Malekith

Malekith the Witch King is a Dark Elves Legendary Lord introduced in Total War: Warhammer II. In battle, he is a versatile unit proficient in melee and magic who can ride a fearsome black dragon.

In the campaign, he leads the Naggarond faction.

Description

 * I hate snow! - Malekith the Tyrant, Witch King of Naggaroth

Malekith is the son of Morathi and the late Aenarion, the very first Phœnix King. Before his betrayal and assassination of Bel Shanaar, the second Phœnix King, he also was known as Malekith the Great. Malekith has done much and risked much more to achieve dominion; he will do more still.

The Witch King is the supreme ruler of Naggaroth, and the eternal enemy of the High Elves. Long ago, he sought the claim Ulthuan's crown, but the Flames of Asuryan left him scarred by fire and twisted with hatred. In the years since, Malekith has many times attempted to scour Ulthuan from the face of the world, but each time has been undone by cruel fate or the incompetence of craven underlings. Yet the Witch King is immortal, and knows he will outlast those who foolishly believe themselves his betters. The day is fast approaching where old debts and insults will finally be repaid, and Malekith will do anything within his power to hasten its arrival.

Denied the throne and then rejected by the god Asuryan’s purifying flames, Malekith, rightful son of Aenarion, has declared himself forever the enemy of Ulthuan and the Asur. Malekith’s broken body was healed by his mother, the Hag Sorceress Morathi, using magical means, he remains scarred from the encounter and twisted by an inalienable desire to avenge himself upon those once considered kin. There are none among the Druchii – Malekith’s Elven supporters – who have seen his face, for his entire body lies encased within a suit of enchanted, black-metal armour said to be fused to his flesh. Many among the Druchii even mutter that Morathi’s Dark Magic has rendered her son immortal. Whether or not this is true, Malekith promises dire vengeance upon the Asur, vowing to wipe Ulthuan forever from the face of the world if he is denied the Phoenix Throne again.

Deep within the Dark Elves’ bleak kingdom of Naggaroth, plans are afoot to bring about the High Elves’ downfall. To this end, Malekith has spent centuries training to become the perfect warrior, a much-dreaded sorcerer, and an ‘inspirational’ leader, although fear of the ‘Witch King’, as he is now known is, in many cases, the galvanising element.

Malekith’s forces have followed him across the world in pursuit of his dark goal, and have faced the High Elves on many occasions; in spite of this, Ulthuan still stands. Nothing if not persistent, Malekith knows that soon there will be a final reckoning between the Elves – the Druchii will rise, the Asur will fall, and the work of millennia will at last be complete. If the Witch King cannot rule Ulthuan, then no one will!

Talent Tree

 * Malekith's talent tree

Spells

 * Lore of Dark Magic

Character abilities
Campaign:
 * Gaze of Malice
 * Deadly Onslaught
 * Rally! / Stand or Die!
 * Arcane Conduit
 * Hold the Line!
 * Spiteful Conjuration (lore attribute for Dark Magic)

Multiplayer:
 * Stand Your Ground!
 * Gaze of Malice
 * Spiteful Conjuration (lore attribute for Dark Magic)

Legendary Items

 * Destroyer (campaign & multiplayer)
 * Circlet of Iron (campaign & multiplayer)
 * Supreme Spellshield (campaign & multiplayer)
 * Armour of Midnight (campaign only)

Mounts
Campaign and multiplayer:
 * Cold One
 * Cold One Chariot
 * Seraphon (a unique Black Dragon)

Mortal Empires

 * Black Guard of Naggarond
 * Cold One Chariot
 * Reaper Bolt Thrower

Eye of the Vortex

 * Black Guard of Naggarond
 * Reaper Bolt Thrower

TWW2
Faction effects:
 * Malekith gives a percentage of his XP earned to other Lords
 * Diplomatic relations +30 with Cult of Pleasure
 * Loyalty +2 for newly recruited Lords
 * Increased chance of loyalty loss for Lords of a higher rank than Malekith

Lord effects:
 * Upkeep -50% for Black Guard of Naggarond, Dreadspears, Bleakswords and Darkshards units (Lord's army) - this is through his personal character trait

Personal traits

 * Witch King of Naggaroth
 * Upkeep -50% for Black Guard of Naggarond, Dreadspears, Bleakswords, Darkshards (Lord's army). (also see Lord effects)

Defeat/victory trait

 * Immortal Unbeloved
 * Income from raiding: +10% (Lord's army)
 * Passive ability: "Frenzy"

Skill tree
Choice between Warleader and Tyrant trees.

Strategy
Malekith is a powerful, armoured swordsman with access to the Lore of Dark Magic. His skill points can be allocated to specialize in either melee or magic, or towards a balanced build. Choosing Seraphon (a black dragon) as his mount increases his mobility, durability, and splash damage effectiveness.

Between the Circlet of Iron, the Destroyer, and the Supreme Spellshield, Malekith can destroy and disrupt an enemy's magical powers. Respectively, these items: add a miscast chance to normally cast spells; add 15 seconds to an enemy's spells/abilities whenever he hits them in melee; and reduces power recharge rate when surrounded by enemies. Given that Malekith on his black dragon is able to go toe-to-toe with almost any Lord or unit in the game, these items give him the capability to shut down the magic as well as the might of an enemy army.

Trivia

 * Malekith and Tyrion's Lord trait mirror each other, providing 50% upkeep cost for the basic units of their faction.