T H E __ | _ _ _ O F | ) _ __ | / \ |_) | \ T H E |-< | |\ | / _ ( ` | \_/ | \ |_/ | \ | | \| \_| `. |___ ________________________________ .__) _____ _____ _________ ,' ____`. ___ _ _ ,' ___ `. _ _ ______ ____ | __ __ | / ,' \| ,' _ `. '.`. | | / ,' `. \ | | | | \ __ | ,' __ ||/ | | \| | | / ,' `. \ | `. | | | | | | | | | | | |_ \| | (__\| | | | | | | | | | |. `| | | | | | | | | | | _| '.__ `. | | | | \ '._,' / | | `. | \ '.___,' / | |_| | | |__/| |\__) | | | \ `.____/| `.___,' |_| `.| `.__ ,' '.___,' /_____| |____,' | | `._____,' ________________________`-.`.__ ______________________ /_\ '------------------------' `---' '----------------------' ============================================================================== THE LORD OF THE RINGS: CONQUEST FAQ/Walkthrough Copyright (c)2009-2011 DomZ Ninja ============================================================================== Author: DomZ Ninja E-mail: domzninja[at]hotmail[dot]com Updated: 07/11/11 Version: 1.0 NOTE: This guide does contain spoilers! ______________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS ______________________________________________________________________________ See that series of numbers to the right of each section? If you want to find a specific section in the FAQ, press CTRL + F to open a search box. Type in the series of numbers for the desired section that you're trying to find and press Enter. Whabam! The search function will take you there in an instant. [1] VERSION HISTORY.................................................. [0100] [2] CONTROLS......................................................... [0200] [3] CHARACTERS....................................................... [0300] [4] THE BASICS....................................................... [0400] [5] WALKTHROUGH (WAR OF THE RING).................................... [0500] Helm's Deep..................................................... [0501] Isengard........................................................ [0502] Mines of Moria.................................................. [0503] Osgiliath....................................................... [0504] Minas Tirith.................................................... [0505] Pelennor Fields................................................. [0506] Minas Morgul.................................................... [0507] The Black Gate.................................................. [0508] [6] WALKTHROUGH (RISE OF SAURON)..................................... [0600] Mount Doom...................................................... [0601] Osgiliath....................................................... [0602] Minas Tirith.................................................... [0603] Mines of Moria.................................................. [0604] Weathertop...................................................... [0605] Rivendell....................................................... [0606] The Shire....................................................... [0607] [7] MOVE LIST........................................................ [0700] [8] ACHIEVEMENTS..................................................... [0800] [9] THANKS/CREDITS................................................... [0900] ______________________________________________________________________________ [1] VERSION HISTORY [0100] ______________________________________________________________________________ FAQ/Walkthrough #43 ------------------- Version 1.0 (04/22/09) - FAQ/Walkthrough complete and submitted. ______________________________________________________________________________ [2] CONTROLS [0200] ______________________________________________________________________________ NOTE: For in-depth info on the controls for each class, go to Section 7. .-----------------------------.----------------------------------------------. | D-Pad | N/A | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Left Analog Stick | Move | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Right Analog Stick | Move Camera, Center Camera (click) | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Start | Pause | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Back | View Map/Score/Objectives | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | X Button | Light Attack | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Y Button | Medium Attack | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | A Button | Jump | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | B Button | Heavy Attack | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Right Trigger | Throw | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Left Trigger | Block | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Right Bumper | Interact | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Left Bumper | Modifier | '-----------------------------'----------------------------------------------' ______________________________________________________________________________ [3] CLASSES [0300] ______________________________________________________________________________ Lord of the Rings: Conquest features four playable classes: the Archer, Mage, Scout, and Warrior. One of the things that makes this game enjoyable to play is that you're able to swap between classes at nearly any time, developing new strategies for beating the game's missions. The classes are each unique in their own rights and have their own ups and downs as playable characters. ============================================================================== ARCHER ============================================================================== Multi-Arrow - Press the Left Bumper to automatically fire three arrows at once. This is a very powerful attack with a wide range, capable of hitting more than one target. Poison Arrow - Press Y, then press the Right Trigger to fire an arrow coated with deadly poison. Any enemy that comes in contact with the result, a cloud of green poison, will have their movement slowed down and also lose HP gradually over time. Fire Arrow - Press Y, then press the Right Trigger to fire a flaming arrow. The attack will result in a fairly big explosion when it connects with a target, knocking it back and dealing a large amount of damage. Simply put, Archers excel at long-range combat. With your bow and quill of arrows, you can put away hordes of enemies from a distance. Naturally, the best strategy as an Archer is to stay on the outskirts of a battle and pick off enemies one by one. Anyone who finds themselves playing loads of first- person shooters (particularly those fond of sniping) will find this class fun and easy to use. Peppering enemies by holding down the Right Trigger is one thing, but I find it much more useful to zoom in and target a foe's head to obtain a critical hit. If you are capable of hitting the enemy's sweet spot without a sweat, then you'll find yourself at ease with the Archer. The key to playing as an Archer is to stay away from the heat of combat. If you end up surrounded by enemies, tuck your tail between your legs and run for the hills. The Archer has a pathetically weak kick attack that can be used up close, but it's really only useful to stun enemies rather than hurt 'em. Pros: ----- - Most useful ranged class - Archers are very quick at slinging out arrows and dishing out the pain - Can defeat virtually any enemy in a reasonable amount of time if you are skilled with a bow - Fairly safe from most foes if you keep your distance Cons: ----- - Worst close-range class; virtually dead meat when face-to-face with a Scout or Warrior - Cannot block - Somewhat steep learning curve for some ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heroes - Free Peoples ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Legolas ------- All heroes share the same relatively basic characteristics: they have more health, strength, and defense than a normal character. Aside from that, the only real difference is that Legolas can fire arrows much quicker than a regular Archer. He is useful in crowded areas and can pick off foes in quick succession, that is, if you have a quick trigger finger. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heroes - Forces of Sauron ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lurtz ----- While Legolas focuses primarily on agility, Lurtz is all about power. His arrows deal more damage than any other Archer - including the elf himself. In fact, Lurtz puts so much strength behind each arrow that they can actually pass through multiple enemies! If you see two or more foes lined up, shoot an arrow to create your own oversized kebab! ============================================================================== MAGE ============================================================================== Heal - Without a doubt, the best spell in the game. Press the Left Bumper to heal yourself and any nearby comrades as they are clouded in a white veil. Allies with a green cross above their head means they are low on health, so heal them before they perish. Shockwave - This attack is really the only reason to approach an enemy as a Mage, since they aren't known for their melee skills. Press Y for the Mage to slam his staff into the ground, creating a giant shockwave capable of knocking any foe away. It is a wonderful crowd control attack if you are surrounded or if you simply want to knock someone on their ass. Fire Wall - The Mage will hurl a fireball upon pressing B, which explodes and creates a ring of fire for a few moments. As you press B, you can slightly control the trajectory of the flame by moving the Left Analog Stick up or down. Fire Wall can not only damage groups of enemies, but can also be used as a defensive shield when used in narrow areas, such as a hallway. Mages are often used by beginners (or just simply overused) since they seemingly have no faults. They have the power to heal, have several long-range attacks, and can survive on their own in a scuffle with their staff combos. Plus, playing as Gandalf is always awesome. The Mage's main attack is his Lightning spell. Press the Right Trigger to shock an opponent with a jolt of lightning; hold the trigger down and the lightning will spread to others. It's great for pestering enemies from afar. Aside from attacking with long-range spells like Lightning and Fire Wall, you also have defensive and supporting magic. No single character can complete a mission himself, so it's key to rally with your troops to get the job done. As a Mage, keeping your allies' health in tip-top shape is a must. They regain Energy the quickest out of the classes, so always remember to heal your friends and yourself when you have the chance. The Mage also sacrifices the blocking ability with a large force field. Hold down the Left Trigger to create a giant bubble surrounding you. This shield will reflect any incoming enemy projectile, from arrows to fireballs. The shield is big enough to not only protect yourself, but many others as well. If you aren't attacking, raise your shield to protect nearby allies. Like the Archer, Mages should find themselves away from the battlefield since facing off with a Warrior may prove fatal. As a Mage, it is more important to stay a support character, protecting your troops with your shield and healing them whenever possible. Overzealous players who find themselves charging into a fight (like myself) might not find much success as a Mage. Pros: ----- - They can heal! - Mages regain Energy the quickest out of any class - Have a slew of powerful spells, both long and short range - Really the only supporting character in the game Cons: ----- - The weakest of the classes in terms of HP - While they can fend for themselves up close, it isn't pretty - Cannot block ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heroes - Free Peoples ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gandalf ------- Honestly, who would give up the chance to play as the almighty Gandalf? He is actually one of the best characters in the game in my opinion, because pretty much all of the disadvantages of a Mage are fixed (or at least improved) with Gandalf. His melee attacks are surprisingly strong and he's quite durable as well. Gandalf's spells seem to be aimed at groups of enemies; for example, his Fire Wall attack is wider than normal and his Lightning often spreads to other foes without even being charged. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heroes - Forces of Sauron ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saruman ------- Saruman is Gandalf's foil even in combat. He is arguably just as powerful as Gandalf, if not even stronger, and his attacks are aimed at single targets instead. His Fire Wall attack results in a much smaller ring, but can damage foes more than the white wizard's spell. Also, Saruman's Lightning attack focuses on a lower number of targets when charged, but hurts them more. Mouth of Sauron --------------- The Mouth of Sauron is truly a strange character to use, for he functions like no other Mage. His melee attack is truly bizarre: he summons an undead Orc, which attacks the target for him. It's a little hard to use at times. Also, his Shockwave attack isn't one at all: the Mouth of Sauron instead twirls around his staff like a buzz saw, hitting anyone in his path. It is a good attack in its own right, but the move doesn't work as well as Shockwave. While the Mouth of Sauron may be my favorite character in the LotR trilogy, playing as him just doesn't tickle my fancy as much as I thought it would. ============================================================================== SCOUT ============================================================================== Foe Hewer - Hold the Left Bumper, then press X to have the Scout spin his blades around like a saw. The target will become trapped in the whirling blades and will not be able to move, letting you follow up with another attack. The Scout can chain this attack into a combo, along with Foe Hammer, with quickness like no other class. Foe Hammer - Hold the Left Bumper, then press Y for the Scout to slam his two daggers onto a foe like a hammer. It seems unimpressive on its own, but the Scout can chain this attack into a combo, along with Foe Hewer, with quickness like no other class. Blasting Powder - Hold the Left Bumper, then press B: the Scout will tag the enemy with a Satchel Bomb, then knock them away as the bomb goes off. Not only does the attack deal loads of damage to the target and anyone near the explosion, but you also push them away from your own hide. Mages are nifty n' all, but Scouts are personally my favorite class. They are small, quick, and very sneaky. They're your "Solid Snake" of the group, if I must. Scouts come equipped with a magical cloaking ability. Press the Left Bumper to cloak yourself, becoming totally invisible to the opposition. Using this ability drains your Energy as a modified attack would. You can use your cloaking ability to sneak past enemies, but most importantly, to kill them with ease. When behind an enemy and invisible, press the Right Bumper to execute a backstab, which is an automatic one-hit kill regardless of the target. You can even take down heroes in one fatal stab! Scouts are also competent fighters without weaving in and out of the shadows. They have very quick attacks that you can fluidly string together to form deadly combos. They can also not only defend, but roll out of harm's way. If in trouble, either roll away from a foe or go invisible and flee. While the Scout's signature daggers require you to get very close to a target when in battle, you can use a Satchel Bomb at a distance to create some mayhem. Scouts are your best infantry when it comes to attacking enemies up close. While Warriors are much more durable, Scouts can sneak through enemy waves and surprise your opponents with little trouble. You should rarely spend any time uncloaked unless there are no foes around, but even that can be an exception since your Energy replenishes at a rapid pace. Pros: ----- - Their cloaking ability... - ...and their backstab attack are a deadly duo - Scouts are the fastest class on their feet, and incredibly agile in combat - Straight-up fun to play as Cons: ----- - Pretty difficult to master - Most of their attacks have a VERY short range ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heroes - Free Peoples ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eowyn of Rohan -------------- Overall, Eowyn seems like a lousy Scout. She's pretty big and surprisingly slow considering the class she is in. Eowyn's rolls cover more distance than normal, allowing her to take cover easier than others. Plus, pressing A while attacking causes Eowyn to flip over the target, giving you access to their unguarded back. You can pull off this neat trick to almost totally avoid enemy strikes. Frodo ----- Frodo greatly resembles a run-of-the-mill Scout, but there are some key differences to differentiate the two. Naturally, with Frodo being a Hobbit and all, he is much shorter than the rest of the characters and can slip out of sight without being cloaked. The most important difference is that Frodo does not un-cloak when attacking, making him a very deadly assassin. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heroes - Forces of Sauron ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wormtongue ---------- Aside from his normal combos and a few modified attacks, Wormtongue doesn't seem much difference than any other Scout. The one main flaw is one of his modified attacks. LB + X is a very weird attack. When used, Wormtongue places a bomb in his hand. In the ten seconds before it goes off, your attacks will become stronger and you'll also regain Energy faster. However, when the bomb goes off you will be slightly damaged as anyone around you will be injured. ============================================================================== WARRIOR ============================================================================== Fire Strike - Hold the Left Bumper and follow up with X to use one of the Warrior's few long-range attacks. The Warrior will dash (you can control his directions), leaving behind a flame-streaked trail. Once you reach an enemy, the Warrior strikes. It doesn't deal all that much damage, but covers a lot of ground. Whirlwind Sweep - Hold the Left Bumper, then press Y for the Warrior to spin around and around like a top. The attack leaves the Warrior untouchable and is a lengthy attack, enabling you to slice through large groups of enemies. Flame of Fury - Hold the Left Bumper and press B. This attack doesn't earn you any style points, but it's great for slaying most foes in one hit. The Warrior rears up, then slams his flaming sword down to the ground. Warriors are the one class that truly excel at close-hand combat. They are the expendable class that much of an army is composed of. They have the most HP out of any character and are also the strongest when it comes to melee attacks. If you just wanna get in the face of danger and swing away, this is the class to choose. These rough and tough soldiers can chain together combos, albeit not as good as the Scouts. Additionally, they are not as fast in combat as them either. Warriors are the most powerful enemies and have some truly deadly attacks. As an added bonus, you can use Throwing Axes from a distance to execute most foes in one hit. Like the Scouts, Warriors are best when fighting up close, and it's really their only option. Block continuously when in a scuffle and try sidestepping to evade enemy attacks as well. Overall, Warriors seem like your average fighter, an average class. On paper they are good, but I just never use them aside from the heroes. >.