Total War: Warhammer III Guide – Quick Tips for the Art of War

Part I: Forging Your Empire – Campaign Map Fundamentals

Victory is not born on the battlefield. It is forged in the council chambers, the marketplaces, and the training grounds of your empire. The campaign map is where true legends are made. Master it, and the battles will often win themselves.

The First 20 Turns in Total War: Warhammer III: The Dawn of an Empire

The opening moves of your campaign are the most critical. They set the foundation upon which your entire empire will be built. A strong start creates a powerful momentum that can carry you to victory, while a weak start will see you fighting for survival from the outset.

1. Secure Your Home Province. Your first and most immediate goal is to conquer and control all settlements within your starting province. This provides a secure economic base and, once fully controlled, allows you to issue a Commandment—a powerful, free buff that affects the entire province.
2. Prioritize Growth Above All Else. In every new settlement you capture, the first building you construct should almost always be the one that provides growth. Growth is the single most important resource in the early game. It dictates how quickly your settlements reach higher tiers, which in turn unlocks more building slots, better economic buildings, and the facilities required for elite units.
3. Build a Defensive Garrison Next. After the growth building is underway, your next priority, especially in settlements on a hostile border, should be the defensive building chain. This building provides a garrison of troops that will defend the settlement automatically. A strong garrison can deter an enemy from attacking or even defeat a weak invading army on its own, saving your main forces for offensive campaigns.
4. Fill Your Lord’s Army Immediately. Recruit units every single turn until your starting Legendary Lord is leading a full 20-unit army. Even an army of basic, low-tier troops is a massive deterrent. The AI constantly evaluates your military strength; a full army makes you look like a hard target and will discourage opportunistic neighbors from declaring an early war.
5. Plan Your Lord’s First Skills. Your Legendary Lord is your most powerful asset. For their first few skill points, invest in the blue skill line. Specifically, take the “Route Marcher” skill first. This 10% boost to campaign movement range is invaluable and allows you to outmaneuver enemies and capture settlements faster. After that, skills that reduce unit upkeep are excellent choices.
6. Establish Your Economy. Your primary goal in the first 20 turns is to build an economy that can support at least one full army while still generating a positive income. This allows you to continue developing your settlements. Focus on constructing buildings that generate income in your secure, home province.
7. Scout Your Surroundings. Use your starting hero to explore the immediate area. Knowing the terrain, the location of nearby factions, and the disposition of your neighbors is critical information. Do not march your main army blindly into the fog of war.
8. Fight Early Battles Manually. Do not rely on auto-resolve for your first few battles, even if the odds are in your favor. Playing these battles manually teaches you how your units work and allows you to win with fewer casualties. Minimizing losses is crucial for maintaining campaign momentum.
9. Begin Your Research. Open your technology tree on turn one and select your first research project. Look ahead in the tech tree and plan a path toward technologies that provide economic bonuses or buffs to the units you plan to use most in the early game.
10. Don’t Be Afraid to Restart. If your first 10-15 turns go disastrously wrong, do not be discouraged. Even veteran players often restart a campaign if they make a critical early mistake. Learning a faction’s optimal opening is part of the process.

The Art of Expansion in Total War: Warhammer III: Painting the Map Wisely

Every settlement you conquer is an asset that provides income and a liability that must be defended. Unchecked expansion is the path to ruin. A wise commander expands with purpose and precision.

