Clan Rictus is a faction of Skaven introduced in Total War: Warhammer II. It is led by legendary lord Tretch Craventail and starts out in the middle of Naggaroth. The faction is playable in campaign and multiplayer.
Clan Rictus was introduced as free DLC in the Tomb Kings update. They can be downloaded from Steam here: Link
In Total War: Warhammer III, Clan Rictus is present at Crookback Mountain as an nonplayable faction in The Realm of Chaos campaign.
Contents
How they play[]
A summary of Skaven gameplay:
- Units: Masses of cheap expendable units, backed up by horrifying monsters, and devastating war machines. No cavalry or flying units.
- Skaven Under-Empire: Skaven settlements appear as ruins to other factions, until discovered. Additionally, Skaven can establish secret Under-Cities beneath enemy settlements.
- Food: Food is a special resource that Skaven must manage alongside money. It can increase usage of army abilities or help upgrade settlements.
- The Menace Below: In campaign battles, Skaven have a unique army ability called The Menace Below which summons Clanrats. Spending food increases the amount of times this can be used.
- Skaven Corruption: In campaign, Skaven must manage Skaven Corruption which both benefits and harms them.
- Loyalty: Lords have different loyalty levels, which can cause them to take their army and rebel against you.
- Stances: Stalking replaces default stance and gives a chance to ambush. Skaven also have access to the Underway, like Dwarfs and Greenskins.
- Rites: Skaven have access to various rites which grant bonuses in campaign.
Background[]
Clan Rictus is a clan of Skaven who inhabit Crookback Mountain, which lies on the eastern edge of the World's Edge Mountains, or western edge of the Dark Lands. The Clan's leader is Kratch Doomclaw, who sits upon the Council of Thirteen. Tretch Craventail is Kratch's right-hand rat. In Total War: Warhammer II Tretch starts in Naggaroth, far away from Crookback Mountain.
In battle[]
Clan Rictus plays like a regular Skaven faction. See that page for details.
Note that due to Tretch's lord effects, all his troops get vanguard deployment, and cause fear in underground battles.
In campaign[]
Clan Rictus largely plays like a regular Skaven faction. See that page for details.
Legendary Lord choices[]
- Tretch Craventail - Tretch is a crafty strategist who gives vanguard deployment to his army
Climate preferences[]
Climate preferences for Clan Rictus:
- Habitable: Temperate, Wasteland, Frozen, Savannah, Mountain, Desert
- Unpleasant: Jungle
- Uninhabitable: Magical Forest, Chaotic Wasteland, Ocean, Island
Faction effects[]
- Habitable climate: Frozen
- Unpleasant climate: Jungle
- Scurry Away! has improved effect and grants a minor ward save when active
- Public order +4 when a diplomatic treaty is broken
- Attribute: Encourage for Stormvermin units
- Recruit rank +3 for Stormvermin units
Lord Effects[]
- Melee attack +13 during ambush battles (Tretch's army)
- Melee attack +13 after retreating when attacked (Tretch's army)
- Attribute: Vanguard deployment (Tretch's army)
Start locations[]
- Hotek's Column in The Clawed Coast
- Hotek's Column in The Clawed Coast
- Under-City under Rictus Clan-Nest
Victory conditions[]
- Eye of the Vortex
- Rituals to control the Great Vortex.
- ?
- Mortal Empires
- Short campaign
- Destroy the following factions.:
- Hexoatl, Eataine
- Control at least 8 of the following settlements through direct ownership, military allies, or vassals.:
- Courconne, Altdorf, Castle Drakenhoff, The Oak of Ages, Tor Anlec, The Star Tower, Kislev, Hell Pit, Karaz-A-Karak, Black Crag, Karak Eight Peaks, Sorcerer's Islands, Ekrund, Lahmia, Itza, Hexoatl, Naggarond, Lothern, Gaean Vale, The Awakening, Galleon's Graveryard, Sartosa.
- Maintain at least 60 units.
- Long campaign
- Control at least 17 of the following settlements through direct ownership, military allies, or vassals.:
- Courconne, Altdorf, Castle Drakenhoff, The Oak of Ages, Tor Anlec, The Star Tower, Kislev, Hell Pit, Karaz-A-Karak, Black Crag, Karak Eight Peaks, Sorcerer's Islands, Ekrund, Lahmia, Itza, Hexoatl, Naggarond, Lothern, Gaean Vale, The Awakening, Galleon's Graveryard, Sartosa.
- Maintain at least 100 units
- Destroy the following factions
- Hexoatl, Grand Principality of Reikland (the Empire), Eataine, Karaz-A-Karak.
Chapter Objectives[]
tbc[]
| Rank | Name | Objective(s) | Reward(s) | In-game description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary objective | ||||
| Bonus objective I | ||||
| Bonus objective II | ||||
| Bonus objective III | ||||
| Bonus objective IV | ||||
| Bonus objective V |
Strategy[]
General Campaign[]
Clan Rictus primarily focuses on Stormvermin and does not have any strong campaign mechanics like the DLC Skaven factions. Regardless of the faction buffs, Stormvermin are meant to be meat shields and not damage dealers. Therefore, survival until unlocking your high tier units will be a steep uphill struggle.
Tretch himself is fairly weak for a Legendary Lord, so it is imperative that you keep the starting two units of Stormvermin (Sword & Shield) and a Doomwheel alive into the late game. The vanguard deployment for for his entire army should be utilized to better position your units to attack the enemy from multiple sides. Tretch's unique lord skills do provide additional buffs to Clanrats and Stormvermin; buffing Skavenslaves is not worth the skill points.
Eye of the Vortex[]
Clan Rictus will be mainly competing with the Dark Elves on Naggaroth for warpstone settlements for the Vortex rituals and eventually for control of the Vortex itself. The Slaughterhorn Tribe will be very difficult to deal with after erecting their herdstone, and will plow through you should you get in the way. Nagarythe, the Heralds of Ariel, and the Exiles of Nehek will also likely declare war with you.
They also have different climate preference than most of the other Skaven factions located down south in Lustria or The Southlands. Clan Moulder to the north of Naggarond and Har Ganeth is the exception, and should be allied or confederated with as soon as possible.
Mortal Empires[]
You will start off in Naggaroth at Hotek's Column (as in the Vortex campaign), with the same neighboring factions, except Clan Moulder will be on the other side of the world at Hellpit. Without the race for The Vortex, it is possible to befriend the Dark Elves in Naggaroth, though you'll need to do it quickly before they decide to wipe you out instead.
You also start with an Under-City at Crookback Mountain, occupied by Rictus Clan-Nest. Summoning a Vermintide army to overthrow them is an extremely risky, but highly worthwhile gambit that will allow you to relocate back home. Otherwise, just use it to expand your Under-Empire to supplement your food and money income.
Trivia[]
- With the Potion of Speed Update a new section of land was added, The Dragon Isles and the area above them, Crookback Mountain among others. Crookback Mountain is Clan Rictus' home and is currently populated by Rictus Clan-Nest, a minor non-playable Skaven faction.
- The playable Clan Rictus faction led by Tretch Craventail is technically Tretch's Raiders, while Clan Rictus proper is represented by Rictus Clan-Nest.
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