Abilities are a very broad category described as particular actions that things (eg: units, the player, or the AI) are capable of doing or being affected by in battle in the Total War: Warhammer series.
Overview[ | ]
How abilities work[ | ]
First, there are a few things to note:
- Not cumulative: having multiple sources providing the same ability to a unit, for example, does not make the ability stronger, last longer and allow it to be used more times or more often
- Cannot be permanently lost: abilities cannot be permanently lost during battle or on the campaign map
- Can be temporarily suppressed: abilities can be temporarily ignored during a battle due to other abilities or effects
- Mixed effects: abilities can provide buffs
, debuffs 
or mixed effects 
Duration[ | ]
All abilities are subdivided according to their duration, namely:
- Active abilities are abilities which have to be manually "started" by the player and have a specific duration
- Passive abilities are abilities that "start" and "end" automatically, once certain conditions are met, and do not require player intervention
Subsets[ | ]
All abilities can be clustered according to where they originate from, whether items or units, and their respective subsets.
Ancillaries[ | ]
- Banner abilities are exclusive to banner ancillaries
Items[ | ]
- Item abilities are restricted to items and can be further subdivided into items with active abilities and items with passive abilities
- Weapon abilities are exclusive to weapon items, and can be further subdivided into weapons with active abilities and weapons with passive abilities
Units[ | ]
- Army abilities are activatable abilities by the player during battle
- Character abilities are exclusive to all hero and lord units
- Lord abilities are limited to lord units, standard and legendary alike
- Hero abilities are restricted to hero units, standard and legendary alike
- Unit abilities are available to all units, including hero and lord units
Spells[ | ]
Spells are a special type of active ability usable by spellcaster units (and occasionally other units) within the Magic game mechanic. Please see our page on the Winds of Magic for an explanation of the mechanic.
Rarity[ | ]
All abilities have an inherent rarity that roughly translates to how powerful they are:
- Common
- Uncommon
- Rare
- Unique
- Crafted
Introduction[ | ]
The "ability" mechanic was introduced in Total War: Warhammer with new abilities added in subsequent versions. Abilities are "game cumulative" meaning all abilities added in older game versions are included in newer versions, albeit and usually updated for balance purposes. This means the same ability can have slightly different effects depending on which game version is being played.
- Total War: Warhammer abilities - for abilities introduced in the first game
- Total War: Warhammer II abilities - for new abilities introduced in the second game
- Total War: Warhammer III abilities - for new abilities introduced in the third game
Note: This Wiki has individual pages for each ability and each game version. Category pages track the different categories and sub-categories which are hyperlinked above, where relevant.
Common abilities[ | ]
- Blood Lust
- Deadly Onslaught
- Foe-Seeker
- Frenzy
- Frostbite
- Guardian
- Heroic Killing Blow
- Poison!
- Regeneration
- Horrible Regeneration
- Rally!
- Rowdy
- Slippery
- Stand Your Ground!
- The Chilling Aura
- The Hunger
- Wayfarer
Spellcasters only:
Faction-Specific[ | ]
The Empire[ | ]
- Hold the Line!
- Arrows of Aqshy
- Oil Flask
- Hail of Fire
- Accusation
- Kaboom!
- Emergency Vent
- Grim Resolve
- Blinding Radiance
- Bathed in Blood
- Strength of the Penitent
- Aura of Protection
- Locus of Hysh
Warrior Priests, Arch Lectors and Volkmar the Grim:
- Hammer of Sigmar
- Divine Power
- Benediction
- Soulfire
- Faith's Bastion
- Greater Faith's Bastion
- Shield of Faith
- Grand Hammer of Sigmar
- Grand Soulfire
- Grand Shield of Faith
Greenskins[ | ]
- Arachneruption
- Bangers & Smash
- Da Boss' Loons
- Don't Even Try It
- Dulled Senses
- Fermented Fungi
- Fishy Breath
- Get Back 'Ere!
- Giant Explodin' Spores
- Ghostly Protection
- Goggly Glare
- Immense Power
- Padded Shields
- Pump Harder Ladz!
- Maternal Instinct
- Mad Cap Mushrooms
- Mither
- Monstrous Disease
- Night Goblin Poison
- Opportunist Murderer
- Overwhelming Odour
- Rabble-Rouser
- Rubble & Ruin I
- Rubble & Ruin II
- Rubble & Ruin III
- Rock Bottom
- Slime Smoothie
- Spiky Skin
- Spinning Loons
- Spirit of Gork (or Mork)
- Smash 'Em Faster
- Smoke Bomb
- Squigs Go Boom
- Squigs Go Wild
- Swamp Breath
- Thermal Thorax
- The Loons of the Eight Peaks
- They Needs Stabbin’
- Waaagh! (ability)
- Wizardly Weapons
Dwarfs[ | ]
- The Old Grumblers
- Deathblow
- Power of the Dragonback
- Marked by Ulthar
- Liquid Fortification
- Gyrocopter Bomb
- Gyrobomber Bomb
- Skyhammer Bomb
- Journey's End
- Flash Bomb
- Ballistics Calibration
- Extra Powder (Also on the Warlock Engineer)
- Entrenchment
- Restock!