11. Do Not Overexpand. Resist the temptation to conquer everything in sight. The AI often expands rapidly, but this leaves it vulnerable. A small, well-defended, and economically stable empire is far stronger than a sprawling one that is plagued by public order issues and cannot defend its borders.
12. Finish Your Enemies. When you go to war, be decisive. Do not leave a weakened enemy faction alive with only one settlement. They will not remain a minor nuisance; they will rebuild their armies, conduct diplomacy against you, and become a persistent problem. It is always more efficient to eliminate one enemy completely than to fight on multiple fronts.
13. Understand Settlement Climates. Every region on the map has a climate suitability for your faction. Green climates are suitable and have no penalties. Yellow climates are “unpleasant” and incur penalties to growth, income, and replenishment. Red climates are “uninhabitable” and have severe penalties.
14. Sack, Occupy, or Raze? The choice you make after a successful siege is a strategic one.
    • Occupy: Take the settlement for yourself. Only do this in green climates and when you are confident you can defend the new territory.
    • Sack: Plunder the settlement for a massive, immediate injection of gold, but leave it in the enemy’s hands. This is perfect when you are raiding deep in enemy territory and cannot hold the position.
    • Raze: Burn the settlement to the ground. This eliminates the threat and can be used to create a desolate buffer zone between you and a powerful enemy.
15. Establish Choke Points. When expanding, look for natural defensive positions like mountain passes or river crossings. Fortifying a single settlement that guards a choke point is far more efficient than trying to defend a wide-open border with multiple armies.
16. Consolidate Provinces. Your goal should be to conquer entire provinces, not just scattered settlements. Owning a full province allows you to issue powerful commandments and maximizes the efficiency of your buildings.
17. Use Raiding Stance for Profit. An army in the “Raiding” stance while in enemy territory will generate income each turn without needing to fight. This is an excellent way to supplement your income and apply economic pressure on your foes.
18. Sack and Run. Sometimes, the best move is to sack a poorly defended settlement for a quick profit and then retreat before enemy armies can respond. This is especially useful if you need cash but cannot commit to a full-scale invasion.
19. Temporarily Occupy for Replenishment. If your army is badly damaged deep in enemy territory, you can occupy a settlement in a yellow or red climate temporarily. Even with the penalties, it provides a safe place to replenish your troops for a few turns before you abandon it and continue your campaign.
20. Beware of Plagues. Nurgle and Skaven factions can spread devastating plagues that cripple armies and provinces. If a plague breaks out, move your armies out of the affected region immediately to avoid attrition.

Mastering Diplomacy in Total War: Warhammer III: The War of Words

In Total War: Warhammer III, diplomacy is not merely a tool for peace; it is a weapon of war. A skilled diplomat can fund their entire war effort, secure their borders, and turn their enemies against each other without lifting a sword.

21. Check Diplomacy Every Single Turn. Make it the first thing you do at the start of your turn. The diplomatic landscape is constantly shifting. A faction that refused a trade agreement last turn might eagerly accept it this turn.
22. Attitude is More Important Than Pacts. Pay close attention to the colored face next to a faction’s portrait. A green, smiling face indicates a positive attitude, while a red, scowling face means they despise you. A faction with a red face will likely betray you, even if you have a non-aggression pact with them.
23. Maintain High Reliability. Your reliability rating is your diplomatic reputation. Breaking treaties, declaring war on a faction you just signed a pact with, or abandoning your allies will lower your rating. A low rating makes every other faction distrust you, and they will refuse deals or demand exorbitant payments.
24. Sell Your Wars. Before you declare war on an enemy, check the diplomacy screen to see who else is already at war with them. Approach those factions and offer to “Join war against…” your mutual enemy. They will often pay you handsomely for your assistance in a war you were going to start anyway.
25. Trade Agreements are Free Money. In the quick deal menu, you can see all potential trade partners. Sign agreements with every faction possible. It costs you nothing and provides a steady stream of income every turn.
26. Balance the Deal. When the AI offers you a deal (like a trade agreement), look at the number in the bottom right corner. If it is green, the deal is in their favor. You can click the “Balance Deal” button (the scales icon) to automatically demand the maximum amount of gold they are willing to pay for that agreement.
27. Use Gifts to Improve Relations. If you want to befriend a powerful neighbor, give them small gifts of gold over several turns. A few hundred gold per turn can quickly improve their attitude, paving the way for lucrative trade and defensive alliances.
28. Defensive Alliances are a Double-Edged Sword. Be cautious when signing defensive alliances. While it means an ally will help you if you are attacked, it also means you will be dragged into their defensive wars. Before agreeing, check to see who their enemies are and if you are prepared to fight them.
29. Military Alliances Let You Direct Your Allies. A military alliance is a step further, calling you into both offensive and defensive wars. However, it also allows you to set war coordination targets, effectively letting you direct your ally’s armies to attack specific settlements or armies.
30. Good Guys Hate Bad Guys. The world of Total War: Warhammer III is generally divided into “Order” factions (Empire, High Elves, Dwarfs) and “Destruction” factions (Greenskins, Chaos, Skaven). As a general rule, factions of the same alignment will be predisposed to like each other, while those of opposing alignments will hate each other. There are exceptions, but this is a reliable starting point for your diplomatic strategy.

