Skaven tech tree

The Skaven tech tree consists of technologies that unlock new advantages throughout the game. Research takes place constantly, but the rate at which discoveries occur can be increased by using heroes to spy or building additional research buildings at your settlements.

Tech tree

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Technologies

Tech	Prerequisite	Cost	Effects
Ferocious Plans Research the following items to advance the Skaven's vicious, uncompromising agenda to another level altogether.
Driven by Hunger Lack of food can be a great motivator.		400	Unit experience: +2 for Clanrats unit recruits Income from post-battle loot: +5%
Always More Besides Casualties mean little when your population literally breed like rats.		400	Casualty replenishment rate: +5%
Numbers Beyond Counting The tide of monstrous rats flowed over them one by one, dragging them down to be torn apart…		400	Charge bonus: +5 for Skavenslaves units Melee defence: +5 for Skavenslaves units Upkeep: -20% for Skavenslaves units
Strength in Numbers Large numbers of ill-trained, ill-equipped warriors can still perform a useful function.		400	Charge bonus: +5 for Clanrats units Melee attack: +5 for Clanrats units
Scavenging Runs There is always value in a lightning strike to harvest useful items, whatever they may be.		400	Armour: +10 for Clanrats units
Take Everything! Yes-yes, take all of it! Yes, all - we can split-divide the spoils later- trust me, yes-yes!		400	Magic item drop chance: +3% Income from sacking settlements: +5%
The Menace Below We are the Children of the Horned Rat, survivors all and as we were here before you, so shall we be present to see you fall.		400	Leadership: +10 when laying siege Enemy siege holdout time: -1
Ruthless Plans Research the following items to advance the Skaven's vicious, uncompromising agenda to another level altogether.
Harsh Production Quotas It means nothing if Skavenslaves die meeting a quota, there will always be more - many more - where they came from.		400	Recruitment cost: -5% for Skavenslaves and Clanrats units Growth: +10
Set Examples If you want something done right, it's best to publicly kill the one who did it wrong so the others learn.		400	Leadership: +3
Murder Dissenters Woe betide any who raise their voices to decry, or even question, the decisions of their betters.		400	Public order: +1
Know Your Place! Needless to say, any Clanrats with ideas above their stations are quickly, and permanently, silenced.		400	Loyalty: +3 for new recruits
Carve Undertunnels Their vast network of underground tunnels enable the Skaven to move around the world largely undetected.		400	Campaign movement range: +10%
Devious Plans Research the following items to advance the Skaven's vicious, uncompromising agenda to another level altogether.
Fight Dirty! Whereby war's notional rulebook is tossed away in favour of unbridled, fiendish savagery.		800	Weapon strength: +10% for Night Runners and Gutter Runners units Missile Damage: +10% for Night Runners and Gutter Runners units
Hit & Run We-us get in there and kill-slay until they're mostly all dead, then we get out again - let second wave mop up, yes-yes!		800	Speed: +10% for infantry units
Intensive Training Unsurprisingly, even more shouting, combined with terrible punishments, does tend to yield the desired results.		800	Unit experience: +2 for Night Runners and Gutter Runners unit recruits
Abduct Promising Candidates What to do when the agent you require works for another clan, who clearly do not appreciate his talents?		800	Recruitment cost: -5% for Night Runners and Gutter Runners units Upkeep: -5% for Night Runners and Gutter Runners units
Eyes Everywhere There is nowhere to hide, nowhere safe to conspire, that isn't watched by agents of the Council.		800	Ambush success chance: +5%
Exotic Martial Arts The advanced skills Skaven assassins learn in the Far East appear quite alien, but are no less effective when practised at home.		800	Hero recruit rank: +2 for Assassins
Exploit Criminals It's difficult to imagine the Skaven concept of malfeasance, but it must exist; ‘criminals’ are put to work, as an alternative to an agonising death.		800	Hero action cost: -20% Hero recruitment cost: -33%
Monstrous Plans Research the following items to advance the Skaven's vicious, uncompromising agenda to another level altogether.
Monstrous Abominations Born from the fusion of Skaven with a range of horrific creatures, Rat Ogres are bereft of reason and almost devoid of sanity.		800	Charge bonus: +15 for Rat Ogres units Weapon strength: +5% for Rat Ogres units
Twisted Beyond Recognition A misshapen mountain of flesh and muscle, with mechanical parts grafted on. Very nasty.		800	Melee attack: +5 for Hell Pit Abomination units Weapon strength: +10% for Hell Pit Abomination units
