If you’ve just launched Total War: Warhammer III – Tides of Torment and chosen Aislinn, you’ve made one of the strongest beginner-friendly picks in the entire Immortal Empires roster. Her Dragonship, Mist mobility, and monster-heavy roster give you unmatched control over the map, letting you strike, sack, and vanish before enemies can respond.

But Aislinn also plays very differently from traditional High Elf factions. Your campaign isn’t about painting the map — it’s about controlling the seas, building a fleet-based empire, and using your Dedications to shape the world from the coastline inward.

This guide breaks down everything you need to dominate your first campaign: best start moves, Dedication order, Dragonship build paths, army compositions, mistakes to avoid, and late-game win conditions — all based on community-tested strategies and current patch balance.

Why Aislinn Is Meta After Patch 5.3

Aislinn remains one of the strongest naval and coastal factions thanks to three major advantages:

1. Mist Mobility = Global Control

Mist Landing lets you safely reposition, dodge death-stacks, and chain-attack coastal regions faster than almost any faction in the game.

2. Dragonships Scale Into the Late Game

Unlike Black Arks, Dragonships:

recruit tier-up units faster
have better replenishment
support monster playstyles
maintain full utility well into turn 150+

3. Aislinn’s Economy Thrives Without Land

Your money mostly comes from:

port income
colony chains
trade
Dragonship support structures

This means you can stay small, mobile, and powerful — perfect for beginners.

Best Early Dedication Order (Fastest Power Curve)

Your Dedication choices massively influence your early game. The community’s most reliable path:

Turn 1–10: Tyrion (Combat Strength)

Boosts leadership, melee stats, and stability.
Perfect for clearing Vampire Coast and early Norscans.

Turn 10–20: Alarielle (Economy + PO)

Adds public order and trade value.
Helps stabilize your first colonies.

Turn 20–35: Teclis (Magic Scaling)

Cheaper mages + stronger spells synergize with monster-heavy armies.

Optional / Situational Picks

Eltharion: eastern expansion control
Imrik: monster synergy route
Alith Anar: anti-Dark Elf stealth campaigns

Early Game Walkthrough (Turns 1–25)

Turn 1–5: Secure Your Shoreline

Clear your starting threats
Move your Dragonship into Mist Stance every chance you get
Claim your first port colony

Turn 5–10: Start Pairing Fleets

Aislinn becomes significantly safer once you operate in fleets of two.
This prevents unlucky wipes from Ogre ambushes or Dark Elf monster stacks.

Turn 10–20: Establish Income

Build:

Port Income
Supplies Generator
Recruitment Wharf

Avoid inland settlements early — gift them for Dedication bonuses instead.

Turn 20–25: Prepare to Expand

Choose a direction:

North: Norscans & raiders
West: Vampire Coast
South: Dark Elves (high risk, high reward)

Optimal Dragonship Build Path (Fastest Power Spike)

Your Dragonship is your mobile capital — build it right.

Tier 1

Supplies Generator
Replenishment Dock
Recruitment Wharf

Tier 2

Monster Pens (unlock Oceanids early)
High Elf Barracks

Tier 3

Merwyrm Lair
Skycutter Hangar
Elite Mage Tower

Tier 4 (Late Game)

Your army becomes monstrous here.
A Dragonship with Merwyrms + Skycutters + full ranged support steamrolls coastal regions.

Best Army Compositions (Updated 2025 Meta)

These are the three most popular and consistent Aislinn fleets after Patch 5.3.

1. Monster/Hybrid Fleet (Most Popular Build)

2 Sea Elementals
1 Merwyrm
4 Oceanids
4 Lothern Sea Guard
2 Skycutters
1 Bolt Thrower
1 Mage (Shadow or High)
1 Noble

Why it works:
A tough frontline of Elementals + huge ranged pressure.

2. Beginner-Friendly Ranged Deathball

8 Lothern Sea Guard
3 Bolt Throwers
2 Skycutters
1 Sea Elemental
1 Mage
1 Noble

Why it works:
Very easy to micro.
High armor + strong volley fire dominates most early threats.

3. Double-Merwyrm Elite Strike Fleet (Late Game)

2 Merwyrms
2 Sea Elementals
3 Oceanids
3 Skycutters
4 Elite Infantry
2 Bolt Throwers
1 Mage
1 Hero

Why it works:
Explosive burst damage + massive terror routing.

Best Second Lord Choices

Your second lord determines your mid-game momentum.

Top Picks

1. Alarielle — trade, healing, ranged synergy
2. High Magic Mage Lord — buffs your monster frontline
3. Noble Lord — cheap upkeep garrison/support

5 Biggest Mistakes Aislinn Players Make

Avoid these to prevent early campaign collapse.

Building too many colonies early
→ Stick to one until income is stable.
Holding inland settlements
→ Gift them for Dedication bonuses.
Splitting your fleets
→ Always run paired fleets in dangerous waters.
Ignoring Mist Stance replenishment
→ Your replenishment is strongest in Mist.
Overfighting Ogres and Khorne
→ Kite them, use cliffs, avoid open-field charges.

When to Fight (and When Not To)

Fight When:

You have Mist Stance position advantage
Your Dragonship is within reinforcement range
Enemy lacks anti-large
Battle map has cliffs or chokepoints

Avoid When:

Ogres have charging lanes
Khorne fields triple Bloodthirsters
Your Supplies are for upgrades
Your fleet is split

Your Endgame Goal Options

Choose your path:

1. Purge All Dark Elf Black Arks

High challenge. Thematically perfect.

2. Become the Sea’s Overlord

Control every trade lane and every port.

3. Protect Ulthuan

Become Tyrion’s naval bodyguard.

4. Dragonship Mastery Victory

Build all 6 Dragonships and dominate the oceans.

Aislinn Beginner FAQ

Is Aislinn good for beginners?

Yes — extremely forgiving.

How many Dragonships early?

Just one until turn 40–50.

Best magic lore?

High Magic (buffs/heals) or Shadow (debuffs).

Should I take inland towns?

No — give them away.

Best colony location?

A high-income coastal port with safe Mist landing.

Useful Community & Resource Links

Aislinn Dragonship Campaign Guide (2025): The Ultimate Beginner’s Path to Mastering Tides of Torment