Part II: The Art of War – Battlefield Mastery

While empires are built on the campaign map, they are defended on the battlefield. A brilliant commander can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with superior tactics, turning a valiant defeat into a heroic victory.

Battlefield Basics for Total War: Warhammer III: The Anvil and the Hammer

At its core, combat in Total War: Warhammer III revolves around a few timeless principles. Master these, and you will have the foundation for victory in any engagement.

31. Understand the Anvil and the Hammer. The most fundamental tactic is the “Hammer and Anvil.” Your “anvil” is a strong, defensive line of infantry whose job is to absorb the enemy’s charge and hold them in place. Your “hammer” is a mobile, high-damage force (like cavalry or monsters) that swings around the engaged frontline and crashes into the enemy’s exposed flank or rear.
32. Know Your Unit Roles. Every unit has a purpose.
    • Melee Infantry: These are your anvil. Their job is to hold the line.
    • Ranged Infantry: These are your primary damage dealers. Their job is to fire into the enemy from a protected position.
    • Cavalry and Chariots: These are your hammer. Their job is to flank, disrupt, and destroy high-value targets.
    • Monsters and Single Entities: These can be anvils (if durable) or hammers (if fast and high-damage). They excel at breaking through enemy lines and causing terror.
    • Artillery: Their job is to force the enemy to advance into your kill-zone and to soften up enemy formations before they arrive.
33. Use Simple Formations. Do not overcomplicate your army deployment. A simple line of melee infantry with a line of archers behind them and cavalry on the wings is effective and easy to manage.
34. Learn the Checkerboard Formation. A slightly more advanced but incredibly effective formation is the “checkerboard.” Place your frontline units with gaps between them, and place a second line of units covering those gaps. This allows units from the rear to support the front, provides clear firing lanes for missile troops, and creates pockets to trap advancing enemies.
35. Protect Your Flanks. The sides of your formation are your weak points. Always place spear or anti-large units on your flanks to protect against enemy cavalry charges.
36. High Ground is King. Always try to position your army on high ground. Your troops will fight better, and your ranged units will have a clear line of sight to shoot down on the enemy. Conversely, forcing the enemy to attack you uphill will tire them out, making them less effective in combat.
37. Use Forests for Cover. Lightly armored units, especially archers, gain physical resistance and are harder to hit when positioned inside a forest. Use this to protect them from enemy missile fire.
38. Focus Your Fire. Do not let your ranged units pick their own targets. Command them to focus their fire on a single enemy unit at a time. Concentrated fire will quickly break a unit’s morale, causing it to flee and creating a gap in the enemy line.
39. Understand Key Unit Stats. For your anvil units, look for high Melee Defense, Armor, and Leadership. For your hammer units, prioritize high Melee Attack, Weapon Strength, and Charge Bonus.
40. Leadership is the True Health Bar. Most battles are not won by killing every last enemy soldier. They are won by breaking the enemy’s will to fight. Attacking a unit in the flank or rear, charging them with cavalry, or killing their general all inflict massive penalties to their Leadership (morale). When a unit’s Leadership breaks, it will rout and flee the battlefield. Triggering a “mass rout” where the entire enemy army flees is the ultimate goal.

Advanced Tactics in Total War: Warhammer III: The Commander’s Finesse

Once you have mastered the basics, it is time to learn the finer points of command. These advanced controls and techniques will allow you to execute complex maneuvers with speed and precision.

