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The Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs DLC brings the first brand-new race to Total War: Warhammer 3 since the game's release. Of the three Chaos Dwarf Legendary Lords in the expansion, only Zhatan the Black starts outside the Dark Lands proper in the Immortal Empires campaign of Total War: Warhammer 3. Instead, he begins the game in the Province of Stonesky Foothills, sandwiched between the Chaos Wastes, the Mountains of Mourn, and the Great Bastion of Cathay.
With two Settlements already under his control at the start of the game, Zhatan the Black players should be able to capture the Fortress of Eyes and complete the Province on turn 1. After wiping out the Khazag Warriors of Chaos, players must then make a choice between heading west to capture more Labourers from the Greenskins and Ogres of the mountains, or east to challenge the Great Bastion of Cathay.
Labourers and Industry
Despite his separation from the traditional Chaos Dwarf homelands, Zhatan the Black still relies on the relentless industry of Labourers to drive his economy and his armies. Zhatan's personal army has a +15% bonus to captives captured after battles, granting him even more fodder for the forges. Once captured, Labourers can be set to work in Outposts, one of the three Settlement types that Chaos Dwarfs can choose between whenever they take territory:
- Towers - The primary recruitment Settlements of the Chaos Dwarfs, but can only be constructed in Province capitals.
- Outposts - Produce Raw Materials through the Mines building, only working at maximum efficiency if they have more Labourers than their Workload.
- Factories - Convert Raw Materials into Armaments or income.
Unlike fellow Chaos Dwarf Astragoth Ironhand, Zhatan the Black should aim for an early balance of Settlement types in his starting Province, turning the Fortress of Eyes into a Factory to work with the existing Tower and Outpost. Any gaps in the production line, whether Labourers, Raw Materials, or Armaments, can be made up for by utilizing Zhatan's extra Convoy capacity.
Convoys and the Tower of Zharr
To supplement the Labourer economy, Chaos Dwarf players can also dispatch Military Convoys to distant lands to trade in Gold, Labourers, Raw Materials, or Armaments, much like the Caravans of Grand Cathay. Zhatan the Black gets a +1 bonus to Convoy Capacity, allowing him to boost whichever resources he lacks in the early game, and gain some unique bonuses along the way. Unfortunately, Zhatan players will likely have some difficulty getting their Convoys out safely until they've dealt with Grimgor Ironhide, as his territory encompasses most of the major Convoy routes to the west.
With a growing economy and hopefully expanding territory, Zhatan players will soon be able to compete for one of the seats in the Tower of Zharr. A representation of the fractious politics of the Dawi Zharr, the Tower allows all Chaos Dwarf factions to buy seats using Conclave Influence, unlocking unique bonuses.
Seats are divided into three Districts, each of which grants an additional bonus to all Chaos Dwarf factions when completed. Completing two Districts on the same level unlocks the next level of the Tower, where the seats offer even more powerful bonuses, with the final level granting confederation of powerful NPC factions.
Recruitment and the Hell-Forge
The most consistent way to earn Conclave Influence is through conquering new lands, meaning players will need to master and maintain strong Chaos Dwarf armies. Unlike most factions in Total War: Warhammer 3, all high-tier Chaos Dwarf units have limited capacities, and players must make up the rest of their armies using cannon-fodder Labourers and Hobgoblin vassals.
These capacities can be increased by spending Armaments in the Hell-Forge, a process which will also unlock new bonuses to apply to those units in the Manufactory. The Manufactory bonuses allow players to heavily customize their Chaos Dwarf armies, though at the cost of a fixed number of Armaments per turn.
Zhatan the Black on the Battlefield
Chaos Dwarf armies are focused around an elite defensive core with a lot of firepower, supported by Labourers, Hobgoblins, and monstrous units like Bull Centaurs and K'Daai. To make up for their limited numbers compared to their uncorrupted kin, Chaos Dwarf factions also have access to powerful magic and cavalry units, allowing them a lot more flexibility. Their armies are also among the most customizable in Total War: Warhammer 3, with strategies ranging from all-out assault to defensive turtle made possible through the Manufactory's upgrades.
Zhatan the Black players should make sure to take advantage of his artillery focus when planning their armies, as cheaper Deathshrieker Rocket Launchers and Dreadquake Mortars can give each of his Lords a decisive ranged advantage. Chaos Dwarf artillery is among the most powerful in Total War: Warhammer 3, and with good positioning can easily decide a battle before the first axe is swung.
Total War: Warhammer 3 is out now for PC.