Summary
The world ofWarhammer Fantasytraditionally hasn’t been as popular or enduring as the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. But there is a lot to love about this world and the many campaigns and games that have situated themselves within it, featuring often at the forefront the endless battle between the races of humans, dwarfs, and elves with the forces of chaos.
Warhammer Fantasy is rooted in European history and takes inspiration from other fantasy worlds, such as JRR Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Warhammer Fantasy has managed to become a beloved and massive franchise in its own right. After playinggames like theTotal War: Warhammerseries, many players may be wondering how each faction stacks up in the Warhammer Universe.
1Vampire Counts
Leaders: Vampire Lords, Vampire Counts
One of the several tribes of vampires that have come together in Warhammer Fantasy, the Vampire Counts are by far the most consistently relevant to the larger conflicts of that universe than any other. They are considered by the Empire to be “fiends without equal” and this sort of terror and status helps them earn respect.
Each member of the Vampire Counts comes with a lot of abilities naturally, being powerful necromancers and some of the strongest individuals in the Warhammer Fantasy Universe. However, traditionally, their numbers have never been enough to satiate their desires, and their selfishness is a great downfall for them.
2Dwarfs
Leaders: Dwarf King, Dwarf Lords
A race common to fantasy worlds, the Dwarf Empire once presided over a huge stretch of the Warhammer Fantasy world, but as time went on, their domain receded, and the heart of their lands was within the World’s Edge Mountains. As the barrier between the Old World and the Dark Lands to the East, the Dwarfs are hardened, long-living warriors.
Unfortunately, the might of the Dwarfs has been greatly reduced over time, due to their constant battles against Orcs, Goblins, and Skaven. This has left their numbers greatly diminished, and many of the Dwarfs now live among humans in their cities instead of in the old mountain fortresses. Others crossed overand became chaos dwarfs.
3Lizardmen
Leaders: Saurus Oldbloods, Skink Chieftains
The oldest nation in the Warhammer Fantasy world, the Lizardmen are servants of the Old Ones, residing in the Southern Continent, Lustria. Born with instinctual knowledge from their spawning pools, these creatures are four separate races, which makes it hard for them to truly unite.
While the technology of the Old Ones has mostly vanished, the Lizardmen are still dangerous in their own right,proving this in video game appearances. They live in Temple Cities, and despite their appearance and reputation, seek to rid the world of chaos in every form they find it in. Their numbers are now diminished, but they were one of the primary factions that drove back the forces of chaos during the Great Catastrophe.
4Dark Elves
Leaders: Malekith, The Drachau
Enemies of the High Elves, the Dark Elves are a race that was sent from their homeland after a civil war between Elven factions. Since then, they have dedicated their lives to causing pain wherever they can, only remaining a real faction because of their hatred of all living things and the leadership of their Witch King, Malekith.
Completely ruthless creatures, the Dark Elves live for an incredible length of time, and their culture is built around raiding other people and taking slaves. Though they have few major victories in their name, they consistently embark on small-scale raids and wreak havoc among the other factions.
5Greenskins
Leaders: Azhag, Grimgor Ironhide
Potentially the strongest of all factions in the Warhammer Fantasy world, except for their ability to work together, the Greenskins are a collective term for the different factions of orcs and goblins that inhabit The Old World.
However, when the factions are capable of uniting, they have proven their worth. The fierce, savage lives led by most greenskin fighters make them some of the most seasoned warriors in the world. They can easily sweep across Human and Dwarf armies when they fight together. If the Greenskins united under one leader, they would rule the Warhammer world.
6Empire
Leaders: The Emperor, The Elector Counts
The most civilized and organized of any faction, the Empire is the largest-reaching of any faction in the Old World. Mostly composed of humans, but with many dwarfs, ogres, and more living within its borders, the Empire is the main driving force that fights against greenskin and chaos forces.
The Empire’s size makes it very difficult to defeat, but politics are always hampering its abilities. In military might, they have many technological advancements and war machines that other factions do not have access to, which help them in combat against most opponents.
7Skaven
Leaders: The High Priests, Gray Seers
A race of humanoid rat people, the Skaven may not have the might of the Empire on the surface, but the real strength of this faction comes from their vast empire, which lies underground and stretches across much of the Old World.The Skaven are a vastly dangerous race, which could fathomably destroy the Empire if organized.
The Skaven are a collection of tribes, but work together due to the control of the Council, a ruling body of high priests who hand down the word of the Horned Rat, a god-like figure. The Skaven have proven their worth in battle numerous times, and could easily take out most factions if they came up against them in their territory.
8High Elves
Leaders: The Phoenix King, The Everqueen
The main body of the Elven race, the High Elves were the victors in the Elven Civil War and thus their kingdom remains the homeland of the Elves, the island of Ulthuan. Separated into ten realms, the Elves are nevertheless one of the best-organized factions in the Old World, ruled over by the Phoenix King and Everqueen, andgreat for dominating in games likeTotal War: Warhammer 2.
Their realms also include three major colonies around other parts of the Old World, which they have managed to retain despite other races being present in those areas. The High Elves live an incredibly long life span and thus are more skilled in combat and knowledge than most other races. They are overconfident at times, but do not let their self-centered ways stop them from making allies like the Empire and Dwarfs. This means they are rarely beaten by anybody.
9Chaos Warriors
Leaders: Archaon The Everchosen
The difference between the two major chaos factions is a large part of the Warhammer Fantasy lore. The Chaos Warriors are mortals who have chosen to worship chaos, and it isn’t often they are found fighting alongside the Chaos Demons. However, they are still one of the most powerful factions in their own right. Their leaderArchaon the Everchosen is one of the strongest mortalsin the world.
Supported by the Chaos Gods themselves, the Chaos Warriors devote themselves to darkness, and are considered the strongest individual mortal fighters in the Old World. While they wouldn’t be able to take on the demonic forces they wish to join, the Chaos Warriors are terrifying in their and have many great victories over the forces of the Empire.
10Chaos Demons
Leaders: The Chaos Gods
Without a doubt, the lore of Warhammer Fantasy informs fans that the Chaos Demons are the most destructive force ever known. Armies that blacken horizons and could envelop the Old World if they broke through from their realms, the four Gods of Chaos loom over this “faction” with an omnipresent eye on the mortal world, many of them surviving totrouble theWarhammer 40KWorld as well.
By far the most dangerous creatures in the lore of Warhammer, the Chaos Demons can take mortals like the Empire in battle with ease. Even a small portion of their almost unlimited might would be enough to seize the Old World, particularly alongside the avatars of their Gods. These creatures are feared above all others, and their presence in the mortal realm would signal the end of times. Indeed, the only time they had managed a major incursion into the mortal realm was in the distant past, and the might of the Lizardmen, High Elves, and the Old Ones themselves was barely enough to turn them back.