41. Use Control Groups. Select a group of units (e.g., your entire infantry line) and press Ctrl + 1 to assign them to control group 1. Now you can instantly re-select that entire group just by pressing the “1” key. This is essential for managing a large army.
42. Lock Your Formations. After creating a control group, click the small padlock icon above the unit cards. Now, when you order that group to move or attack, they will do their best to maintain their current formation. This is the key to moving your battle line as a single, cohesive block.
43. Move in Formation with ALT. Select multiple units that are not in a control group. Hold down the ALT key, then click and drag with your left mouse button. This will move all selected units while preserving their relative positions and facing.
44. Rotate Formations with ALT + CTRL. Select a locked group or multiple units. Hold ALT + CTRL and click and drag with your left mouse button to rotate the entire formation in place.
45. Set Movement Paths with SHIFT. Hold down the SHIFT key while issuing a move order to set a series of waypoints. Your unit will follow this path exactly. This is perfect for maneuvering cavalry around the enemy’s flank without needing to constantly issue new orders.
46. Master Cycle Charging. Units with a high Charge Bonus (like most cavalry) deal immense damage in the first few seconds of a charge, but their effectiveness drops off in sustained combat. To maximize their damage, charge them into an enemy, let them fight for about 10 seconds, then order them to pull back. Once they are clear, charge them in again. This is called “cycle charging.”
47. Use the “J” Key for Quick Reversals. Select a unit and press “J”. The unit will instantly turn 180 degrees. This is invaluable for reacting to a sudden flank attack, allowing your spearmen to face a cavalry charge in an instant.
48. Toggle Guard Mode. Guard Mode (a button on the unit’s command panel) prevents a unit from chasing after a routing enemy. It is crucial to have this enabled for your frontline infantry to prevent them from breaking formation and creating gaps in your line.
49. Toggle Skirmish Mode. Skirmish Mode will cause a ranged unit to automatically run away from any enemies that get too close. This can be useful for light missile cavalry, but you should generally turn it off for your main line of archers to prevent them from abandoning their position.
50. Pause and Slow-Mo are Not Cheating. Even the best players use the pause and slow-motion features. Battles can be chaotic. Use these tools to give yourself time to think, assess threats, and issue precise orders to multiple units simultaneously.

The Winds of Magic: A Caster’s Almanac

Magic is a tide-turning force in the world of Total War: Warhammer III. A single well-placed spell can annihilate entire regiments, bolster your lines to the point of invincibility, or assassinate an enemy commander. An army without a spellcaster is an army at a severe disadvantage.

51. Every Army Needs a Caster. Make it a rule to include at least one spellcaster, whether a Lord or a Hero, in every one of your main armies. The utility and damage they provide are simply too valuable to ignore.
52. Understand the Magic Pool. In battle, your available magic is shown in the bottom right corner. You have a starting pool of “Winds of Magic” and a larger “Power Reserve.” Your active pool recharges slowly over time by drawing from the reserve.
53. Use Channeling Stance. On the campaign map, an army in the “Channeling” stance will increase its starting Power Reserve for the next battle. If you know a major fight is coming next turn, put your army in this stance.
54. Master Two or Three Spells. Do not feel obligated to use every spell in your caster’s lore. Identify two or three of the most effective and efficient spells and learn to use them perfectly. Often, this will be a cheap magic missile for single targets and a powerful vortex or wind spell for groups.
55. Overcast for Maximum Impact. Most spells can be “overcast” by double-clicking them. This makes the spell significantly more powerful—increasing its damage, duration, or area of effect—at the cost of more Winds of Magic. Overcasting also has a chance to “miscast,” which will damage your caster. Save overcasting for critical moments when you need that extra power.
56. Positioning is Everything for Wind and Breath Spells. Spells like Wind of Death or Burning Head travel in a straight line. You can control their trajectory. Instead of just clicking on the target, click where you want the spell to start and drag your mouse to aim it. The ideal use is to cast it down the long axis of an enemy’s battle line, hitting hundreds of models at once.
57. Blob and Bomb. The best way to use area-of-effect (AoE) spells is on tightly packed enemy infantry. Use a durable Hero or a single monster to charge into the enemy line, causing them to surround it and form a dense “blob.” Then, drop a vortex spell like Pit of Shades or a bombardment spell directly on top of the blob for devastating results.
58. Use Healing Wisely. Lores of Life and Vampires have powerful healing spells. Use them on your most valuable units—your elite infantry, single-entity monsters, or your Lord—to keep them in the fight longer. You can even use leftover magic to heal your troops after the battle is won but before you click “End Battle.”
59. Debuffs Win Fights. Do not underestimate spells that apply debuffs. A spell that lowers an enemy’s armor or melee defense can allow your own troops to win an engagement they would have otherwise lost. Stacking buffs on your own troops while debuffing the enemy is a recipe for success.
60. Beware Friendly Fire. Many powerful spells, especially vortexes and bombardments, will also damage your own troops. Be extremely careful with your placement to avoid incinerating your own frontline along with the enemy’s.

Part III: Know Thyself, Know Thy Foe – Faction-Specific Stratagems

The universal principles of war are your foundation, but true mastery in Total War: Warhammer III comes from adapting those principles to the unique strengths and weaknesses of each faction. Each race plays differently, demanding a unique approach to both campaign strategy and battlefield tactics. Learning this asymmetry is the final step from being a good commander to a great one.