> Pros: ----- - Highest amount of HP - Strongest when it comes to close-quarters combat - The one class you can always go to when facing off against a large group of enemies (particularly other Warriors or Scouts) Cons: ----- - Not that many ranged attacks - I dunno, just kinda boring/average on all levels ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heroes - Free Peoples ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aragorn ------- Definitely one of the cooler Heroes in the game, at least when it comes to the Warrior class. Aragorn is one of the strongest when it comes to this class, referring to his durability and strength. He isn't much different than a normal Warrior aside from that. His two special attacks, Anduril's Spirit and Wave of Undead, are particularly awesome. Elrond ------ Elrond's sword is huge, but he doesn't have that much trouble using it in battle. He's actually one of the more nimble heroes out of the Warrior, and his giant sword can reach targets much farther away than if you were using any other Warrior. Elrond is a unique character, for he is incredibly powerful but also has one key defensive spell. Tsunami Blade isn't all that special, but it has its uses. River of Bruinen is a swift attack that can knock enemies backwards. Water Sphere is one of the best special abilities out of ALL the heroes in the game. Elrond creates a large dome covering himself and much of the surrounding area. The shield deflects all projectiles, while anyone standing inside will slowly be healed! Faramir ------- Personally, I don't find Faramir all that unique, or cool for that matter. He is one of the heroes that you don't really have to worry about since you rarely ever see him. His flame-coated sword deals extra damage than a normal weapon, and his special attacks are average at best. In short, Faramir is totally "meh". A nice tidbit from MrSkorm: "He lacks normal attack combo's but his fire attacks are chain-able." Gimli ----- Gimli is another one of those freak of nature hybrids. I make it sound bad, but it's really a plus for him! Gimli is without a doubt the fastest Warrior hero in the game, and his use of Satchel Bombs instead of axes reflects some characteristics normally seen in Scouts. His agility paired with his short stature makes him a difficult target to hit. Gimli does not pass up strength for his gifted speed either, as his Longbeard Pound is arguably the strongest special ability in the game. Isildur ------- Isildur is only playable in the game's tutorial and like, one multiplayer map. Thus, you don't really have to worry about using him all that much. Still, I cannot discriminate even against the uncommon! (even though I do not like using Isildur all that much) Upon first glance, Isildur seems like a particularly dumb hero, but I s'pose he does have his quirks. When using any of his three special attacks, Isildur will be accompanied by a red, ghostlike clone that mimics his every move. Not only do your attacks damage an opponent, but so does the strange mirage. Double the trouble! Boromir ------- Boromir is a downloadable hero. Boromir fuses sword strikes with melee kicks, making him an interesting character to use. His special abilities are all unique: while Gondor Charge doesn't cover nearly as much ground as similar attacks, Defender's Slam can clear an area of foes with one strike. In my opinion, the staggering number of heroes in the Warrior class means that many characters blend into the background. Boromir is one of them. Arwen ----- Arwen is a downloadable hero. She is a purely unique character; almost to the fact that I didn't know what class she was in. She's almost a cross between a Warrior and a Scout: too weak to be grouped together with the others, but dang is she fast. Plus, she can roll! Arwen is quick with her melee attacks, which are executed with a strange ice dagger. Her special abilities are strange, yet particularly cool. Flood of Bruinen is just like Aragorn's Wave of Undead, Ice Vortex can trap enemies, and Glacial Strike can home onto a nearby target. Not only that, but press the Right Trigger to lay down small, floating proximity mines! Arwen is a very fun, very unique character, so I'd imagine mastering her would be a great undertaking. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heroes - Forces of Sauron ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nazgul ------ I always thought playing as a mystifying Nazgul would be one of the game's highpoints. They are interesting heroes, as one could deduce when looking at their mysterious nature of the character. Their melee strikes are fluid enough and some of the Nazgul's special abilities are cool. Black Breath mirrors the Nazgul's signature scream, freezing the enemy in terror while damaging them, though the attack is difficult to aim. Witch-King ---------- Like one could easily assume, The Witch-King is very similar to a Nazgul. He is much stronger and has a few different attacks. He attacks with lightning- quick speed like the Nazgul (well, at least for a Warrior), and his Terror Quake is great for crowd control. Too bad that a weird taunt is tacked on to the end of this attack, which can leave you open for a nasty beating. Sauron ------ Yeah, you get to play as the big man himself. Doing so is rather cool, but I'm not a huge fan of playing as Sauron. His special abilities are beastly, but I do not really like his melee attacks. Most of them are somewhat slow, but it doesn't matter that much considering Sauron is arguably the strongest hero in the entire game. Sauron's ability to block being absent means taking on other heroes may be difficult, even for the dark lord himself. Gothmog ------- Gothmog is a downloadable hero. Due to his crippling disabilities, Gothmog is a very slow character when it comes to moving and attacking. He does make up for it with pure strength, though. It is hard to chain a combo together with him since it's easy to get interrupted, but they pack a punch. His throwing axes inflict poison on an enemy, which is always a plus. His only other long-range attack is Spinning Rush, an attack similar to Fire Strike. Gothmog can also summon a huge chunk of rock to come crashing down on a foe as he spits on their corpse, an ability that's always neat to witness. ______________________________________________________________________________ [4] THE BASICS [0400] ______________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Picking a Class ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yeah, of course the selected class comes down to personal preference. But you should also try to take some other things into account. Since you are part of an army in nearly every single level, you almost always have computer AI at your side. Try to look at the range of classes that your computer friends have taken up. Of course you cannot do this at the start of a level, but you can change your class at a Control Point. If there is a drought of a certain class, you may want to play as that specific class if their abilities suit your goal. If you are lacking Mages, you may want to be one yourself. Try to even out the number of characters on the playing field. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Control Points ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Throughout most of the levels, at some point you will have to capture a specific area. These places are depicted by a ring with a flag in its center. To capture the Control Point, stand anywhere inside the circle for a meter to appear at the bottom of the screen. The meter symbolizes the fact that the enemy is in possession of the Control Point. When the number of allies inside the ring is greater than the number of enemies, the bar will decrease, with it depleting faster if the ratio is higher in your favor. Once it runs out, a meter symbolizing your possession of the Control Point appears. The rules still apply, but now the meter will fill up as long as more allies are in the ring than enemies. Once the second meter is filled, you will secure the Control Point. It sounds complicated, but it's simple. If playing as the Free Peoples, the first meter will be red and the second will be blue. If you're the Forces of Sauron, the first bar will be red and the second will be blue. Of course, blue attributes to good and red symbolizes evil. When you have successfully gained control of a Control Point, the goal will usually end. Additionally, you can use secured Control Points to change your class if you so desire. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally Points ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally Points are tall statues that act similarly to secured Control Points. The main difference is that they are automatically at your use at any time. Rally Points act as spawn points as well if you happen to die, and you can change your class when standing next to one by pressing the Right Bumper. They are a lot useful than they sound, because the only other way to change your class (aside from using a Control Point) is if you are killed. A nifty trick when near one of these and in need of health is to change into a Mage, heal to full HP, then change back to your preferred class. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enemy Rankings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aside of four main classes, enemy forces have various rankings (not including heroes): Grunt - Grunts are the most common and are totally expendable. They have the least amount of HP and can usually be dispatched in one hit. Officer - The next highest rank, they are of average strength and defense. While Grunts don't have any special abilities, Officers can use special abilities pertained to their class. Captain - Captains are the toughest ranking by far, though luckily are very rare and only used in dire situations. Captains are recognizable by the flag on their back and strange aura. When you encounter a Captain, assign all priorities to him and make it your task to eliminate him first. Giant - Not really a "ranking", but you can face off against giant enemies in this game. Big Trolls side with the Forces of Sauron and Ents ally themselves with the Free Peoples. These monsters can strike groups of enemies with ease and can even pick one up and toss 'em like a rag doll. To defeat Giants the easy way, run behind them and press the Left Bumper, then follow the button prompt. ______________________________________________________________________________ [5] WALKTHROUGH (WAR OF THE RING) [0500] ______________________________________________________________________________ NOTE: This walkthrough is based on Heroic difficulty. ============================================================================== HELM'S DEEP [0501] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defend the Deeping Wall ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Warrior For whatever reason, you can only choose between an Archer and a Warrior in this first mission. Sniping the Uruk-Hai from the comfort of a castle wall seems like the best option, but I'm taking into account that this is probably your first time playing this game and playing as an Archer can be tough. Of course you can give it a go, but my recommendations are just my opinion. Run forward into the blue defense zone. If the enemy Orcs outnumber your allies inside this ring, you will go on a steady roll to defeat. The yellow arrow on the screen (and the radar) will point you in the right direction. Yellow arrows always pinpoint you to your destination whenever in a mission. You have a minute and a half to defend this territory against Uruk-Hais. They will climb up on the ladders leaning against the castle wall. I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to the Lord of the Rings trilogy (I am actually trying to get into them personally), but apparently Uruk-Hai are just a more advanced breed of Orcs. They sound tough, but most of the enemies here can be taken down in one or two hits. You only encounter Uruk-Hai Grunts in this first mission, so you should not have that much trouble defending the zone. Plus keep in mind that you do have reinforcements that can certainly hold their own as well. You probably won't have to use any special abilities, but you can try them out every so often if you'd like. If at any point the game states that you are being overrun, clear out any groups of Uruk-Hai quickly before you are overwhelmed by enemies. If you are, the mission will end and you'll lose. Don't fret if the message does appear onscreen; just finish off any nearby Uruk-Hai with haste. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Torchbearers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Archer Now it's time to test out the Archer's potential! Run back to the Rally Point (the glowing statue where you started) and press the Right Bumper to change into an Archer. Ignore the ladders and jump down from the wall to the ground. Don't worry, you won't get hurt. Start looking for the torchbearers immediately. Aside from the orange glow of their torch, you can easily find them by searching for the yellow arrows pointing at their location. You can either get up close to one and shoot it with an arrow by pressing the Right Trigger, or zoom first with the Left Trigger, then target him from afar. Make sure to defeat these enemies in a quick fashion. If a torchbearer reaches the wall, you have about five seconds to kill him before the wall erupts in flame and the mission ends. You can usually kill a torchbearer in one shot with a critical hit (zoom, then shoot him in the head), or you can use one of your special arrows; Fire Arrows work the best. Other Uruk-Hai will be down here as their attention usually turns to you as soon as you kill the first torchbearer. This is where Multi-Arrows and Poison Arrows can really help you. Slow down a band of Uruk-Hai with a Poison Arrows and continue focusing on the torchbearers. There are nine torchbearers in all. Numbers five and six appear together, as do the seventh and eighth. Make sure to kill one, then sprint to the other side of the area to target the other. Overall it's a pretty simple task if you tend to ignore the other Uruk-Hai running around; only slay them if you're low on health. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fall Back to the Keep ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! After taking down the torchbearers, all you have to do is retreat to the keep. From your location, wherever that may be, speed past any enemies to the nearest ladder and climb up to the top of the wall. Catapults in the distance will launch flaming projectiles at the wall. It's pretty hard to focus and dodge them, so just keep running and hope that you aren't hit with a flaming boulder. A message saying "incoming!" will appear whenever the wall is under attack, so just keep moving towards the stairs across from the Rally Point. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defend the Main Gate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Warrior You'll be fighting more Uruk-Hai, so naturally the Warrior is a fine choice. Run to the right to locate the main gate, which is ripped to splinters. Use the Rally Point here to change into a Warrior, then step through the gate and into the blue defense zone. Unlike last time, there will be a lot more Uruk-Hai present. They rapidly ascend the ramp towards your location. Remember that you can always use a CrowdBreaker attack by holding the Left Trigger and pressing B. It'll really help wipe out a large group of enemies. The vast majority of foes that stand in your way are Grunts, but there are a few Uruk-Hai Archers lurking near the base of the ramp. Either ignore them or use a throwing axe to dispose of them. Stay in the defense zone and take out enemies only when they enter the blue rectangle, and the minute and a half timer should go by swiftly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally to Theoden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! So, the torchbearers blow the wall up anyways. Yet when they did it before we got a game over! Lame. Anyways, we have to rally to Theoden, who isn't too far away from your current location. Run back through the main gate and run to the left. Head up the ramp to eventually reach Theoden in the large hall. Alternatively, you can go to the right from the main gate and climb one of the ladders, then use the bridge to reach the same destination. There is a Rally Point outside the hall, which I'd recommend using to change into a Warrior if you haven't already. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Officers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Warrior Aside from the four main officers, you'll also start to encounter Uruk-Hai Warriors. They are a lot tougher than Grunts and can use the same special abilities that you do. Then again, the officers themselves are Warriors, so I don't really know what differentiates them from the run-of-the-mill Uruk-Hai. To start things off, try to use a CrowdBreaker or Whirlwind Sweep to both clear the area and pick off the surrounding Grunts. You should have a few friends to help out the cause as well, though don't be surprised if they fall in a hurry. Constantly block and follow up with melee attacks and special abilities to take down the officers (as long as you focus on one at a time). An Archer can certainly hold his own here, as long as there is at least one ally distracting the officers. I personally like to use Archers in this situation, but that's just because I prefer Archers over Warriors in general. From the entrance to the hall, zoom in and target the officer's head with arrows as they deal with your reinforcements. They won't last long if you're skilled with a bow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Retake the Deeping Wall ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Aragorn Normally I would recommend using a Warrior, but the game allows you to play as Aragorn in this goal. You'd be crazy to pass up such an opportunity! Exit the hall and go to the right, then climb the stairs to the wall. Jump down to the busted wall, where we started the level. The defense zone from before is now a Control Point, since it's been overrun by Uruk-Hai. Destroy the palisades in your way, then focus on the massive swarm of enemies in the Control Point. You will fight a range of enemies here, including Grunts, Warriors, and Archers. It's hard to differentiate and pick which enemies you want to target when in such a hectic environment, so just try to slay anything that stands in your way. Eventually reinforcements will slowly come to your aid, which makes your job much easier. Aragorn also has some nifty special abilities, including Anduril's Spirit and Wave of Undead, which both cover a lot of ground. Once the initial wave of Uruk-Hai has dissolved, stand in the Control Point with any of your troops until you have captured the first half of the wall. Go down the stairs and to the second half, where you will have to repeat your strategies a second time. Again, just use CrowdBreakers and Wave of Undead to wipe them out in big numbers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defend the Breach ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Aragorn You should still have Aragorn assuming you did not die during the previous task; if he did fall during battle (which is understandable), roll with the Warrior instead. Drop down into the hole in the wall and stay inside the large white ring. Again, survive for a minute and a half and stand your ground to complete the mission. Unlike previous goals, this one is a lot more difficult due to the overwhelming amount of enemies. At first it won't seem bad, but the sheer number of Uruk-Hai that storm the area is staggering. Stay inside the ring at all times and do not bother exiting the ring to take out any foe. Let them come to your or use a throwing axe from a distance to dispose of them. The best way to handle the Uruk-Hai here is by basically using CrowdBreaker over and over again. Wave of Undead is the only other special attack that can target multiple enemies, but using a CrowdBreaker is much simpler and much more devastating. If you happen to die, which isn't all that uncommon, stick to the Warrior for the remaining time. After defending the breach for the set amount of time, the first level will come to a close. ============================================================================== ISENGARD [0502] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Entrance to the Pits ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mage Finally, it's time to test out the Scouts and Mages! Lets leave the Scouts on the backburner for now and take a Mage out for a spin. Walk forward with your troops towards the Control Point. You can ignore the palisades since they really aren't blocking anything. It's an open field! As a Mage, it's important to stay in the outskirts of a battle as opposed to charging in headfirst like one would as a Warrior. Take out any Grunts with a charged up Lightning attack, and also use Fire Wall to target large groups. Try to find your footing in the area, since there are actually a few hazards to watch out for. Flame geysers coat the surrounding area, so avoid standing in the large, smoking craters. Once you have wiped out most of the enemies, proceed into the middle of the Control Point. Heal any troops or yourself (green crosses above an ally means they have low HP) and simply act as a support group while others take out any intruders. Try to stray from using melee attacks unless an Uruk-Hai gets too close. