Kislev (minor faction)


 * For the playable race in Total War: Warhammer III, please see the main Kislev article.

In Total War: Warhammer and Total War: Warhammer II, Kislev is treated as just another minor AI-controlled faction in the Empire category, sharing the technology and graphics with it. However, it is a distinct subgroup in the game's files and has some unique commandments included.

Starting territory

 * The Kislev faction starts out in a strong position: controlling Northern Oblast, Eastern Oblast, Southern Oblast and Troll Country. However, their northern position puts them directly in the path of aggressive, hostile factions like Warriors of Chaos, Clan Moulder, and Wintertooth (Norscan faction). They usually suffer greatly in the Chaos invasion.


 * Their faction capital (not racial capital) is the city of Kislev in the Southern Oblast.

Diplomatic Traits

 * Defensive - More concerned with maintaining borders than expanding them. Conquest is not their business.
 * Distrust the Empire - This leader doesn't trust most Imperial leaders, and that has an effect on diplomatic relations.

Trivia

 * In Warhammer Fantasy lore, Kislev is strongly based on Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania. Kislev has a couple of units, the winged lancers and gryphon legion, that is heavily inspired by the famous Polish Winged Hussars. But the most other units, culture and appearance inspired by myths and history of Russia and neighbouring lands had been under Russian patronage. The Kossars form both the backbone and standing army of Kislev, inspired by the Cossacks - Russian frontier settlers in steppes and foremountains in settles called "stanitsa" and led by atamans. Kislev is led by a Tzar or Tzarina and is a strong ally of The Empire.
 * Though they have their own category on the Diplomacy screen, they still use the Empire unit roster, albeit limited to tier 1-3 units with limited heroes and hero mount options.
 * Kislev and Cathay are confirmed as playable human factions in Total War: Warhammer III, where a trailer depicts Tzarina Katarin fighting Khorne daemons.