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Total War: WARHAMMER III Patch 8.1.0 is a substantial update that introduces new Grand Cathay landmarks, numerous campaign improvements, AI enhancements, and a long list of bug fixes across both campaign and battle gameplay. The patch also expands faction mechanics while resolving issues affecting characters, technologies, UI, and performance.
In addition to gameplay improvements, Patch 8.1.0 delivers one of the game’s largest balance passes, with extensive adjustments to dozens of units, characters, abilities, and factions. Creative Assembly has also addressed multiple crashes, visual issues, map problems, and quality of life requests.
Patch Notes
Campaign
General
- Fixed numerous campaign scripting, progression, and stability issues.
- Added three new Grand Cathay-exclusive landmarks:
- Monument of the White Tiger.
- House of Secrets.
- Grand Maritime Lift.
- Added faction-wide improvements to several landmark effects.
- Fixed Dragonship armies not granting Settled Grudges or Iron Favour in new campaigns.
- Improved Control effects for Lizardmen settlements.
- Disabled hotkeys during Realms of Chaos narrative events to prevent UI conflicts.
- Fixed multiple settlement, building, and campaign progression issues.
- Improved mount switching so Lords no longer lose Action Points, health, or other stats during the same turn.
- Corrected multiple campaign event, quest battle, and settlement issues.
Faction Mechanics
- Expanded Bhashiva’s Iron Favour targeted cultures.
- Added a price cap to Armies of Shang Yang actions.
- Improved Zhao Ming’s Goals rewards and mission scaling.
- Updated Caravan rewards and encounter behaviour.
- Fixed multiple mission generation issues.
- Updated several faction-specific mechanics including:
- Armies of Shang Yang.
- Raise Dead.
- Champion of Ulthuan rituals.
- Nakai’s Temples.
- Slaanesh Cults.
- Cathay Caravans.
- Grom’s Cauldron.
- Gardens of Morr.
- Ritual of Pestilence.
- Ancient Elven Colonies.
Characters
- Fixed several campaign softlocks.
- Updated Dechala’s narrative reward effects.
- Nakai now retains Horde buildings after confederation.
- Repanse de Lyonesse now begins with Peace Treaty and Military Access agreements with Lyonesse.
Units
- Fixed multiple unit ability and recruitment issues.
- Increased Chimera recruitment time to two turns.
- Updated recruitment effects for Tomb Kings.
- Added personalised skill lines for Dragon-blooded Shugengan Lords.
Technologies
- Added bespoke Tiger Warrior technologies.
- Fixed several technology bonuses affecting Cathay units.
- Corrected Service Great and Small technology effects.
Skills, Abilities and Traits
- Added a new Caravan attrition reduction skill.
- Updated multiple faction skills and traits.
- Fixed numerous missing abilities, cooldown interactions, movement bonuses, and recruitment traits.
User Interface
- Fixed numerous campaign UI issues, including:
- Empty Lord names.
- Mission tooltips.
- Caravan recruitment information.
- Hero Action Points.
- Ritual interface problems.
- Settlement icons.
- Trade resource displays.
- Gate Keeper UI.
Artificial Intelligence
- Improved Bhashiva campaign AI.
- Improved Cathay Caravan behaviour.
- Updated Norscan construction priorities.
Battles
General
- Fixed multiple battle scripting issues.
- Fixed underground interception battle behaviour.
- Restored Ice Court Sled availability for eligible players.
- Fixed explosion radius scaling from campaign effects.
Balance Changes
- Reduced excessive Speed stacking for Slaanesh factions.
- Adjusted several Slaanesh hero skills and passive abilities.
Units
- Restored Eye of the Dragon to Sky Junk.
- Added missing animations for Jade Lancers.
- Updated Sky Lantern projectile range.
- Added Aquatic to Lokhir Felheart and Black Ark Corsairs.
- Corrected multiple unit attributes, animations, and recruitment interactions.
- Improved Steam Tank behaviour.
Skills, Abilities and Traits
- Fixed multiple ability descriptions and cooldown issues.
- Restored missing Encourage attributes.
- Corrected several Lord and Hero abilities.
User Interface
- Removed placeholder map icons.
- Fixed incorrect unit type icons.
Artificial Intelligence
- Improved AI targeting priorities.
- Improved ranged unit behaviour.
- Improved army formation logic.
- Improved chokepoint behaviour.
Maps
- Added two new battle maps around Black Fire Pass.
- Updated deployment zones and reinforcement markers.
- Improved siege maps.
- Corrected terrain and border issues across multiple battlefields.
Battle Balance
Bhashiva
- Increased White Tiger passive range.
- Reduced Tiger Warrior Sawai cost.
- Updated Dawn Glaive.
- Improved Clawspeaker passive abilities.
- Converted Tiger Warrior Stalkers into missile skirmishers.
- Added Woodsman to all Tiger Warrior units.
- Updated Taoyan the Merciless abilities.
Unit Balance
- Updated Celestial Dragon Guard.
- Added Sunder Armour to Terracotta Sentinels.
- Reworked Astrogoth Ironhand abilities.
- Adjusted The Masque of Slaanesh statistics and abilities.
- Updated Slaangors.
- Rebalanced Dechala the Denied One.
- Improved Druchii Anointed.
- Updated Preytons and Scourge of Arden.
- Improved Champions and Devotees of Slaanesh.
- Adjusted Seeker Chariots, Hellflayers, and Exalted Seeker Chariots.
- Updated Chaos Lord of Slaanesh and supporting heroes.
- Rebalanced Chimera and Dread Maw.
- Updated Beorg Bearstruck and several Norscan units.
- Reworked Tamurkhan and Toad Dragon statistics.
- Improved multiple Nurgle, Tzeentch, and Chaos units.
- Updated numerous Regiment of Renown abilities.
- Applied extensive cost, health, weapon strength, leadership, armour, and ability adjustments across dozens of units.
Performance
- Fixed crashes caused by:
- Caravan encounters from confederated factions.
- Amethyst artillery units in battle.
Visual
- Fixed numerous animation issues.
- Updated character models.
- Fixed portrait and idle animation problems.
- Corrected battle map visuals.
- Fixed capture point positioning.
- Added missing unit variants.
- Improved fire-while-moving animations.
Audio
- Fixed Bhashiva quest battle objective voice-over playback.
Miscellaneous
- Fixed a translation error in Warptech Academy.
- Fixed an issue allowing interaction outside the visible game display area on ultrawide monitors.
Total War: WARHAMMER III Patch 8.1.0 is now available. Developed by Creative Assembly and published by SEGA, the grand strategy game continues to receive major campaign, balance, and quality of life updates.
Have you noticed these changes? Share your thoughts in the comments!
