The Reikwald Forest
Where the trees swallow screams and the roots drink blood.
The Reikwald Forest is a vast, ancient woodland that blankets much of the central Reikland province in the Empire, stretching from the outskirts of Altdorf to the foothills of the Grey Mountains. In the world of Warhammer Vermintide, it serves as a treacherous wilderness separating the civilized towns and trade routes from the darker, untamed regions beyond. For the Ubersreik Five, the Reikwald is both a vital corridor for travel and a hunting ground teeming with Skaven, Beastmen, and other horrors that lurk beneath its dense canopy.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Reikland, The Empire
- Type
- Ancient forest
- First appears
- Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide
- Notable features
- Dense woodland
- hidden ruins
- Skaven warrens
- Affiliation
- The Empire (nominally)
Lore & Background
The Reikwald Forest has stood for millennia, its roots tangled with the history of the Empire itself. Legends speak of it as a remnant of the primordial woods that once covered the Old World, and it is said that even the mightiest of Imperial armies tread carefully along its paths. The forest is crisscrossed by ancient trade routes, but many of these have fallen into disuse as the Skaven and Beastmen have grown bolder, turning the Reikwald into a no-man's land where only the desperate or the foolish venture without armed escort.
Reader's Guide
In Vermintide, the Reikwald Forest levels are defined by a claustrophobic, oppressive atmosphere. Thick fog often limits visibility, and the sound of dripping water and distant howls sets a constant edge. The environment is a mix of muddy trails, crumbling stone bridges, and abandoned watchtowers, with dense undergrowth that can hide ambushes. Enemies here include Skaven clans (Clan Fester and others), with Stormvermin and Gutter Runners emerging from the shadows, alongside Beastmen in later missions. Environmental hazards include collapsing structures and treacherous cliffs. The Reikwald feels distinct from generic Warhammer forests due to its specific role as a contested borderland—a place where the Empire's grip is weak, and the ruins of old battles litter the ground. It is not a pristine wilderness but a scarred, haunted place where every tree might hide a rat's nest.
Did You Know?
- The Reikwald Forest is named after the River Reik, which flows through it and connects Altdorf to the sea.
- In Vermintide, the forest serves as the setting for several early missions, including 'The Screaming Bell' and 'The War Camp,' where the Ubersreik Five first taste the true scale of the Skaven menace.
- Beastmen warherds are known to roam the deeper parts of the Reikwald, often clashing with Skaven for territory in bloody, unrecorded battles that leave the earth churned and the trees scarred.
- The forest is said to contain hidden ruins from the time of the ancient Dwarf empire, though few have returned from seeking them.
More in World & Locations
Elsewhere in Warhammer Vermintide
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