The Realms of Man

61. The Empire (Tip): Combined Arms Doctrine. The Empire’s strength lies in its versatile roster. Your core strategy should be “combined arms.” Use a line of sturdy infantry (Spearmen or Halberdiers) as your anvil, and let your exceptional Handgunner units and devastating artillery (Hellstorm Rocket Batteries) act as your hammer.
62. The Empire (Tip): Use Elector Count Units. Through the Imperial Authority mechanic, you can gain access to unique and powerful Elector Count state troops. These are often direct upgrades over your standard units and can form the elite core of your armies.
63. The Empire (Tip): Master Gunnery with Elspeth. The Thrones of Decay DLC lord Elspeth von Draken introduces the Imperial Gunnery School. This mechanic allows you to use schematics earned in battle to dramatically upgrade your gunpowder units, turning your handgunner lines into terrifying death squads.
64. The Empire (Tip): Gelt’s Wizard Stacks. Balthasar Gelt can create one of the most powerful doomstacks in the game. By stacking bonuses from his skills and unique items, he can lead an all-wizard army with nearly unlimited magic and massively increased spell intensity.

The Ice Court of Kislev

65. Kislev (Tip): Master the Hybrid. Kislev’s core units, like Kossars and Ice Guard, are hybrids—effective at both range and in melee. Use a checkerboard formation to allow them to fire as the enemy approaches, then absorb the charge and hold the line.
66. Kislev (Tip): Adopt an Elastic Defense. Kislev’s starting position in Total War: Warhammer III is notoriously difficult. You are surrounded by enemies. Do not try to defend every minor settlement. Instead, focus your resources on defending your three major cities: Kislev, Praag, and Erengrad. Let the enemy raid your outer territories while you build your strength.
67. Kislev (Tip): Use the Motherland. The Motherland invocation system provides powerful, temporary faction-wide buffs. Activate the appropriate invocation before a major battle or a turn where you plan significant construction to maximize its benefit.
68. Kislev (Tip): Tzar Guard and Ice Guard. A late-game Kislev army composition of a frontline of heavily-armored Tzar Guard protecting multiple units of armor-piercing Ice Guard (Glaives) is incredibly difficult for any enemy to break.

The Kingdom of Bretonnia

69. Bretonnia (Tip): Embrace the Charge. Bretonnia has some of the worst infantry in the game but arguably the best cavalry. Your entire strategy must revolve around the Hammer and Anvil tactic. Use disposable Peasant Mobs to hold the enemy while your powerful knights execute devastating cycle charges into the flanks and rear.
70. Bretonnia (Tip): Fulfill Your Vows. Your lords and heroes must complete chivalric vows to unlock their full potential. Prioritize completing these vows to gain powerful traits and abilities.
71. Bretonnia (Tip): No Supply Lines. Unlike other factions, Bretonnia does not suffer from increasing “supply line” upkeep costs for fielding multiple armies. Do not be afraid to field numerous cheap peasant armies to support your elite knightly forces.

The Elder Races & Ancient Pacts

72. High Elves (Tip): The Beginner’s Choice. High Elves are one of the best factions for new players. A simple army of Spearmen (Lothern Sea Guard later on) in the front and Archers in the back is incredibly cost-effective and will win most early-game battles with ease.
73. High Elves (Tip): Influence and Intrigue. Use the “Intrigue” mechanic to manipulate diplomatic relations between other factions. You can turn two of your rivals against each other, allowing you to pick off the victor.
74. Dark Elves (Tip): Fuel Your Economy with Slaves. The Dark Elf economy is powered by slaves captured in battle. Manage your slave population carefully across your provinces to maximize your income without causing rebellions.
75. Dark Elves (Tip): The Power of Black Arks. Black Arks are mobile sea-based settlements. They can recruit units, replenish forces, and provide devastating orbital bombardments in battles that take place near the coast. Always have them supporting your land armies.
76. Wood Elves (Tip): Fight in the Trees. Wood Elf units receive significant combat bonuses when fighting inside forests. Always try to choose a battlefield with tree cover and lure the enemy into an ambush. Many of their archer units can also fire while moving, making them excellent skirmishers.
77. Dwarfs (Tip): The Unbreakable Box. The Dwarfs are the ultimate defensive faction. They are slow and have no cavalry. Your best tactic is to form a “Dwarf Box,” with your tough, high-armor infantry protecting your flanks and rear, while your powerful Quarrellers, Thunderers, and artillery obliterate the enemy from the center.
78. Dwarfs (Tip): Settle Your Grudges. The Book of Grudges provides missions that, when completed, grant powerful rewards. Failing to settle grudges results in penalties. Always prioritize completing your grudge objectives.
79. Dwarfs (Tip): Malakai’s Adventures. The Thrones of Decay lord Malakai Makaisson has a unique “Adventures” mechanic. Completing these missions unlocks powerful upgrades for your artillery and war machines, including devastating Grape Shot for your cannons.

