Creative Assembly is setting sail for its most ambitious expansion yet for Total War: Warhammer III. Tides of Torment promises to shake the foundations of Norsca with Sayl the Faithless, a Legendary Lord built around deceit and dark sorcery, alongside a thorough reworking of faction mechanics, new monstrous units, and finely tuned balance adjustments. As summer 2025 approaches, both veterans and newcomers can look forward to a host of strategic surprises and thematic chaos.
Dubbed the “Twisted Seer of the Wastes,” Sayl the Faithless stands apart as Norsca’s first master of treachery. With two distinct spell schools—one for illusion and sabotage, the other for devastating wrath—he can turn an ally’s guard against them or unleash arcane annihilation. The true innovation arrives in his Betrayal Engine: build grudges, sow dissent among rivals, and activate secret pacts that can fracture coalitions at a critical turn. Strategic backstabbing becomes a viable path to supremacy, rewarding players willing to gamble on double-crosses.
Tides of Torment revitalizes Norsca’s Monstrous Arcanum, transforming it from a static recruit list into an evolving campaign pillar. Players now embark on multi-stage hunts for legendary beasts, with branching objectives that influence the rewards on offer. Recruiting frost trolls, snow leopards, or even slithering Nightmaws becomes a tactical choice, as different kills unlock unique upgrades and army-wide buffs.
Chaos god allegiances receive a substantial upgrade too. Instead of generic boons, each god’s patronage—be it Khorne’s penchant for slaughter or Tzeentch’s love of secrets—introduces custom events, moral dilemmas, and specialized technologies. Tribal confederations have been rewritten to force meaningful decisions, ensuring that merging with fellow tribes or standing alone carries weighty consequences.
Three horrors join Norsca’s ranks:
These additions not only diversify roster composition but also open fresh strategies for both campaign and multiplayer engagements.
Longtime favorites receive meaningful upgrades. Wulfrik the Wanderer now commands the Seafang—his unique raiding ship—allowing cross-coast invasions and plunder runs. Throgg, the “Cunning Troll,” gains the Monstrous Influence system, summoning wild beasts mid-battle to support his troll horde. Both lords showcase new voicework and cinematic intros, breathing fresh personality into their exploits.
Behind the scenes, the team has tackled balance across the board. Slaanesh champions Dechala and N’Kari see adjusted replenishment and fatigue mechanics, while ancillaries now come with more meaningful passive bonuses. According to DLC director Todor Nikolov, patches will focus on precision—no feature bloat—ensuring that each update feels like a purpose-built enhancement rather than an afterthought.
Tides of Torment arrives in summer 2025 on PC. The expansion includes:
All new Lords are sold separately, letting players tailor their collections without mandatory bundles.
| Publisher | SEGA / Creative Assembly |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Summer 2025 |
| Genre | Turn-Based Strategy, Real-Time Strategy, Fantasy |
| Platform | PC |
With Tides of Torment, Creative Assembly has reinvented Norsca’s narrative and mechanical identity. Whether you pledge to corruption under Sayl’s silver tongue or rally tribes through brute force, the expansion promises to redefine the icy fringe of the Warhammer world.