Total War: ROME II - Beasts of War Unit Pack is a strategy expansion that adds specialized battlefield units to the core game on PC. Players manage armies across a large campaign map while directing real-time tactical engagements, and this pack expands the available roster with animal-based and exotic troops drawn from historical contexts.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on recruiting these units into armies during the campaign phase and deploying them in battles. Each unit brings distinct capabilities that alter engagement dynamics, such as ranged harassment from specialized artillery or shock charges from heavy mounts. Recruitment is limited to specific factions or regions, encouraging players to align their campaigns with cultures that gain access to these options. In battles, the units integrate into existing formations, providing tools for disrupting enemy lines or pursuing routed forces without requiring changes to overall army composition strategies.
Units like the Molossian Dogs emphasize endurance and tracking, allowing sustained pressure on targets. Artillery variants such as the Beehive Onager, Scorpion Pot Ballista, and Snake Pot Ballista focus on area denial and morale disruption through unconventional projectiles. Heavier options including Camel Cataphracts and Mercenary Syrian Armoured Elephants deliver armored breakthroughs, while Celtic Warhounds and Wolf Warriors add fast, aggressive infantry support. Sobek Cultists and Mercenary Leopard Warriors extend options for Egyptian and Nubian-aligned forces with thematic close-combat roles.
Game Modes
The pack functions within the established modes of the base game, primarily the Grand Campaign where players guide factions across centuries of expansion and conflict. Battles occur in real time on detailed maps, and the new units appear in both custom scenarios and campaign-generated fights. No standalone modes are introduced, so integration happens through standard army building and deployment systems that apply across single-player campaigns and skirmish options.
Unit Recruitment and Faction Integration
Availability ties directly to historical and cultural alignments. Epirus gains Molossian Dogs, while Greek city-states including Athens, Macedon, Sparta, and Syracuse access the Beehive Onager. Pontus and Parthia recruit the Scorpion Pot Ballista, Carthage fields the Snake Pot Ballista, and Parthia also fields Camel Cataphracts. Celtic factions such as the Iceni, Cantiaci, and others receive Celtic Warhounds. Mercenary Syrian Armoured Elephants become available in select eastern settlements, Wolf Warriors suit Suebi forces or Germanic provinces, Sobek Cultists support Egypt, and Mercenary Leopard Warriors appear in Egyptian holdings. This structure rewards faction choice and territorial control for accessing the full range of additions.
Is It Worth Playing?
Reception for the unit pack shows mixed results on major platforms, reflecting its narrow focus on adding variety rather than overhauling systems. It suits players already invested in the base strategy experience who seek more options for specific factions during prolonged campaigns. The additions provide tangible differences in battle outcomes, particularly for those favoring unconventional tactics or underrepresented cultures. Those seeking broad mechanical changes or new campaigns may find the scope limited, while enthusiasts of the series' unit diversity will appreciate the targeted expansions. Current play relies on the base game's ongoing community support through mods that address older technical aspects.
