The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Immortal Empires (2025) — Win Your First Campaign After Patch 7.0 | Total War: Warhammer III

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Welcome, commander. The gates to the largest strategy sandbox in gaming have opened wider than ever. As of Update 7.0, Immortal Empires in Total War: Warhammer III is not only more accessible—it's more challenging, more reactive, and vastly more rewarding. Whether you’re entering this world for the first time or returning after a long break, Patch 7.0 has reshaped the early game, buffed the AI’s intelligence, and made every faction’s identity shine brighter.

With over 80 Legendary Lords and the entire Warhammer world at your fingertips, the real question is: where do you begin?

This is the guide that cuts through the confusion. You’ll learn the best beginner factions, the first 30 turns you must master, the new dangers of Patch 7.0, and the core principles that will consistently lead you to victory—no matter who you play.

🔥 Quick Start: Your Fast Guide to Patch 7.0 Immortal Empires

Best Beginner Lords: Tyrion → Miao Ying → Karl Franz → Skarbrand
Your First Goals: Secure home province → Boost economy → Build 1 elite early army
AI Update Highlights: Stronger recruitment → Smarter army movement → More aggressive mid-game
Battle Meta Changes: Flying units heavier → Ranged units still king → Hybrid infantry more valuable

⭐ Part 1: The New World of Update 7.0 — What Actually Changed?

Beginner’s Guide to Immortal Empires: How to Win Your First Campaign After Patch 7.0

Patch 7.0 is a foundational overhaul that makes the game both fairer and tougher. Here's what matters most for new players:

1. The AI Finally Works Properly

This is the game-changing part. The AI now:

  • Recruits elite units correctly

  • Uses special resources the way players do

  • Coordinates attacks more predictively

  • Punishes weak borders

  • Maintains stronger late-game armies

Expect early survival to matter more than ever.

2. Battle Balance Is Sharper & More Authentic

Patch 7.0 included multiple stat updates:

  • Flying monsters (dragons, phoenixes, terrordons) received increased mass → they knock enemies around more realistically.

  • Infantry and cavalry tweaks improve consistency in charges and combat pacing.

  • Hybrid units (like Lothern Sea Guard) are now even more efficient for early-game defense.

This subtly shifts the meta in favor of ranged units with strong frontline support.

⭐ Part 2: The Best Beginner Factions After Patch 7.0

Your Legendary Lord determines whether your first 30 turns feel smooth or painful. These factions are strongly recommended by community consensus and post-7.0 balance shifts.

1. High Elves — Tyrion (Very Easy)

Why Choose Tyrion?

  • Safest early start in the game

  • Elite ranged units + strong spearmen

  • Predictable diplomacy with fellow High Elves

  • Access to Monstrous Arcanum creatures in 7.0

How to Win Early:

  1. Secure Ulthuan’s inner rim.

  2. Build trade ports for fast income.

  3. Use Influence to manipulate diplomacy.

  4. Anchor your armies around archers + Sea Guard.

2. Grand Cathay — Miao Ying (Easy)

Why It’s Beginner-Friendly:

  • Highly defensive campaign structure

  • Great Bastion protects your early game

  • Straightforward Yin/Yang management

  • Caravans = free gold & items

Your Core Strategy:

  1. Stabilize provinces behind the Bastion.

  2. Balance Harmony for +combat and +economy.

  3. Send caravans ASAP for passive income.

  4. Build a mixed ranged/melee frontline army.

3. The Empire — Karl Franz (Medium–Easy)

Why It’s a Classic Starter:

  • Teaches the “true” Total War experience

  • Combined arms = infantry + cavalry + artillery

  • Clear campaign direction via Elector Counts

How to Win Your First Campaign:

  1. Unite Reikland quickly.

  2. Manage Imperial Authority to confederate others.

  3. Rush artillery buildings → Mortars win battles.

  4. Protect your flanks from Chaos and Greenskins.

4. Khorne — Skarbrand (Easy if Aggressive)

Perfect For: players who dislike diplomacy

  • No diplomacy to worry about

  • Bloodletting mechanic rewards nonstop fighting

  • Skarbrand himself is one of the strongest melee lords

Your Gameplan:

  • Fight constantly

  • Sack → Raze → Move

  • Spawn Blood Hosts as temporary expansion tools

  • Keep momentum; Khorne collapses if you stop fighting

⭐ Part 3: Your First 30 Turns — The Definitive Beginner Roadmap

Regardless of your faction, these steps anchor your early success.