- Cinderblast Shell
-Runelords and Runesmiths
- Forgefire
- Rune of Hearth & Home
- Rune of Oath & Steel
- Rune of Wrath & Ruin
- Rune of Negation
- Master Rune of Oath & Steel
- Master Rune of Negation
- Master Rune of Wrath & Ruin
- Locus of Power
- Greater Locus of Power
Vampire Counts[ | ]
- Balefire
- Unholy Lodestone
- Vigour Mortis
- Undeath Resurgent
- Reliquary of Corruption
- Blasphemous Tome
- The Reliquary Binding
- The Flag of Blood Keep
- Lightning Reflexes
- Seduction
- Heart Piercing
- Honour or Death
- Storm of the Night
- Dark Protection
- Claws of Mourkain
- Ghoul King of Ushoran
- Master of the Dead
- Magical Animus
- Immortal Will
- Dark Benediction
- Black Nimbus
- Black Scythes
- Unholy Vigour
Warriors of Chaos[ | ]
Bretonnia[ | ]
- Aura of the Lady
- Blessing of the Lady
- Sacred Guardian
- Lance
- Icon of Devotion
Beastmen[ | ]
- Primal Fury
- Apocalyptic Vision
- Slaughterer's Call
- Bloodgreed
- Soul Eater
- Warp Gaze
- Distorted Reality
- Barbed-Knuckle Boxing
- Spurting Bile-Blood
- Searing Bile-Blood
- Drunken Bravado
- Strength From Flesh
- Aura of Madness
- Will of the Dark Gods
Wood Elves[ | ]
- Arrow of Kurnous
- Blessings of the Ancients
- Call of the Woods
- Dance of Loec
- Glamoured
- Guardian of the Wildwood
- Hawkish Precision
- Howl of the Forest
- Insidious Glamour
- Loec's Shroud
- Possessed by the Trickster God
- Prey of Anath Raema
- Storm of Blades
- The Shadow's Coil
- The Wildfire Aura
- Volley of Kurnous
- Whirling Death
- Woven Mist
- Yewberry Infusion
Norsca[ | ]
- Berserk
- Enrage
- Favour of the Ruinous Powers
- Fight or Die!
- From the Mist
- Giver of Glory
- Rage
- Ruinous Flesh
- Seduction of the Serpent
- Vicious Assault I
- Vicious Assault II
- Vicious Assault III
- Monster Hunt enemies only:
- Exploding Fart
- Frost Breath (Frigustrex)
- Howling Winter
- Lightning Storm
- Lightning Strike
- Mother of Flame
- Primal Rage
- Soulbinding
Lizardmen[ | ]
- Arcane Vassal
- Cold-Blooded
- Shield of the Old Ones
- Supreme Shield of the Old Ones
- Primal Instincts
- Miasma of Despair
- Monstrous Strength
- Drop Rocks of Sundering
- Drop Rocks
- Ark of Sotek
- Revivification Crystal
- Toad Rage
- Judgment of the Uxmac
- Dread Aversion
- Burning Alignment
- Portent of Warding
- Arcane Configuration
- Focus Instinct
- Warrior's Crest
- Primeval Roar
- Master of the Sacred Places
Skaven[ | ]
- Acidic Fear Musk
- Blade Swirl
- Blood Shield
- Cellular Instability
- Concealment Bombs
- Death Frenzy
- Doomrockets
- Doppelgang
- Duck & Weave
- Demagoguery
- Endless Drum
- Evisceration
- Fickle Guardian
- Fluid Injection
- Instability I
- Instability II
- Instability III
- Looming Dread
- Loyal Guardian
- Necroparisites
- Overload
- Power Grab
- Propane Perspiration
- Running with the Pack
- Seismic Snare
- Shock Collar
- Scurry Away!
- Snare-Net
- Strength in Numbers
- The Best Defence
- The Rats Emerge
- Too Horrible to Die
- Verminous Valour
- Warpbomb
- Warp Discharge
- Warp Frenzy
- Warp Lightning Rod
- Warp-Quake
- Witness Me!
High Elves[ | ]
- Loec's Shroud
- Martial Prowess
- Martial Mastery
- Loose!
