This Total War: WARHAMMER II tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.
Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.
Builds Rankings
| Tier | Build | Rating | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | High Elves | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Dark Elves | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Lizardmen | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Skaven | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Tomb Kings | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
Detailed Builds Analysis
High Elves (A-Tier)
High Elves is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Lothern Sea Guard. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Dark Elves (A-Tier)
Dark Elves is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Witch Elves. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Lizardmen (A-Tier)
Lizardmen is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Saurus Warriors. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Skaven (A-Tier)
Skaven is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Hell Pit Abomination. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Tomb Kings (A-Tier)
Tomb Kings is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Necropolis Knights. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lothern Sea Guard | Defensive High Elf lines that need to shoot while holding | High Elf infantry that carries both spear and bow, so one unit holds a line and shoots. |
| Witch Elves | Flanking charges into missile units and light infantry | Dark Elf frenzied infantry with no armour and enormous attack output. |
| Saurus Warriors | Pinning an enemy line in place while dinosaurs flank | The Lizardmen backbone, tough, armoured and slow, with high leadership that keeps them standing while faster units do the killing. |
| Hell Pit Abomination | Breaking an infantry block when your Clanrats are already losing it | The Skaven single entity monster, unpredictable, enormous and capable of resurrecting itself once mid battle. |
| Necropolis Knights | Tomb Kings armies that need a hammer to go with the skeleton anvil | Tomb Kings cavalry riding giant serpents, immune to psychology and effective against both infantry and other cavalry. |
Check our weapons guide for in-depth stats and comparisons.
Equipment Analysis
Lothern Sea Guard: High Elf infantry that carries both spear and bow, so one unit holds a line and shoots. It is the reason a High Elf army can field fewer unit types than anyone else.
Witch Elves: Dark Elf frenzied infantry with no armour and enormous attack output. They shred unarmoured targets and evaporate against anything that hits back properly.
Saurus Warriors: The Lizardmen backbone, tough, armoured and slow, with high leadership that keeps them standing while faster units do the killing.
Hell Pit Abomination: The Skaven single entity monster, unpredictable, enormous and capable of resurrecting itself once mid battle.
Necropolis Knights: Tomb Kings cavalry riding giant serpents, immune to psychology and effective against both infantry and other cavalry.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in Total War: WARHAMMER II centers on Eye of the Vortex ritual race and Rites. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one. Our combat guide explains these interactions in depth.
What's strong right now:
- High Elves with Lothern Sea Guard is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- Skaven food and under-cities builds are gaining ground as players find new combinations.
- Lizardmen remains essential for learning hard content. See the boss guide.
What's underrated:
- Dark Elves is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- Saurus Warriors offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Tomb Kings builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Build | Best Gear | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | High Elves | Lothern Sea Guard | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | Dark Elves | Witch Elves | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | Lizardmen | Saurus Warriors | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Skaven | Hell Pit Abomination | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Tomb Kings | Necropolis Knights | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
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 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 Maps & Locations
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Crafting Guide
- Total War: WARHAMMER II Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Total War: WARHAMMER II, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Tier List: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Tier List: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Tier List: strategy game with similar mechanics
