Total War: Warhammer 2 Curse of the Vampire Coast is out today

Total War: Warhammer 2’s soggy Curse of the Vampire Coast expansion launches today, introducing vampire pirates, monstrous crustaceans and lots and lots of booty. The Vampire Coast factions will be playable in both the Vortex campaign and the gargantuan Mortal Empires campaign. 

It’s a meaty expansion (crab meat, in case you were wondering) and the nautical vampires are pretty different from their cousins in the Vampire Count factions. They can raise the dead and they’re gross, sure, but that’s where the similarities end. 

Creative Assembly has really leaned into the pirate stuff. Faction leaders get their own upgradeable ship that functions like a mobile camp, a bit like Total War’s horde factions, but with plenty of special seafaring tricks. Pirate coves can be secretly established in other cities belonging to other factions, siphoning off cash, trade and research. There are treasure maps, pieces of eight to hunt down and loads of competing pirates prowling the high seas. 

I played around with the campaign a wee bit last night... and maybe a wee bit of this morning. It got its hooks in me deep. I’m looking forward to taking them for a spin in Mortal Empires, but I started with the Vortex campaign. Like the Tomb Kings, they aren’t competing in the Vortex race with the other main factions; their storyline runs adjacent to the others, but it’s separate. 

All the legendary pirate lords are trying to find verses of an ancient sea shanty that will let them summon a dreadful monster. The goal? Kill the monster and then raise it as an undead minion. Getting to that point requires building up your infamy level by beating up other pirates and generally being naughty. There’s even a pirate leaderboard because of course there is. They are a vain bunch. 

Tom’s been on the high seas, as well, so keep an eye out for his impressions later today. It sounds like he’s been enjoying himself.

Fraser Brown
Online Editor

Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog. 

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