- Volley of High Arrows
- Aura of Protection
- Wake of Fire
- Rebirth
- Fiery Rebirth
- Attuned to Magic
- Blizzard Aura
- Emberstorm
- Omen of Hope
- Mighty Roar
Dark Elves[ | ]
- Murderous Prowess
- Murderous Mastery
- The Trial of Blades
- Whiplash!
- Beastslaver
- Volley of Dark Arrows
- Darken the Skies
- Strength Through Spite
- Kindle the Fury
- Witchbrew
- Barbed Net
- Another Takes its Place
- Assassin's Trophy
- Black Lotus
- Dark Venom
- Wail of Malice
- Aura of Agony
- Aura of Ardour
- Abyssal Howl
- Crowfeast
Tomb Kings[ | ]
- The Curse
- Tombstrike
- The Curse of Djaf
- Curse of Khsar
- Reanimate
- My Will Be Done
- Restore
- Stone Shaper
- Wrath of the Creator
- Death from Above
- Covenant of Power
- Spirit Conduit
- Realm of Souls Tier 1
- Realm of Souls Tier 2
- Realm of Souls Tier 3
Vampire Coast[ | ]
- Extra Powder (Vampire Coast)
- The Hunger
- All Hands Hoay!
- Hornswaggle
- Taunt
- Abandon Ship! (ability)
- Enrage
- Enchanted Ballistics
- Noxious Disintegration
- Gaseous Demise
- Cackle Fruit
- More Powder!
- Bomb-Throw
- Dead Eyes
Kislev[ | ]
Khorne[ | ]
- Bellow of Fury
- Bloodthirst
- Burning Rage
- Deathbringer
- Hellblade
- Locus of Abjuration
- Locus of Wrath
- Totem of Endless Bloodletting
- Wrath of Khorne
Cathay[ | ]
- Alchemist's Elixir of Iron Skin
- Alchemist's Elixir of Puissance
- Battle Harmony: Yang
- Battle Harmony: Yin
- Defensive Stance
- Enchanted Metallurgy
- Eye of the Dragon
- Sky-Junk Bomb
- Transformation of the Dragon
- Wrath of the Storm
Tzeentch[ | ]
Nurgle[ | ]
Slaanesh[ | ]
Ogre Kingdoms[ | ]
Legendary Lord specific[ | ]
Azhag
Skarsnik
Wurrzag
Grimgor Ironhide
Grom the Paunch
Markus Wulfhart
Boris Todbringer
Thorgrim
- High King
- Oath of Vengance
Ungrim Ironfist
Grombrindal the White Dwarf
Belegar
Thorek Ironbrow
Mannfred von Carstein
Heinrich Kemmler
Vlad von Carstein
Isabella von Carstein
The Red Duke (Playable only upon confederation)
Kholek Suneater
Malagor the Dark Omen
Morghur the Shadowgave
Taurox the Brass Bull
Fay Enchantress
King Louen Leoncoeur
Alberic de Bordelaux
Repanse de Lyonesse
Orion
Durthu
Sisters of Twilight
Drycha
Wulfrik the Wanderer
Throgg
Kroq-Gar:
Nakai the Wanderer
Tiktaq'to
Gor-Rok
Mazdamundi
Oxyotl
Deathmaster Snikch
Ikit Claw
Lord Skrolk
Queek Headtaker
Tretch Creventail
Throt the Unclean
Malekith:
Morathi
Hellebron:
- Blood Frenzy
Lokhir Fellheart
Malus Darkblade
Rakarth
Alith Anar:
Tyrion
Teclis
Alarielle the Radiant
Eltharion
- Mistwalker's Barrage
- Grim Discipline
- Warden's Stand
Imrik
High Queen Khalida
Settra the Imperishable
Arkhan the Black
Grand Hierophant Khatep
Aranessa Saltspite
Count Noctilus
Cylostra Direfin
Luthor Harkon
Gotrek
Breath attacks[ | ]
- Pestilential Breath
- Dark Fire of Chaos
- Soporific Breath
- Noxious Breath
- Sun Dragon's Breath
- Moon Dragon's Breath
- Star Dragon's Breath
- Fiery Breath
- Frost Breath
- Death Shriek
Certain mounts only:
- Bloodroar
- Swarm of Flies
- Unholy Clamour
- Wall of Unholy Sound
- Bloodshield of Khaine
- Fury of Khaine
- Scorch
- Billowing Death
- Pestilent Breath
- Burning Alignment
- Portent of Warding
- Arcane Configuration
- Locus of Power
- Covenant of Power
Contact Effects[ | ]
Contact Effect (Abilities imbued by hitting an enemy).
Unique spells[ | ]
Unique spells are specific to one or two characters, and do not truly belong to a regular lore of magic.