Total War: Warhammer 2 – Malus Darkblade Campaign Gameplay Preview
The Shadow and The Blade DLC for Total War: Warhammer 2 was revealed earlier this week, and ahead of its release on the 12th of December, Creative Assembly has released their first gameplay preview. The preview video focuses on the campaign of Malus Darkblade, the new Dark Elf Legendary Lord. Malus has unique campaign mechanics, including a dial that gauges his current level of daemonic possession…
The Shadow and The Blade DLC – Malus Darkblade’s Campaign
Malus Darkblade’s specific Lord and Faction Effects have yet to be revealed. However, the new video does give players an indication of what his campaign will be like, and from the looks of it, it should be a refreshing take on the Dark Elf campaign. In Total War: Warhammer 2’s Eye of the Vortex campaign, all of the game’s original four factions have functionally the same campaign mechanics. Each race is competing with the other three to gather a unique resource. After collecting enough, they can undertake multi-turn rituals during which time they must defend three settlements from attacking armies.
However, the factions which have come to the game post-launch, the Tomb Kings and Vampire Coast, have their own unique campaign mechanics instead. Markus Wulfhart and Nakai the Wanderer also do, even though Nakai is from one of the original four factions. Malus Darkblade, it seems, will have something of a hybrid set of campaign mechanics. He does participate in the race to control the Vortex, like the other Dark Elf Legendary Lords. However, he also has unique mechanics of his own to manage simultaneously.
As can be seen in the gameplay preview video, Malus Darkblade has a dial on his campaign map UI which represents his current level of possession by Tz’arkan. The stronger this possession grows, the more powerful Malus becomes in battle. However, the more penalties his faction takes on the campaign map. To control this possession, he must acquire a special elixir. However, Malekith is withholding this elixir in order to coerce Malus into aiding his goal of controlling the Vortex. Malus also receives special missions during his campaign from Tz’arkan; missions which he can complete to earn powerful reward items and followers.