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Uruk-Hai Captain ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mage We've already tested out an Archer and Warrior in the heat of combat, why not see what the Mage truly has to offer? Naturally, you wouldn't face off against such an adversary head-on, so let your reinforcements do the brunt of the work while you pepper the target from afar and keep your friends in tip-top shape. Head down the hill (let everyone else go in front of you) to spot the captain underneath the yellow marker. He is accompanied by a few Grunts, but most importantly, two Uruk-Hai Mages. These two should be your main targets, since they can attack from a distance and also heal the Uruk-Hai Captain. Most of the time they have their shield raised, so do the same until the enemy lowers it. Follow up with a Fire Wall or a Lightning attack to stun them. It is key that you don't descend the slope entirely to face any enemies face-to- face, for you'll be ripped to shreds by the Captain and his Grunt friends. If the Uruk-Hai Captain pursues you, backpedal up the ramp while continuously using Lightning to whittle away his health. If he ever gets too close, use a Shockwave attack to knock him to the ground. You should have a few Archers on your side, who will chip away at the Captain's HP. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Destroy the Fire Machine ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Archer Once the Captain falls, continue down the slope and defeat any remaining Uruk- Hai. Use the Rally Point at the bottom to switch to an Archer; a Mage won't be able to do jack crap against the Fire Machine. There are wayyyy too many enemies at the base of the machine, and you won't be able to get close enough without getting slaughtered. There are two entries to the Fire Machine; the slope to the left or the bridge to the right. You aren't to take either of these paths, but you may have to keep an eye on them every so often to steady the incoming flow of Uruk-Hai. The Fire Machine is a wooden pillar below the canyon, and is clearly susceptible to fire. Stand on the edge of the cliff between the slope and bridge and use a Fire Arrow on the Fire Machine. While you wait for your energy to recharge, back away from the cliff to avoid getting sniped and take out any foes that come from either entranceway. Once you have the ability to use a second Fire Arrow, return to the cliffside and take another shot at the machine. Easy as pie. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill Wormtongue ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Targeting an immovable object as an Archer isn't that difficult, but trying to snipe a Scout may give you some problems. Why not try out the Scout in a Scout versus Scout battle? Change into the Scout and start your way across the bridge. Look below you at the walkway and drop down just as your allies start their way across; just so you aren't the only one in a pool of Uruk-Hai. Cloak yourself and start up the wooden ramp towards the yellow arrow. The evil Wormtongue is accompanied by several Grunts, but you can take most of them out (as well as damage the hero) with a Satchel Bomb while cloaked. You're best off running away from the Warriors by using Cloak and/or rolling and targeting Wormtongue. Wormtongue can locate a Scout, even if you are cloaked, so you won't be able to backstab him easily. One who is skilled with a Scout should have no trouble against Wormtongue, but if you're a first-timer you may not have such ease. He has the same attacks as a Scout for the most part, but you can still block and roll away from his attacks. If you're eager to end the fight quickly, use Cloak and continuously dodge Wormtongue. When he uses an attack, dash behind him and press the Right Bumper when it appears to backstab him. Insta-death! If you're not very comfortable with a Scout, your next best bet is probably a Mage. Stand on the bridge and wipe out any Uruk-Hai below with Lightning or Fire Wall before dropping down. Continue up the hill with your friends until you reach Wormtongue's cave. Bomb the group with Fire Wall and let your troops take care of the Warriors. Wormtongue will cloak himself in an attempt to backstab you, so back away and use Shockwave or Lightning to blast him away. His cloaking ability doesn't help him all that much since you can always follow his movements by the yellow arrow. Ha ha. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acquire the Key ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! Wormtongue drops the key after his defeat, so whatever class you were when you killed him will suffice. Of course, a Scout would be your best bet because you can grab the key and sneakily pass by all the Uruk-Hai that stand in your way. The key is coated in a bright yellow aura, so it's not hard to spot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Take the Key to Treebeard ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Assuming you're still a Scout, your delivery should not be too problematic. After picking up the key, use Cloak and start your way up the bridge nearby. None of the Uruk-Hai should see you, so you should be able to blissfully bring the key to Treebeard. Scouts are fast lil' buggers, so if you are hit and your location is revealed, you should still be able to outrun everyone. If you are a Mage or anyone else, you'll have to fight your way through the opponents as you cross the bridge. Just take your time and use your shield to protect from any arrow fire. Treebeard lies right at the end of the bridge. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Take Control of a Dormant Ent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! There are several dormant Ents right next to Treebeard, so this goal should take all of six seconds to complete. Rush towards one of the many trees and tap the Right Bumper to take control of them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Destroy the Watchtowers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Ent Clearly, you should stay as an Ent with this mission. You can press X for a Light Attack and Y for a Heavy Attack, though either attack should be able to slay most foes with one hit. You can also heal yourself by pressing A, so you should have little trouble with this mission. If you do die, simply take control of another dormant Ent and continue where you left off. There are two watchtowers to the right of Treebeard. As an all-mighty Ent, you should not completely ignore the pestering Uruk-Hai on the ground below. They can still damage you significantly, so take the time to swipe the surrounding area with X or Y to knock away any Uruk-Hai. They will often set you on fire to slowly drain your HP over time. If this happens, kill any enemies on the ground and heal yourself. Use combinations of X and Y on the first watchtower to eventually destroy it. As you storm towards the second, a few Ents will most likely arrive to help you out. Have them do most of the work while you heal and destroy the Uruk-Hai below, especially the Mages that can set you on fire with Fire Wall. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Doors of Orthanc ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Ent Hopefully your Ent is still intact, for he will make this task much easier. Proceed towards the Control Point in front of the Doors of Orthanc and clear out the initial enemy battalion with a few swipes. Stay inside the Control Point at all times, since the capture meter will move significantly in your favor with a giant inside the Control Point. Use Y to destroy Warriors and Mages, then use X to smack up any Grunts. S'more Ents will join you inside the Capture Point to make this already easy task even easier. If you are killed at any time, simply take control of another dormant Ent and get the job rollin'. Otherwise, switch to a Warrior. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill Saruman ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Gandalf Yeah boi! A good ol' fashioned senior-citizen fight! Without hesitation, play as Gandalf and go inside the tower. An Orc Captain stands in your way, but this guy is nothing when up against Gandalf. He seems to be a Mage himself, but you can even use melee attacks to dispose of him. Climb the stairs to find Saruman. Even though Gandalf is an absolute beast, Saruman has no trouble kicking your old ass if you aren't careful. Use your shield continuously to block against his Fire Ball attack, and also keep away from him so you don't be knocked away by Isengard Blast. If he raises a shield of his own, run up and execute a combo, then follow up with Cleansing Fire or You shall not PASS! (wicked name for a move, BTW). If you keep your distance, use your shield, and heal constantly, Saruman will eventually fall. You have to be patient in this battle - and when playing as a Mage in general - so you'll be fine if you take your time. If Gandalf is defeated in battle, use a Mage to finish what you started. If you want to have some fun, you can use a Scout to backstab Saruman; a somewhat easy task when it's one-on-one. Generally, if you die around two times after a hero falls, you are given another opportunity to play as said hero. If it comes down to this, pick Gandalf and try your hand again. ============================================================================== MINES OF MORIA [0503] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally with Gimli at Balin's Tomb ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Scout moves the fastest, so go with him. That's really all the logic you need with a brain-dead task like this. Proceed into the giant tomb... place and use Cloak to hide from the few Grunts roaming around. Proceed into Balin's tomb to find Gimli. Easy as pie! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defend Balin's Tomb ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Gimli The doors to the tomb burst open, revealing a wave of Orcs and even a Cave Troll! The best way to defeat giants such as a Cave Troll is to run behind them, then press the Right Bumper. A button prompt will appear: if you follow it, you'll greatly damage the beast. If not, the giant will counter, resulting in you losing a lot of HP. Do this twice to kill off the two Cave Trolls. Again, you have 90 seconds to defend Balin's Tomb. Gimli is an awesome hero to play as, since he has skills attributing to both a Warrior and a Scout. Roll around and use Satchel Bombs on the Orcs, and also use deadly-powerful attacks with your axe. Only Grunts appear in this tomb, so they aren't too difficult to take down. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lock the Troll Prison ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Archer Sorry Gimli, we'll have to leave you to the side for now. Use the Rally Point here in the tomb to gain control of an Archer, then head up the stairs and through the door. Defeat the Orc Warriors on the base of the stairs (or just let the other reinforcements deal with them). As the Archer, it should be your first priority to take down the enemy Archers in this area. There are four on the stone bridge across from the entrances and three on a ledge to your left. Take them all out, then continue down the staircase with your friends, being careful not to fall into the lava. As you approach the archway, take out the Trolls beyond the arch. Use Poison Arrows and Fire Arrows, then snipe them in the head for critical hits. Two Orc Mages appear out of the Troll prison, so snipe them before they can get their shields up. Instead of taking down every single Troll that gets in your way (since they seemingly always appear out of the prison), leave one remaining and rush over to the lever to lock the prison. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Bridge ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mage Take out any remaining Trolls after locking the prison, then climb the stairs on the left. There is a Rally Point at the base of the stairs if you wish to change classes. At the top of the stairs is the Control Point, directly in front of the bridge. There are a handful of Orcs waiting before the bridge, but simply run past them and into the Control Point. Face the bridge and target any enemies that try to cross it. Fire Wall is your best choice since the Orcs often have to clutter onto the narrow bridge in order to get across. Heal your reinforcements every so often and use your shield whenever not attacking to protect from Archers on the stairs beyond the bridge. It's a rather simple goal since you shouldn't allow many enemies near the Control Point. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally with Gandalf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! Continue across the bridge with your allies. Use Fire Wall on any Orcs past the bridge: there should only be a few Grunts along with maybe a Warrior. Ascend the staircase afterwards towards the yellow arrow. There is a Rally Point in the area past the stairs if you wish to change your class. Otherwise, run down the hall to find Gandalf in the tomb. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Balrog ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Gandalf Time to flip the script, eh? It is your mission to kill the Balrog, and what better option than Gandalf? The Balrog should not be taken lightly in any manner, so you'll have to bring your A-game in order to take this beast down. Keep in mind that there are also plenty of Orcs in the battlefield with you, mainly Mages and Scouts. Aside from the Balrog itself, the Orc Scouts will probably give you the most trouble. They can turn invisible and attack you without even knowing with their swift combos. If they get anywhere near you, use You shall not PASS! and flee like a scared puppy dog. Try to stay in the vicinity of your allies, particularly other Mages, so you can heal each other and keep the group in good shape. Overall, worry about the Balrog while the troops take down the Orcs. Don't let the Balrog get anywhere near you. It's a big target, so you should not have any trouble finding it. Mainly use Lightning and Cleansing Fire against it; never use You shall not PASS!, since that involves you getting close to the monster. It has a long reach, but that shouldn't phase Gandalf if you stay far enough away. If Gandalf dies, the only other options are either a Mage or an Archer. Both excel at long-range attacks, and it's pretty clear that you don't want to get anywhere near the Balrog. Killing the Balrog will conclude the level. ============================================================================== OSGILIATH [0504] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally to the East Bank ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! At the start, run forward for a scene. Uhhhh... ta da? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Orc Assault Party ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Warrior Orcs infiltrate the area with their dastardly ladders, so put an end to their charades with your Warrior. The Orcs usually appear in groups of four, corresponding to the four ladders lying against the wall. You have a boatload of allies on your side, so you shouldn't really have to worry about dealing with the wave of Grunts. After the initial wave ends, take cover against the wall as arrows rain down from the sky. You will be fine as long as you lean against the wall and refrain from standing out in the open. Once the arrows cease, more Orcs will arrive. This time, the Orcs range from Mages to Warriors. Things can get a little hairy from now on, but you have two main options: OPTION 1: Use the nearby emplacement ballista. It is to the left of the set of ladders, behind an overturned pillar. It doesn't have much range considering you're just firing arrows, but it's very powerful. Make sure to step away from the ballista if there are any Orcs nearby so you can handle them with your weapon. OPTION 2: Switch to a Mage. It's easy dealing with nothing but Grunts, but taking on enemy Mages and Warriors can be tricky. Switch to a Mage, then take 'em out with your assortment of spells. Plus, you can always heal yourself and your allies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mount a Horse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! This is a goal? Honestly? Follow your friends to find four horses. Get on one of them by pressing the Right Bumper. Giddy up! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Sanctuary ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mage A Fell Beast appears after mounting the horse. They can swoop down and grab you with their sharp talons, but it all comes down to (bad) luck; there's no way to really avoid it. Ride your horse forward through the pile of Orcs, then to the left towards the Control Point. Get off the horse and start taking down Orcs. Stick to using Fire Wall and Shockwave to clear the area until reinforcements can come to your aid. You'll fight a slew of enemies here, ranging from Grunts to Archers to Warriors. No Mages here. The Orcs usually come from one direction (to the left), so face that way and use Fire Wall and Lightning from a distance to halt their progress. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally to the Rangers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Faramir Use Faramir when the game asks you, then run up the wooden ramp where you initially came from. Continue across the bridge to find Frodo and the Rangers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Escort Frodo to Market Square ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Faramir Ahh, the dreaded "escort mission". Nearly every game has one, and they all equally suck. As Faramir, we have to escort the incredibly useless Frodo to the market square. Of course, that's a ways away. Frodo is marked with a yellow arrow so you can keep sight of him at all times. He's pretty fast, but often stops in order for you to catch up or for some other reason. Follow Frodo back to the sanctuary, then to the left. At this point you should have little trouble since most of the enemies are distracted. When you proceed ahead, a few Orcs may catch on and follow the duo. Frodo rarely cloaks himself and almost never attacks, so stand by his side and attack any Orc with a special ability. If there are more than one Orc nearby, use a CrowdBreaker. You should never find an overwhelming amount of Orcs in your way when escorting Frodo (what a surprise!), making this mission not all that unbearable (another surprise!). If you're lucky, a few allies may follow you and help the cause, making your job a cinch. Ultimately, Frodo will cloak himself and run forward. Follow him to the market square to end the mission, as a group of allies appear out of thin air. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Trolls ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout It's either a Scout or a Warrior, since they can kill Trolls the easy way. Trolls barge into the market square along with a wave of Orcs, but focus on the two big guys (who are given names for some odd reason). Use a Satchel Bomb to clear the way of lesser foes, then run behind a Troll and take him down. Usually it takes two or three hits this way to kill one. Trolls are very tough, as I'm sure you are already aware. They can kill you in one hit, whether they use a normal attack or if they grab you. Also, you will be automatically killed if a Troll throws a dead body at you. Not a very nice way to die if you ask me. As a Scout, use rolls to avoid the front of a Troll and get behind the giant. If you want to play it safe or just try something new, you can chip away at a Troll's HP from afar using a Mage's magic spells or an Archer's arrows. If you think about it, any class will suffice. ============================================================================== MINAS TIRITH [0505] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defend the Main Gate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mage You have two full minutes to defend the main gate from Orcs. You can take this mission up a multitude of ways. At this point in the game it almost comes down to personal preference, or at least with missions such as these. The first wave of enemies that barge through the main gate are Grunts. Bombard them with Fire Wall and Lightning spells while staying in the defense zone. Eventually, Warriors and Archers enter the area as well. Shockwave and Fire Wall are your two best bets here due to the sheer amount of enemies present. Archers tend to stand on either side of the busted gate, so take them out with Lightning spells before they can whittle down your health. Keep your troops' HP in top shape and continue using area-effective attacks. When a pair of Trolls show up, your battle plans may want to change. You can stay as a Mage if you'd like and attack them with magic spells, or else you can switch to a Scout or Warrior to kill them the easy way. There is a Rally Point behind the main statue if you want to change classes. By the time you have killed the two Trolls, time is probably almost up. Hold off against more Grunts and Warriors, heal your friends, and wait for time to expire to complete the fairly tough mission, in my opinion. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Burn the Orc Siege Towers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mage Mages play with fire the best out of all four classes, so lets roll with the magic user for now. Time to retreat! Orcs will continue to storm through the main gate, so run down the side road and up the staircase. The tight confines of the stairs makes battling pretty tricky, so either barge through with a Shockwave attack or seal off any openings by using Fire Wall. You're probably best off letting your allies deal with the Warriors here, while you pick off the lowly Grunts. Continue over the bridge and up the second flight of stairs to reach the two siege towers. This area here is notorious for being populated by Fell Beast. Every so often one will swoop across the walkway; if you're caught in the middle you will be picked up and instantly killed (though you earn an achievement for compensation). There's really nothing you can do except hope you don't get dragged off by the monsters. The two siege towers are wooden and can only be taken down with fire-based attacks. Naturally, use Fire Wall on the nearby siege tower. Take it down quickly, for Orcs will emerge from the tower every second it stays intact. You will certainly have your hands full in the area, since you'll find everything from Mages to Warriors here. If you must focus on a specific enemy type, wipe out the Orc Mages. It usually takes two Fire Wall attacks to destroy a siege tower. With the first one down, make your way across the walkway to the second one. Use Shockwave or melee attacks to deal with the Orcs standing in your way, then use Fire Wall on the second while safely standing in a corner or something. It's what Mages do best! There's also a satchel ballista on the opposite end of the walkway. While it's a rather slow weapon, it deals a lot of damage and can take down the enemy opposition along with the second siege tower. It's a fun tool to use. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally to 2nd Ring ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! From the satchel ballista, walk to the left and jump over the ledge to the staircase below. Follow the trail upwards to reach the second ring, where more allies wait. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defend the 2nd Ring Gate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mage Normally I would suggest a Scout or Warrior, but you're at a perfect placement with the Mage when it comes to the second ring gate. The only way the Orcs can reach you is via the hill that you used to get here. It's a steep slope and a narrow path, meaning all the enemies have to clutter together in order to reach your location. You have two minutes to hold your ground, and doing so is rather difficult. Do not worry if you lose a few lives, because the gate isn't a very big area and it is easy for a Mage to get cornered or surrounded by enemy Orcs. Bad idea. Needless to say, using attacks like Fire Wall and Shockwave in a cramped group of enemies is catastrophic. One of these attacks should instantly kill Grunts and wound Warriors pretty badly. Follow up with some Lightning attacks to finish them off. The main problem here is that Scouts will most likely be able to sneak by with their Cloak ability. They usually go right for the big cheese (you), so back away or use melee attacks to fend them off for the time being. You will encounter a wide variety of enemy types including all four classes, meaning you'll have a big fight on your hands. Keep in mind that there is a Rally Point here at the second ring gate. The Mage might not be the best choice here since I've had trouble with all four classes, so you can always switch every so often to find the right fit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Retreat to the 3rd Ring ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! Eventually the gate will be overrun and you'll be forced to run away. It's a rather simple journey, as all you have to do is run up the road to the right towards the yellow marker. Yawn. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Protect the Gates of the 3rd Ring ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Gandalf Clearly, Gandalf should be your first choice here. You have three minutes for your final stand at the third ring. Even with the wizard, holding off the gate is a very difficult task. The opposition throws everything at you except the kitchen sink, so get ready to fight against all four classes along with some special foes. The best part about using Gandalf is that his energy is replenished at an extraordinary rate, meaning you can spam your three special abilities every few seconds. You'll encounter the largest amount of enemies here than you have so far, so Cleansing Fire and You shall not PASS! will become your two staple attacks as you hold the defense zone. At first it won't seem so bad since there are only a few Warriors and Grunts, which are manageable. Then, the Archers and Scouts show up. Scouts are so fun to play, but they are quite a hassle when fighting against them. Gandalf is a rare breed of Mage since he actually excels in melee combat, meaning you can hold off a Scout if one gets too close. Otherwise, blast him with lightning. Eventually, Orc Captains will show up. You will find various types, such as Warrior Captains and Mage Captains. Keep the Warrior Captains at bay with your special abilities, but taking down the Mage Captains with melee attacks may be your best bet since they have a hard time counterattacking. This stage in the fight is the worst, because the Captains have a very easy time pushing forward towards the gate. The Trolls that eventually show up have it the easiest. If the enemies reach the gate, you will fail the mission. Keep them at bay as best as you can, though it's particularly hard with the Trolls. Just keep using Cleansing Fire and You shall not PASS!. As a second option, you may want to stick with a normal Mage. However, Archers can hold their own surprisingly well. The defense zone consists of a long straightaway, meaning you will have a field day sniping enemies while they try to reach your location. Use Poison Arrows to destroy groups of enemies, Fire Arrows to deal with Trolls, and well-placed arrows to the head of any nearby Orc Captain. Three minutes is a long time, and you will most likely be pushed all the way back to the gate, but continue to hold your ground and use area-effective special abilities to knock foes off of their feet. It's more about stalling than trying to kill everything in sight. ============================================================================== PELENNOR FIELDS [0506] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Destroy the Siege Towers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Ooh, my favorite level in the entire game! And what a way to start it off. Your mission is to destroy the three siege towers slowly rolling towards the starting position. If they eventually reach it, you will lose. The game places glaring messages onscreen to notify you when the towers get too close. There are several ways to destroy the siege towers, with some being much better than others: OPTION 1: Use the satchel ballista right next to you. It fires very slow, but can really put a dent in the siege towers. They're pretty far away at first, so zoom in with the Left Trigger for a more accurate shot. Keep it up until both are taken down. OPTION 2: Use a Scout to sabotage the siege tower. Cloak, then run behind the tower to find a Troll pushing the tower. From here, there are two ways to sabotage it. Naturally, one would be to kill the Troll, then press the Right Bumper to sabotage the tower. For a quicker approach, attack the Troll once to get its attention, then when it turns away towards you, run behind and sabotage it; you are invincible during the animation, so enemies won't attack even if they see you destroying the tower. OPTION 3: You can always use a Mage, but why bother? There are way better methods, and continuously using Fire Wall on the siege tower will take a long time. It does work, but I don't recommend it. Of course, each strategy has its ups and downs. Using the satchel ballista is sluggish, but at least you're away from the action. Orcs will run up to you every once in a while, in which you can attack them with the ballista or dismount and kill them with your weapon. Using a Scout to sabotage the two towers is by far the quickest method, but first you have to run through the field filled to the brim with Orcs. Plus, dealing with the two Trolls is risky business, whether you kill them or dodge their attacks. And using the Mage, well, there are really no pros to that. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Oliphaunts ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Legolas Similar to the previous goal, you must slay the two Oliphaunts before they reach the red defense zone. While they may be giant elephants, Oliphaunts move much faster than the siege towers, meaning you'll have to work fast. Even as Legolas, your archery skills won't be of much use when facing off against a huge target. Your arrows do little damage to the Oliphaunt, so put away your bow and use other strategies: OPTION 1: Use a catapult. There is one on the right side of Pelennor Fields, next to a second satchel ballista. Using the catapult is even slower than the satchel ballista - especially when aiming the trajectory, but it deals a great amount of damage to an Oliphaunt. OPTION 2: Like the siege towers, you can sabotage an Oliphaunt by proceeding near one of its hind legs and pressing the Right Bumper. Follow the three button prompts to down the beast in one strike. Again, there are pros and cons to each strategy. The catapult is strong, but it is slow and there are often many enemies around that halt your progress and slow things down significantly. Sabotaging the Oliphaunt may sound like your best bet, but doing so is quite difficult. It's tough to get anywhere near the creature, since its barb wire tusks can instantly kill you, and even them walking can kill you if you touch their foot when in motion. Still, it's the fastest way to execute both of the Oliphaunts before they reach the defense zone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Destroy Siege Tower and Kill Oliphaunt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Legolas A little bit o' both, eh? If Legolas is still alive, continue with him. I always died during the previous stage, so go with a Scout as your alternate option. Either can perform their job easily. Use a combination of the previous two strategies in order to take down both the Oliphaunt and siege tower. Whatever worked for you best. Regardless, kill the Oliphaunt first, because it moves much faster than the siege tower and poses more of a threat. Once the Oliphaunt is out of the picture, focus on the siege tower. If you're still using Legolas, you're best off using Fire Arrows or a satchel ballista to destroy it. You can even use a catapult if you'd like: it's slow, but it only takes three direct hits to blow up the siege tower. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally to Theoden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! From wherever you are, run through the fields past all foes towards the yellow arrow. If you're a Scout, cloaking yourself is a must. Once you reach Theoden, the mission will end. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Witch-King ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Eowyn Payback time! The Witch-King is a beastly foe with high stamina, insane speed, and great power. He has a LOT of HP and will be a chore to take down. To make a tough task abnormally simple, use Eowyn - who happens to be a Scout - to backstab the Witch-King for an easy kill. Cloak and continue to circle him, and when he attacks and slips up, use the opportunity to backstab him. Doing so can be kinda hard since there are so many other enemies that will be attacking you, such as Warriors and Archers. It's very easy to get outnumbered out in the middle of the field. If backstabbing the Witch-King is out the window for whatever reason, you have several other somewhat cheap options. You can use one of the satchel ballistas on the outskirts to attack him. For some reason, the Witch-King always stays near the center of the area. It's a hard target, but you can continuously knock him down with a satchel ballista and keep up the onslaught of attacks until he's eventually defeated. If the Witch-King notices you and speeds towards you, dismount and run away towards any allies so he has new targets to focus on. Of course, you can always fight head-to-head with the Witch-King. Eowyn is a tough fighter, and her special abilities work well against the hero. Whirling Dervish takes out a nice chunk of his health if you land it perfectly, and Blasting Powder can be a nice way to push him away from you. His main threat is Quake of Terror, which takes away a huge amount of HP and also knocks you to your feet. Of course, the Witch-King can also paralyze you with Black Breath. If Eowyn just isn't your fit, an Archer may be. Stay on the outskirts of the battle and aim for the Witch-King's head with arrows. If you're a good shot, critical hit after critical hit will drain the Witch-King's health in a hurry. If he gets too close, use a Fire Arrow and use Multi-Arrow or Poison Arrows to deal with the lesser enemies. ============================================================================== MINAS MORGUL [0507] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Shore ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Archer Ughhhh I hate this level. Quite possibly my least favorite in the game. Nothin' we can do about it, so I'll stop complaining. Start off as an Archer and begin sniping the Orcs near the shore. The amount of space between the two parties makes it easy for you to kill loads of enemies without any of them getting too close. Start off at the bottom of the hill near the battering ram and stay where you are. Use a Poison Arrow on the wave of Orcs at the top of the hill. When they start coming your way, leave the Grunts for your friends and focus on taking down the Orc Archers. When the Orc Captain shows up past the Control Point, start attacking him. He should fall before he reaches any of you if you have precise aim like me. ;) Slowly ascend up the hill towards the Control Point. Use all three types of special arrows to target the enemies. Warriors start showing up among more Grunts and Archers. Again, focus on the Archers first, then worry about the other enemy types. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Clear the Bridge ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Archer The Archer and Mage both excel here equally, so it's a toss-up. Aside from a small handful of Orcs, you'll be mainly clearing palisades off of the bridge. While normal arrows work just fine, use a Fire Arrow to destroy a pair almost instantly. As the battering ram continues across the bridge, focus on the enemies in the distance. Some lurk near the main gate, so snipe them from the other side of the bridge. Aside from like, one Warrior and Mage, the rest tend to be Grunts. Clear the three pairs of palisades and Orcs and wait for the battering ram to make its way towards the entrance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prepare for the Arrival of the Battering Ram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! Well if you already killed everyone, then there really isn't much preparation to be done. Just sit there and wait for their slow asses to push the battering ram to the doorway. When it blasts the doors wide open, go inside. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Courtyard ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Aragorn One of the straight-up hard missions in the game. The courtyard is a wide, open area in which no part is left unoccupied. Upon entering the courtyard, you'll realize that it's crawling with Orcs. Run past the two Trolls and let your allies deal with them; you can't afford to get killed by one of them. There are usually a few Archers and Mages waiting near the giant staircase in the center of the area. Worry about them first, then start to the left. You're best off ignoring the area to the right, since it's nothing of importance and enemies continuously spawn there. Proceed to the courtyard on the left once all the Orcs in the central area have been taken out (or at least the vast majority of them). Rush towards the satchel ballista to the left of the Control Point and take out the Orc manning it. Don't bother using it, since you're nothing more than a sitting duck in a sea of Orcs when using it. Step into the Control Point and await the onslaught of Orcs. Very few will come from the stairs on the left, while the majority of them appear in waves in front of you. Attack with throwing axes from a distance, then use Wave of Undead when the remaining group members near the Control Point. It's always important to keep moving when inside the Control Point to avoid Archers and other enemy projectiles. Not to be a downer, but you'll likely end up dying once or twice. As for a second choice, go with whomever you're most comfortable in a situation like this. I always find Scouts easy to use, but Mages are a good choice since they can heal and shield themselves. