Mastering the Empire in Total War: Warhammer 2 requires balancing disciplined infantry, devastating gunpowder artillery, and versatile cavalry. Unlike high-fantasy factions relying on magic monsters or unbreakable undead hordes, the Empire fights with steel, smoke, and state troops. You're fielding a combined-arms force that punishes poor positioning and rewards meticulous battlefield planning.
This guide breaks down every unit tier, army composition archetypes, and tactical deployments needed to dominate your campaign and multiplayer matches. Let's look at how to build an unstoppable Imperial army from the ground up.
Core Infantry: Holding the Line
Your frontline doesn't win battles on its own; its sole purpose is buying time for your ranged units and artillery to shred the enemy.
- Spearmen and Swordsmen: Early-game essentials. Spearmen with shields hold cheap anti-large value against early beast herds or cavalry raids, while Swordsmen trade anti-large bonuses for higher melee defense against infantry swarms.
- Halberdiers: The mid-to-late game anti-large backbone. They have heavy armor-piercing capabilities and defensive bonuses that stop charging monsters and cavalry dead in their tracks.
- Greatswords: Unshielded, elite anti-infantry infantry. They chew through heavy armor in melee, but their lack of shields makes them vulnerable to enemy archers and crossbow fire. Keep them in reserve until the main lines clash.
Ranged Firepower and Gunpowder Units
Gunpowder weapons deal incredible armor-piercing damage, but they require direct line-of-sight. If a friendly unit blocks their view, they won't fire.
- Archers and Crossbowmen: Your early ranged options. Crossbowmen arc their shots over your frontline, making them easy to position. They trade armor-piercing damage for arc flexibility.
- Handgunners: The absolute kings of Empire ranged DPS. They fire flat trajectories that punch straight through Chaos warrior armor, but positioning is everything. Use chevron formations or hill slopes so they can shoot straight into enemy units engaged with your spearmen.
- Outriders with Grenade Launchers: Fast skirmishers that toss explosives into clustered infantry. They chew up unarmored units like Skaven slaves or Goblin mobs in seconds.
Artillery and Siege Superiority
The Empire possesses some of the best artillery in the Old World. Siege battles and defensive standoffs favor your siege engines heavily.
- Great Cannons: Versatile, high-velocity direct-fire artillery. They excel at counter-battery fire, taking down enemy single-entity monsters, and punching holes in castle walls.
- Mortars: Inaccurate against moving targets, but devastating against infantry clusters. They arc high over walls and friendly lines to shred early-game massed infantry.
- Hellblaster Volley Gun: A mechanical shredder. Position this on a slight elevation facing open ground to melt charging cavalry or elite infantry before they cover fifty meters.
- Hellstorm Rocket Battery: High-damage, inaccurate area-of-effect artillery. Terrifying against massive blobs of low-morale troops, causing chain routs across enemy armies.
Cavalry and Mobility
Imperial cavalry fills specialized roles rather than acting as a universal hammer.
- Empire Knights and Reiksguard: Solid, heavy shock cavalry with good armor and charge bonuses. Use them to cycle-charge rear lines or hunt down enemy ranged units.
- Demigryph Knights: Armored monsters carrying heavy-hitting halberds or swords. They boast incredible charge reflection, high armor-piercing damage, and terrifying stats that outfight almost any other cavalry in the game.
- Witch Hunters and Warrior Priests: While not mounted cavalry units themselves, attach them to your army cores to boost leadership, replenish troops, and cast essential protective prayers.
Optimal Army Composition and Deployment
A balanced late-game Empire army relies on a checkerboard or chevron formation to maximize handgunner firing arcs while protecting artillery.
- Frontline: Place Halberdiers and Greatswords in staggered blocks with gaps between them.
- Ranged Line: Position Handgunners directly in the gaps of your frontline so they can fire straight ahead or crossfire into enemy flanks.
- Artillery Park: Center your Hellstorms and Great Cannons on a high point behind the infantry, targeting priority threats like enemy casters or artillery.
- Flank Protection: Anchor your flanks with Demigryph Knights and a Witch Hunter to snipe enemy lords.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't my Handgunners fire at the enemy?
Handgunners require a flat, unobstructed line-of-sight. If friendly infantry stands directly in front of them on even ground, they will hold their fire. Position them on slopes, use staggered checkerboard formations, or position them on the flanks.
Are Archers better than Crossbowmen for the Empire?
Generally, no. Crossbowmen offer better range, higher missile strength, and armor-piercing damage that standard Archers lack. Transition to Crossbowmen or Handgunners as soon as your economy allows.
How do I stop single-entity monsters from breaking my lines?
Combine Halberdier infantry braced against charges with concentrated focus fire from Great Cannons and Handgunners. A single well-placed Net of Amyntok spell from a Light Wizard wizard hero holds them in place for your artillery to annihilate.
What is the best Lord choice for an Empire campaign?
Karl Franz remains the premier choice for beginners and veterans alike. His campaign mechanics provide massive bonuses to Imperial Authority, diplomatic relations with other elector counts, and incredible melee combat scaling on Deathclaw.
