Availability
Content pack: Total War: WARHAMMER; The Grim and the Grave; associated Free-LC. Immortal Empires ownership
- Total War: WARHAMMER unlocks Mannfred von Carstein and Heinrich Kemmler in Immortal Empires. The Grim and the Grave unlocks Helman Ghorst.
- Vlad and Isabella von Carstein are Free-LC associated with Vampire Counts ownership; SEGA lists both with WH1 and The Grim and the Grave. Neferata is the Lords of the End Times Free-LC lord, also unlocked by owning Nagash.
Factions and leaders
The Drakenhof Conclave
Leader: Mannfred von Carstein.
Mannfred combines necromantic ambition with the hunt for the Books of Nagash. Choose him for a vampire lord who casts and fights.
The Barrow Legion
Leader: Heinrich Kemmler.
Kemmler is the Lichemaster: a necromancer leading an undead host, with Krell as a separate character after the rework.
Sylvania
Leader: Vlad von Carstein.
Vlad and Isabella are alternative starting leaders of the same faction. Your choice determines which partner begins as the lord.
Caravan of Blue Roses
Leader: Helman Ghorst.
Ghorst leads his own Immortal Empires faction. His Corpse Cart and necromancy suit an army that fights around supporting magic.
Lahmian Sisterhood
Leader: Neferata.
Neferata uses heroes, hidden Covens and the Web of Power to influence other factions.
Why choose Vampire Counts?
Skeleton Warriors can occupy the front while Grave Guard give a chosen part of the line more fighting strength. Use that engagement to move cavalry, monsters or a combat character into a useful position. Sending every attacker into the same knot of infantry makes the army harder to control.
Keep the spellcaster supported and watch the condition of the regiments holding the enemy. Plan a way for damaged characters to leave melee. An undead army still needs careful positioning, especially when enemy missiles can concentrate on a valuable target.
Raise Dead after the rework
Update 9.0 makes Raise Dead the main recruitment system. Corpses are gathered within provinces; Blood supports further development and stronger recruits. Military buildings expand unit capacity. Check all three before planning replacements.
Spend with the next campaign move in mind. A new recruit, a technology and a political investment can compete for the same resources. Before moving away from a recruiting province, look at what your next army actually needs.
Lairs and confederation
Vampire Lairs let you develop a sleeping vampire before awakening a new lord. Bloodlines use Blood for empowerment, while confederating Legendary Lords involves tasks and a resource payment.
Choose a lord for the campaign you want to manage. Mannfred pursues the Books of Nagash; Kemmler fights through necromancy and Krell; Vlad and Isabella share Sylvania; Ghorst brings his Corpse Cart; Neferata builds a network of agents.
Which named heroes can join?
Walach Harkon and Dieter Helsnicht belong to the paid Nagash content from Lords of the End Times and can also be unlocked for Vampire Counts factions. Walach combines melee fighting with Vampires magic; Dieter supplies offensive spellcasting.
Ulrika Magdova has a specific route into Neferata’s faction through technology. Plan around the hero access of your chosen lord: Ulrika’s Kislev mission chain and Neferata’s technology are different recruitment routes.
Six Vampire Counts stories
Mannfred leads the Drakenhof Conclave from the first game. Kemmler leads the Barrow Legion. Ghorst’s Caravan of Blue Roses is The Grim and the Grave. Vlad and Isabella are the free Sylvania pair. Neferata’s Lahmian Sisterhood is the Lords of the End Times Free-LC.
Inheritance, Dominion, and Retribution are the von Carstein novels. Neferata is book 1 of The Blood of Nagash. Rulers of the Dead is her Mortal Realms omnibus.
Selected roster
| Unit | Role | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Skeleton Warriors | Undead sword-and-shield line infantry | Raise Dead; resources and any unit-capacity requirement shown in the recruitment panel |
| Grave Guard | Armoured undead melee infantry | Raise Dead; resources and any unit-capacity requirement shown in the recruitment panel |
| Terrorgheist | Flying undead monster | Core Vampire Counts roster; monster recruitment |
Lords and heroes
Mannfred von Carstein
Mannfred von Carstein leads The Drakenhof Conclave, a Vampire Counts faction in Immortal Empires. Choose him for a vampire commander who combines spellcasting, melee and the pursuit of the Books of Nagash.
Total War: WARHAMMER
Heinrich Kemmler
Heinrich Kemmler, the Lichemaster, leads The Barrow Legion for the Vampire Counts in Immortal Empires. Choose him for a necromancer who supports the battle through magic and his connection to Krell.
Total War: WARHAMMER
Vlad von Carstein
Vlad von Carstein is a Vampire Counts Legendary Lord and an alternative leader of Sylvania in Immortal Empires. Choose him for a swordsman and spellcaster whose campaign is tied to Isabella.
Vlad von Carstein Free-LC
Isabella von Carstein
Isabella von Carstein is a Vampire Counts Legendary Lord who can lead Sylvania in Immortal Empires. Choose her to put Isabella at the head of the faction with Vlad as her starting partner hero.
Isabella von Carstein Free-LC
Helman Ghorst
Helman Ghorst leads the Caravan of Blue Roses, a Vampire Counts faction in Immortal Empires. Choose this necromancer for a campaign built around an undead host and battlefield support from his Corpse Cart.
The Grim and the Grave
Neferata
Neferata, the Queen of Mysteries, leads the Lahmian Sisterhood for the Vampire Counts in Immortal Empires. Choose her for hidden Covens, hero actions and the Web of Power alongside an undead army.
Lords of the End Times — Neferata Free-LC
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
Walach Harkon
Walach Harkon is a Blood Knight Legendary Hero introduced with Nagash in Lords of the End Times. He can join Vampire Counts factions in Immortal Empires and combines melee fighting with the Lore of Vampires.
Lords of the End Times — Nagash
Dieter Helsnicht
Dieter Helsnicht, the Doom Lord of Middenheim, is an offensive spellcasting Legendary Hero from Nagash’s Lords of the End Times content. Vampire Counts factions can also unlock him in Immortal Empires.
Lords of the End Times — Nagash
Necromancer
A Necromancer is a Vampire Counts hero who casts the Lore of Vampires. The hero joins an army, and a Master Necromancer is the lord who leads one.
Total War: WARHAMMER — Vampire Counts core roster
Character stories
Sources
- Immortal Empires DLC Ownership Guide — SEGA — support.sega.com
- Lords of the End Times: Free-LC | Neferata — CA — community.creative-assembly.com
- Update 9.0 release notes — CA — community.creative-assembly.com
- New-player survival guide and FAQ — CA — community.creative-assembly.com