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Open the Prison Gate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Ya know, assuming Aragorn died. Even if he's still alive by some divine intervention (or if you're just good at the game of course), you may be best off using a Scout. The prison gate is guarded by many Orc Scouts and even an Orc Captain. Use Cloak, then start up the stairs to the left. There are a few Scouts and some Archers, but ignore them. Continue up the second flight of stairs to reach a lever on a balcony. The lever is being protected by a Scout and Captain, so backstab the Captain immediately. Dispatch the Scout with whatever means you would like, then pull the lever to open the prison gate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Free the Gondorians ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout If you want to do things the easy and cunning way, go with the Scout. It may be the simplest way to free the Gondorians, but it's still somewhat hard. Mainly you'll be infiltrating the prison while cloaked, weaving through hordes of Orcs while trying to stay undetected. Stay in the courtyard for a while to build up your energy. Once it is completely filled, use Cloak and run through the open portcullis. Dash past all the Orcs towards the prison. Pick one of the three prison gates and toss a Satchel Bomb at it. Just as the Orcs are aware of your presence, run away back towards the courtyard, or wherever you will find a group of allies. This plan is a bit sketchy, but it's the best strategy I've found that does not really involve flat-out killing your way to the prison cells. Once you have regained enough energy, return to the cell and toss another Satchel Bomb at the already damaged gate, followed by a few melee attacks to break it open. With a group of Gondorians already freed, they should take the attention of the Orcs away from you. With the prisoners providing a nice distraction, you can easily destroy the remaining two gates. There are often a few Captains being held prisoner, and they will easily wipe the prison of enemies if you manage to free them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Destroy the 3 Power Sources ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Archer Again, I'd recommend Aragorn since he's the clear-cut choice, but I'm sure he is probably sleeping with the fishes by now. I found this goal to be arguably the hardest one in the entire game; at least on the good guy side. There are three main power sources that you must destroy in order to win the level. They are located at the top of a staircase on the perimeter of the area. It's a fairly large area with a surprisingly complex layout: - Ground Floor/First Floor - 1 - Power Source #1 2 - Power Source #2 | | 3 - Power Source #3 __________| |__________ ___ _,-' |c___ `-._ | b |,' _,- `-._ 2 `.____ | ,' `. | | ,' `. | | | `. | | | | `.| | | \ `. | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | / ,' | | | ,'| | | | ,' | | | `. ,' | | `._ _,' ____| |_a_|`._ `- ____,-' 3_,' `-.__________ __|d______,-' | | | ** | ___ _,-' | ,' |___ - Second Floor - / | | | ___ | _____| | a | | |_________________________ ____| |_________________________ |____ ________________________c| | ________________________d| | | | |_____ |_b_| | | | | \ ___| `._ | `-.___| As you can see, the two portions of the second floor are mirror images of each other. At first is may seem complicated, but after maneuvering around as much as I have you'll realize that it is quite simple. This place is absolutely crawling with enemies. Trolls mainly stay in the center of the area on the ground floor while all other kinds of Orcs roam the entire vicinity. The only enemies you won't find here are Captains, which is a nice touch. Unfortunately, Nazgul are sent to guard the three power sources. They are extremely powerful enemies (technically they're heroes) that have a full arsenal of deadly attacks. Utilize the glowing spike pits on the edges of most walls for a cheap kill; kick them into the pit to send the Nazgul to their death. More and more Nazguls will show up, but with one dead you will have a few precious moments to target the power sources. Take out Power Source #1 first. The best way to destroy it is by using the satchel ballista across from the Gondorian prison. You have a perfect view of the power source from here, and each satchel should put a huge dent in it. A few shots in, the crystal will fall. If the satchel ballista is destroyed, stay in its general location (**) and use Fire Arrows and regular arrows to target the power source; this area here is generally away from the main fight. Next up is Power Source #2. From your initial location, ascend the stairs on the left towards where you destroyed the first power source and go up the staircase labeled "a". You rarely encounter enemies on the second floor, and the only way you will find Orcs is if they follow you from the first floor. If you are spotted by any enemies, take them out after reaching the second floor. If those enemies happen to be Nazguls, flee back down to the ground level, where you will find plenty of allies. You can't take on a Nazgul by yourself, especially when a lowly Archer. Once on the second floor, proceed towards the bridge, but don't go too far or else the Orcs on the eastern side of the room may spot you. If you can snipe a few without attracting any attention, be my guest. Simply try to overlook the second power source from the bridge; you should get a clear view. If such a journey doesn't work for you, you can also target Power Source #2 from relatively the same spot as you did with the first one. All you need to do is move towards the mouth of the chamber and once under the archway towards the stairs leading to the first power source, aim high to find Power Source #2. Once the second power source explodes from your supply of Fire Arrows, time to move on to Power Source #3. Luckily, it's basically right under your nose! Sneak down the bridge a lil' ways and begin attacking the power source. If you are attacked by too many enemies, run back down to the ground floor. It's a very tough mission, but the level will end once you complete it. ============================================================================== THE BLACK GATE [0508] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defend Your Position ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Gandalf This is an awesome mission, since you can select between a number of heroes to play as directly from the start. There's one for each class: Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, and Gimli (though Gimli isn't a true Scout, but he's the next best thing since Frodo is out of the picture). As for now, you have to defend your position. I'd go with Gandalf, since he is one badass Mage. There is a Rally Point in the dead center of the defense zone, meaning you can change heroes whenever you'd like. We are given an odd time to defend our position: 2:41. Hmm. They couldn't have rounded up... or down? :P Anyways, this should feel like mere seconds when controlling the awesome Gandalf. As soon as the massive gates open up to reveal your adversaries, blast them with Cleansing Fire. The first wave consists of mostly Warriors and a couple Archers. Nothin' too bad. The second wave is where things begin to pick up. As the announcer guy person says, Scouts cover the front of the army. They will immediately cloak and pursue the good guys, so use Cleansing Fire in front of you to trap any foes and You shall not PASS! once you've actually found the Scouts. Gandalf can certainly hold his own in hand-to-hand combat, even against sly Scouts. As for the Mages, they don't pose much of a threat. You can down them with melee attacks if their bubble shield prove to be an annoyance. Once the first set of Orcs are killed, Trolls storm the battlefront. Six of them. Again, rolling with Gandalf is just as easy as if you were to pick another hero in order to execute a Troll from behind. Maybe easier. Stand back and use nothing but Lightning spells and Cleansing Fire. While You shall not PASS! is insanely powerful, you can't risk getting close to a Troll and getting thrashed. Once you manage to kill every last Troll, more Mages and Scouts will appear. By now the timer should be all but finished, so hold out for a few more seconds until time runs out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Gate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Gimli Gandalf works fairly well here also, but I always prefer using a Warrior or Scout when in Control Points, since Mages don't have much breathing room. Plus we haven't had much time to use Gimli so far, and he's a blast to play as. Charge through the gate and onto the Control Point. Gimli has some heavenly attacks, specifically Longbeard Pound. It can pretty much kill anyone in one hit, regardless of how much HP they have. Balin's Revenge is another good area-effective attack, despite Gimli's short reach. Both Gimli and Aragorn excel here since they can charge in and ruin the competition in a matter of seconds. Charge into the fray and smack up everyone you can get your hands on. Overall, this task shouldn't last too long as it seems that the presence of a hero in a Control Point makes the capture bar move in your favor faster than normal. Sadly, your biggest threat are the Fell Beasts that patrol the skies. If they swoop down, make sure you aren't in the way or else you will be swept up and carried off. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Orc Captains ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Legolas Legolas is easily your prime choice in this mission, and even he alone can take it several ways. If you were to play as another hero, you'd be forced to climb the watch towers in order to reach each Orc Captain. That is not only time consuming, but puts you in a bad position as you cannot defend against Archers or other enemy projectiles. As far as I know, one Captain starts off on the ground, so he should be your first target. Back away and exchange arrow volleys with the Captains (they are all Archer Captains); critical hits to the cranium always help in your favor. One way to finish these four enemies off is to burn their tower down. Use a Fire Arrow on the tower to set is ablaze and watch as the Captain slowly burns up. He'll most likely fall to the ground with only a few minor burns, but then you will be given the chance to finish him off. Also, you can reach the high ground and snipe the Captains off of their watch towers. From the gate, turn to the left to find a wooden ramp. Climb it to end up on top of a humongous ledge. This ledge is so high up and so far back from the battlefield that no enemy should even set their sights on you. From here, you can easily snipe the remaining Archer Captains. Very easy mission once you find your sweet spot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Mouth of Sauron ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Legolas Oh Mr. Mouth. You were a pushover in the film and a pushover in this game. If you followed the previous strategy, this fight will be a cinch. Assuming you are still standing on the high wall as Legolas, wait for the Mouth of Sauron to appear in the warzone below. He usually appears in the outskirts way back and walks around in circles for a minute or two. Use this time to snipe him once or twice. When the Mouth of Sauron sees you (he always does, must me his cursed wizard magic), he'll bolt towards the wall. But since you're so far away, you should be pelting him with arrows the entire way. By the time the Mouth of Sauron actually reaches you, you should have depleted nearly three-quarters of his HP, assuming he didn't spam his shield all that much. When he gets too close, jump down from the wall and continue shooting the hero as he now tries to climb down the very wall he just scaled. The Mouth of Sauron is skilled in melee combat and his Barad-dur Fury is a powerful close-range attack, meaning you should keep your distance when playing as Legolas. Be patient and wait for the Mouth of Sauron to lower his shield before attacking. Legolas has a neat hidden talent that was only revealed to me by the Prima Official Guide. It's a bit vague in terms of how you perform it, but it does work as I've used the attack several times. Press X and hold it for around two seconds, then press A. If it works, Legolas will dash forward with insane speed. You'll be able to control his movements and even fire your bow while in this strange running mode. Try using this attack and collide with the Mouth of Sauron to knock him over, then turn and begin firing arrows at him. Keep circling around him, firing arrows like a bully until the "attack" stops. If you want to play things the safe way or if you don't succeed at sniping the Mouth of Sauron from the high ledge, you're best off using Gandalf. In any Mage vs. Mage battle, raise your shield to protect from the Mouth of Sauron's Fire Wall attack and follow up Cleansing Fire or You shall not PASS!. Like I said, the Mouth of Sauron can easily kick your butt with his staff, so try not to match him in melee combat. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Camp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Aragorn It's really a toss-up between Aragorn and Gimli. Both are superb choices, but it all comes down to whom you are most comfortable with. Like when we captured the gate, it's important to use a Warrior since they are best at the close-range fighting. Run down the road on the right past all the watch towers. Kill the handful of Orc Archers and look over the ledge towards the Control Point. Jump down and go behind the tent to surprise a few foes, then rush into the Control Point. After wiping the area of the initial group of Orcs, all you have to do is wait for the area to be yours. More Orcs will appear, but by the time they get remotely close enough you will most likely have capture the camp by now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hold This Area ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Gandalf Gandalf is a good closer, and considering this is the final mission of the game I would stick with the white wizard. You have two minutes to hold the area from the enemy Orcs. While this doesn't seem too bad, the area nearly doubles, meaning it's much easier for Orcs to enter the defense zone and overrun the place. Any and all enemies you have previously encountered will be present here. You have got Grunts, Officers, Captains, all four classes, Trolls, and even some annoying Fell Beasts overhead. The defense zone consists of wide open land with a huge boulder in the center, creating a big doughnut. It's probably easiest for you to simply run around in circles during the entire duration. There's really no one you should single out from the horde of Orcs, since they all take up the same amount of space. When the Trolls show up, you may want to hop onto the satchel ballista nearby and take down as quick as possible, since using Gandalf's spells can take a while. I would suggest leaving the Trolls to your allies, but they usually get owned every time. It's mostly about spamming You shall not PASS! and Cleansing Fire. The former deals a moderate amount of damage, but most importantly it knocks opponents down, and possibly outside of the defense zone. Cleansing Fire is a powerful spell that covers a wide range and cuts into an enemy's HP like a hot knife through butter. If you so desire, you can switch classes at any time with the Rally Point near the boulder. You may have an easier time clearing Orcs out of the defense zone with a Warrior such as Aragorn or Gimli, so it's totally up to you. You'll most likely be racing against time here, so do not feel threatened if the warning message appears saying that you are being overrun. Every time I have played this level it has come down to the final second, as the defeat meter on the bottom of the screen was over three-quarters filled every time. Most importantly, it isn't about killing everyone so much as it's about clearing the area of enemies. If knocking them backwards works fine, then go for it. ______________________________________________________________________________ [6] WALKTHROUGH (RISE OF SAURON) [0600] ______________________________________________________________________________ NOTE: This walkthrough is based on Heroic difficulty. ============================================================================== MOUNT DOOM [0601] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acquire the Mask ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Nazgul Your only choice of player is the Nazgul, so there isn't anything you can do. For this level, you'll actually be pitted AGAINST Orcs here. Interesting. Go up the trail, taking out the group of Grunts. A few other Nazguls will be ridin' with you from now on. Two Warriors appear at the entrance to the gate. Before they get a chance to move towards you, aim a throwing axe at the black firepot on the ground for a rather explosive situation. Finish off the remaining foes, then open the gate. Run across the bridge and admire the cool scenery while you're at it. In the next room, target the firebomb to wipe out a few Archers and then wait for your comrades to catch up. Once they have, enter the area and face off against the Grunts. There are also a few Archers guarding the mask on the left, in which you should use throwing axes to defeat them. After wiping out most of the opposition, pick up the mask on the side of the room, in front of the lava pit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Deliver the Mask ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Nazgul From the mask's location, go straight ahead into the cross-shaped room. There is nothing to be found on the upper floor. Proceed towards the gate and yank the lever to open it, then place the mask on the pedestal. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 20 Forge Orcs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Nazgul A very, very difficult mission that gives me a load of trouble every time I replay it. It doesn't sound too bad on paper; 20 Orcs isn't much. The catch? You're given a two minute time limit. Yeah, that's it! The forge is filled to the brim with all different types of Orcs: Grunts, Mages, Archers, and Warriors. You'll somehow have to balance quick kills with protection and defense; the nearest Rally Point is back near where you found the Witch-King mask, and running from there to the forge wastes many precious seconds. Try to ignore the Orc Warriors entirely. It sounds difficult, but they are very strong and take too long to be killed, meaning it's basically wasted effort trying to destroy one. Target the Grunts and Mages since they can be dispatched in one to two hits. Spam your throwing axes to pick off foes from a distance, especially Grunts, who are killed immediately with one axe. If you are surrounded by foes or by Warriors, either use a CrowdBreaker or Flurry of Terror. It's a very tricky mission with no set strategy. If you die more than two times you're really pushing it, but otherwise kill, kill, kill! I consider this the most difficult goal in the game. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the 2 Orc Captains ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Witch-King Since we went through all that trouble resurrecting the Witch-King, what would it be if we didn't even play as him? Open the gate on the side of the forge and continue on. Head across one of the two bridges to confront the two Orc Captains. These two Captains are tough on their own, but they happen to be grouped with a whole slew of Orcs. Playing on the bridge overlooking the molten hot lava is bad news, despite being able to knock enemies into the magma. Wait for your Nazgul servants to catch up to you and let them do most of the dirty work. Try picking off the Archers scattered around the perimeter of the snow-capped area with your throwing axes. You don't want to charge into a shark tank by yourself, so try to stay on the outskirts while you whittle away the two Captain's forces. Out of the two, one is a Warrior Captain and the other is a Mage Captain. Since the Mage tends to heal everyone around him, including his other Captain buddy, take him down first. The Witch-King has generally the same attacks and style as a Nazgul, but in place of Power of the Nine is Terror Quake. It's similar to a Mage's Shockwave attack in that it radiates out from the Witch- King. Quite useful in a scenario like this. If at any time the Witch-King dies in this level, you will of course have to fall back as the Nazgul. The two heroes are almost exactly alike aside from the Witch-King being stronger and more durable, but it isn't the end of the world if the Witch-King dies early on. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally to Sauron's Road ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! Where you left off after the death of the two Captains, follow the path to the right of where you came from. Step onto the bridge, which is populated by two firebombs and a Troll. Naturally, ignite the two firebombs to damage the Troll, then finish it off by running behind it and pressing the Right Bumper. I don't really seeing the Witch-King or a Nazgul being that swift and agile, but it is pretty cool. Of course, you can simply run past it if you wish. Take down the small band of Orc Grunts ahead and open the gate towards your destination. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill Frodo Baggins ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Witch-King Ohhhh yeah, this is what playing on the evil side is all about! We get to kill, yes KILL, Frodo Baggins! The power of the ring has corrupted Frodo, and we need to get it back from the dastardly Hobbit. Scatter the surrounding Orcs with a CrowdBreaker or Terror Quake, then look for Frodo. While he may be cloaked, the glaring yellow arrow kinda gives away his position. As Nelson is so fondly known for: "Ha ha!" Frodo is a pretty tough opponent for his small stature and does have the power to backstab you. Nevertheless, keep him in your sights at all times and don't let him get behind you when invisible. After a few solid combos, Frodo will run off deeper into Mount Doom. In the second stage of this fight, you have a two minute time limit to defeat Frodo once and for all. Continue attacking him with your special abilities and maybe even put the nearby firebomb to use. Frodo again runs away into the heart of the volcano. He still isn't too threatening and spends more time blocking than trying to attack you. A great way to prevent this is to stun him with Black Breath, then follow up with a special ability or a combo. Continue fighting him on the cliff, dishing out whatever you've got. If you want a memorable (and awesome) moment, creep up on Frodo and hurl a throwing axe to knock him off the cliff and into the lava. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get the Ring ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! With Frodo's demise, take the ring back. If you knocked him into the lava, you will automatically complete this task. ============================================================================== OSGILIATH [0602] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acquire the Flare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Pick up the flare in front of you. LOL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Take the Flare to Forum Square ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Ah, now the delivery portion. Definitely go with a Scout, since he can slip right past enemy lines. Despite having a flaming torch on your back, enemies will not be able to notice you. Use Cloak as soon as the humans start pouring out into the street ahead. At the fork, make a right past some more Gondorians. Speed past the two satchel ballistas to the yellow marker. By now you most likely have run out of energy and will become visible, but continue running to your goal and you should be fine and dandy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defend the Rallying Point at Forum Square ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mage You have 2:25 to hold the defense zone. It may not even matter what class you pick, since there are several satchel ballistas in the vicinity that give you a clear view of the enemy spawn points (particularly the one to the right of the Rally Point). If you're comfortable using such a weapon, hop on and start blasting the Gondorians (it's weird having to call them the enemies...). You should have little trouble against the Grunts that first show up. However, it's probably time to abandon the satchel ballista once the Warriors, Mages, and Archers join the party. The troops come from the left and right sides of the defense zone, meaning you'll have to balance both sides and keep the stream of enemies fairly dry. Using an Orc is no different than a Gondorian, so execute your foes with magic spells such as Lightning and Fire Wall. The hardest part is remembering that it's now okay to be surrounded by Orcs; you want to keep the humans at bay now. :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally to the Battering Ram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mouth of Sauron Wow, a rally mission where it actually matters what class you choose! Test out the Mouth of Sauron on any leftover Gondorians, then proceed into the building with your friends. One thing you should notice right off the bat is that the Mouth of Sauron has a very unorthodox style of combat. His melee attacks are kinda weak and weird as hell. Also, instead of a Mage's Shockwave attack, it is replaced by Balad- dur Fury, a close-range melee hit. He takes some time getting used to. Once you are through to the other side of the building, you'll spot the big battering ram in plain sight. Clear the area of enemies, especially the Gondorian Captain guarding the battering ram. Target him from a distance as your buddies gang-rush him, then approach the battering ram. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Clear the Bridge ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mouth of Sauron This sole mission can prove to you how utterly awesome the Mouth of Sauron is. I still prefer Gandalf and Saruman, but he's a very unique character. Start off your task by bombing the Archers and Grunts on the slope with a Fire Wall. Finish the rest off with Lightning or even melee attacks. As the battering ram slowly moves up the slope, Warriors and Grunts will charge down to your location. Keep them at bay with Fire Wall (Barad-dur Fury is really only useful on a one-on-one situation); the battering ram will also have no problem mowing down any foe that gets in its way. When you reach the top of the bridge, set the two palisades ablaze in front of you. Another reason why the Mouth of Sauron is nifty is that like any other Mage hero, his energy replenishes at an astounding rate. You'll be flinging fireballs nearly every five seconds! Enemies pour out from a ramp to the far left side of the bridge. It's a pretty steady flow of Gondorians, but your reinforcements should cut them down to size with or without your help. Every so often, take the time to clear out the sets of palisades from the bridge. That is, after all, your mission. The annoying part about this mission is waiting for the battering ram to eventually reach the front gate once you've cleared the bridge. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill Faramir ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mouth of Sauron A Gondorian Captain and a few Warriors will be the first to greet the Orc party once you smash the doors down. Launch a Fire Wall, then back away as the poor saps soak it all up and eventually die. Like when always playing as a Mage, let the majority of your troops go in front of you. There aren't that many enemies that stand in your way to Faramir. Aside from the Captain and Warrior, there are a few more Warriors in the square up ahead and a couple Archers. Nothing that the Mouth of Sauron can't handle. If the Mouth of Sauron already handled a bit too much and died beforehand, well, go with a Mage regardless. When you reach the staircase, things get a little annoying. More Archers appear up here as well as another Captain. Ignore them for the most part and focus on Faramir, who will run down the stairs in pursuit of you. As he fumbles down the stairs, bomb him with Fire Wall and Lightning. This is a good situation to use Barad-dur Fury, since it has virtually no range but is a fairly strong attack for a Mage. Blast Faramir in the face with it, then follow up with Lightning or another Fire Wall once he regains his footing. Watch out for Ranger's Fire, which can cover a lot of ground as well as knock you off your footing if hit. Faramir's other special abilities pack quite a punch as well. Overall, this is nothing more than an incredibly one-sided match: you have Faramir, a Captain, and a few Archers that are most likely distracted or dead versus the Mouth of Sauron and like, 25+ reinforcements. If you constantly back up every time you knock Faramir over with a melee attack (which you can use since they actually have a somewhat long range) or Barad-dur Fury and pester him with your magic spells, you'll have absolutely no trouble. ============================================================================== MINAS TIRITH [0603] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Courtyard ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mage Another capture mission, another mission for the Mage. Can't you see why the Mage are arguably the best class in the game? We use 'em all the time! For this mission (and most of the level), you will be accompanied by a mighty Troll. Yeah, he's on your side! Start your way up the stairs, then unleash a Fire Wall or Lightning spell on the Gondorians standing in the Control Point ahead. There is a satchel ballista nearby, but as an added bonus, it is actually inside the Control Point! Hop on and blow up Gondorians while you slowly capture the courtyard. Your Troll buddy should help out greatly in this goal. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Steal the Crown of Gondor ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Instead of the normal infiltration mission, we really should clear the area first. The crown is being protected by several Warriors, a Mage, and a Mage Captain. Stay on the satchel ballista and zoom in towards the castle. Bomb the group of Gondorians near the entranceway to get their attention, then continue launching satchel bombs at them. Eventually they'll put their shields up, but simply wait until they lower it to launch another attack. You have to be patient here, because stealing the crown is not an easy task. When either all enemies are killed or the Troll blocks your firing range, get off of the satchel ballista and proceed towards the castle. The inside of the castle is filled with many Gondorian Scouts, meaning the risk of getting brutally backstabbed is pretty high. Also, more Warriors and Mages will appear as soon as you enter the castle. Frankly, I tend to play it very safe in this difficult mission. Lure the waves of enemies outside towards the courtyard, where they will either fall prey to the Troll or continue chasing you. Constantly return to the satchel ballista and destroy them using it, then return to the castle. Keep it up until the number of Gondorians has significantly dwindled. Of course, there is an endless wave of enemies, so this may not be the best solution either. Naturally, you can utilize the Scout's high point and simply cloak yourself, then run in and grab the Crown of Gondor on the pedestal. Make sure you have full energy before you do so, because you have a long journey in front of you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Deliver the Crown to the Nazgul ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout As soon as you grab the crown, run out the other exit to the far side of the castle. There are Archers waiting for you out here, but they should not see you and will not attack if you are invisible. Turn to the right to find a palisade in the way of a staircase. Toss a Satchel Bomb to destroy it, then cloak yourself again and run down the stairs. You may be running out of energy, but do not stop to fight any Gondorians at all. You'll never find a single Gondorian, as they are all banded together in huge groups, something that you don't want to find yourself in the middle of. Once down the stairs, climb the stairs to the left. Again, run past all of the Gondorians, even if you run out of energy. The Nazgul is just above the flight of stairs, so run up to him to complete the mission. There is a Rally Point right here as well if you happen to die after the successful delivery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally at the Stairs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout You don't have to do any fighting in this mission. Just run past everyone with the agility of the Scout! From the Nazgul's position, run into the building across from you. Two Warriors charge down the stairs, but ignore them and the stairs entirely. A door opens on the far side of the chamber; go through to eventually reach the courtyard from the beginning of the level. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Clear a Path for the Battering Ram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Archer Here's another mission that I found to be oddly challenging. We've done a crapload of these "oh no the path for the battering ram is blocked so lets clear it up!!!1", so I don't know why this one is so hard. Maybe it is the sheer amount of opponents in your way, or maybe it's just because I suck. Probably the latter. Switch via the Rally Point in the courtyard and run under the arch near the starting point to the battering ram. We have to push it up a steep hill, and when I say "we", I really mean "watch as the lowly Grunts have to do it". It won't be a cake walk for us either, since we have to snipe our way to the top of this hill as well. First off, take out the two palisades in front of you with a well-placed Fire Arrow. Pick off the Archers and leave the Grunts and Warriors for your troops. Slowly ascend the hill as the battering ram slowly follows in your footsteps. Gondorian reinforcements will emerge from a nearby doorway next to the gate every so often, so keep that area covered and start back down the hill when you see them show up. It's easy to clear a path for the battering ram: there are a mere three palisades blocking the way. The problem, like with most missions involving a battering ram, is that you have to survive long enough until the battering ram ultimately reaches its destination. While it's said that the high ground is key for survival, staying at the base of the hill is probably what will keep you alive during this mission. Only take down enemies when they near the side of the slope and you have a good shot at their heads. Also, try to take down the Archers first, then worry about any Warriors or Grunts if there aren't enough allies nearby. When the battering ram finally reaches the main gate, burn down the last palisade if you haven't already. An Orc should eventually man the battering ram and use it to smash open the gate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Burn the White Tree ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Saruman Switch over to Saruman when given the chance, then enter the busted gate. Climb the stairs to encounter an absolutely gigantic army of Gondorians, filling the entire open field. You will find mainly Grunts here, but some Warriors and many Archers on the far end of the field. Time to do some work. The White Tree is near the middle of the area, so look for a white tree. Duh. You can only damage the White Tree with fire-based attacks, so unleash a Fire Ball at it. Notice how Saruman's Fire Ball attack flies farther and much more straight than a normal Mage's Fire Wall, which travels in more of an arc. This makes targeting the tree and enemies alike much easier. With or without allies on your side, defending yourself against such a massive wave of enemies isn't that difficult. Keep your shield up to protect against rogue arrows and use Isengard Blast when any foes get too close to you. Saruman's Lightning attack doesn't spread across multiple enemies like Gandalf or any regular Mage, but it deals far more damage. You're best off using melee attacks to fend off Grunts or Warriors. Every so often when the coast is relatively clear (or just if no enemies are attacking you presently), lower your shield and shoot a Fire Ball at the White Tree of Gondor. It should only be able to withstand around four Fire Balls, so there is no need to rush this fight and possibly get yourself killed. The main threat is the intimidating number of Gondorians that stand in your way. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Throne Room ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Saruman Saruman is by far your best bet here, so don't think about switching out. A Mage is a fair substitute if Saruman falls, but you're much better off with the hero. You'll find out why when you enter the throne room. The only enemies you encounter in the throne room are Captain. That's it. You start off against four in the throne room, and two or three more appear after one is killed off. They are all Warrior Captain, and they all pack a wallop with their attacks. Stand in the hall and wait for all four to come towards you; use Fire Ball to coat them in flames, then use Isengard Blast to knock all four away. Run into the throne room to allow your troops to follow. Saruman can easily hold his own against a Captain, with his Fire Ball attack, melee skills, and Lightning. The trouble comes if you start to get double or even triple-teamed. If this happens, scatter the group with Isengard Blast and pick off the weakest one while standing in the Control Point. Your attacks can do a crazy amount of damage, so this goal actually isn't as hard as one would assume. The throne room falls quickly to a powerful hero such as Saruman, so you should not have that much trouble at all here. Remember to keep the Captains at bay with Isengard Blast and Fire Ball. ============================================================================== MINES OF MORIA [0604] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rally in the Mines ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! I mean, you're just walking from one place to another. Nothin' you can't handle. Run forward through the doorway, then around the bend and up one of the two ladders. Gogogo!