Returning from the original Total War: Warhammer, Dwarfs are one of the most fun and new player-friendly races in Total War: Warhammer 3’s Immortal Empires. With such a vast list at their disposal, however, finding the best units for your army can be a challenge.
This list ranks all dwarven units from S-tier (excellent) to C-tier (subpar), so you know which to field and which to leave back in your warehouses. Whether you’re staking your claim on the road or challenging your enemies above ground, using the best units on this list is sure to lead you to victory.
Updated on July 3, 2023 by Christopher Argentino: Deep beneath the rugged mountains, the Dwarves, a revered and celebrated race, carved out their indomitable legacy. Known for their unwavering determination and master craftsmanship, these proud warriors have honed their skills over the centuries. Armed to the teeth, dwarves use a formidable arsenal to assert their dominance on the battlefield.
Their heavily armored infantry form an impenetrable bulwark against adversity. Expertly crafted war machines unleash a torrent of destruction on their enemies, further cementing their reputation as masters of siege warfare. Now it’s up to you to let the Great Showdown begin!
1 S-level
Dwarf Warriors: It may be surprising to see an early game unit at the top of the list, but their incredible cost efficiency, melee defense, and attack defense make Dwarf Warriors your best infantry option for most of the game. They will be nearly impossible to defeat until your enemies get access to high tier armor piercing units, by which time you will have upgraded your army as well. Avoid giving them large weapons as the melee damage isn’t worth the lost defense.
Brawlers: An extremely tough, instant missile unit that deals high damage while protected by your excellent infantry. Not only that, brawlers are also great in close combat, so they’re hardly a threat if the enemy somehow bypasses your frontline units. Big guns are generally a waste as you won’t want them in close range to begin with and they lose the shields that protect them from ranged enemy fire.
Skolder’s Guard (Irondrakes): Armed with Irondrakes and their anti-infantry and armor-piercing abilities, you can destroy swarms of enemies with devastating effect by unleashing fiery death upon your foes from strategic flanking positions. Witness the power of Skolder’s Guard as it turns the tide of battle in your favor.
Dragonback Slayers (Slayers): These extraordinary warriors have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of glorious deaths in battle against their most powerful foes. With shaved heads, formidable ridges and unwavering determination, they hack through their enemies with axes. No challenge is too big for these Slayers, be it trolls, ogres or even giants.
Bar-Lobbers (Grudge Throwers): These awesome Karaz-a-Karak gnome artillery units destroy their enemies with live goblin ammunition. With their powerful catapults and inscribed grudges, they beat down those who approach Dwarven strongholds.
2 A-level
Resentment throwers: An early game artillery unit that beats the competition with a combination of ridiculous damage and explosive charges. It comes early, even early on, for certain lords, and you can use it for the entire campaign. Its accuracy is poor, so you’ll want to avoid using it anywhere near where your units are positioned, but it’s great for taking down the enemy with the turtle strategy that dwarves are known for.
Longbeards: Although slightly slower, Longbeards excel at close combat and are generally a solid upgrade to Dwarven warriors. They won’t kill many units by themselves, but they are a fantastic line of defense while your ranged units are pelting the enemy. You’ll want to avoid giving them a big weapon though, as losing their shield hurts them a lot against ranged fire.
Hammers: As a tier 4 unit, hammers are defined by high damage. They aren’t as subtle as your other infantry units, but they can win against almost every other unit in the game in one-on-one combat. They are even better on the flank, decimating enemy forces without fear of retaliation.
Organ Gun: This artillery unit actually works much like an Irondrake, punching through infantry with no problem. It loses at some range, but easily does the most damage of any dwarven artillery unit, and that’s saying something. The only problem is that it takes a very long time to obtain it, as it requires built-up settlements with two separate buildings, but you will find it worth the investment once you get it.
Bugman’s Rangers: Their unparalleled marksmanship and deadly ax throwing skills embody the spirit of vengeance. Armed with exceptional melee and ranged combat prowess and the ability to heal naturally, these indomitable fighters are a formidable frontline force, skilled in offensive attacks and strong defense.
Peak Gate Guard (Hammers): Dressed in sapphire-colored armor, they wield mighty great hammers capable of shattering even the toughest armor. With incredible melee defense, armor piercing damage, and magical attacks, they are great for fighting armored units and elite infantry.
Norgrimlings Ironbreakers (Ironbreakers): Descended from the Norgrimling clan, these dwarves hold a deep grudge against the Skaven. Their incredible melee defense, shields and armor form an unyielding front. Their ranged special attacks, while limited, can deal significant damage.
