Starting positions of the Chaos Dwarfs in Total War: Warhammer 3
The Chaos Dwarfs are a dark and mysterious race that players can finally take control of in the upcoming DLC. With the addition of the Chaos Dwarfs, players can further explore the dark and twisted world of Warhammer and experience a truly unique take on the traditional Dwarf archetype.
Known as Dawi-Zharr in their own language, the Chaos Dwarfs are a menacing force to be reckoned with. These evil Dwarfs have long since separated themselves from their kin in the west, and have turned to worship the malevolent god Hashut, who rules over fire, darkness, and industry. Their empire lies in the treacherous Dark Lands, situated east of the World’s Edge Mountains but west of the Mountains of Mourn. This unforgiving terrain is dry and volcanic, but rich in precious minerals. From their capital of Zharr Naggrund, the Chaos Dwarfs venture forth to capture slaves to work in their mines, including Orcs and Hobgoblins. It is through the use of their foundries that they combine magic and technology to create daemon-possessed war machines and other monstrous abominations.
What sets the Chaos Dwarfs apart from their Dwarven brethren is their ability to cast spells. They have spellcasters who can wield magic, but this comes at a great cost. With each use of magical power, Chaos Dwarf spellcasters steadily turn to stone. This is a testament to their willingness to sacrifice everything in order to gain power and control over the forces of the Warhammer world.
The three playable factions each add their own campaign goals and mechanics to the game. We now have confirmed starting positions for the three legendary lords of the Chaos Dwarfs in both the Realms of Chaos and Immortal Empires campaigns. Let’s take a look at them below.
Astragoth starting positions
- Immortal Empires: Uzkulak
When beginning your campaign as Astragoth Ironhand in either the Realm of Chaos or Immortal Empires, you will find yourself situated in the northern regions of the Darklands. As a result, you will need to prepare for battles against Katheryn and her troops, but Valkyr could potentially serve as an ally. In addition, you will also be surrounded by a number of Ogres, who could prove to be formidable opponents.
Despite the challenges that come with starting in this location, it does offer a thrilling and dynamic campaign experience for players who crave intensity. Furthermore, the Immortal Empires map is similar in many ways to the Realm of Chaos map, featuring your starting point in virtually the same location. The primary differences lie in the specific factions and enemies you will encounter in each campaign.
In both the Immortal Empires and Realm of Chaos maps, you will be situated in the middle of the action, with Archeon to the north and Kislev to the west. Thus, you will need to be prepared for battles against these factions, especially Kislev, which is likely to be your first major enemy. Additionally, you will need to be vigilant against minor factions that could pose a threat, such as the Vampire Counts and Tretch.
In terms of location specifics, Astragoth Ironhand will begin his campaign northwest of Zharr-Naggrund, close to several Orc and Dwarf factions as well as Kislev. As you establish your foothold in the region, you will have the opportunity to bully these factions into providing you with valuable free labor forces. Additionally, you will be able to ally with and trade with various Chaos factions, which could provide you with a significant advantage as you expand your reach and seek to dominate the region.
Drazhoath starting positions
- Realms of Chaos: Black Fortress and Flayed Rock
- Immortal Empires: Black Fortress
The campaign featuring Drazhoath the Ashen presents an interesting challenge, as the player is confronted with a diverse set of enemies from the very start. High Elves, Skaven, Ogres, Vampires, and Nurgle’s favored daemons are all vying for supremacy in the game world, making it difficult to establish a foothold. Note that the path leading north to Zharr-Naggrund is easier to travel, which might encourage a comeback from Drazhoath.
In the Realm of Chaos campaign, players are presented with a more defensive position, as they only need to deal with Ghost and the Lizardman faction. However, once they have dealt with these threats, they are free to expand in any direction they choose. This makes for a relatively easy campaign, as players can take their time and build up their forces before engaging in any major conflicts.