The Green Tide & The Great Maw

80. Greenskins (Tip): Always Be WAAAGH!-ing. The Greenskins’ signature mechanic, the WAAAGH!, allows you to generate a secondary AI-controlled army that attaches to your main force. Time your WAAAGH! to coincide with a major offensive to overwhelm your enemies with sheer numbers.
81. Greenskins (Tip): Grimgor is Da Best. As a tip and a warning, the Legendary Lord Grimgor Ironhide is one of the most powerful melee combatants in the game. If you are playing as him, send him to fight the toughest enemies. If you are fighting against him, focus-fire him with all your ranged units.
82. Ogre Kingdoms (Tip): Manage Your Meat. Ogre armies consume a resource called Meat each turn. If you run out, your armies will suffer heavy attrition. Gain meat from battles and by keeping your armies within the radius of an Ogre Camp.
83. Ogre Kingdoms (Tip): Camps are Your Cities. Ogre settlements can only be built up to tier 3. Your true power comes from Ogre Camps, which are like mobile settlements that can be placed anywhere on the map and built up to tier 5, unlocking your most powerful units.
84. Ogre Kingdoms (Tip): Leadbelchers are Key. The Leadbelcher unit is one of the Ogre Kingdoms’ greatest assets. These are powerful, short-range gunpowder units that can shred both infantry and large targets. Protect them and let them fire.

The Undying Hordes

85. Vampire Counts (Tip): Your Infantry is Trash, Your Monsters are Gods. You have no ranged units. Your strategy is to swarm the enemy with cheap, disposable Skeleton and Zombie infantry while your powerful Vampire Lords, heroes, and monstrous units like Vargheists and Terrorgheists do the actual killing.
86. Vampire Counts (Tip): Zero-Upkeep Skeletons. Through research, you can reduce the upkeep of Skeleton Spearmen and Warriors to zero. This allows you to field dozens of full armies for a pittance, overwhelming the map with a tide of bone.
87. Vampire Counts (Tip): Raise the Dead. After a large battle, a sigil will appear on the campaign map. Your faction can use the “Raise Dead” ability on this site to instantly recruit high-tier units, bypassing the need for expensive buildings.
88. Vampire Coast (Tip): Gunpowder and Zombies. The Vampire Coast combines the disposable infantry of the Vampire Counts with powerful gunpowder units. Use a frontline of Zombie Deckhands to bog down the enemy while your Zombie Gunnery Mobs and artillery pieces like the Queen Bess blow them to pieces.
89. Tomb Kings (Tip): No Upkeep, Limited Numbers. Tomb King armies cost no gold in upkeep. However, the number of units you can recruit is limited by the number of military buildings you have constructed across your empire. Your strategy is to protect your valuable, high-tier constructs with hordes of disposable Skeleton infantry.

