| “ | "Nagash must rise, or our realms of silence will fall." | „ |
Arkhan the Black is a 
Tomb Kings Legendary Lord unit introduced in Total War: Warhammer II with Rise of the Tomb Kings. In the campaign, he leads the 
Followers of Nagash faction.
Description[ | ]
Arkhan the Black, known now and forever as the Liche King, was the first and most loyal of the evil Nagash's followers. He helped lead the coup which brought the arch-necromancer to power, and he was the first, after his Lord, to imbibe the Elixir of Life. Arkhan was the most adept of Nagash's pupils in the study of dark sorcery, and he quickly rose to become the necromancer's trusted vizier and principal lieutenant. He led many armies against Nagash's enemies and was never defeated in open combat. In the end, however, the sheer numbers of the Priest Kings' soldiers forced Nagash to retreat. It was Arkhan who led the suicidal counter-attack that gave Nagash the opportunity to escape. For over an hour he held back the Army of the Seven Kings through feats of martial prowess and powerful sorcery. Arkhan finally fell, not to a hero's sword, but to a single spear hurled by an unknown soldier. He stared in horror at the shaft protruding from his chest, knowing that it had pierced his heart. With his dying breath, he threatened that a terrible curse would befall any who touched his corpse, and with that, he slumped to the ground. Within seconds, dark flames had consumed Arkhan's flesh leaving behind only a blackened skeleton. Whilst the rest of Nagash's followers were beheaded and burnt, none dared risk desecrating Arkhan's remains, and so they covered them under a cairn of stones instead. Nagash did not forget his most able lieutenant, and when he returned to wreak vengeance on Nehekhara, Arkhan was reborn as the Liche King - the first of Nagash's nine Dark Lords. These foul beings were the foremost of Nagash's captains, and they brought despair and destruction to his foes.
Attributes[ | ]
Wizard- ▲ Spellcaster: This unit can cast spells.
- ▲ Armoured: Armoured units can block damage from any source apart from Armour-Piercing damage.
Spells[ | ]
Unit Abilities[ | ]
Active Abilities[ | ]
Campaign only[ | ]
Passive Abilities[ | ]
Campaign only[ | ]
Previous abilities (WH2)[ | ]
Item Abilities[ | ]
- Staff of Nagash
- The Tomb Blade of Arkhan
Unique Items[ | ]
Mounts[ | ]
Campaign starting units[ | ]
Eye of the Vortex & Mortal Empires[ | ]
Immortal Empires[ | ]
Lord Effects[ | ]
- Winds of Magic power reserve capacity: +10
- Melee attack: +5 (Lord's army)
WH2[ | ]
- Melee attack: +5 for embedded Heroes (Lord's army)
- Melee defence: +5 for embedded Heroes (Lord's army)
Character Traits[ | ]
Personal Trait[ | ]
The Liche King: The monarch of the Undead, the liege of the Unliving.
- Winds of Magic power reserve capacity: +10
- Melee attack: +5 (Lord's army)
Defeat Trait[ | ]
Arkhan the Blackened: The Liche King may have dark sorcery and the power of the Great Necromancer, but that's not always enough when facing massed-ranks and hefty blades.
- Diplomatic relations: +20 with Tomb Kings
- Weapon strength: +25% when fighting against Vampire Counts
Talent Tree[ | ]
Chapter Objectives[ | ]
Chapter 1[ | ]
| Rank | Name | Objective(s) | Reward(s) | In-game description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary objective | The Shadowed Realm | Arkhan spies the parched lands in need of taming - he shall bring them into shadow. It is a desert of the dead that should answer not to a Tomb King, but a Liche King, and on the horizon is Khemri itself, where Settra sits smug on the throne. His time will come. | ||
| Bonus objective I | Shadow of the Necromancer | Once a lieutenant to the Arch-Necromancer, but now a king in his own right. He is the Liche King, and one as mighty as he is worthy of a greater rank. | ||
| Bonus objective II | Red Clay | The red clay will come, but for now it shall be fashioned into pots, and on the surface will stories, legends and warnings of doom be inscribed. | ||
| Bonus objective III | The Master's Aura | Rumours reach Arkhan that relics of Nagash have been discovered in Al Haikk. Arkhan should take this realm and purge it if he must, for his master might be close. | ||
| Bonus objective IV | Never Lost | Arkhan has always been more than a mere Liche - in his mortal days he was a general and soldier first, and never lost a battle! | ||
| Bonus objective V | Prove Your Worth | Arkhan has never totally trusted the advisors sent by the Mortuary Cult, suspecting they serve their own agenda. Let them prove their worth! |
Chapter 2[ | ]
| Rank | Name | Objective(s) | Reward(s) | In-game description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary objective | The Kingdom of Arkhan | As Arkhan's shadow realm expands, he will inevitably encounter the borders of hostiles. Those Tomb Kings are too blind - their rotting eyes lost - to see what gifts Nagash shall bring unto the world. It is the Liche King's task to prepare the way, to coat the land in shadow for the Arch-Necromancer's resurrection! | ||
| Bonus objective I | A Few Dozen More | The Liche King is one of the most powerful creatures that walks this world. And so he must exude such power by attaining the twelfth rank. | ||
| Bonus objective II | Needs More Salt | The rituals and incantations of the Liche King require base minerals such as salt and lime. Arkhan must send minions forth to locate these resources. | ||
