Total War: WARHAMMER III – Thrones of Decay is a paid 2024 expansion built around three new Legendary Lords: Tamurkhan for Nurgle, Elspeth von Draken for the Empire, and Malakai Makaisson for the Dwarfs. Launch-era reviews were broadly positive about the new characters, units, and faction mechanics, but found the content uneven: the Empire and Nurgle stood out for one reviewer, while some campaign and battle elements drew criticism. You can buy the character content individually or as a three-item bundle; the Steam version requires the base game.
What does Thrones of Decay add?
The paid expansion launched on April 30, 2024, alongside Update 5.0. Its three headline additions are playable Legendary Lords for different factions, each with distinct campaign mechanics and access to the Realm of Chaos and Immortal Empires campaigns, according to Creative Assembly’s Update 5.0 overview.
| Paid Legendary Lord | Faction | What the pack is aimed at |
|---|---|---|
| Tamurkhan, the Maggot Lord | Nurgle | A new Nurgle campaign and faction mechanics |
| Elspeth von Draken | The Empire | A new Empire campaign and faction mechanics |
| Malakai Makaisson | The Dwarfs | A new Dwarf campaign and faction mechanics |
Creative Assembly’s published content counts for the expansion are 15 units, three Legendary Heroes, three Lords, three Heroes, and nine Regiments of Renown. These are official product specifications, not an independent measure of how much campaign variety or replay value the packs provide.
What was free in Update 5.0?
Not everything released alongside Thrones of Decay is part of the paid expansion. Update 5.0 also added free content and faction changes. SEGA’s launch announcement and Creative Assembly’s update overview identify these free additions:
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- ADDS NEW FACTIONS: Introduces the Orca Raiders, a new threat from the sea, and the sparrow undeground faction, adding a 5th player to manipulate the battlefield from the shadows.
- Adds a 5th Player option: Play with an additional player, increasing the player count to five for even more strategic depth and player interaction.
- DOUBLE-SIDED BOARD: Features a new double-sided board that allows for customized scenarios and new game setups, ensuring high replayability.
- ENHANCES STRATEGY: New agents, tokens, and rules provide players with more tools to manipulate the board and influence the outcome of the war.
- REQUIRES BASE GAME: This is an expansion and requires the A War of Whispers core game to play.
- Epidemius, a free Nurgle Legendary Lord
- A free Gold Wizard hero
- The Nemesis Crown campaign feature
- Campaign mechanic updates for the Empire, Dwarfs, and Nurgle
If you mainly want the broader faction updates or the free characters, those do not require buying the Thrones of Decay packs. The paid purchase is for the three featured lords and their associated content.
What do reviews say about the three packs?
Launch-window coverage generally welcomed the expansion’s new lords, units, and mechanics, while stopping short of treating all three faction packs as equally successful. Windows Central called it a strong return to form and particularly praised the Empire and Nurgle content; its review felt the Dwarfs could use more development. That is the outlet’s judgment, not a universal verdict.
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- Games Workshop - Warhammer - Age of Sigmar - Warcry: Pyre and Flood (Expansion Set)
- Merciless flame-spewing servants of Nagash clash with aelven warrior-monks of the Lumineth
- Includes a scenery piece depicting the head of a ruined Seraphon statue
- Full rules for both warbands, plus lore, artwork, and campaign missions
- These miniatures are supplied unpainted and require assembly – we recommend using Citadel Plastic Glue and Citadel Colour paints.
The critic excerpts collected by Metacritic likewise point to a worthwhile addition with some rough edges. They praise new units and features but criticize parts of the Maggot Host content, battles described as generic, an abruptly arriving campaign ending, and mechanics that could have felt more distinctive. Taken together, the reviews make the strongest case for the DLC if you want a fresh campaign for one of its factions; they offer less support for buying it on the assumption that every pack feels equally complete.
Can you buy just one character?
Yes. SEGA said the character content could be purchased individually, and Steam lists individual character content as well as a bundle containing three items. That lets you target the faction you care about instead of paying for all three packs. Check the Steam listing for the current options in your region.
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What do you need to play it, and how much does it cost?
On Steam, Thrones of Decay is downloadable content and requires Total War: WARHAMMER III. Store prices and promotions vary by region and date, so there is no single price that can be stated reliably here; use the live store listing for your location before buying. The expansion released on April 30, 2024.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are the reviews still a reliable guide to the current build?
The professional reviews cited here are mainly from the 2024 launch period, so they are best read as assessments of the expansion’s original content and design, not as proof of how it performs or balances in the October 2026 build. Creative Assembly’s May 7, 2024 Hotfix 5.0.2 notes document stability and campaign fixes after release. Those notes establish that fixes were issued, but they do not establish the expansion’s current balance, performance, or bug status.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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- This brand new Warhammer Quest game can be played solo or with up to three friends, and is designed to support one-off skirmishes or longer campaigns that are eminently replayable.
- These miniatures are unpainted and need to be assembled. We recommend using Citadel Plastic Glue and Citadel Paints.
Rank #4
- Kill Team: Commanders is an expansion for Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team, introducing elite war leaders and experts in the art of battle – Commanders.
- It contains all the rules required to add these powerful hero characters to your Kill Team battles and campaigns at a variety of balanced skill levels and provides missions designed to showcase these miniatures in open, narrative and matched play.
- Miniatures are supplied unpainted
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