On the other hand, the Immortal Empires campaign presents a much more challenging experience. While the opposition is the same as in the Realm of Chaos campaign, everything is now open, meaning players have a lot of enemies to contend with. Imrik is particularly aggressive and can pose a major threat to the player’s forces. Ghost is also a significant problem, as they form large empires and can be very hyper aggressive.
Despite these challenges, players can still find opportunities for growth and expansion. For example, the River Ruin is now accessible by ship, opening up new possibilities for exploration and conquest. Overall, the Drazhoath the Ashen campaign offers a unique and challenging experience for players, forcing them to think strategically and make careful decisions in order to succeed.
Zhatan starting positions
- Realms of Chaos: The Gates of Zharr
- Immortal Empires: The Volary and Granite Spikes
Zhatan’s starting position in the Realm of Chaos campaign is located in the dead center of everything, making it a crucial point for all players. It is an exciting prospect to be in the midst of all the action, especially since other powerful characters such as Astragoth are already in the area. This means that there will be a lot of competition for resources and strategic positions, making the game even more challenging and thrilling.
On the other hand, Zhatan’s starting position in the Immortal Empires campaign is a bit peculiar. He is in the northern west corner, which may seem like a disadvantage at first. However, upon closer inspection, this starting position offers a unique opportunity for expansion and development. While it is true that Vilitch the Curseling is on the right and Kholek is on the left, there are still many unexplored lands and resources in between players can claim and utilize.
One of the biggest advantages of this starting position is the proximity to Grand Cathay, which can be a valuable trading partner in the game. Although expansion may seem slow at first, there are potential allies in the Chaos forces nearby that can be leveraged to gain an edge. Additionally, Zhatan can launch raiding expeditions into the territories of Orcs and Ogres, which can provide much-needed labor forces and resources.
Overall, Zhatan’s starting positions in both campaigns offer unique challenges and opportunities for players. In the Realm of Chaos campaign, the focus is on survival and strategic positioning, while in the Immortal Empires campaign, the focus is on expansion and alliance-building. With careful planning and execution, Zhatan can become a formidable force in the game and conquer all challengers.
All Chaos Dwarf starting positions in Total War: Warhammer 3
For those curious about how all of this fits together on the massive Immortal Empires map, we highly recommend taking a look at the complete campaign map. It provides an excellent visual representation of the various starting positions and unique campaign flavors for each of the three Chaos Dwarf lords. As they are likely to face different enemies, players will enjoy a truly unique gameplay experience with each one.
On the other hand, if you choose to play as Grimgor Ironhide, you will have a very different experience. You will face very powerful new opponents and, as an escaped slave of the cruel Chaos Dwarf masters, you will have good reason to want to trample them into the ground. Any Chaos faction, however, will gain valuable allies in the Chaos Dwarfs and may even profit from their convoys arriving and trading at their cities.
For those who prefer Order-aligned factions, the future may prove to be more challenging. Katarin, Imrik, and Miao Ying must now deal with new rowdy neighbors in their general vicinity. While this may prove to be a difficult hurdle to overcome, players will be happy to learn that Kislev and the Empire will be able to call upon the aid of Ulrika Magdova. She is the game’s first Order-aligned Vampire and arrives as a legendary hero to bolster their defenses. Ulrika is available as a free DLC with update 3.0 alongside Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs. So, even with these new challenges, players will have access to new and exciting tools to help them succeed.
Conclusion
That concludes our guide on the starting positions of the Chaos Dwarfs in Total War: Warhammer 3. We hope that this will help you plan out your strategies no matter which game mode you play. We highly recommend that you experiment with both starting positions to see which one you like the most. After all, a good strategy in Total War: Warhammer 3 is all about adapting to your circumstances and making the most out of your resources.
With that said, we hope that our guide has given you a solid foundation to build upon. Stay tuned for the release of the DLC Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs which will be out on April 13, 2023, and stay updated with more guides from us.
