Free DLCs with Races and Leaders
Total War: Warhammer 1 and 2 both additionally offer free DLCs with additional races and leaders on their shop page. You must get these directly from the respective pages on Steam. Once you have added the free DLCs to your account, you can also use them in Warhammer 3. You do not need the original part, only part 3.
Bretonnia (complete faction)
- included in the DLC Bretonnia (in German, the faction is written with only one N)
- Strengths: diplomacy and economy
- armies consist of cheap peasants and expensive knights
- must maintain a “peasant economy” to avoid maluses: too many peasants at arms weaken the economy
- gain bonuses through chivalrous behavior and penalties through unchivalrous behavior
- has various researches that enhance or weaken diplomacy with other factions and provide advantages in battle
- can enter into confederations with other Bretonnia factions through research and special missions
Additional Legendary Commanders
- Isabella von Carstein (Vampire Lords) in Total War: Warhammer 1
- Wurrzag (Greenskins) in Total War: Warhammer 1
- Grombrindal (Dwarves) in Total War: Warhammer 1
- Imrik (High Elves) in Total War: Warhammer 2
- Althir Anar (High Elves) in Total War: Warhammer 2
- Repanse de Lyonesse (Bretonnia) in Total War: Warhammer 2
- Gor-Rok (Lizardmen) in Total War: Warhammer 2
- Tiktaq’to (Lizardmen) in Total War: Warhammer 2
- Lokir Darkheart (Dark Elves) in Total War: Warhammer 2
- Rakarth (Dark Elves) in Total War: Warhammer 2
- Tretch Feigschwanz (Skaven) in Total War: Warhammer 2
- Thorek Eisenstirn (Dwarves) in Total War: Warhammer 2
Additional Heroes
- Grey Wizard (Empire), DLC: Grey Wizard in Total War: Warhammer 1
- Jade Wizard (Empire), DLC: Jade Wizard in Total War: Warhammer 1
- Chieftain (Skaven), DLC: Skaven Chieftain in Total War: Warhammer 1
Tips for Beginners
The game suggests starting with the High Elves, the Empire, and the Grand Empire Cathay, all of which are excellent for beginners, but particularly:
- Emperor Karl Franz (Empire)
- Elspeth von Draken (Vampire Lords)
- Tyrion (High Elves)
- Imrik (High Elves)
- Miao Ying (Cathay)
- Zhao Ming (Cathay)
With all these factions, you are relatively safe from major wars on all fronts and have at least some allies who can support you or share the same foe. They all come with strong military, decent diplomacy, and not overly complicated economy.
However, there are also some commanders in these armies that are not suitable for beginners as they start in extremely dangerous areas or difficult situations:
- Alarielle the Radiant (High Elves)
- Eltharion the Grim (High Elves)
- Teclis (High Elves)
- Markus Wulfhart (Empire)
- Yuan Bo (Cathay)
If you prefer combat, the Beastmen are a suitable choice. Here you don’t have to pay much attention to settlement construction and can focus fully on combat. Especially if you are trying to learn real-time battles, the Beastmen are a good choice.
If you want to take your time, you should consider the Dwarves. Here you have particularly strong units in the early stages, as very few factions have armor-piercing weapons at the start. It is unlikely that you will be decisively defeated in most cases.
However, you should stay away from Nurgle. This faction is considered extremely complicated and generally rather weak with all its commanders. It takes almost twice as long to assemble decent armies while all others are already ahead, and even then you are barely at the same level.
The economy is sluggish and blocks you for many rounds in which you cannot do much. Especially in multiplayer, this can quickly become boring. Not a good faction for beginners, even though the mechanic reflects the strength of the god well: All chaos gods in Warhammer 40,000 ranked – Who is the most powerful?
