Nagarythe


 * For the province, see Nagarythe (province).


 * Not to be confused with Naggarond or Naggaroth.

Nagarythe is a playable High Elves subfaction introduced in Total War: Warhammer II, led by Alith Anar. They are playable in campaign, multiplayer and custom battles.

They were previously a minor faction, but were made playable on May 31, 2018 through a free DLC that can be downloaded from Steam here.

How they play
For general High Elves gameplay information, see the High Elves article.
 * Units: Varied unit roster with spellcasters and dragons, tend to focus on quality over quantity. Shadow-walkers are unique to Nagarythe.
 * Martial Prowess: In battle, High Elf armies gain extra bonuses while they are at high strength.
 * Intrigue and Influence: In campaign, High Elves can spend this resource to manipulate other factions, or to recruit powerful characters.
 * Espionage and Trade: If High Elves make a trade agreement they gain vision of that faction's territory. They also benefit greatly from trade in general.
 * Invocation of Morai-Heg: A unique rite which allows Nagarythe to summon an assassin hero: Hand of the Shadow Crown.
 * Marked for Death: Special missions with great rewards for assassinating target characters in the campaign.
 * Unique stances: Nagarythe's default stance allows a chance to ambush, and another stance allows them to move through impassable terrain..
 * Sword of Khaine: As an elven faction, Nagarythe can draw the Sword of Khaine.

Background
Nagarythe was once the most powerful kingdom of Ulthuan, ruled directly by the first Phoenix King Aenarion. But his people, hardened by war against the Daemons and tainted by the Sword of Khaine that he drew, grew cold and spiteful. After Aenarion's death, his son Malekith ruled Nagarythe but was denied the Phoenix Crown. Malekith waged war on the other elven kingdoms, and at the culmination of the Civil War he tried to unravel the Great Vortex. This resulted in most of Nagarythe and Tiranoc being sunk under the ocean.

The rebel elves fled, becoming the Dark Elves. Nagarythe became known as The Shadowlands.

Alith Anar descends from a loyalist noble house of Nagarythe, bitter at Malekith and the Dark Elves for their betrayal and the destruction of Nagarythe. He is eternally seeking vengeance against the Dark Elves, and his name strikes fear into their hearts.

Unit roster
Identical to the regular High Elves roster with the exception of the following units:


 * Alith Anar
 * Shadow-walkers

In the campaign
Nagarythe play similarly to a regular High Elves faction, with the following exceptions:

Legendary lord choices

 * Alith Anar - a powerful ranged sniper and army buffer

Marked for Death
Marked for Death is a mechanic which directs Nagarythe to assassinate certain other lords on the campaign map. At any time there can be up to 3 enemy lords who are "marked for death". Missions are issued to kill these lords, and the rewards can be substantial amounts of money, influence, temporary faction-wide buffs, and better relations with other High Elves factions. The missions have a limit however - eg: 20 turns to eliminate a certain character.

Invocation of Morai-Heg and the Hand of the Shadow Crown
The Invocation of Morai-Heg is a special rite unique to Nagarythe which replaces the Invocation of Hoeth. It summons the Hand of the Shadow Crown, a special hero who can successfully assassinate any character you choose, but then disappears and must be re-summoned by using the rite again.

Aesanar Camp
The Aesanar Camp is an advanced military building unique to Nagarythe, which can be built at settlement level II.

It has many beneficial effects, and unlocks recruitment of:


 * Shadow-walkers
 * Shadow Warriors (require The Queen and the Crone)

Stances
Nagarythe have the following stances.

Note they lack the Lileath's Blessing stance of other High Elves.
 * Stalking - replaces default stance, gives chance to ambush but allows movement
 * Use Shadow Realm Pathways - similar to Use Underway etc, allows Nagarythe to pass through terrain
 * Raiding
 * Encamp
 * March
 * Ambush

Climate preferences

 * Habitable: Wasteland, Frozen
 * Unpleasant: Temperate, Savannah, Mountain, Magical Forest, Jungle, Island
 * Uninhabitable: Ocean, Chaotic Wasteland, Desert

Start positions
Previous
 * Unicorn Gate.

Eye of the Vortex
 * Black Creek Spire in The Broken Lands. Other settlements controlled by Karond Kar.

Mortal Empires
 * Arnheim in The Black Coast. Other settlement controlled by Bleak Holds.

Short Campaign

 * Maintain control of 2 provinces, including Nagarythe, Iron Mountains, Titan Peaks, The Road of Skulls, Doom Glades
 * Destroy the following factions: Cult of Pleasure, Bleak Holds, Clar Karond
 * Control and 8 of the following settlements, including: Naggarond, Ancient City of Quintex, Har Ganeth, Hag Hall, Couronne, Altdorf, Castle Drakenhof, The Oak of Ages, Miragliano, Skavenblight, Kislev, Hell Pit, Black Crag, Lahmia, Khemri, Itza, Hexoatl, Gaean Vale, The Awakening, The Galleon's Graveyard, Sartosa
 * Ensure the construction of the Black Citadel of Anlec
 * Maintain 2 Moon Dragons

Long Campaign

 * Destroy the following factions: Cult of Pleasure, Bleak Holds, Clar Karond, Naggarond, Har Ganeth
 * Control and 8 of the following settlements, including: Naggarond, Ancient City of Quintex, Har Ganeth, Hag Hall, Couronne, Altdorf, Castle Drakenhof, The Oak of Ages, Miragliano, Skavenblight, Kislev, Hell Pit, Black Crag, Lahmia, Khemri, Itza, Hexoatl, Gaean Vale, The Awakening, The Galleon's Graveyard, Sartosa


 * Ensure the construction of the Black Citadel of Anlec
 * Maintain 2 Moon Dragons

Eye of the Vortex

 * Defensive
 * Guardian
 * Ardent

Mortal empires

 * Guardian - No enemy shall gain a foothold on the homeland.
 * Diplomatic - Official relations between powers are what really mattes; statecraft is all.

Strategy
Dark Elves factions are the natural enemies of Nagarythe. Focusing on defeating all nearby Dark Elves factions should be core of your starting strategy and completing the assassination missions will give you helpful extra resources.

As your enemy will be mostly Dark Elves and later Skaven, your armies should focus on being able to defeat armies with lots of missile troops, mobility and artillery units.

Another option is to abandon the starting province, sail East and reclaim the Nagarythe province from the Scourge of Khaine faction and beat Avelorn to the Shrine of Khaine. This gives you a safer base to start from in Ulthuan and the powerful Sword of Khaine.