Crypt Horrors

Crypt Horrors is a Vampire Counts melee infantry unit in Total War: Warhammer. Monstrous, mutated and savage, a Crypt Horror is devastating against the enemy frontline.

Description
Crypt Horrors are only seen openly in times of war, where they are primarily used as the shock troops of ambitious Strigoi Ghoul Kings. Crypt Ghouls are counted amongst the lowliest of all Vampiric servants; after all, they lack even the common decency to be properly dead. So the sight of a pack of Crypt Horrors accompanying a Vampire to battle is evidence of the terrible depths that their master has sunk to in his quest for survival. In order to create a Crypt Horror, a Vampire must truly desperate by open his veins to a Ghoul and allow it to sink it teeth and gulp down his precious blood - essentially a pale bastardisation of the Dark Kiss - an act that is reviled by those who count themselves amongst the elite of Sylvanian society.After a ghoul consume their master blood they will goes into rampage, crazed by vampire blood, their physically enhance and growth into the point their bone protruded out from their flesh while draging the lowliest member of their pack away to be feast undisturbed. After while they will crawl back to their awaiting master hoping for another drop of blood. In battle, packs of Crypt Horrors muscle their way towards the front lines, eyes glowing with dire light. They used shattered gravestones, tomb statuary and cemetery railings even animal or their own members bone to smash aside those brave enough to stand before them, but it is their meat-encrusted fangs and talons that are to be avoided at all costs. Even a shallow wound from a Crypt Horror bears enough poisonous rot to kill a horse. Despised by the living and the dead alike, Crypt Horrors are creatures to be truly feared.

Strategy
These are effectively the vampire counts equivalent of trolls. They have generally lower overall stats in comparison to trolls, but somewhat make up for it with the use of poison and higher health at the cost of armour and melee defence. These differences make them stronger versus less armoured and lower damage infantry, where they can more freely roam without the risk of routing or unsustainable damage, but weaker against dedicated monster hunters and almost all higher damage units that won't allow them to take advantage of their larger health pools and regeneration. Poison is not enough to offset their lower damage output and they will lose in duels with comparable units.

Continuing the comparison to trolls, they are best used surrounded by fodder. Unlike trolls they will not run away and, because they are undead, are immune to terror. Their morale still means they can crumble relatively easily but they are strong frontline buff and heal targets for the vampire roster. In particular their health advantage over similarly costed units shines in combination with invocation of nehek.

In summary: crypt horrors are at their best in long, grindy, melee engagements where they are supported by magic and fodder and can leverage their moderate health and leadership advantages in comparison to trolls.