Total War: Warhammer 2 Skaven race guide: their campaign and battle mechanics

Skaven are one of Total War: Warhammer II’s four races. We’ve commanded them in war, paying close attention to their campaign mechanics and in-battle behaviours. Accordingly, we present our Total War: Warhammer II Skaven guide: a full rundown of Warhammer’s ferocious, subterranean race. Here’s how furry beasts play, from unique mechanics and race traits, to grand strategy and tactical tips.

• Hateful and bitter? Deliver Druchii vengeance with our Total War: Warhammer 2 Dark Elves guide.
• Superiority complex? Put the Asur back on top with our Total War: Warhammer 2 High Elves guide.
• Agent of the Old Ones? Enact the Great Plan with our Total War: Warhammer 2 Lizardmen guide.
• You can read our full review of Total War: Warhammer 2 here.

After something specific? We've broken our Skaven guide down into the following sections to make it easier for you to find your way around:

• Skaven Under-Empire
• Skaven Food
• Skaven Corruption
• Skaven Plagues and Rites
• Skaven battle guide
• Skaven Strategy guide

Skaven Under-Empire

 

Even more so than the Dwarfs, Skaven are an underground race. It goes without saying that they can use the Underway, though they also have a unique army stance: Stalking, which gives them a chance of making an ambush attack even while moving normally.

The Skaven’s subterranean nature is best reflected in the fact that their settlements are hidden to other factions - rival empires will see only ruins. Ruins, in case you didn’t know, are a new addition to Total War: Warhammer II - they’re explorable nodes on the campaign map that’ll offer a quick bit of flavour text and a modest reward. Think of them like goody huts in Sid Meier’s Civilization.

This means you can feel a bit more confident leaving cities undefended as Skaven - though it’s obviously still a risk - but otherwise it needn’t make much difference to how you play. From your perspective, you’ll need to juggle two other major mechanics: Food and Skaven corruption.

Like most races, the Skaven use gold, but each of the four in Warhammer II’s Vortex campaign also get a second ritual currency. The Skaven’s is Warpstone, which you’ll use to destabilise the Great Vortex and chase the narrative campaign victory. In addition to these, however, the Skaven have a unique third currency: Food.

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