Lore of Shadows

“	The Lore of Shadows embodies unease and confusion, an ethereal misdirection that leaves victims disorientated and deeply unsettled. Those affected by the “thick grey fog” feel displaced, clumsy, or as if the weight of a thousand unknown burdens lies heavily upon their shoulders.	„
	~ In-game description

The Lore of Shadows is a lore of magic introduced in Total War: Warhammer.

Lore Attribute[]

Smoke & Mirrors[]
	Passive Ability Lore of Shadows
Type	Augment (Area)
Target	Self and Multiple Allies
Speed	+10%
Turn Speed	+10%
Charge Speed	+10%
Effect range
Duration	24 seconds
Affected units	Affects allies in range(all)
Enabled if	Casting
Triggers when casting spell
A conjured shadow is just as obfuscating as a real one - the Shadow Wizard is a master or mistress of the 'concealing' arts.

Spells[]

Melkoth's Mystifying Miasma[]
	Spell Lore of Shadows
Cost	6 Winds
Type	Direct Damage
Target	Single Enemy
Damage Per Second	62-125
Speed	-25%
Range	100 metres
Duration	13 seconds
Cooldown	29 seconds
Affected units	Affects enemies in range(max: 1)
Causes damage to combatants Strong vs units with 25 or more entities Strong vs multiple combatants Weak vs a single combatant
The caster weaves a confounding fog that numbs and deludes enemies, causing them to stumble and stagger.

Melkoth's Mystifying Miasma Upgraded[]
	Spell Lore of Shadows
Cost	9 Winds
Type	Direct Damage
Target	Single Enemy
Damage Per Second	62-125
Speed	-25%
Range	300 metres
Duration	13 seconds
Cooldown	29 seconds
Miscast chance	50%
Affected units	Affects enemies in range(max: 1)
Extended cast range Causes damage to combatants Strong vs units with 25 or more entities Strong vs multiple combatants Weak vs a single combatant
The caster weaves a confounding fog that numbs and deludes enemies, causing them to stumble and stagger.

The Enfeebling Foe[]
	Spell Lore of Shadows
Cost	6 Winds
Type	Hex
Target	Single Enemy
Melee Defence	-24
Melee Attack	-24
Range	200 metres
Duration	17 seconds
Cooldown	30 seconds
Affected units	Affects enemies in range(max: 1)
When cast, this spell enfeebles enemy minds; they feel the crushing weight of reality bearing down upon them.

The Enfeebling Foe Upgraded[]
	Spell Lore of Shadows
Cost	10 Winds
Type	Hex
Target	Single Enemy
Melee Defence	-24
Melee Attack	-24
Range	200 metres
Duration	34 seconds
Cooldown	30 seconds
Miscast chance	50%
Affected units	Affects enemies in range(max: 1)
Extended effect duration
When cast, this spell enfeebles enemy minds; they feel the crushing weight of reality bearing down upon them.

The Withering[]
	Spell Lore of Shadows
Cost	6 Winds
Type	Hex
Target	Single Enemy
Leadership	-8
Armour	-30
Range	200 metres
Duration	40 seconds
Cooldown	43 seconds
Affected units	Affects allies in range(max: 1)
The Wizard destroys their enemies from within, corroding foes' minds with doubt and crisis.

The Withering Upgraded[]
	Spell Lore of Shadows
Cost	11 Winds
Type	Hex (Area)
Target	Ground or Single Enemy (Initial Spell Target) and Multiple Enemies
Leadership	-8
Armour	-30
Range	200 metres
Effect range	35 metres
Duration	40 seconds
Cooldown	43 seconds
Miscast chance	50%
Affected units	Affects allies in range(all)
Added effect area
The Wizard destroys their enemies from within, corroding foes' minds with doubt and crisis.

The Penumbral Pendulum[]
	Spell Lore of Shadows
Cost	12 Winds
Type	Wind
Target	Ground (Initial Spell Target) and All Units (Friendly Fire possible)
Damage Per Second	36 (50%)
Duration	2 seconds
Radius	4 metres
Movement Speed	40 metre per second
Range	200 metres
Duration	3 seconds
Cooldown	40 seconds
Affected units	Affects enemies in range(max: 1)
Affected units if	Grounded Not on or below platform
Small, foward-moving area of effect Strong vs multiple units Weak vs a single combatant
A spectral pendulum is summoned by the Wizard. On command, it swings, razor sharp and with lethal speed, through the foe.