Children of Chaos

90. Warriors of Chaos (Tip): The Path to Glory. The reworked Warriors of Chaos are about upgrading units. Your humble Marauders will gain experience and can be upgraded into Chaos Warriors, and eventually into mighty Chosen, marked by a specific Chaos God.
91. Warriors of Chaos (Tip): Focus on Dark Fortresses. Your faction can only construct its most powerful buildings in special Dark Fortress settlements. Conquering and holding these locations is the key to unlocking your full potential. Give all other minor settlements to your vassals.
92. Khorne (Tip): Blood for the Blood God! Khorne has no magic users. Your gameplay is pure, unrelenting aggression. The “Bloodletting” army ability rewards you for constantly fighting, so never let your armies sit idle. Your Legendary Lord, Skarbrand, is a one-daemon wrecking crew who can solo entire armies once leveled up.
93. Nurgle (Tip): Inevitable and Unkillable. Nurgle is slow but incredibly durable. Your units have massive health pools and regeneration. The best tactic is to “blob” your units together around your heroes, creating an unkillable mass that grinds the enemy down through attrition and plague-spreading spells.
94. Tzeentch (Tip): Magic, Missiles, and Barrier. Tzeentch units are protected by a magical “Barrier” that recharges when out of combat. Use hit-and-run tactics with your ranged units to trade effectively, letting your barrier absorb damage before pulling back to recharge. On the campaign map, use the “Changing of the Ways” to perform unique actions like stealing settlements or forcing factions into war.
95. Slaanesh (Tip): Speed is Your Weapon. Slaanesh is the fastest, most micro-intensive faction in the game. Your units are “glass cannons”—they hit hard but cannot take a punch. Your strategy must revolve around speed, flanking, and avoiding a direct head-on engagement.
96. Slaanesh (Tip): Seduce Your Enemies. Before a battle begins, you can spend “Seductive Influence” to take temporary control of one or more enemy units. Use this to turn their powerful artillery or cavalry against them.
97. Daemons of Chaos (Tip): Create Your Own Roster. The Daemons of Chaos faction, led by the Daemon Prince, is fully customizable. By dedicating captured settlements to a specific Chaos God, you gain “Daemonic Glory,” which you can spend to unlock units, heroes, and body parts from that god’s roster, allowing you to create the ultimate undivided army.

The Eastern Empires

98. Grand Cathay (Tip): Maintain Harmony. Grand Cathay’s core mechanic is Harmony. You receive powerful buffs when you have an equal number of Yin (melee) and Yang (ranged) units near each other. Always build your armies and position them in battle to maintain this balance.
99. Grand Cathay (Tip): The Bastion is Your Shield. The Great Bastion is a critical defensive line. Keep its threat level low by defeating Kurgan warbands that spawn to the north. A fully upgraded Bastion gate provides massive upkeep reductions for the army garrisoned there.
100. Grand Cathay (Tip): Caravans for Profit. Send out Ivory Road caravans as often as possible. They are a major source of income and provide diplomatic bonuses with the factions they trade with.
101. Chaos Dwarfs (Tip): Master the Infernal Economy. The Chaos Dwarfs have the most complex economy in Total War: Warhammer III, revolving around three resources: Labour (gained from captives), Raw Materials (mined by Labour), and Armaments (produced from Raw Materials). Keep these three resources in balance to fuel your war machine.
102. Chaos Dwarfs (Tip): Hobgoblins are Your Anvil. Your Chaos Dwarf units are elite and expensive. In the early and mid-game, use cheap Hobgoblin infantry as your frontline to hold the enemy in place for your devastating Blunderbuss and Fireglaive gunpowder units.
103. Chaos Dwarfs (Tip): Use Convoys for Labour. Just like Cathay, you have a convoy system. Use it primarily to trade for Labour, as this is the most efficient way to keep your mines and factories running at peak efficiency.

Part IV: The Path to Legend – Advanced Concepts & Secrets

You have mastered the fundamentals of empire and the art of war. You understand the unique ways of every race. Now, it is time to learn the secrets—the deep strategies and hidden mechanics that will elevate your command to a legendary status.

Total War: Warhammer III Doomstacks & Army Supremacy

A “doomstack” is a late-game army composition so powerful and optimized that it becomes nearly unbeatable, capable of defeating multiple enemy armies with minimal losses.

104. Hero Stacks. One of the most powerful (and cheesiest) doomstacks involves filling an army with 19 heroes of the same type. Skaven Warlock Engineers, High Elf Mages, or Vampire Count Necromancers can unleash an apocalyptic amount of magic. Wood Elf Waystalkers can stack leadership debuffs to instantly rout an entire enemy army.
105. Single-Entity Monster Stacks. An army composed entirely of powerful single-entity monsters is incredibly strong, especially in auto-resolve. Examples include a Cathayan army of 19 Terracotta Sentinels, a Nurgle army of Soul Grinders, or a Lizardmen army of Stegadons. They are durable, cause terror, and have immense mass to break through enemy lines.
106. Sisters of Avelorn Stack (High Elves). An army composed of a life mage, a few heroes to act as a frontline, and 15+ units of Sisters of Avelorn is a classic doomstack. Their magical, armor-piercing arrows will melt anything that approaches.
107. Shades Stack (Dark Elves). An army of Shades with Greatswords is a nightmare to face. They have stalk, allowing them to sneak up on the enemy, and they are devastating at both range and in melee.
108. Skaven Weapons Team Stack. A frontline of a few Plague Priest heroes summoning rats to bog down the enemy, backed by a line of 8 Ratling Guns and 8 Plagueclaw Catapults, will delete armies before they can even cross the map.
109. Steam Tank Stack (The Empire). An army led by a Master Engineer and composed of multiple Steam Tanks is a slow-moving but nearly indestructible fortress. The combination of armor, mobility, and firepower is overwhelming for most AI armies.