Ulthar’s Raiders (Rangers – great weapon): Their Marked by Ulthar ability makes enemies very vulnerable to ranged attacks, allowing you to unleash devastating firepower. Use them strategically to focus fire on critical targets and force enemies to retreat.
3 B-level
Irondrakes: These ranged units will literally melt into the infantry. They aren’t great in melee and require good positioning, but putting in the effort will yield great results. You may be tempted to use the Trollhammer version of the torpedo, but be warned that they only shine against monstrous units. For anything else, the regular Irondrake will serve you better.
Ironbreakers: Not just your best front, but maybe the best front in the game. Ironbreakers are borderline bulletproof, with extremely high melee defense, attack resistance, and shields to protect against ranged fire. They even pack explosive charges if anything is out of range. The only reason they aren’t S-Tier is because of how long it takes to get them. It will be some time before they replace your warriors and longbeards.
Ranger (dwarves): These rocket infantry soldiers serve as vigilant guardians of dwarven settlements, venturing far from their footholds to track down enemies and dangerous creatures. Rangers equipped with bows are experts at ambushing smaller enemies and signaling larger threats. They excel at outflanking enemy forces, destroying war machines, and aiding their dwarven allies.
Ranger (super weapon): Equipped with deadly throwing axes and mighty great axes, these cunning warriors strike fear into the hearts of their enemies. Their exceptional skill in armor-piercing attacks makes them formidable opponents against heavily armored foes.
Ekrund Miners (Miners – blasting): Adorned in sturdy armor and equipped with explosive charges, their expertise is digging beneath enemy defenses and wreaking havoc and destruction in their wake. Get ready to witness their unwavering determination and awesome strength on the battlefield.
Warriors of Dragonfire Pass (dwarf warriors): With their mighty axes splitting enemy ranks and cutting through legions of Orcs, Elves and Skaven, these warriors embody sheer power on the battlefield. Their unwavering shield formations and relentless infantry attack are a valuable addition to your ranks.
Grumbling Guard (Longbeards – Great Weapons): Their formidable presence and unyielding resilience anchor the battle line and inspire their allies with their seasoned experience. Their armor-piercing punches and nature of immunity to psychology are reason enough to recruit them.
Skyhammer (Gyrobomber): Equipped with bomb racks and a powerful klatterygun, the Skyhammer hovers over the battlefield and destroys enemy formations. This armored wonder rains destruction with its anti-personnel and armor-piercing missiles.
Miners: The cheapest unit in a dwarven army, their Vanguard deployment combined with high armor piercing damage makes them a niche use in some armies. However, Miners are simply too weak in direct combat to justify most of the time. Their version of Blasting Charges can be very useful against compact infantry and also serve well in the mid game. They’re good for an early game army, but you’ll want to replace them as soon as possible.
Rangers: The combination of Vanguard Deployment, Stalk, and excellent ranged damage makes Rangers great for ambushing enemies that have engaged your infantry. However, they come into play a bit later and are extremely vulnerable in melee combat, often making them a poor alternative to Brawlers. However, having a great weapon actually benefits them as it shores up some of their melee weaknesses and makes them great at dealing with large units.
Top: Like the shot thrower, the cannon is too specialized to be used in every fight. It’s great at dealing with single entity units like enemy lords, but being able to target them isn’t a guarantee either, largely due to its poor arc. There are only better options in Immortal Empires.
4 C-level
Slayers: Although easy to recruit, Slayers are extremely expensive and too fragile to use more than a few. They’re good for boosting a new army if you have gold to burn, but that’s about it, and that’s a hard sell when there are a lot of dwarves fighting for money in the Immortal Empires. Giant killers suffer from the same problems, even if they excel at killing large units. Only Ungrim, with his passive Slayer buffs, will find much use for them.
Bolt thrower: This artillery unit has excellent armor penetration, but not much else. His unit penetration leaves a lot to be desired and will often only hit a few units with each hit. It’s good for armor piercing in the early game, but is generally outclassed by Grudge Throwers.
Thunderers: As great as they are at fighting other ranged units, Thunderers suffer from needing a clean shot to hit the target. They can’t shoot over obstacles like Brawlers, so they almost always feel like an inferior option. They have a niche use in more open battlefields, but you’ll generally want to avoid them.
Flying War Machines: The Gyrocropter, its Brimstone Gun variant, and the Gyrobomber can all be lumped into the same category. They are the only fliers on the dwarven list and are quite fast, but they are also extremely fragile and don’t do enough damage to warrant their place on your list. They all have their quirks, but it’s almost always better to bring more artillery.
Fire Cannons: This artillery unit has one specialty: destroying regeneration units like Trolls. Otherwise, there is no real place for it in your army. It can be good against unarmored enemies, but is completely outclassed by other artillery units in every other way.