The Penumbral Pendulum Upgraded[]
	Spell Lore of Shadows
Cost	16 Winds
Type	Wind
Target	Ground (Initial Spell Target) and All Units (Friendly Fire possible)
Damage Per Second	50 (64%)
Duration	2 seconds
Radius	4 metres
Movement Speed	40 metre per second
Range	200 metres
Duration	3 seconds
Cooldown	40 seconds
Miscast chance	50%
Affected units	Affects enemies in range(max: 1)
Affected units if	Grounded Not on or below platform
Increased armour-piercing damage Small, foward-moving area of effect Strong vs multiple units Weak vs a single combatant
A spectral pendulum is summoned by the Wizard. On command, it swings, razor sharp and with lethal speed, through the foe.

Okkam's Mindrazor[]
	Spell Lore of Slaanesh
Cost	8 Winds
Type	Augment
Target	Self or Single Ally
Imbuement	Magical Attacks
Base Weapon Damage	+50%
Armour-Piercing Weapon Damage	+50%
Range	200 metres
Duration	32 seconds
Cooldown	46 seconds
Affected units	Affects allies in range(max: 1)
The supernatural solution is often the best; weapons materialise before the caster's allies, allowing them to slice through flesh, soul, and consciousness.

Okkam's Mindrazor Upgraded[]
	Spell Lore of Shadows
Cost	14 Winds
Type	Augment (Area)
Target	Ground, Self, or Single Ally (Initial Spell Target) and Self/Multiple Allies
Imbuement	Magical Attacks
Base Weapon Damage	+50%
Armour-Piercing Weapon Damage	+50%
Range	200 metres
Effect range	35 metres
Duration	32 seconds
Cooldown	46 seconds
Miscast chance	50%
Affected units	Affects allies in range(all)
Added effect area
The supernatural solution is often the best; weapons materialise before the caster's allies, allowing them to slice through flesh, soul, and consciousness.

Pit of Shades[]
	Spell Lore of Shadows
Cost	15 Winds
Type	Vortex
Target	Ground (Initial Spell Target) and All Units (Friendly Fire possible)
Damage Per Second	5 (100%)
Duration	13 seconds
Radius	15 metres
Range	200 metres
Duration	13 seconds
Cooldown	49 seconds
Affected units	Affects enemies in range(max: 1)
Huge, stationary area of effect Strong vs multiple units Good against armour
The spellcaster opens a vortex leading into the Pit. Anything caught within it will be lost forever.

Pit of Shades Upgraded[]
	Spell Lore of Shadows
Cost	22 Winds
Type	Vortex
Target	Ground (Initial Spell Target) and All Units (Friendly Fire possible)
Damage Per Second	8 (100%)
Duration	13 seconds
Radius	15 metres
Range	200 metres
Duration	13 seconds
Cooldown	49 seconds
Miscast chance	50%
Affected units	Affects enemies in range(max: 1)
Increased armour-piercing damage Huge, stationary area of effect Strong vs multiple units Good against armour
The spellcaster opens a vortex leading into the Pit. Anything caught within it will be lost forever.

Units with the Lore of Shadows[]

Beastmen[]

Unit
Malagor the Dark Omen	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	🗙
Great Bray-Shaman (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Bray-Shaman (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Daemons of Chaos[]

Unit
The Daemon Prince	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Exalted Keeper of Secrets (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Herald of Slaanesh (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
The Blue Scribes	🗙	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Alluress (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Dark Elves[]

Unit
Morathi	✔	✔	🗙	🗙	🗙	✔	🗙
Supreme Sorceress (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Sorceress (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Dwarfs[]

Unit
Ulrika Magdova	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

High Elves[]

Unit
Teclis	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	🗙	🗙	🗙
Archmage (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Cavill	🗙	✔	🗙	🗙	🗙	🗙	🗙
Loremaster of Hoeth	🗙	✔	🗙	🗙	🗙	🗙	🗙
Mage (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Kislev[]

Unit
Ulrika Magdova	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Hag Witch (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Lizardmen[]

Unit
Slann Mage-Priest (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Norsca[]

Unit
Sayl the Faithless	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	✔
Fimir Balefiend (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Nurgle[]

Unit
Ketzak Fimdirach	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Slaanesh[]

Unit
Exalted Keeper of Secrets (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Daemon Prince of Slaanesh	✔	🗙	✔	✔	🗙	✔	🗙
Herald of Slaanesh (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Chaos Sorcerer Lord of Slaanesh (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Alluress (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Chaos Sorcerer of Slaanesh (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

