Total War: WARHAMMER II moves the trilogy south to the New World, where High Elves, Dark Elves, Lizardmen and Skaven race to seize control of the Great Vortex above Ulthuan. The Eye of the Vortex campaign is a five ritual sprint with a final defensive battle at the end, which makes it far tighter and more directed than the sandbox of WARHAMMER III's Immortal Empires. Tomb Kings and Vampire Coast arrived as paid races with their own rules, one paying no upkeep but capped by unit limits, the other chasing Infamy and a star metal harpoon to kill the merwyrm Amanar.
Total War: WARHAMMER II features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ulthuan | Turn 1 onward | High Elf starts, Vortex proximity, Influence economy | Dark Elves |
| 2 | Naggaroth | Turn 1 onward | Dark Elf starts, slave income, Black Ark access | Dark Elves |
| 3 | Lustria | Turn 1 onward | Lizardmen starts, Geomantic sites, contested three way expansion | High Elves |
| 4 | The Southlands | Turn 5 onward | Skaven expansion, contested provinces, route to Nehekhara | High Elves |
| 5 | Nehekhara | Turn 1 onward for Tomb Kings | Tomb Kings starts, Books of Nagash, Canopic Jar sites | High Elves |
Ulthuan: Starting Area
The ring shaped High Elf homeland with the Great Vortex at its centre, split into inner and outer kingdoms and defended by the best missile infantry on the map.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turn 1 onward |
| Key Rewards | High Elf starts, Vortex proximity, Influence economy |
| Recommended Build | Dark Elves |
| Key Equipment | Witch Elves |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Eye of the Vortex ritual race. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Naggaroth.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Naggaroth: Early Game
The frozen Dark Elf continent to the north west, where Malekith rules from Naggarond and the coastline supports Black Ark operations.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turn 1 onward |
| Key Rewards | Dark Elf starts, slave income, Black Ark access |
| Recommended Build | Dark Elves |
| Key Equipment | Witch Elves |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Rites. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Witch Elves if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Lustria.
Lustria: Mid Game
The jungle continent of the Lizardmen temple cities, contested by Skaven from below and by Vampire Coast raiders along the coast.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turn 1 onward |
| Key Rewards | Lizardmen starts, Geomantic sites, contested three way expansion |
| Recommended Build | High Elves |
| Key Equipment | Witch Elves |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Lothern Sea Guard becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Skaven food and under-cities for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
The Southlands: Late Game
The jungle and savannah continent south east of Lustria, crowded with Skaven, Lizardmen and Greenskins, and the main route north into the desert.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turn 5 onward |
| Key Rewards | Skaven expansion, contested provinces, route to Nehekhara |
| Recommended Build | High Elves |
| Key Equipment | Lothern Sea Guard |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Lothern Sea Guard should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Mortal Empires campaign mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Nehekhara.
Nehekhara: Endgame
The desert Land of the Dead in the north of the Southlands, home to Khemri, Zandri, Numas and Quatar, and the Tomb Kings starting region.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turn 1 onward for Tomb Kings |
| Key Rewards | Tomb Kings starts, Books of Nagash, Canopic Jar sites |
| Recommended Build | High Elves |
| Key Equipment | Lothern Sea Guard |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Tomb Kings for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Ulthuan → Naggaroth → Lustria → The Southlands → Nehekhara. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Total War: WARHAMMER II Guides
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Total War: WARHAMMER II Overview
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Best Builds
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Tier List
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Walkthrough
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Beginner's Guide
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Tips & Tricks
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Weapons Guide
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Combat Guide
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Boss Guide
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Crafting Guide
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Classes & Characters
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