| Bonus objective III | Old Dynasties | Uncover the past and the future will be secured - a wise mantra of the Liche Priests, so the Liche King should set them to researching the lost dynasties of old. | ||
| Bonus objective IV | Don't Question Fate | Like his master, much of Arkhan's power resides in the relics and items imbued with power. Needs must that he leave his capital and in search of such a relic. | ||
| Bonus objective V | They Serve | It is right that the Liche Priests serve the Liche King. Arkhan shall have them tame the relics of old and craft new tools for the travails to come. |
Chapter 3[ | ]
| Rank | Name | Objective(s) | Reward(s) | In-game description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary objective | In Sight of the Black Tower | The Liche King's empire will rise from the bones of his enemies. Even mighty Settra shall kneel - if he hasn't done so already - or be destroyed. Continue the conquest - raze what is useless, hunt what is needed, make ready the lands for the Mortarch's call. The kingdom of Arkhan is all. | ||
| Bonus objective I | Outranked | Arkhan is feared throughout the lands - even Tomb Kings will think twice before engaging him in battle. But fear is transient - Arkhan must maintain his power, and increase his rank to ensure compliance. | ||
| Bonus objective II | Leverage | Control of the world is not only about causing death. Dominance of resources, both natural and crafted, is another form of leverage. | ||
| Bonus objective III | Return to the Tower | The Black Tower of Arkhan belongs to no one but the Liche King himself. It is time for him to return. | ||
| Bonus objective IV | Search the Scrolls | Hidden in the scrolls, deep in the meanings of the hieroglyphics, will be clues to ancient dynasties. Seek them out and Arkhan will have access to allies from the age of antiquity. | ||
| Bonus objective V | Craft the World | Let the conniving Liches begin their work. Have them fashion an item that will allow Arkhan to invade his many enemies. |
Chapter 4[ | ]
| Rank | Name | Objective(s) | Reward(s) | In-game description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary objective | All Will Suffer | The living and the dead will suffer at the hands of the Liche King. For countless generations, Arkhan the Black has vented his rage at many foes, but now, on the eve of great change, the Liche King tempers his anger into domination. He prepares the way for the only possible arrival. | ||
| Bonus objective I | Ranking Monarch | A great burden, it will cost much for Arkhan to enact his scheme and put events into motion that may bring back his master. He must be prepared and at the apex of his power. | ||
| Bonus objective II | Deprive Them | To the long-dead, the resources that the living crave are mere trinkets. But depriving the enemy - living or corpse - of them, does indeed give these resources value. | ||
| Bonus objective III | Unleash the Necrosphinx | Even the statuary of Nehekhara fear the Liche King and bend to his cruel will. Even the Necrosphinx shall surrender to Arkhan. | ||
| Bonus objective IV | Family Tree | We have no time for family trees, they are consigned to history. No, Arkhan must seek out the lost dynasties using his Liches. | ||
| Bonus objective V | Ancient Legions of Lybaras | Over millennia, many great legions have been lost in the sands. Let the Liche Priests chant, and hopefully they will find what was once lost - or at the very least fashion some relic to help this cause. |
Chapter 5[ | ]
| Rank | Name | Objective(s) | Reward(s) | In-game description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary objective | The Black King | Finally, after countless centuries, Arkhan the Black, the Liche King, shall raise and destroy and take what is rightfully his - the world! Bequeathed to him by the Supreme Lord of the Undead himself. All shall bow before the Black King, they will have no choice for their souls shall belong to Arkhan. | ||
| Bonus objective I | Worthy of Nagash | To rule the world in his master's stead, the Liche King must be worthy of Nagash himself. Arkhan must attain rank 30. | ||
| Bonus objective II | Relics of the World | All the world's treasures and relics should be reaped by the Liche King, but not for any mundane accumulation of wealth. A few rare specimens may hide a faction of his master's dark spirit. | ||
| Bonus objective III | Control the Black Pyramid | The Pyramid of the Arch-Necromancer is no one's right but his most loyal servant - Arkhan. Destroy any usurpers who dare try. | ||
| Bonus objective IV | Nehekhara's Mine | The Land of Nehekhara: greatest of all civilisations and birthplace of both Arkhan and Nagash in the distant past. It must become the Liche King's possession! | ||
| Bonus objective V | Death Cult | The Liche Priests offer obsequious bows to their Liche King. All he asks to prove their loyalty is a tool of ultimate power he can use against Nagash's enemies. |
Strategy[ | ]
- Arkhan enjoys bonus diplomatic relations with Vampire Counts factions, and his regions never suffer public order penalties from Vampiric corruption. Heroes embedded in his army gain melee attack and melee defence bonuses, and all his armies factionwide gain a boost to their Winds of Magic Power Reserve.
Gallery[ | ]
Concept Art
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
