What gives you campaign access?
You do not need to buy the whole trilogy. Warhammer III provides Immortal Empires access, and WH1 or WH2 owners on Steam or Epic can launch the Warhammer III application to play Immortal Empires and The Lost God Prologue. Immortal Empires runs in III rather than inside either older game.
A Lords of the End Times pack also grants campaign access without a separate base-game purchase. Choose the character content you want from that release; entry to the shared map does not mean every paid campaign leader becomes selectable.
What does a game or DLC unlock?
A base game supplies its own base races and leaders. A DLC supplies its associated leaders and content in Immortal Empires, even if it originally released for WH1 or WH2. You can buy that older DLC without owning its original base game once you have an Immortal Empires entry route.
Keep those purchases on the same storefront. A Steam purchase and an Epic purchase do not combine into one content collection. Before buying a pack, check the exact Legendary Lord and units attached to that product; a race name alone does not identify everything it unlocks.
Open the DLC checker to tick the games and packs you own and see every Legendary Lord you can play, plus what each extra pack would add.
Race ownership routes
Each row gives one route and examples of the leaders attached to it. Other packs can add different leaders from the same race. Warriors of Chaos also has Be’lakor through Warhammer III and the leaders from Champions of Chaos; its original race pack is one route.
| Race | Game or content pack | Associated lords |
|---|---|---|
| The Empire | Total War: Warhammer I | Karl Franz; Balthasar Gelt |
| Dwarfs | Total War: Warhammer I | Thorgrim Grudgebearer; Ungrim Ironfist |
| Greenskins | Total War: Warhammer I | Grimgor Ironhide; Azhag the Slaughterer |
| Vampire Counts | Total War: Warhammer I | Mannfred von Carstein; Heinrich Kemmler |
| High Elves | Total War: Warhammer II | Tyrion; Teclis |
| Dark Elves | Total War: Warhammer II | Malekith; Morathi |
| Lizardmen | Total War: Warhammer II | Lord Mazdamundi; Kroq-Gar |
| Skaven | Total War: Warhammer II | Queek Headtaker; Lord Skrolk |
| Bretonnia | Free-LC with Immortal Empires access | Louen Leoncoeur; Repanse de Lyonesse |
| Warriors of Chaos | Chaos Warriors Race Pack | Archaon; Kholek Suneater; Sigvald |
| Beastmen | Call of the Beastmen | Khazrak; Malagor; Morghur |
| Wood Elves | Realm of the Wood Elves | Orion; Durthu; Drycha |
| Norsca | Norsca | Wulfrik; Throgg |
| Tomb Kings | Rise of the Tomb Kings | Settra; Khalida; Khatep; Arkhan |
| Vampire Coast | Curse of the Vampire Coast | Luthor Harkon; Count Noctilus |
| Ogre Kingdoms | Ogre Kingdoms | Greasus Goldtooth; Skrag the Slaughterer |
| Chaos Dwarfs | Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs | Astragoth; Drazhoath; Zhatan |
| Kislev | Total War: Warhammer III | Katarin; Kostaltyn; Boris Ursus |
| Grand Cathay | Total War: Warhammer III | Miao Ying; Zhao Ming |
| Khorne | Total War: Warhammer III | Skarbrand |
| Nurgle | Total War: Warhammer III | Ku’gath Plaguefather |
| Tzeentch | Total War: Warhammer III | Kairos Fateweaver |
| Slaanesh | Total War: Warhammer III | N’Kari |
| Daemons of Chaos | Total War: Warhammer III | The Daemon Prince |
Nagash’s Lords of the End Times content grants access to units from the Tomb Kings, Vampire Counts and Vampire Coast rosters and unlocks Neferata as Free-LC. That content is a separate purchase from the older undead campaign packs.
How imported DLC works
The Prophet and the Warlock gives Ikit Claw a route into Skaven and Tehenhauin a route into Lizardmen. The Warden and the Paunch pairs the High Elf Eltharion with the Greenskin Grom the Paunch. These are examples of a pack supplying associated leaders from two races.
The Twisted and the Twilight supplies the Sisters of Twilight and Throt the Unclean. The Sisters do not require Realm of the Wood Elves, but that older race pack remains the route to Orion, Durthu and Drycha. Buying one Wood Elf campaign is not the same as owning every Wood Elf leader.
Free-LC follows race eligibility
Bretonnia is free to players with Immortal Empires access. Other Free-LC generally requires access to its own race through a qualifying game or DLC. For High Elves, Imrik and Alith Anar can follow a High Elf ownership route such as Warhammer II or The Queen and the Crone.
Free content can still have an in-campaign recruitment condition. Ulrika is a Legendary Hero, so she joins an eligible faction through its recruitment route. She is not selected as a starting lord. Her Kislev, Empire, Malakai and Neferata routes are explained on her hero page.
Does this include The Realm of Chaos?
Immortal Empires access through WH1 or WH2 includes the sandbox and The Lost God Prologue. The Warhammer III Upgrade Pack adds the III base-game content, including The Realm of Chaos narrative campaign. An older-game entry route alone does not unlock III’s base Legendary Lords.
The Realm of Chaos and Immortal Empires have different maps and objectives. Choose the mode first, then check the lord’s availability and the campaign you are starting.
If a lord or unit is still locked
Check the storefront account used to launch Warhammer III, then compare the exact lord or unit with the game or DLC in your library. Confirm that the pack includes that content rather than another leader from the same race.
For a hero, distinguish an ownership lock from a campaign recruitment condition. Buildings, training, missions and technology can still matter after the relevant content is available. If your owned content is missing, use SEGA Support with the affected product and storefront details.
Official ownership help
- Immortal Empires DLC Ownership Guide — SEGA Support
- A New Player Survival Guide & FAQ — Creative Assembly
- Warhammer I & II Immortal Empires Unlock FAQ — SEGA Support
DLC checker · Choose a race · Compare Legendary Lords · Hero recruitment · Campaign FAQ