Total War: Warhammer 2 shows off first Dark Elves campaign gameplay [UPDATED with Battle Gameplay]

UPDATED: The second part of the Lets Play is now available, showing off Dark Elves Battle Gameplay and the engine!

ORIGINAL STORY

As we creep ever closer to the release date of Total War: Warhammer II on September 28, today Creative Assembly showed off some proper campaign gameplay of the Dark Elf faction for the first time. The video can be found here or is embedded below, and kicks off the first part of the Let's Play the studio are doing of the Dark Elves campaign. In the video you'll see the campaign map, the floating Black Ark city, the Vortex, and an instantly-slaughtered Rogue Army.

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In Total War Warhammer 2, aside from conquering lands and destroying all opposition Creative Assembly have introduced the magical Vortex at the centre of the map, which each of the factions are trying to either stop or harness the power of by the aid of ritual. In the video, the High Elves are further along in their Vortex ritual than the player-controlled Dark Elves, under Malekith the Witch King. Malekith has to disrupt the High Elves as they attempt to complete their second ritual and usurp their lead in the race to control the Vortex.

In order to do that, they have to attack and control one of the High Elf settlements sending power to the Vortex. Their capital is under attack by Lizardmen but is too well defended, so they will instead focus on one of the lesser settlements, although they are further away. The Let's Play takes place about 70 turns into the campaign with a battle-hardened Malekith, but with the Dark Elves in second place. The video then proceeds to show off the Black Ark, the floating Dark Elf city, giving a Name of Power to one of Malekith's lieutenants, and further problems involving a Rogue Army causing havoc in their back yard.

We'll allow you to check out the video yourself below as it's an excellent slice of later-game gameplay from Total Warhammer 2 played by someone who knows what they're doing (i.e. not us). It's the first part of an ongoing Let's Play from Creative Assembly, with the next part due tomorrow.

Total War Warhammer 2 is due out September 28. Elsewhere on the site we've got some hands-on impressions of the Skaven campaign, an interview with CA's Andy Cole and Mark Sinclair from E3, another interview with Matt Davis and Scott Pitkethly on the Skaven, and more.

Are you excited for Total War: Warhammer II? Looking forward to taking some slaves and sailing the Black Ark as the Dark Elves, or are you more a Skaven fan? Let us know below!