The Ultimate Chaos Infantry Tier List: Dominating Warhammer 3

Chosen are generally considered the best all-around Chaos infantry in Total War: Warhammer 3. They offer a potent combination of armor, weapon strength, melee attack, and leadership, making them incredibly durable and effective in prolonged engagements against a wide range of enemies. They excel as a frontline anchor and damage dealer.

Understanding Chaos Infantry: A Tiered Breakdown

Chaos armies are renowned for their terrifying infantry, each unit offering a unique blend of carnage and corruption. However, power levels vary significantly. Here’s a breakdown, moving from best to worst, considering factors like cost-effectiveness, battlefield role, and overall utility:

• Tier 1: The Elite Core – These are the units you’ll build your armies around.

  • Chosen: As mentioned, the gold standard. Their high stats and reasonable recruitment cost allow them to dominate most infantry matchups. Focus on variants tailored to your needs: Chosen with Great Weapons excel at anti-armor, while Chosen with dual weapons are monsters against lightly armored foes. Shielded Chosen provide extra durability against ranged attacks.

• Tier 2: Powerful Support & Specialized Units – These units bring specific strengths to the battlefield.

  • Aspiring Champions: Cheaper than Chosen but still packing a serious punch. They are excellent flankers and can hold their own against most mid-tier infantry. Their availability early in a campaign makes them invaluable.
  • Chaos Warriors: While less powerful than Chosen, Chaos Warriors are extremely durable. Their lower cost makes them ideal for holding the line and absorbing damage, freeing up Chosen to exploit flanks or target key units. Like Chosen, they come in various weapon configurations to specialize their roles.
  • Forsaken: Fast and furious melee units, but lacking armor. Best used for flanking maneuvers and overwhelming weaker enemy units. They can be devastating when used correctly, but require careful positioning to avoid being chewed up by ranged fire or heavily armored infantry.

• Tier 3: Early Game Staples & Niche Units – These units fill gaps early on or have very specific uses.

  • Marauders: Cheap and numerous, Marauders form the backbone of early Chaos armies. They are easily overwhelmed in a straight fight but can be useful for screening, flanking, and tying up enemy units. Marauder Champions provide some much-needed staying power within Marauder hordes.
  • Chaos Spawn: Monstrous infantry that excels at disruption. Their erratic movement and surprising speed can throw enemy formations into disarray. However, their lack of armor and discipline makes them vulnerable to focused fire.
  • Warhounds: Not technically infantry, but they fulfill a similar role early on. Warhounds are fast, cheap, and effective at chasing down fleeing enemies or harassing archers.

• Tier 4: Situational at Best – Usually, you’d be better off with a different unit.

  • Marauder Horsemen: Extremely fragile and easily countered. Their mobility is their only real advantage, making them useful for harassing archers and chasing down routing units. However, even Marauder Horsemen with Javelins are outclassed by other ranged options.

Factors Influencing Infantry Choice

Beyond a simple tier list, several factors influence the best Chaos infantry for a given situation:

• Faction: Different Chaos factions receive buffs to specific units. For example, Khorne benefits heavily from units with Frenzy, while Slaanesh favors fast, flanking units.
• Technology: Research can significantly improve the stats of certain units, potentially shifting their position in the tier list.
• Lord Skills: Lord skills can provide substantial buffs to specific unit types, making them far more effective in battle.
• Army Composition: The ideal infantry unit depends on the overall makeup of your army. A balanced army needs durable frontline units, flankers, and ranged support.
• Enemy Composition: Consider the enemy’s army composition when choosing your infantry. Anti-armor units are essential against heavily armored foes, while units with high melee defense are crucial against hordes of weaker troops.

FAQ: Mastering Chaos Infantry

1. What’s the best way to use Chosen with Great Weapons?

Employ them as your anti-armor hammer. Position them to flank heavily armored units or to engage them from the front once they’re already engaged with your durable frontline.

2. Are Chaos Warriors worth the cost compared to Marauders?

Absolutely. Chaos Warriors are significantly more durable and deal much more damage, making them a far more reliable frontline unit. The cost difference is justified by their superior performance.

3. How should I use Forsaken effectively?

Forsaken are best used as shock troops. Flank enemy lines, target isolated units, or charge into the rear of engaged units. Be mindful of their low armor and avoid prolonged engagements against heavily armored enemies.

4. What’s the best weapon upgrade for Chaos Warriors?

It depends on your needs. Shields provide added resilience, while Great Weapons increase their anti-armor capabilities. A balanced approach, utilizing both types, is often the most effective strategy.

5. Are Marauder Horsemen with Javelins a viable ranged option?

Not really. They are extremely fragile and have limited range. You are usually better off with other ranged units like Chaos Warhounds for early harassing or Chaos Knights with lances to get the job done properly.

6. How do I counter enemy ranged units as a Chaos player?

Utilize fast-moving units like Warhounds or Forsaken to harass and disrupt their ranged formations. Alternatively, use shielded infantry like Chaos Warriors with Shields to absorb ranged fire while your other units close the distance.

7. What role do Chaos Spawn play in a Chaos army?

Chaos Spawn are excellent disruptors. Their erratic movement and surprising speed can disrupt enemy formations and force them to react. They are also effective at chasing down fleeing units.

8. Which Chaos faction benefits most from Chosen units?

All Chaos factions benefit from Chosen, but Warriors of Chaos and Nurgle arguably benefit the most. Warriors of Chaos have access to the widest range of Chosen variants and can recruit them at a relatively early stage in the game. Nurgle makes them even more tanky.

9. How important is Melee Defense on Chaos infantry?

Melee Defense is crucial for surviving prolonged engagements. High Melee Defense allows your infantry to withstand attacks from enemy melee units, allowing them to deal more damage over time.

10. What is the best way to deal with heavily armored infantry as Chaos?

Chosen with Great Weapons are your primary tool. Aspiring Champions can also contribute, and flanking maneuvers can help to circumvent armor. Consider using magic and monstrous units to further supplement your anti-armor capabilities.

11. How do Lord skills affect the performance of Chaos infantry?

Lord skills can provide significant buffs to specific unit types, increasing their stats and improving their overall effectiveness. For example, a Lord with a skill that buffs Chaos Warriors can make them significantly more durable and deadly.

12. Is it worth recruiting Marauders in the late game?

Generally no. While they are cheap and numerous, their lack of armor and discipline makes them easily overwhelmed by late-game units. Focus on recruiting higher-tier infantry like Chaos Warriors and Chosen. In some cases, if your economy is struggling, a full stack of marauders can stall an enemy faction and keep your economy safer.

13. What is the best way to use Chaos Warriors with Shields?

Use them as a durable frontline. Their shields provide added protection against ranged attacks, allowing them to advance and engage the enemy without taking excessive casualties.

14. How does the presence of heroes affect the performance of Chaos infantry?

Heroes can significantly enhance the performance of Chaos infantry. Heroes with combat skills can bolster their melee attack and defense, while heroes with support skills can provide healing and other buffs.

15. What is the most cost-effective Chaos infantry unit?

Aspiring Champions offer a fantastic blend of cost and performance. They’re cheaper than Chosen but still pack a significant punch, making them a valuable addition to any Chaos army, especially early on.

By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each Chaos infantry unit, and by carefully considering the factors outlined above, you can build a devastating Chaos army that will crush your enemies and bring ruin to the world. The key is to tailor your army composition to the specific challenges you face and to utilize your infantry in a way that maximizes their effectiveness.