Availability
Content pack: Total War: Warhammer; The Grim and the Grave; The Hunter and the Beast; Elspeth – Thrones of Decay; Boris Todbringer – Lords of the End Times. Immortal Empires ownership
- Total War: Warhammer, the first game, unlocks Karl Franz and Balthasar Gelt in Immortal Empires.
- The Grim and the Grave unlocks Volkmar the Grim. The Hunter and the Beast unlocks Markus Wulfhart.
- Elspeth – Thrones of Decay adds Elspeth von Draken and Theodore Bruckner. Boris Todbringer – Lords of the End Times adds Boris and Ar-Ulric Emil Valgeir. Each is also included in its corresponding DLC bundle.
- Own content on the same storefront as your campaign installation. Each purchase unlocks its associated content; buying an Empire lord pack does not unlock every Empire Legendary Lord.
Factions and leaders
Reikland
Leader: Karl Franz.
Karl Franz governs through Imperial Authority, Fealty and Emperor’s Decrees while defending the Empire.
The Golden Order
Leader: Balthasar Gelt.
Balthasar Gelt begins in Cathay and uses Arcane Essays to develop the Colleges of Magic.
Cult of Sigmar
Leader: Volkmar the Grim.
Volkmar leads a Sigmarite campaign pursuing the Books of Nagash.
The Huntsmarshal's Expedition
Leader: Markus Wulfhart.
Wulfhart’s Imperial force operates in Lustria, balancing support from home against rising hostility.
Wissenland & Nuln
Leader: Elspeth von Draken.
Elspeth combines the Imperial Gunnery School with Death magic and travel through the Gardens of Morr.
Middenland
Leader: Boris Todbringer.
Boris develops the Great Temple of Ulric and leads Ulrican troops against threats to the Empire.
Why choose the Empire?
An Empire army works through cooperation. Infantry hold the enemy in place, guns and artillery deal damage, and cavalry or characters intervene where a fight needs help. Wizards add spells from different magical traditions.
A Swordsman regiment can hold space for the shooters, but needs support against stronger melee threats. Helstorm rockets threaten distant infantry formations. Leave reserves or mobile troops to protect the artillery when fast enemies try to reach it.
Choose the lord’s campaign
Karl Franz leads Reikland and works with the Elector Counts. Gelt’s Golden Order starts in Cathay and develops the Colleges of Magic. Volkmar’s Cult of Sigmar pursues the Books of Nagash, while Wulfhart’s expedition balances supplies and hostility in Lustria.
Elspeth develops the Imperial Gunnery School and a travel network through the Gardens of Morr. Boris spends Fervour on the Great Temple of Ulric. Shared Empire troops connect these campaigns, while their unique systems create different priorities.
Heroes and specialised troops
Theodore Bruckner provides a melee hero associated with Nuln. Emil Valgeir supports Ulrican troops alongside Boris. Ulrika Magdova offers another Empire hero option through her own recruitment route, with ranged fighting and Shadow magic.
DLC units and named heroes have their own ownership requirements. Start with the leader you own, then choose support around the jobs your current army needs.
Six Empire stories
Karl Franz holds Reikland and the Electors. Gelt leads the Golden Order from the Temple of Elemental Winds. Volkmar takes the Cult of Sigmar south after the Books of Nagash. Wulfhart leads the Huntsmarshal's expedition in Lustria. Elspeth advises Nuln and builds the Gunnery School. Boris keeps Middenland and the temple of Ulric.
Each campaign uses Empire troops under a different office. The Fall of Altdorf is the End Times novel that names Karl. It is a separate book from those six starts.
Selected roster
| Unit | Role | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Empire Swordsmen | Sword-and-shield melee infantry | Base Empire roster; infantry recruitment |
| Helstorm Rocket Battery | Explosive anti-infantry artillery | Base Empire roster; artillery recruitment |
| Steam Tank | Armoured war machine | Base Empire roster; war machine recruitment |
Lords and heroes
Karl Franz
Karl Franz leads Reikland, combining a frontline Emperor with the campaign work of holding the Empire together. Choose him for Imperial politics and an army of infantry, guns, cavalry and magic.
Total War: Warhammer (base game)
Balthasar Gelt
Balthasar Gelt leads The Golden Order, an Empire faction built around the Colleges of Magic. Choose him to make wizards and Metal magic central to an Immortal Empires campaign.
Total War: Warhammer (base game)
Volkmar the Grim
Volkmar the Grim leads the Cult of Sigmar, taking the Empire’s religious war into Immortal Empires. Choose him for a battle-priest commander and a campaign pursuing the Books of Nagash.
The Grim and the Grave
Markus Wulfhart
Markus Wulfhart commands The Huntsmarshal’s Expedition, an Empire force operating in Lustria. Choose him for a bow-armed monster hunter and a campaign balancing Imperial support against local hostility.
The Hunter and the Beast
Elspeth von Draken
Elspeth von Draken leads Wissenland & Nuln, pairing Death magic with the Empire’s gunpowder arsenal. Choose her for the Imperial Gunnery School, Amethyst troops and travel through the Gardens of Morr.
Elspeth – Thrones of Decay
Boris Todbringer
Boris Todbringer leads Middenland, bringing Ulrican warriors and a frontline Elector Count to Immortal Empires. Choose him to develop the Great Temple of Ulric and fight the threats gathering around the northern Empire.
Boris Todbringer – Lords of the End Times
Ulrika Magdova
A Kislevite noblewoman turned vampire, Ulrika is a Legendary Hero who combines a bow, melee combat and Shadow magic. She joins an existing faction rather than starting a campaign of her own.
Ulrika Magdova — Update 3.0
Theodore Bruckner
Theodore Bruckner is the Empire’s Hound of Judgement, a Legendary Hero associated with Nuln. Choose him to add a dedicated melee fighter to an army built around guns and magic.
Elspeth – Thrones of Decay
Ar-Ulric Emil Valgeir
Ar-Ulric Emil Valgeir is the Empire’s High Priest of Ulric and a Legendary Hero allied with Boris Todbringer. Choose him to support Ulrican warriors while fighting beside them in melee.
Boris Todbringer – Lords of the End Times
Warrior Priest
A Warrior Priest is an Empire support hero. Prayers such as Soulfire, Shield of Faith and Hammer of Sigmar support the troops around the priest.
Total War: Warhammer (core Empire roster)
Character stories
Sources
- Immortal Empires DLC Ownership Guide — SEGA Support — support.sega.com
- Elspeth – Thrones of Decay — Total War on Steam — store.steampowered.com
- Boris Todbringer – Lords of the End Times — Total War on Steam — store.steampowered.com
- Thrones of Decay: Introducing Elspeth von Draken — Creative Assembly — community.creative-assembly.com