The Empire[]

Unit
Ulrika Magdova	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Grey Wizard	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Tomb Kings[]

Unit
Liche Priest (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Tzeentch[]

Unit
Kairos Fateweaver	✔	🗙	🗙	🗙	✔	🗙	✔
The Changeling (Formless Horror: Be'lakor)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
The Changeling (Formless Horror: Count Noctilus)	✔	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	✔	🗙
The Changeling (Formless Horror: Drycha)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
The Changeling (Formless Horror: Kairos Fateweaver)	🗙	🗙	🗙	🗙	✔	🗙	🗙
The Changeling (Formless Horror: Malagor the Dark Omen)	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	🗙
The Changeling (Formless Horror: Morathi)	✔	✔	🗙	🗙	🗙	✔	🗙
The Changeling (Formless Horror: Sayl the Faithless)	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	✔
The Changeling (Formless Horror: Teclis)	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	🗙	🗙	🗙
The Changeling (Formless Horror: The Blue Scribes)	🗙	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
The Changeling (Formless Horror: Ulrika Magdova)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
The Blue Scribes	🗙	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Vampire Coast[]

Unit
Count Noctilus	✔	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	✔	🗙

Vampire Counts[]

Unit
Lahmian Vampire Lord	🗙	🗙	✔	🗙	✔	🗙	✔
Vampire (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Warriors of Chaos[]

Unit
Be'lakor	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Daemon Prince of Slaanesh	✔	🗙	✔	✔	🗙	✔	🗙
Chaos Sorcerer Lord of Slaanesh (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Chaos Sorcerer Lord (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
The Blue Scribes	🗙	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Chaos Sorcerer (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Chaos Sorcerer of Slaanesh (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Wood Elves[]

Unit
Drycha	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Spellweaver (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Malevolent Ancient Treeman (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Spellsinger (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Branchwraith	✔	✔	🗙	✔	✔	🗙	🗙
Malevolent Branchwraith (Shadows)	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Strategy[]

Lore of shadows is a strong lore with many hex and augment spells alongside some heavy damaging ones. The lore attribute is notable for lasting a surprisingly long time. The speed boost itself is not super significant, but the fact that it lasts for 24 seconds means that your units will be that slight bit faster for a while.

Melkoth's Miasma is a solid spell for slowing enemies down while also doing damage to them, it also works well with the lore passive, speeding all friendly units up to catch slowed enemies.

Penumbral Pendulum is a very strong "wind" spell that can wreck infantry formations. They can be very effective against stationary targets such as archers or the front line of an engagement.

Pit of Shades is a stationary vortex. Its inherent armor piercing damage makes this spell useful against both light and heavily armored troops. As it is stationary, it is useful when units are bottlenecked or clumped together. Its initial expansion may toss lighter troops away from the subsequent pull and damage of the the rift that opens up. Due to the suction of the rift, units have difficulty escaping its effect radius after the initial expansion. When upgraded, Pit of Shades increases the armor piercing damage it does.

Enfeebling Foe is another great spell for neutering the melee stats of a unit. Useful for critical engagements between lords or hampering a key unit on the battlefield.

Use whenever you reach a critical engagement of the battle. This spell is useful for preventing damage from going through or increasing the likelihood of an enemy taking damage.

Okkam's Mindrazor is a straight damage boost, it is percentage based so will effect units with higher values to begin with. Best used on more elite units or even a character that needs to hit harder. Notably, melee attack and defence does not increase, so their likelihood of dealing damage is the same. Enfeebeling Foe and Mindrazor can be used in similar scenarios or combined with another ability to win a fight (use enfeebling to reduce combat stats and Deadly Onslaught to increase damage for example).

The Withering is not very useful, lowering a single enemies leadership and armour is not very worthwhile. Overcast adds an area of effect that can help reduce the armour of many enemies, but still you are better of saving your Winds for another spell. The two effects are quite different and somewhat unrelated which makes it an awkward to use spell. If your enemy has high armour though, this ability can provide some niche utility for stripping it and making them vulnerable to a rear charge that could break their leadership.

Overall this lore has many strong spells, suitably it is a relatively subtle lore of magic that can swing the favor of battle in key engagements.

Trivia[]

Available to generic casters of nine races, the Lore of Shadows is the second-most commonly available lore. It is beaten only by Death, available to ten.

Magic