Total Warriors,
If you're marching into the world of Total War: WARHAMMER for the very first time, welcome to the apocalypse.
With Lords of the End Times, there's never been a more exciting moment to join the fight. Whether you're drawn to the undead legions of Nagash, the cunning schemes of Thanquol, the heroic armies of Boris Todbringer, or the plague-ridden hordes of the Glottkin, a single purchase is now enough to begin your journey into Immortal Empires, Total War: WARHAMMER's colossal sandbox campaign.
After more than a decade of conquest, the Total War: WARHAMMER trilogy now spans three games, dozens of DLC packs, hundreds of units, and years of free content. With so much to explore, it’s understandable if you’re wondering where to begin.
To help, we've put together answers to some of the most common questions from players entering the world through Lords of the End Times.
What is Total War: WARHAMMER?
Total War: WARHAMMER is a fantasy strategy game set in the Warhammer world. It combines a turn-based campaign, where you build and manage an empire, recruit armies, conduct diplomacy, and conquer territory, with large-scale real-time battles where you command soldiers, monsters, Heroes, and powerful magic.
Do I need to own Total War: WARHAMMER I, II, or III to play Lords of the End Times?
No.
Purchasing any Lords of the End Times DLC packs gives you access to the Immortal Empires campaign. For new players, Lords of the End Times functions as your base game in the same way as Total War: WARHAMMER I, II, or III, so you do not need to own any of those games separately unless you want to access extra gameplay content.
What is Immortal Empires?
Immortal Empires is Total War: WARHAMMER's flagship sandbox campaign.
It combines the maps, races, Legendary Lords, and locations from across the trilogy into a single enormous campaign map, allowing players to build empires, forge alliances, betray rivals, and wage war across the entire Warhammer world.
What is a base game, DLC, and Free-LC
A base game is a foundational entry in the Total War: WARHAMMER trilogy: Total War: WARHAMMER, Total War: WARHAMMER II, or Total War: WARHAMMER III. Each includes its own playable races, Legendary Lords, units, and campaign content.
DLC stands for downloadable content. It adds new playable content to the trilogy, such as Legendary Lords, races, units, and campaign features. Usually, DLC expands a game you already own; however, any Lords of the End Times pack can also serve as your entry point into Immortal Empires, so you do not need to own Total War: WARHAMMER I, II, or III first.
Free-LC stands for Free Downloadable Content. It includes additional Legendary Lords, units, Heroes, features, and other content released at no extra cost. Free-LC is usually unlocked when you own access to the race it is associated with.
What do I get when I purchase a Lords of the End Times pack if I’m a new player?
Each character grants:
- That Legendary Lord
- Their new units and gameplay features
- A core roster of units from the race of the Legendary Lord you’re playing as
- Any Free-LC content associated with that character’s race
- The Immortal Empires campaign
- The Total War: WARHAMMER III Prologue campaign
- Bretonnia as a playable race in Immortal Empires, including its four Legendary Lords
What's the difference between buying one Legendary Lord and buying the full bundle?
Buying an individual Legendary Lord pack lets you try one before deciding whether to purchase more content.
Buying the complete Lords of the End Times bundle gives you all four Legendary Lords and all of their associated content, with a 15% bundle discount.
Which of the Lords of the End Times content would you recommend as a good starting point for my collection?
That depends entirely on how you like to play. If you…
- Want to get a feel for the game while defending the Empire of Man through heroic actions, and classic fantasy warfare? Start with Boris Todbringer.
- Prefer plotting cunning schemes with high risks and rewards? Start with Thanquol.
- Prefer plague-ridden armies that slowly grind enemies into submission? Start with The Glottkin and destroy the world.
- Wish to ascend to godhood with untold power, arcane magic and undead armies? Start with Nagash.
For a closer look at how each Legendary Lord plays, check out our gameplay overviews:
Which Legendary Lord from Lords of the End Times is best for new players?
Our recommended character for new players is, Boris Todbringer.
His campaign revolves around fighting off invaders, growing his forces, and receiving blessings from the wolf god Ulric that allow his armies to fight with added fervour. Likewise, his Empire-based roster offers a well-balanced mix of infantry, cavalry, artillery, and magic, making him an excellent way to learn the core battle systems of Total War.
Do I get access to the full Immortal Empires map?
Yes.
All players entering through Lords of the End Times have access to the same complete Immortal Empires campaign map as existing Total War: WARHAMMER players.
From the embattled cities of the Old World and the frozen northern wastes to the deserts of Nehekhara, the jungles of Lustria, and the distant kingdoms of Grand Cathay, the entire Warhammer world is open to conquer. Wherever you begin, you’ll encounter rival empires, monstrous hordes, ancient settlements, and legendary enemies as you forge your own path through this cataclysmic world.
Can I fight against races and Legendary Lords I don't own?
Yes.
Every race and Legendary Lord is present in Immortal Empires, whether you own them or not. You can encounter them as AI-controlled factions, fight alongside or against them, forge alliances, negotiate treaties, and interact with them throughout your campaign.
Ownership only determines which races and Legendary Lords you can play as; it does not remove anything from the campaign world.
Can I purchase all DLC individually?
Yes.
Once you own any Total War: WARHAMMER game or DLC, you can expand your collection by purchasing any other game or DLC from across the trilogy separately.
