Total War: Warhammer 3has arrived, taking the series to the frozen tundra of Kislev, the madness of the Chaos Realms, and the lands of distant Cathay for the first time. TheTotal War: Warhammertrilogy has been a huge success for both developers Creative Assembly and franchise owners Games Workshop. Now,Total War: Warhammer 3gives players can battle through the epic conclusion to the trilogy as one of eight new factions.
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The most familiar of these new nations inTotal War: Warhammer 3is Kislev, the Warhammer world’s equivalent of Russia and Eastern Europe. Players who pick Kislev will be able to choose between two Legendary Lords and their respective factions: either Tzarina Katarin and her Ice Court, or Supreme Patriarch Kostaltyn and his Great Orthodoxy. This choice will make some fairly major changes to how the campaign will go, and what players need to do. The Ice Court of Tzarina Katarin is a place of powerful magic, where the embattled queen struggles to retain the support of her people in the wake of her father’s disappearance.
The Motherland
The first of Katarin’sturn-based campaignmechanics is the Motherland, which tracks her support among the people of Kislev, as well as their support of her rival Kostaltyn. Katarin can increase the Motherland’s support byspending Devotion on offerings to the four gods of Kislev, each of which gives a special bonus on top. She can also spend Devotion or Coin to decrease Kostaltyn’s supporters. Devotion is primarily earned by defeating Chaos-aligned forces, as well as by executing Chaos captives. However, it can also be gained through various Buildings, Events, Hero Actions, and Technologies.
Once Katarin reaches the maximum number of supporters, she’ll gain some huge bonuses and instantly confederate Kostaltyn, making this a key goal for the unification of Kislev. Players looking to quickly restore the Motherland should considermaking allies with the Empire nations to the south,then focus their attention on the north, whereChaos-infested Norscaoffers many opportunities to farm Devotion.
The Atamans
Each time Katarin secures two complete provinces, she’ll be able to assign an Ataman to help govern one. An Ataman isa special kind of Lordthat focuses on management rather than battle, boosting Income, Growth, Control, and reducing Corruption in their assigned province. Atamans don’t gain XP like other Lords, but can gain new traits through events.
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An Ataman can be freely called up to lead an army like a regular Lord, but will not have aunique starting trait, and will not benefit their province while on campaign. Atamans are essential for keeping the unruly lands of Kislev under control, so players should verify to always assign them to troublesome cities when possible.
The Ice Court
Unlike otherfactions inTotal War: Warhammer 3, Kislev must train their Ice-magic users at the Ice Court before they can be deployed on the battlefield. Both Frost Maiden Heroes and Ice Witch Lords will need to be sent to the Ice Court for training, allowing players to shape their traits.
Katarin’s+3 to Frost Maiden recruit rank and -2 to Ice Court training durationmean that she’ll want to make frequent use of this mechanic, which can be unlocked through the Tech tree. Well-trained casters can be devastating on the battlefield, burying the strongest of theChaos Gods' disciplesbeneath the Lores of Ice and Tempest.
Katarin In Battle
Katarin’s forces embrace the power of the Kislev winter to defeat their enemies. Players should attempt to have awizard in every battle. The slowing power of Ice and Tempest magic work perfectly with Kislev’s versatile roster of hybrid infantry and devastating shock cavalry.
While Frost Maidens bog the enemy down in snow and ice, Kossars can fire volleys of devastating arrows and bullets before charging into melee. Fast, powerful cavalry units like the Winger Hussars and Gryphon Legion should be used to crush exposed flanks and distracted enemies, while War Bear Riders deal with cavalry and monsters. Katarin’s own army receives a massive-50% upkeep reduction for Ice Guards,so players should bring enough of the elite unit to bury their enemies beneath storms of magical arrows and frost-imbued blades.