Secrets of the Old World: Hidden Mechanics You Need to Know

The world of Total War: Warhammer III is full of hidden tricks and non-obvious mechanics that can give you a significant edge.

110. Trait Farming. You can acquire powerful traits for your lords by defeating specific Legendary Lords in battle. A more devious method is to intentionally have one of your lords be defeated by a target lord. If your lord is immortal, they will return in a few turns with the new trait. For example, being defeated by Isabella von Carstein can grant your lord the “Regeneration” trait.
111. Rebellion Farming. In a province with high public order buildings and a strong garrison, you can intentionally cause rebellions by raiding your own province or setting taxes to high. Defeating the rebel army that spawns every few turns is a fantastic and reliable source of gold, magic items, and experience for your lords.
112. Third-Person Control. Select any single-entity unit (a lord, hero, or monster) and press the INSERT key. This will switch you to a direct, third-person control mode. You can use this to manually aim artillery for extra range or to carefully maneuver your lord out of a dangerous blob of enemies.
113. Change Reinforcement Entry Points. On the pre-battle deployment screen, if you have reinforcing armies, you can drag their flag icons on the minimap. This allows you to change the edge of the map where they will arrive, though it may increase the time it takes for them to appear. This is crucial for preventing your reinforcements from arriving right on top of the enemy army.
114. Capture Enemy Artillery. If you are fighting an army of the same race, you have a small chance to capture one of their artillery pieces at the end of the battle. To be eligible, you must completely wipe out the enemy artillery crew (not just make them rout) and have an empty unit slot in your own army.
115. Demolish Before Abandoning. If you plan to abandon a settlement, demolish all of its buildings first. You will receive a partial refund for each demolished building. If you simply abandon the settlement, you lose out on this extra gold.
116. Free Units from Quests. Many quests and events will grant you units for free. You can accept these units even if your army is full. The new unit will be added to your recruitment pool, allowing you to recruit it instantly at any time in the future for no cost.
117. Global Recruitment and Buildings. For every 10 of the same military recruitment building you own faction-wide, the global recruitment time for units from that building is reduced by one turn.
118. Steal Immortal Heroes. If you borrow an allied army that contains an immortal hero (level 20+), you can intentionally get that army killed in a battle. When the hero recovers from their wounds, they will join your hero pool instead of returning to your ally.
119. Quick About-Face. Pressing “J” causes a selected unit to instantly turn 180 degrees. This is much faster than ordering them to move to a new position and is perfect for reacting to flankers.
120. View Hidden Unit Stats. During a battle, pressing the “I” key will bring up detailed stat sheets for any unit you mouse over, showing all active buffs, debuffs, and abilities. This is essential for understanding why a particular engagement is being won or lost.

Conclusion: Your Saga Begins

You have reached the end of this chronicle, commander, but your own journey is just beginning. The wisdom contained within these pages is a powerful weapon, but it is useless without a hand to wield it. You now possess the knowledge of campaign strategy, battlefield tactics, and the hidden secrets of this world. You understand the fundamental principles of war and how to adapt them to the unique nature of every faction that marches under the grim skies of Total War: Warhammer III.

But there is one final, crucial lesson.

121. Embrace Failure. You will lose battles. You will lose settlements. You may even lose entire campaigns. Do not see this as defeat, but as a lesson from the harshest and most effective of teachers. Analyze your losses. Understand your mistakes. The greatest sagas are not tales of unbroken victory; they are tales of resilience, of learning from adversity, and of rising from the ashes to achieve ultimate triumph.

The Chronicle of Command is now closed. Go forth, and write your own.

Disclaimer: This is an unofficial fan work, all trademarks and copyrights for Total War: Warhammer III belong to the developer CREATIVE ASSEMBLY, Feral Interactive.

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