Phase 1: Turns 1–10 — Foundation

✔ Secure your starting province

This is mandatory. A complete province = full control of growth, money, and defense.

✔ Build for income + growth

Focus on:

  • Capital tier upgrades

  • Growth buildings

  • Basic income structures

  • Public order stabilizers

✔ Recruit a full stack

One powerful early army beats two weak ones every single time.

Phase 2: Turns 11–20 — Consolidation

✔ Fortify your borders

A garrison in a chokepoint settlement is life-saving.

✔ Recruit a second Lord or hero

Use them to:

  • Scout

  • Support

  • Defend

  • Intercept raiders

✔ Learn your faction mechanic early

Examples:

  • Influence (High Elves)

  • Harmony (Cathay)

  • Imperial Authority (Empire)

  • Bloodletting (Khorne)

Unlocking it early pays off long-term.

Phase 3: Turns 21–30 — First Expansion

✔ Identify your first major enemy

Check diplomacy → eliminate the nearest hostile faction.

✔ Build Tier 3 structures

This unlocks:

  • Cavalry for High Elves

  • Artillery for Empire

  • Better frontline for Cathay

  • Faster aggression for Khorne

✔ Prepare for multi-directional wars

Patch 7.0 AI loves attacking from unexpected angles.

⭐ Part 4: Best Factions by Playstyle (Patch 7.0 Meta Snapshot)

Playstyle                                Best Faction
Best Defensive StartMiao Ying
Best Ranged DominanceTyrion
Best AggressionSkarbrand
Best Magic-FocusedTeclis (Intermediate)
Best Cavalry PlayBretonnia

⭐ Part 5: Early Game Army Compositions (Beginner Proof)

Tyrion Early Army

  • Tyrion

  • 2× Spearmen

  • 6× Archers

  • 2× Lothern Sea Guard

  • 1× Mage (High Magic)

  • 1× Silver Helms (optional)

Miao Ying Early Army

  • Peasant Spears x3

  • Peasant Archers x4

  • Jade Warriors x2

  • Celestial Dragon Crossbowmen x1

  • Sky Lantern (vision support)

Karl Franz Early Army

  • Swordsmen x4

  • Spearmen x2

  • Crossbows x3

  • Mortar x1 (huge power spike)

  • Empire Knights x1

Skarbrand Early Army

  • Bloodletters x4

  • Chaos Warriors of Khorne x2

  • Flesh Hounds x2

  • Skullcannon x1

⭐ Part 6: Top 10 Beginner Mistakes You Must Avoid

  1. Expanding too fast

  2. Splitting armies early

  3. Ignoring public order

  4. Not embedding heroes in armies

  5. Fighting every battle manually

  6. Taxing poor provinces too early

  7. Not scouting ahead

  8. Building random structures

  9. Getting stuck in multi-front wars

  10. Forgetting you can retreat bad fights

Avoiding even half of these dramatically improves survival odds.

⭐ Part 7: Troubleshooting — Solutions to Common Beginner Problems

❗ “I keep going bankrupt!”

→ Build ports, trade buildings, sacking routes, caravans (Cathay), or loot battles.

❗ “AI keeps dogpiling me!”

→ Sign non-aggression pacts early with friendly factions.

❗ “My units keep dying quickly.”

→ Bring more ranged units + keep a solid frontline.
→ Hero casters = massive early-game value.

❗ “I can’t expand without losing settlements.”

→ Build garrisons
→ Conquer in a single direction (not in a circle)

⭐ Conclusion: Your First Empire Awaits

Immortal Empires after Patch 7.0 is a world built for epic stories—and now more accessible than ever. With a smart faction choice like Tyrion, Miao Ying, Karl Franz, or Skarbrand and a disciplined first 30 turns, you will not only survive the smarter, more thematic AI—you’ll thrive.

Every legendary conqueror starts with a single settlement.

Yours is waiting.   

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