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Mines ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Mage Change your class at the Rally Point here if necessary, then descend the ramp near the Control Point. Before entering the Control Point, stay on the narrow ramp and bombard the area with Fire Wall and Shockwave attacks. All you really need to worry about is the Gondorian Captain; all the other enemies can be taken down with ease. When all of the Gondorians inside the Control Point have been killed, step inside. Face the ramp leading deeper into the mines; this is where more enemy reinforcements will enter from. When you see a group of Gondorians charge towards the Control Point, lay down a Fire Wall attack to prevent them from pressing forward. Eventually you will encounter another Captain and a few Warriors, who have an easy time breaking through your barriers. At this point you may want to retreat and take them out from a distance if not change your class. There is a short period before each group of Gondorian troops show up, leaving you plenty of time to capture the mines. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Stonebearer Warrior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout A very dangerous enemy lies in wait, and using a Scout to OHKO him is by far the best strategy so far. Return to the Rally Point and switch into a Scout, then follow your allies down the ramp. As you proceed up the large staircase ahead, activate Cloak. Inside is a wave of Grunts commanded by the Stonebearer Warrior. He has a strange gem on his back that allows him to produce powerful shockwaves every time he attacks. Run past all the Grunts and target the Stonebearer Warrior's back. Pull off a backstab to end this battle with ease. If you don't feel comfortable playing as a Scout, the Mage or Archers are your next best options. Stay on the outskirts of the battle (in the doorway), and pelt the Stonebearer Warrior from a distance. When you get his attention, continue attacking until he starts after you, then go down the stairs. Play a big game of cat and mouse until he is finished off. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 20 Gondorians ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout After killing the Stonebearer Warrior, pick up the stone that he drops to acquire the power of the Balrog! Your power is increased and you produce a red shockwave every time you use a melee attack, which is why using a Scout instead of a Mage or Archer was very important in the last fight. If you are stuck with the Mage or Archer, simply treat the Gondorians like any other enemy; keep your distance and pick them off one by one. Nothin' special about this battle. The Scout (or Warrior) will have a much easier time, since you can kill foes in one melee strike. The shockwave also reaches out to knock down other enemies, meaning this fight will be an absolute cakewalk. It's pretty fun watching all these Gondorians fall to your immense power. If you run out of enemies in this chamber, go down the nearby hall into one of the tombs. That's where you're supposed to go for the next mission anyways. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bring the Stone to the Altar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Well that was fun, but unfortunately it's time to place the Balrog Stone where it rightfully belongs. If you haven't already, enter the tomb and look for the yellow arrow. Once it's found, proceed to the altar and approach it to place the stone inside. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Destroy Balin's Tomb ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Troll The Free Peoples have the Ents, and the Forces of Sauron have the Trolls! We finally get to use one of these guys to wreak havoc on well... pretty much everything! To the right of the altar is Balin's tomb, but continue past the altar to find the Troll curled up in a ball. Press the Right Bumper to take control of it. Approach the gate to the tomb and press B to get all of your troops to focus on the tomb. Smash it open with one hit and head inside. Plenty of Gondorians are making their stand in Balin's tomb, including three Archer Warriors. Pass on them for the moment and worry about the surrounding Grunts and Warriors. The best way to eliminate foes as the Troll is with a Heavy Attack (Y). The Troll will slam his fist to the ground, scattering everyone around you. It can get pretty chaotic in the tomb, but the dumbed-down strategy of "kill everything in sight" works surprisingly well. The one thing you should take note of is the fact that like when fighting against Trolls, Gondorians can climb onto your back and deliver a fatal blow. I suppose you can try and keep enemies from running behind you, but once it happens, you can't do anything about it. Trolls appear regularly back where you found the first one, so if you are killed you can wait a minute or two until another one appears to be used. They are by far your best choice in order to destroy the tomb. Once the initial wave of Gondorians has been killed, go for the three Archer Captains. Naturally, they are the tougher enemies here, so kill them in one hit by grabbing them with the Right Trigger. Once you snag 'em in your muggy paws, you can then throw their corpse at another target. The one downside is that the animation for picking up a character takes a long time, leaving you open for attacks. The main target is the tomb itself, so whenever the coast is relatively clear, go over to the coffin in the center of the tomb and start hammering on it. It should only take a few Heavy Attacks to destroy the tomb. There is also a satchel ballista on a ledge to the left of the tomb. If you decide to go with this method, switch to a Scout and while cloaked, run up the western stairs to reach the satchel ballista. From here, bombard the tomb with Satchel Bombs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill the Stonebearer Mage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout There's one more Stonebearer to kill, but this time he's a Mage. You will definitely want to be a Scout for this one, because you don't want to mess around with a suped-up Mage. Take the stairs on the right side of the tomb towards the Rally Point. Use it to change classes. Use Cloak and descend the stairs towards the Stonebearer Mage's location. He is clearly being guarded by tons of soldiers, but you should be able to slip in and backstab him undetected. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 25 Gondorians ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Archer The second Balrog Stone gives you a different attribute: the ability to slowly heal over time. Personally, I think it's a lot worse than the first, since you are stuck with your measly attacks. Killing 25 Gondorians will be tough, even with the slow regeneration process. Also, if you die, the counter is reset. A nifty strategy that I found involves using an Archer. Yeah, an Archer. First off, after acquiring the stone, use whomever you like (presumably still the Scout) to run down the nearby stairs towards the Troll prison. Open it to free your buddies, who will then proceed to tear all the Gondorians apart. Afterwards, go back up the stairs and use the nearby Rally Point to switch to the Archer. Pick up the stone and walk onto the bridge next to the stairs leading to the prison. You will find several Archers and an Archer Captain on a high ledge above the stairs. With your healing power, you can snipe the Archers without virtually getting hurt. More and more Archers appear on the ledge, giving you a steady flow of Gondorians to kill once you reach 25. No more enemies should appear on the ground near you after the first set has been killed, and even if you do, you have good bodyguards in the Trolls. Keep on sniping the Archers on the ledge until you've gained your 25th kill. The first time I played this level, there was an infinite amount of Archers that appeared on the ledge. The second time I played through, I didn't have such luck. This time I found that Balin's tomb was a spawn point for some Gondorian Grunts and Warriors. If this is the case, you may want to take up a different strategy. I found that using a Troll was a fine alternate. Control one from the Troll prison and head back to Balin's tomb, where you will find a flow of Gondorian Grunts and Warriors. Smash everything and everyone in sight until you have killed enough enemies. Otherwise, I don't really have a proper strategy. Just fight with whomever you are most comfortable with. The area that seems to be the most rich with enemies is the tomb containing the altar where you placed the first Balrog Stone. There are a TON of enemies in there that you can wipe out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bring the Second Stone to the Altar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Turn back to a Scout and of course remember to pick up the Balrog Stone again. Regardless of where you currently are, you must return to the altar from before and place the stone on there. Using a Scout may be the easiest choice, just because you can turn invisible and slip through enemy fire. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill Gimli ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Balrog This fight is a lot tougher than one would initially expect. The Balrog plays a lot light a Troll, though he has a few more attacks. Aside from Gimli, you should also pay attention to the surrounding enemies. You tend to attract many Gondorians, especially Scouts and Mages. Make sure to take them out with any of the three melee attacks. You can also regain your energy by pressing A, which can increase the eventual use of his powerful special abiliies. If the Balrog is surrounded by a group of Gondorians, take them out the easy way with Valaraukar Smash. It's a powerful attack with a huge range, but the one downside is that it consumes all your energy. It's basically like a CrowdBreaker attack if you think about it. Otherwise, use the long reach of your flame sword to deal with any other Gondorians. Gimli is one annoying mother, since all he does in the entire fight is run away and attack with his unlimited assortment of Satchel Bombs. They deal a nice amount of damage and slow you down, so try to use a long-range attack such as Breath of Morgoth to stop the Dwarf in his tracks. As far as I know, you cannot grab Gimli with the Right Trigger, so avoid using it at all. You can knock him down by throwing a dead body at him, but it deals a very small amount of damage. You can easily knock Gimli off of his feet with any other attack - even a melee attack. If you keep an eye on your HP and never give Gimli any breathing room, you should do fine. If you slip up and Gimli topples the Balrog, go with your second option: the Mage. ============================================================================== WEATHERTOP [0605] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Destroy the Gondorian Emplacements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout You're going to have to split your roles in order to complete this mission to the fullest extent. As the level begins, turn to find another curled-up Troll. Take control of the big lug, then go down the hill. Your first two targets are the nearby armories; a handful of attacks should destroy both of them. The next target is a catapult on the far end of the field. You will have to steamroll your way through Grunts, Warriors, Mages, and even Ents! Remember that you can not only heal by hitting A, but press B to create an Attack Rally: troops will attack the area where you currently are. When you reach the other side, demolish the catapult. The other catapult is on a hill nearby, which may prove difficult to reach. Your best bet is to return to a Rally Point somewhere and turn back into a Scout. Return to the catapult while cloaked and use a Satchel Bomb to set it ablaze, then continue the assault. You may have to cloak and/or retreat once the enemies catch onto your plan, waiting to regroup and get another Satchel Bomb. The last emplacement is an barracks near the base of the large mountain in the center of the playing field. Start your way up the hill from the wreckage of the catapult. You'll most likely encounter a few Ents and other Gondorians doing battle against the Orcs, so cloak and sneak through the army. Walk behind the barracks and begin attacking it. No one should even notice you until it is already destroyed. Soooo easy. ^_^ Also, watch out for eagles flying overhead. Like Fell Beasts in the previous campaign, eagles can divebomb towards the ground and pick you up with their sharp talons, resulting in an instant death. An alternate way to destroy the first three emplacements is to take control of the Oliphaunt standing on the side of the field... it's pretty hard to miss. Run up to its leg and press the Right Bumper to ride the beast! You can pretty much run the entire show on the Oliphaunt: just walking into enemies and allies alike will kill them instantly. Trample any Ents facing off against you and don't worry if a few Trolls get caught in the way. Press X to swing the Oliphaunt's head back and forth, using its barb wire coated tusks to bulldoze anything in its way. You should be able to destroy both armories and the one catapult with absolutely no trouble. Plus, the Oliphaunt is so incredibly durable that it takes a LOT to take it down. It cannot climb onto the hill towards the second catapult (or the barracks), so you'll have to disembark and go on foot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Outpost ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Troll Return to the Rally Point near the start of the level and take control of another Troll. Instead of going through the war-struck battlefield, head around the left side of the mountain for a rather calm walk. You will still be able to reach the outpost just as fast, but without the hassle of enemies. Once you start up the slope towards the hill, just obliterate everything in your way. Destroy the Gondorians huddled together and smash down the palisades blocking off the trail. Only a few enemies actually patrol near the outpost, particularly Archers, but no humans really stand as a threat when you're playing as a Troll. Use your Heavy Attack while standing in the middle of the Control Point to win this easy mission. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Find and Kill the Royal Guards ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Saruman You probably won't even be able to reach most of the Royal Guards with the Troll. Plus, shortly after capturing the outpost you are given the option to play as Saruman. There are six Royal Guards in total that you must execute. Most of the Royal Guards reside on the mountainside, though one or two may be wandering around at the base of the mountain near where the barracks once stood. The Royal Guards are basically the equivalent of a Captain (if not a tad stronger) and come in all forms. You'll find Warrior, Archer, and Mage Royal Guards. Despite their status, they should not last long against Saruman and the many Orcs roaming around the area. Blast one with a fully charged Lightning, then follow up with Fire Ball or Isengard Blast. It's really not that hard. When the Royal Guards on the ground are dead, proceed past the remains of the barracks and start up the side of the mountain. You can certainly kill the remaining Royal Guards by yourself, but if you want to enlist the help of your Orc minions then you should probably help kill the majority of the Gondorians still in the field. Regardless, start up the side of the mountain to find two more Royal Guards. One of them is often a Mage Royal Guard, so take him down first before he repeatedly heals himself and his partner. As you already know, Saruman is a beast when it comes to melee attacks, so you can take both down with your staff alone. Continue around the bend to find the final two Royal Guards; usually a Mage and an Archer. Defeat the Grunts with an Isengard Blast, then continue attacking the Royal Guards until they fall. It isn't really rocket science. If something bad happens and Saruman is killed, switch to a Scout. His backstab attack works rather well in this situation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill Aragorn ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Saruman Aragorn lies in wait atop the mountain, accompanied by two Gondorian Scouts. Start up the mountain path to eventually reach the three. Try to take out the two Scouts first and swiftly, as they tend to cloak in an attempt to backstab Saruman. Use Lightning to get their attention, then follow up with Isengard Blast once all three get near you. Aragorn himself is very powerful and his special abilities can really cut your HP down to size. Wave of Undead covers a wide area and he can often catch up to you with Dunharrow Dash if you choose to cower or flee. Luckily for Saruman, most of his attacks can knock Aragorn down, even a fully charged Lightning spell. If he gets too close, fend him off with one of your spells or use melee attacks as a last resort. Like I've said many a times, Saruman is surprisingly competent when it comes to close-range strikes. The circular arena at the peak of the mountain is a good arena, but running down the mountain towards your troops isn't such a bad idea either. Just to kinda keep Aragorn distracted while you heal and build up your energy. Use a Scout as your alternate choice if things go wrong. I hate to sound like a broken record, but again, backstabbing Aragorn is the best possible situation when it comes to a Scout. Doing so will be tricky, as you will have to get past both enemy Scouts. Plus, Aragorn (like any hero) can detect a Scout's presence even when cloaked. Try to roll from his attacks, especially Wave of Undead, so you don't become visible when hit. Constantly circle around Aragorn until the perfect opportunity rises, then deliver the finishing touches. ============================================================================== RIVENDELL [0606] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Front Gate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Archer For the first half of the mission, walk forward and begin wiping out the tiny band of Silvan Grunts that come down the pathway. Yep, we're fighting Elves here in Rivendell, not Gondorians. Still, they fall just as easy. Continue across the bridge to find more Grunts. Let your allies defeat them while you look up on the balcony to the right of the bridge to spot a handful of Silvan Archers. As an Archer, dealing with the enemy Archers while your troops fight ahead is essential. An Ent will eventually appear, so back away and pummel it with Fire Arrows until it falls to the combined might of you and the Orc army. Proceed underneath the archway ahead to find a lot more enemies. Again, stay smart and act like any Archer would by staying in the background and sniping enemies from a distance. Up ahead is the Control Point near the front gate. Step into it once all of the enemies on the ground have been defeated. The only Silvans you should worry about when capturing the front gate are the Archers on the nearby staircase and the balcony above. Your other reinforcements cannot reach them as easily, so it is your duty to kill them off so your friends can worry about the enemies on the ground, like the Grunts and Warriors. Occasionally enemies will appear from the right and left, so shoot down any that get too close to you. Eventually the front gate will be yours. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the Terrace ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Troll Yeah another capture mission, though this one will be significantly easier since we can use a Troll to do the dirty work for us. Use the Troll to the left of the Control Point to go across the bridge towards the terrace. There is a nice amount of enemies on the other end of the bridge, mainly Grunts and Warriors. Still, nothing can survive a Troll attack. Slam and smash your way through the first line, then enter the Control Point under the gazebo. A few Scouts may come from underneath the nearby bridge to attack you. Even if they are cloaked, you can use a Heavy Attack or even a sweeping Light Attack to target anyone surrounding you. Some Archers may attack from a ledge above; you can't attack them, so ignore them entirely and wait to capture the terrace. