Today, Total War: Warhammer III revealed the Grand Cathay, an entirely new playable faction, bringing harmony to the upcoming fantasy strategy game. Entirely new in terms of actually being represented in a game, the mysterious kingdom of the Grand Cathay has existed in whispers of Warhammer lore for years, but this is the first time they actually get to take the stage.
Total War: Warhammer III's release date was recently pushed back to early 2022, but with this new trailer revealing the Grand Cathay, this completes the six playable factions the game will have upon launch. Other than the Cathay, the other factions include Kislev, the hardy northern region, and the four factions of the Daemons of Chaos - Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeentch, and Slaanesh. Since the original trailers for Total War: Warhammer III, when the Grand Cathay was teased to be a playable faction, fans have wondered what they would look like and play like. Thanks to today’s trailer, and plenty more information, fans no longer have to speculate.
In the epic cinematic trailer from Total War, the Grand Cathay is shown to be a formidable force in the world of Total War: Warhammer III. Technological advancements like firearms, canons, airships, and even giant walking statues will set this faction apart from the others. Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon and ruler of Northern Cathay, is also shown transforming into her true dragon form to combat the Daemons of Chaos. Tzeentch, the Daemon Lord of Change, also gets some spotlight in this trailer, wielding devastating magic and commanding hordes of horrific daemons.
At the center of the Grand Cathay playstyle is harmony. The armies of the Dragons Emperor will have a defense-focused strategy, whittling down enemies over time. A playstyle some real-time strategy players call turtling. The longer the Grand Cathay army can maintain harmony on the battlefield, the sooner they will unlock powerful abilities. This focus on defense could give the Grand Cathay a tactical edge in Total War: Warhammer III's new Survival Battle Mode. While not shown in the trailer, it has also been revealed that Zhao Ming, the Iron Dragon, who rules over Western Cathay, will also appear in the game. This division of rulers also hints at a likely Eastern and Southern ruling dragon as well, but this information is yet to be revealed.
As the final chapter in the series, Total War: Warhammer III is gearing up to be an epic strategy game that breaks new ground even within its own fantasy worlds. The hype is so intense that fans are already speculating as to what the first Total War: Warhammer III DLC factions will be. Expect more information on the Grand Cathay to be revealed later this week, perhaps including details on the other rulers or the types of units this faction has at its disposal.
Total War: Warhammer III comes to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on an unspecified date in early 2022.
Source: Total War/YouTube