The "Lords of the End Times" DLC and Update 9.0 for Total War: WARHAMMER III change the mid-to-late game pace of the Immortal Empires campaign. The End Times crisis splits the originally continuous sandbox warfare into two phases, making world destruction, united resistance, and post-war reconstruction the new main storyline.
Although Nagash possesses formidable battlefield prowess, his starting position is quite difficult. He is sandwiched between two Chaos Lords, a hostile French Crusader faction, and Settra, with most of the nine Books of Power scattered across the globe and his generals not yet fully loyal. Players may even lose the first book they find in early engagements.
Around turn 200, Archaon lands from the south with a massive Chaos army, triggering the End Times crisis. Each Chaos army and evil fortress provides Archaon with a percentage of damage reduction, so players must weaken the invading forces before effectively challenging the Everchosen.
During the crisis, the interface continuously displays the extent of global destruction. Towns razed during the End Times cannot be recoloned until the crisis ends, while surviving Humans, Dwarfs, Elves, and even Skaven extend final alliance offers to Nagash. Quests originally centered on the Books of Power are interrupted, shifting the campaign goal to jointly resisting Chaos.
After roughly three-quarters of the world is reduced to ruins, players first defeat Archaon in regular battles, then overcome Chaos Warriors in mission battles before defeating him again. However, the end of the crisis does not mean the war is over; factions immediately begin vying for abandoned lands, while Nagash builds tombs in Nehekhara and transforms the local environment through necromantic rituals.
A new power structure gradually takes shape during the reconstruction phase. Kislev survives the crisis and occupies former Imperial territories; allies who previously fought alongside Nagash gradually revert to hostility. Players thus feel that the post-apocalyptic recovery brings changes akin to starting a new campaign, giving the late-game Immortal Empires a clearer narrative and structure.
Even without using the paid lords included in "Lords of the End Times," the campaign changes brought by Update 9.0 remain. The DLC also includes Tankred, Boris Todbringer, and the Goldtooth Brothers; Nagash can deploy Tomb Kings, Vampire Coast, and Vampire Counts units within the same army. Players approaching long-term victory may choose to continue the campaign and consider aiming for total conquest victory.