Creative Assembly released Attila on 17 February 2015 and set the Grand Campaign in 395 AD, the year Theodosius died and the Roman Empire split permanently in two. Ten factions are playable in the base Grand Campaign, and the Western Roman Empire opens with more provinces than it can garrison, more armies than it can pay and a treasury already sliding. A cooling climate drives fertility down across the north while the Huns arrive from the east. This is the Total War where burning your own city is frequently the right decision.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Roman Empire | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Eastern Roman Empire | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Sassanid Empire | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Huns | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Visigoths | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Total War: ATTILA tier list.
A-Tier: Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire is a top-performing option in Total War: ATTILA.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Legio Comitatenses | The Late Roman field army infantry and the backbone of both Roman rosters. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Razing, sacking and occupying settlements | Capturing a settlement gives three answers. |
How to Play Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Legio Comitatenses does the damage and Razing, sacking and occupying settlements keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Eastern Roman Empire
Eastern Roman Empire is a strong option in Total War: ATTILA.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Limitanei | The frontier troops who historically controlled the border and acted as an early warning system against incursions. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | The migration and horde mechanic | Migratory factions including the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals and Alans can abandon their settlements entirely and travel as hordes carrying their population inside their armies. |
How to Play Eastern Roman Empire
Eastern Roman Empire focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Limitanei with The migration and horde mechanic and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Sassanid Empire
Sassanid Empire is a strong option in Total War: ATTILA.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Plumbatarii | Legionaries carrying the plumbata, an iron dart that out-ranges the older pilum at the cost of penetrating power. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Climate cooling and fertility | The campaign models a cooling period across its hundred year span. |
How to Play Sassanid Empire
Sassanid Empire focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Climate cooling and fertility covers the gap Plumbatarii leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Huns
Huns is a specialized option in Total War: ATTILA.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Scholae Palatinae | The super heavy cavalry of the Western roster and the elite of the army. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Sanitation, squalor and plague | Every building adds squalor and sanitation buildings subtract it. |
How to Play Huns
Huns focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Sanitation, squalor and plague rather than raw numbers, and Scholae Palatinae is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Visigoths
Visigoths is a specialized option in Total War: ATTILA.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Carriage Ballistae | Mobile bolt throwing artillery available to the Roman rosters. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | The family tree, gravitas and civil war | Settled factions run a family tree where gravitas is the political currency. |
How to Play Visigoths
Visigoths focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Carriage Ballistae and The family tree, gravitas and civil war pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Eastern Roman Empire: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Western Roman Empire once you understand core mechanics and have access to Legio Comitatenses
- Keep a Sassanid Empire setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Visigoths for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Ten factions are playable in the base Grand Campaign: Western Roman Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Sassanid Empire, Huns, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Alans, Franks and Saxons. Everything else on the playable list comes from a culture pack, so check what you actually own before planning a Langobard campaign.
- Razing is not a punishment mechanic, it is an economic tool. A ruined settlement denies the enemy a target, removes the garrison cost, and can be recolonised later, which is why the standard Western Roman opening involves burning provinces you technically still own.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Total War: ATTILA Guides
- Total War: ATTILA Total War: ATTILA Overview
- Total War: ATTILA Tier List
- Total War: ATTILA Walkthrough
- Total War: ATTILA Beginner's Guide
- Total War: ATTILA Tips & Tricks
- Total War: ATTILA Weapons Guide
- Total War: ATTILA Combat Guide
- Total War: ATTILA Boss Guide
- Total War: ATTILA Maps & Locations
- Total War: ATTILA Crafting Guide
- Total War: ATTILA Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Total War: ATTILA, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Builds: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Builds: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Builds: strategy game with similar mechanics