Some newer DLC packs offer additional flexibility, allowing you to purchase an individual Legendary Lord and their associated content separately, rather than buying the full pack.
Can I play with friends who own different DLC?
Yes.
Players can enjoy multiplayer campaigns and battles even if they own different collections of content.
The races and Legendary Lords available to each player are determined by what they personally own.
What is Free-LC?
Free-LC stands for Free Downloadable Content.
Over the years we've released a wide range of free Legendary Lords, units, Heroes, features, and other content to Total War: WARHAMMER. These additions are associated with specific races and factions.
How do I access the free content that has been given away over the years?
Free-LC is unlocked automatically when you own content for the race it belongs to.
This means you need either a game or a DLC pack that gives you access to that race.
For example, if you wanted to access High Elf Free-LC such as the Legendary Lords Alith Anar or Imrik, you would need to own either Total War: WARHAMMER II or a DLC such as The Queen & the Crone, The Warden & The Paunch, or Sea Lord Aislinn from Tides of Torment.
Owning one race does not automatically unlock Free-LC content from unrelated races.
Do I automatically unlock all Free-LC content when I enter Immortal Empires?
You will gain access to some free content based on the races you own, but not all Free-LC content.
Every player receives Bretonnia for free, giving you another playable race with four Legendary Lords.
All other Free-LC is linked to race ownership, so you will only unlock free Legendary Lords, units, and factions for races you have access to.
How does DLC ownership work in Immortal Empires?
Any Total War: WARHAMMER game or DLC you own unlocks its associated playable races and Legendary Lords in Immortal Empires. You can also purchase DLC from earlier games without owning the game it was originally released for.
Previously released Free-LC is generally tied to ownership of the relevant race, and all content must be owned on the same platform. For a complete breakdown of which content unlocks each race and Legendary Lord, see SEGA Support's Immortal Empires DLC Ownership Guide.
Which Legendary Lord offers the most content?
Nagash offers more content than any other individual character released across the Total War: WARHAMMER trilogy, providing access to units from the Tomb Kings, Vampire Counts, and Vampire Coast rosters. Purchasing him also unlocks Neferata for free, an additional playable Legendary Lord for the Vampire Counts.
I've purchased Lords of the End Times. Is there any other content you'd recommend for a new player?
Our advice is simple: follow the characters, races, and themes that appeal to you most.
The Total War: WARHAMMER trilogy offers over 100 unique Legendary Lord experiences, so there's no single "correct" next purchase. If you've enjoyed your first campaign, there are plenty of popular options to explore next.
Before buying anything else, Bretonnia may be the best place to start. The full race and its four Legendary Lords are completely free to all players with access to Immortal Empires, making it an easy way to try a classic campaign built around heroic knights, powerful cavalry charges, and chivalry.
Beyond them, suggestions from the development team include:
- Tyrion: One of the most popular Legendary Lords in the series, offering a balanced High Elf roster and a straightforward campaign that's easy to learn. Included with the Total War: WARHAMMER II base game.
- Zhao Ming: A strong introduction to Grand Cathay, combining powerful armies with a forgiving and approachable campaign experience. Included with the Total War: WARHAMMER III base game.
- Helman Ghorst: A great entry point for players interested in the undead, leading vast hordes of resilient troops backed by dark magic. Available through The Grim and the Grave DLC.
- Ikit Claw: A fan favourite Skaven character who specialises in destructive technology, bizarre inventions, and some of the most devastating weapons in the game (spoilers: it’s a nuke!). Available through The Prophet & The Warlock DLC.
- Malakai Makaisson: A unique Dwarf campaign packed with engineering marvels, powerful war machines, and globe-spanning adventures. Available through the Malakai – Thrones of Decay DLC.
- Golgfag Maneater: A highly mobile Ogre Kingdoms campaign that encourages exploration, mercenary contracts, and fighting battles all over the world. Available through the Golgfag – Omens of Destruction DLC.
It's also worth remembering that many fan-favourite Legendary Lords are available as Free-LC once you own content for the appropriate race. Characters such as Imrik (High Elves), Arbaal the Undefeated (Khorne), and The Masque (Slaanesh) remain popular choices within the community and are well worth trying as your collection grows.
What should I buy next if I enjoy a particular race?
The best approach is usually to continue investing in content associated with your favourite race.
Doing so expands your available units, Legendary Lords, campaign experiences, and Free-LC content while building on mechanics you're already familiar with.
Are there any guides that can help me learn to play the game?
The Total War: WARHAMMER III Prologue campaign is the best place to start.
The Prologue is an in-game campaign designed to teach you the basics of Total War: WARHAMMER III as you follow a Kislevite prince on his journey into the Realm of Chaos.
Beyond this, make sure to check out some YouTube guides created by talented members of our Content Creator community, the Total War Wiki, and hubs such as the Total War forums.
Do I need to know Warhammer lore before playing?
Not at all.
While Warhammer fans will recognise many of the characters, locations, and rivalries, Total War: WARHAMMER is designed so that new players can jump in and enjoy the experience without any prior knowledge of the setting.
What is the difference between a Race, Faction, and Legendary Lord?
- Race: A major civilisation or culture, such as the Empire, Skaven, Vampire Counts, or Dwarfs.
- Faction: A specific playable group within a race, such as Reikland, led by Karl Franz.
- Legendary Lord: The unique character who leads a faction, such as Boris Todbringer, Thanquol, Nagash, or the Glottkin.