Total War: Warhammer 3 Shadows of Change review: uneven DLC

The joy of playing Total War: Warhammer 3 The fun of watching the fantasy world grow as new units, factions and leaders join its different theaters.

Shadows of Change introduces Legendary Lords to three factions which were launched in the 2022 game: Grand Cathay is the fantasy equivalent of China; Kislev is a mixture of Russia with several Eastern European Countries and Tzeentch are hordes of demons who worship their god of choice, who prefers magic and trickery. In addition to new faction-wide units, each Lord also brings their own unique mechanics to bear, both in the real-time battles and on the game’s turn-based campaign map.

This ranges from being compelling, boring or uninspired.

Mother Ostankya stands out as the latest lord in Kislev. She’s a hag witch rumored to live in a foreboding forest at the heart of Kislev, and she’s been known to cast hexes and incantations on those she perceives as threats or boons to the land itself. Essentially, she’s a stand-in for the Baba Yaga from Slavic folklore. As such, she brings units to the faction’s roster that thrive in the wilderness, from the ferocious Things in the Woods, which can quickly flank enemy infantry before tearing them apart, to the stealthy Akshina Rangers, who can ambush enemy armies with long-range crossbows. Ostankya’s new units all give Kislev — a faction that previously relied on defensive strategies with hybrid melee/missile units — much more flexibility.

Image: Creative Assembly/Sega

That same universal usefulness doesn’t apply to the new units of the other two factions, though. The additions of the Cockatrice, a flying creature that covers enemies in acidic vomiting and can easily debuff them (a Lovecraftian horror that damages enemies nearby by only Standing There) bring some much-needed punching power to Tzeentch’s lineup, I didn’t find much use for Tzaangors; these dual ax-wielding beasts rely on hit-and-run tactics, which don’t complement their existing roster as much. Cathay’s new units are helpful, but much of their use is relegated to the campaign’s early turns, before I’ve established the faction’s famously powerful economy. However, the Zhangu War Drum is amazing. It can be mounted on the chariot and is capable of buffing nearby units’ armor or melee attacks.

All three factions have improved their position in real-time combat, despite some redundant features. They’re more flexible, and I had a blast experimenting with new synergies that weren’t available before Shadows of Change. But of course, new units are only one part of the DLC’s attractions.

The turn-based Overworld is now a three-lord campaign. Each Lord brings their unique mechanics. Mother Ostankya’s love for all things forest-related allows her to cast hexes at enemies who have invaded her territory and transport her army into the magical forests that are scattered around the map. In addition, she can create incantations that can be used to buff or give unique stats or abilities to enemy or allied units. (My favorite summons a monstrous Elemental Bear when a unit is below 20% health; just fly a flock of weak cave bats into the enemy’s back line, and watch the bear wreak havoc in the aftermath.)

Image: Creative Assembly/Sega via Polygon

Mother Ostankya is also given a little bit of attention. Downgrade on the campaign map — at least, for a time. Because of her nature as a reviled outcast, she doesn’t have access to many of Kislev’s human units. This forces her to either invade or ally with the “more civilized” Kislev leaders, whose better reputations will unlock the faction’s full roster in later turns. It’s a clever way to turn a weakness into a thematic constraint — when I finally made my way back to the Motherland, I felt like Aragorn returning to Minas Tirith to take control of Gondor’s forces (if Aragorn also traveled with a massive cauldron of poisonous goop).

I’ve spent so much time talking about Mother Ostankya’s contributions to Shadows of Change because she represents the best of the DLC. Her units make Kislev more flexible than ever; her campaign mechanics empower her, but also lend a thematic objective to the usual “paint the map” approach; and her overall witch-in-the-woods vibe is just chef’s kiss.

The other two would have brought me the same joy. Changeling of Tzeentch encourages a more kitchen-sink approach than an innovative plan. What’s more, his campaign mechanics, which involve sowing chaos in various sections of the map before enabling a final “Grand Scheme,” made my strategy feel more erratic than genuinely devious. It doesn’t help that his army is invisible for half of the campaign, or that his cities are all hidden By the time I reached 30, I was bored as well as feeling invincible.

Image: Creative Assembly/Sega

Yuan Bo, Cathay’s new Lord, brings his skills as a diplomat, spymaster, wizard, and swordsman to the forefront. In enacting Matters of State he can grant buffs to the cities and provinces of Cathay. While this ability set is undoubtedly powerful, it’s less inspired than those of the other two Lords; Deathmaster Snikch, the rat-man leader of Clan Eshin, already has a similar mechanic with his Shadowy Dealings (basically, a laundry list of assassination targets across the world).

Shadows of Change has the worst performance of any film in recent memory. Total War: Warhammer 3’s DLC plans yet. These previous packs represented a giant leap forward. Immortal EmpiresThe world of fantasy was forever changed when Champions of Chaos and Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs entered the scene. The first time I saw four fearsome Champions tear across the Northern expanse or when I had to fight off a wave of machine-minded dwarves coming out of the Dark Lands in the middle of the map, I was still filled with awe. Shadows of Change does not represent an evolutionary change, but rather a continuation of the current status quo. All three Lords are powerful, but in different ways. Absolutely. When I look at them in the Lord Select Screen, will I be tempted to choose them? I suspect not. Shadows of Change, ironically, may have evolved less than I suspect. Total War: Warhammer 3It is the most advanced DLC yet.

Total War: Warhammer 3, Shadows of Change The game will be available on Windows PC on August 31. Sega provided a code for a prerelease download to review the game. Vox Media also has affiliate relationships. Vox Media can earn affiliate commissions, but this does not affect editorial content. Find out more about affiliate links. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.