Unfathomable Horrors A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance.		800	Unit experience: +2 for Rat Ogres and Hell Pit Abomination unit recruits
Virulent Plans Research the following items to advance the Skaven's vicious, uncompromising agenda to another level altogether.
Distil Poisons A little more nightshade, a little less mandrake… good-perfect, Lizard-things won't stand a chance, yes-yes!		1200	Weapon strength: +10% for Plague Monks units
Spread Rot & Decay No corruption too great, no disease too foul; if the Skaven want territory above-ground they will stop at nothing to acquire it.		1200	Skaven corruption in adjacent provinces: +1
Hallucinogenics To make the foe see, hear and smell something else entirely, and then exploit their confusion - that's war taken to the next level.		1200	Leadership: +10 for Plague Monk units Melee attack: +5 for Plague Monks units
Record Effective Recipes All the screams, the contortions, the howls of agony don't mean much unless the end result is useable and, more importantly, repeatable.		1200	Hero recruit rank: +2 for Plague Priests
Volatile Plans Research the following items to advance the Skaven's vicious, uncompromising agenda to another level altogether.
Enormous Caches A wise warlord stockpiles ammunition long before it is needed.		1200	Ammunition: +25% for infantry and Warpfire Thrower, Poison Wind Globadiers and Death Globe Bombardiers units Upkeep: -5% for Warpfire Thrower, Poison Wind Globadiers and Death Globe Bombardiers units
Ensure Product Quality It's always best to test a new concoction before unleashing it on the enemy.		1200	Missile Damage: +10% for Warpfire Thrower, Poison Wind Globadiers and Death Globe Bombardiers units Range: +10% for Warpfire Thrower, Poison Wind Globadiers and Death Globe Bombardiers units
Reject Poor Recruits It’s hard to imagine, but there are some among this most venal, treacherous race who don't quite make the grade or indeed live much longer…		1200	Unit experience: +2 for Warpfire Thrower, Poison Wind Globadiers and Death Globe Bombardiers unit recruits
Ingenious Plans Research the following items to advance the Skaven's vicious, uncompromising agenda to another level altogether.
Promoted on Merit Those who display a willingness to betray their own, and just the right amount of vicious savagery, find themselves progressing within the Skaven hierarchy.		1200	Hero recruit rank: +2 for Warlock Engineers Ammunition: +20% for Doomwheels, Plagueclaw Catapult and Warp Lightning Cannon units Reload time reduction: +10% for Doomwheels, Plagueclaw Catapult and Warp Lightning Cannon units Lord recruit rank: +2 Lord recruit rank: +2
Requisition Protective Gear Masks and armoured suits are useful, not just for protecting Skaven from the enemy, but also from their own crazy contraptions...		1200	Armour: +5 for Stormvermin units Armour: +10 for Warpfire Thrower, Poison Wind Globadiers and Death Globe Bombardiers units
They Can't Blame Their Tools Bad workmen are the same the world over…		1200	Armour: +10 for Plagueclaw Catapult, Warp Lightning Cannon and Doomwheel units Weapon strength: +10% for Doomwheel units Missile Damage: +10% for Plague Claw Catapults, Warp Lightning Cannons and Doomwheel units
Oppressive Plans Research the following items to advance the Skaven's vicious, uncompromising agenda to another level altogether.
Eliminate the Competition There is always high demand for assassins willing to murder for someone who needs to keep their own hands clean.		1600	Assassinate action: Additional +5% success chance
Masters of Infiltration It's easier to influence matters when many above ground don't believe you exist...		1600	Diplomatic relations: +10 with all factions
Best of the Best The small number who survive the vigorous selection process are well equipped and given a share of the spoils to ensure their future loyalty.		1600	Unit experience: +2 for Stormvermin and Death Runners unit recruits
Rule Through Fear Fear of being dragged away and killed is another great motivator.		1600	Leadership: +10 for Death Runners units Charge bonus: +10 for Death Runners units Weapon strength: +10% for Death Runners units
Ensure Absolute Loyalty If you wish to survive the turbulent, cutthroat world of Skaven politics you need loyal warriors on your side.		1600	Melee attack: +5 for Stormvermin units Melee defence: +5 for Stormvermin units Public order: +1
Plans Within Plans Research the following items to advance the Skaven's vicious, uncompromising agenda to its ultimate conclusion.
New Warpstone Uses Skaven covet Warpstone above all else; the ability to mutate weeds out the weak and strengthens those who are already strong.		1600	Casualty replenishment rate: +10% Local recruitment capacity: +1
Ultimate Experiments Selective breeding and genetic manipulation will breed the strongest Skaven yet.		1600	(tax/extortion rate): +5% Growth: +25