will suffer casualties when losing in combat.
  • Some battle casualties are automatically raised from the dead post-battle, even in defeat.
  • No missile units.

Warriors of Chaos in Total War: WARHAMMER

Total War: Warhammer Chaos Warriors

Special Gameplay Mechanics

  • Horde: The faction has no settlements. Infrastructure and military improvements are linked to each individual Chaos horde.
  • Corruption: Chaos corruption can be spread in enemy territory, leading to public order problems and even Chaos rebellions.

Special Units

  • Hellcannon: Focused artillery, strong against single targets.
  • Chosen: Hand-to-hand units for the front line.
  • Chaos Giant: A literal giant. Plus chaos.

Playstyle

  • Strong unit roster.
  • Limited missiles.
  • Strong diplomatic penalties with almost all factions.
  • Cannot trade.
  • Economy is reliant on sacking, raiding, and loot.

About the author

Yamilia Avendano

Founder of Twinfinite, playing games since 1991, especially in the simulation and action genres.

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