**What’s That Unholy Rumbling? The Next Free Update for Total War: Warhammer 3**

Total War: Warhammer 3 fans have much to look forward to with the upcoming free update launching alongside the Tides of Torment DLC. This major update, detailed in a recent Creative Assembly blog post, brings a plethora of changes and new mechanics to the game that will significantly alter gameplay for several factions.

### Key Features of the Update

**New Legendary Chaos Lord: The Masque**
The update introduces a new legendary Chaos lord, the Masque of Slaanesh. Cursed by Slaanesh, she possesses unique mechanics that allow her to enhance her armies’ performance through a dance mechanic, rewarding players for varying their tactical approaches on the battlefield.

**Norscan Pillaging Mechanics**
The Norscans are receiving significant changes to their pillaging gameplay. Now, when they pillage or raze settlements, they will spawn a small army to transport the newly introduced global resource called Spoils back to Norsca. Spoils can be utilized for recruitment and building options but are now also necessary for occupying captured settlements outside of Norsca, adding a layer of strategy and caution to invasions.

**Chaos Altars and Allegiance Updates**
The mechanics surrounding Chaos Altars have been revamped, allowing players to customize their altars with building slots tailored to their region. Increasing Allegiance with one Chaos god grants access to a free Lord or Hero, though players must weigh the risks of antagonizing other gods, which may lead to assaults on their capital.

**Troll Mechanics Revamped**
Trolls now have an additional layer of gameplay with the introduction of Trollkind, a unique resource allowing players who field armies of Trolls to establish a Troll Empire. This resource can be used for constructing new buildings and diversifying Troll recruitment based on geographical features, shifting the gameplay dynamics in favor of players who effectively utilize Troll units.

**High Elves’ Patronage System**
High Elf factions will benefit from a new Patronage system, enabling them to appoint Lords to seats around Ulthuan, unlocking various strategic advantages and confederation opportunities. This new mechanic encourages cooperation and rivalry among High Elf factions, fostering a complex interplay of factional unity and internal intrigue.

**Dark Elves Enhancement**
For the Dark Elves, the update simplifies victory conditions by focusing on eliminating specific rival factions rather than the entire High Elf race. Additionally, new tactical options are available for legendary lord units, enhancing the strategic depth of Dark Elf gameplay.

### Other Notable Additions

The patch notes hint at a range of smaller features and improvements that players can look forward to discovering. However, there is still some uncertainty surrounding the campaign AI’s effectiveness, which faced major issues previously. The developers are expected to address these concerns during the Total War Direct event scheduled for tomorrow at 4 PM UK time.

Fans of Total War: Warhammer 3 should prepare for an exciting array of changes that could redefine their strategies and approaches to gameplay as the update rolls out. For more detailed information, players are encouraged to check out the developer’s blog post linked above.