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acquire the Signal Flare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout The signal flare appears just outside the gazebo. It's a pretty easy target to spot, even when in the heat of battle (no pun intended). Switch to a Scout at the new Rally Point and go for it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Deliver the Signal Flare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout You can complete this mission two different - and totally radical - ways. If you want to play it safe, go with the Scout. After picking up the signal flare, go invisible and run down the trail. Dash past all of the enemies and around the palisades towards the base of the tower. Use a Satchel Bomb on the palisade blocking your path, then step into the yellow arrow. The other way features a lot of death and destruction. Play as the Troll of course! Pick the signal flare up and head down the same exact pathway. Instead of dodging and avoiding everyone, demolish the palisades and crush the Silvans patrolling the area. There is an Ent near the tower which will be your biggest obstacle to topple, but even he isn't so dangerous. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Destroy the Elven Records ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout The first of a string of difficult missions for this level. There are four sets of Elven records that you must destroy, each resembling a bookshelf. From the toppled tower, go up the hill to the right to find the first bookcase. It is guarded by a few enemies, including another Scout. Cloak yourself well beforehand and toss a Satchel Bomb at the record. Fighting the startled Silvans is way too risky, as you'll draw far too much attention to yourself, eventually triggering the appearance of Mages, Warriors, and maybe even an Ent. After tossing the first Satchel Bomb and igniting the bookshelf (by the way, by far the best to destroy the Elven records is with fire), flee back towards where you placed the signal flare. Once running around in circles a bit, cloak yourself and head back up to the bookshelf. Satchel Bombs are regained nearly ever ten seconds, so this should be a rather fast process. Keep going back and forth, bombing and fleeing, and eventually you shouldn't have to face anyone. The second bookshelf is next to the first one, but on the other side of the wall. Note that the arrow is only outlined, whereas the other was filled in. This usually means that the bookshelf is on another floor or behind a wall. From the first destroyed bookshelf (cloak beforehand), enter the long hall to the right. Go around the corner to find the second bookshelf. Again, use a Satchel Bomb on the bookshelf, then immediately book it to safe ground; usually the area near the destroyed tower is empty. Wait for your energy to refill, then repeat the process. Usually only two Satchel Bombs are needed to destroy the Elven records. The final two are on the upper floor. From the second bookshelf, go up the staircase on the right to find the final two Elven records. Again, just repeat the process of using a Satchel Bomb while cloaked, then running away like a coward. That's all I can say. It's a tricky mission and you may die a lot, but I honestly don't have a better strategy. The guide suggests that you use a Mage, but I found no such luck. The sheer amount of enemies throughout all of Rivendell means most of your troops are going to be preoccupied, which in turn means that you most likely won't have any backup when destroying these bookcases. And a Mage all by himself won't end well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defeat Elven Lord Elrond ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Assuming you're still rollin' with the Scout from the last mission. With that said, the best plan is to... BACKSTAB! Elrond is particularly tough and has a few very annoying abilities. He's like half Mage with his dumb Water Sphere attack. It acts not only as a Mage's shield in that it blocks projectiles, but also heals anyone that steps inside it (of course, this doesn't apply to you). Elrond is potentially your toughest opponent yet; it's up in the air with him and Aragorn. He blocks almost non-stop and counters with sword swipes and various special abilities. I think the big factor is just how many Silvans are with him in the palace. It's impossible to completely clean the building of enemies, so you're essentially battling all of 'em as well. In my opinion, fighting Elrond traditionally is suicide. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acquire the Ring of Air ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Doesn't matter! Elrond drops the Ring of Air after his defeat. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Deliver the Ring of Air ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Scout Everyone's going to want your head after not only defeating their leader, but stealing his ring! The Scout has it the best because, well, I'm sure you know why. I've told you far too many times already. You must deliver the Ring of Air back to the front gate; the area where the first Control Point was found. In order to get there the fastest, backtrack to the upper floor where you found the two bookshelves. Jump down from the half- circle balcony ahead, then go down the steps. To the right is another staircase leading back down to the front gate. The one problem about this mission is that you move so incredibly slow when holding the ring. I mean, we had no trouble delivering a flare, but apparently a ring is too much to bear. Even staying cloaked leaves you at a sluggish state where you aren't even able to run. Only stay cloaked when there are enemies near and uncloaked when the coast is clear. If at any time you are killed during this, the Ring of Air will appear on a pedestal near where you found the first bookshelf. It's in the center of the ring of chairs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture the River House ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Sauron We get to play as the big cheese during this mission. What joy! Well, for you it may be. For some odd reason, I hate playing as Sauron. I feel that Sauron's melee attacks are lousy and his inability to block paired with his huge stature makes him a sitting duck. He is VERY powerful though, and that's really all that matters when trying to capture the River House. Climb the stairs immediately to the right to reach the balcony. Eventually you will come face to face with an army of Gondorians. Using Light and Medium attacks are great for one-on-one fights, but use Sauron's Heavy Attack (B) to wipe out a large group of Silvans. If you clear a steady path for your troops, they will eventually follow the Dark Lord by the numbers. Continue to the Control Point and plant your feet. Stay in the Control Point at all times, only attacking if anyone dares to join you. Use throwing axes to kill off the Mages that stay far away from you and attack with Lightning. It won't take long for the River House to fall. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill Elrond and Legolas ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Sauron The official guide says that you should wipe the floor with these two goons, but it never went that way for me. The big drawback is that you're not fighting against JUST Elrond and Legolas: you have to worry about the gigantic army of Warriors, Archers, Scouts, Mages, and yes, even Grunts. Plus, two Captains accompany the two heroes wherever they go like personal bodyguards. It makes sense to make a beeline for one of the two heroes, but if you do that and don't pay any attention to the other Silvan enemies, they will eventually cut you down like a giant redwood. However, if you focus on the army, then the heroes will kill you as well, and the mission is to kill just those two heroes. It's a sticky situation. I never had much luck with Sauron, because the only way to really play as him is to rush into the heat of a battle without a care in the world, decimating anything and everything with his melee attacks and special abilities. But eventually you will most definitely be killed off. We already know how tough Elrond can be, and Legolas is an irritating lil' bugger: always flicking Poison Arrows that continuously sap your HP away. I've played this level around five times, and I have devised two main strategies. One features Sauron, and the other doesn't. Well I guess both do kinda, because every time Sauron has died before I could get my hands on both Elrond and Legolas. The first strategy is cheap and tricky, but very much possible if you try hard enough (and with a little bit of luck). From the Control Point at the River House, go onto the bridge on the left (not the continuation of the balcony, but step off onto the bridge next to the grove where the two heroes lie). Elrond will always rush towards your location while Legolas pansies out and attacks you from a dark corner. When he reaches the bridge, attack Elrond with your Medium and Heavy Attacks. Your Medium Attack, in particular, knocks enemies into the air. If you continuously spam these two attacks on Elrond while fighting near the edge of the bridge, it is possible to knock him off the bridge for an instant death. If you're fortunate for something like that to happen, chase after Legolas and beat the tar out of him. Your Heavy Attack is best, because it knocks him down along with any other Silvans that may be trying to get a piece of you as well. Those two Captains can be mighty annoying. Like I said, Sauron was defeated every time I played this level, so don't worry if the same happens. If/when Sauron bites the dust, switch to an Archer. Yeah, an Archer. Time to beat Legolas at his own game if you ask me. Stay near the Control Point at the River House and look for the yellow arrow indicating Legolas's position. If you are a skilled at this class, you should not have THAT much trouble. Snipe Legolas continuously through the crowd and try to hit him with a Fire Arrow or two. If you weren't lucky enough to kill Elrond the cheap way, he'll be chasing after you. When he gets close enough, divert your attention on him instead. Pelt him with a Poison Arrow to slow him down and back the hell away. Keep backing up down the balcony towards the front gate. Most of your crew is probably back here, meaning they will take one look at Elrond and go nuts. While they are pummeling him, take a few shots on Elrond with your Fire Arrows and shots to the head. If you're quick and accurate enough, you should take down Elrond with only minor injuries. About Legolas. The only way to come out of this alive is to match his skills, if not succeed them. He has a very quick trigger finger and can sling arrows like nothing, so the trick is to pace back and forth while zooming in at your target. You should not have to worry about the Silvans running around (maybe only the two Captains) since for the most part you are staying away from the battlefield. ============================================================================== THE SHIRE [0607] ============================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Destroy Hobbiton ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Archer The most awesome level ever. We get to barge into The Shire and tear it all down. Seeing all the little Hobbits running around with their makeshift weapons, trying to put a dent in your army is funny enough, but getting to burn down their homes is hilarious. Maybe I'm just a messed up kid. >_> You can go down a few roads with this level, but overall you must burn down all six Hobbit Homes. I decided not to map out the bridge leading to the small side chain at the north end, because there is nothing of importance there (or at least not yet). _,--------.___ _,-' `-._ - The Shire - ,' `-. ,' `-. / `. H - Hobbit Home / ________________ \ * - Satchel Ballista / ,'::::::::::::::::`. \ : - field / ,'::::::::::::::::::::`. \ | /::::::::::::::::::::::::\ | | |::::::::::::::::::::::::::| | | H |::::::::::::::::::::::::::| | | '--------------------------' | | * H | | _________________________ | | H /:::::::::::::::::::::::::\ | | |:::::::::,-------.:::::::::| H | | '---------' H '---------' | | ___ ___ | | |:::`.___ ___,':::| H | | |::::::::`. ,'::::::::| | | '.::::::::| |::::::::,' / \ `-.:::::| |:::::,-' / `-._ `.:::| |:::,' * ,' `-._ `--' '--' _,-' `-._ _,-' `. ,-' \ ,' | ,' | / |___| In order to destroy each home, you must harness the power of fire. All four classes have fire-based attacks, but some classes excel at this mission than others. I don't suggest it, but if one were comfortable with a Scout, they could run around cloaked through the entire village, only pausing to hurl Satchel Bombs at each of the homes. Warriors... eh, they're the worst choice. I usually go with Archers, but Mages work nicely here as well. With Archers, you can attack at a much longer range than Mages. Mages have to get fairly close to the Hobbit Home to attack it with Fire Wall, but Archers don't even have to be in the vicinity in order to burn a home down with Fire Arrows. From the start of the level, target the farm in the dead center of The Shire. Two or three Fire Arrows should reduce it to ruins. Before continuing on, scout the area to see what you have to deal with as you move on. For the most part, you only fight Hobbits here. They are weaker than Grunts and fall even faster. Hobbit Archers are the only real threat, as they are a bit bulkier and can obviously attack you from safe grounds. Aside from Hobbits, you may encounter a Captain here and there, but otherwise you won't be dealing with any Gondorians in this mission. Aside from the homes, the Ents should be your main targets. Every so often, pelt them with a Fire Arrow to watch them slowly burn away. Finish them off with arrow shots to the head while your energy charges up. Ents defend The Shire at a steady pace, so I don't think there's ever a time where you can kill every last one. The remaining houses are littered on both sides of The Shire. Start on either the left or right side of the village as you set the homes ablaze. Again, you don't have to be anywhere near the house in order to hit it with a Fire Arrow, so always keep your distance. More enemies tend to stay near the houses in defense than anywhere else, so you want to stay away from the homes as much as possible. There are two Satchel Ballistas in the area, giving you yet another way to destroy the Hobbit Homes. Only use the Satchel Ballistas if you are one of the other three classes. As Archers, it is too difficult to clear the surrounding area of Hobbits before using it. Anyone else can use an area-effecting attack, then hop on the Satchel Ballista and go nuts. The Shire is filled with several large fields. They are sealed off with very low fences, meaning you can jump right over them and move through the tall grain stalks. These fields provide great cover and give you an easy way to go from one side of the village to the other without being seen by too many Hobbits. You can even camp out in a field and destroy homes from the comfort of your new hiding place. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill Treebeard ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Balrog Treebeard emerges alongside several other Ents, meaning you'll have a tough fight on your hands. Even though you're a fire demon facing off against a frickin' tree, you may have your hands full here. The Balrog and Treebeard start off on opposite sides of The Shire, meaning you'll have to work your way towards him. Aside from the other Ents in your way, there are plenty of annoying Archers and Captains you have to deal with. Use your Heavy Attack to knock them away and make a mad dash towards Treebeard. Try not to get too caught up on the other enemies as you'll die before you even reach your target. Aside from your melee attacks, the best move to use is Breath of Morgoth. You are straight-up breathing fire on this stupid tree. Treebeard and any Ent hit with a fire attack will start burning and gradually lose health. Follow up with a few more melee attacks to build up energy, then use Valaraukar Smash. Treebeard fights like any other Ent, but the main problem is that you are pitted against multiple Ents. You may have a lot of trouble during this fight, which is completely understandable. These stupid trees just keep ganging up on us! If the Balrog is killed before you get a chance to do Treebeard in, change to a Scout. Like with Trolls or normal Ents, run behind Treebeard and press the Right Bumper. Follow the button prompt to damage Treebeard slightly. The one catch is that the attack animation puts you behind Treebeard after the attack, meaning you can press Right Bumper to attack and end up behind him again, ready to press the Right Bumper yet again to follow up. I believe the Warrior has a different attack animation which leaves him in front once the attack ends. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 50 Hobbits to Lure Out Gandalf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Archer Assuming the Balrog has perished, we will have to kill 50 Hobbits on our own to "lure out" Gandalf. Glad to know that such a kind man only faces us after we have brutally slain 50 innocent people. What an inconsiderate jerk. Killing 50 of these lil' guys doesn't seem too bad considering how pitifully weak they are, but it eventually adds up, especially since the counter resets if you are killed. Again, the best way is to play it safe. Slow, but safe. Also, there are a boatload of Ents still roaming around at the north end of the area. Instead of using the spawn point here, respawn back at the south end so you aren't revived right in the middle of an Ent attack. From the south end or the middle of the village, use Fire Arrows or Satchel Ballistas to finish off the remaining Ents. The bridge at the north end of The Shire opens up, revealing a small side area filled with many Hobbits. There are also spawn points back there where more of them will come from. Occasionally you will find some Captains - usually Mages - that put a damper on your party. The one Mage Captain is especially annoying, since he likes to protect the Hobbits with his shield and heal everyone around him. It's totally possible to ignore him and snipe Hobbits when they are away from the comfort of his bubble shield, but it's totally up to you. Instead of going across the bridge right into the lion's den, stay on the other side of the river and begin sniping hobbits. Stand at the water's edge and continue to pelt them with arrows. It's a slow process, but the best strategy to follow considering you want to keep your HP high for when Gandalf shows up. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill Gandalf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recommended Class: Sauron The final battle. And it's an epic one at that just from looking at the two combatants. Again, you may have some trouble fending off Gandalf, even while playing as Sauron (as you know, I'm not a huge fan of Sauron). Gandalf is not only backed up by a ton of Hobbit Archers, but several Ents as well. First things first: don't go across the bridge! If you do, you'll fall prey to Gandalf and his minions. Let him come to you and your Orc minions. Also, Ents will only be able to cross the tiny bridge one at a time, meaning you can slowly pick them off one by one. Ents are actually more threatening than Gandalf himself, so they're the guys you should really worry about. Gandalf fights like any other Mage, albeit he's much, much more powerful. I'm sure you know just how tough from the many times you have played as him in the other campaign. Sometimes it's hard to see just how damaging his spells are. Since Sauron can't get knocked down, it's pretty easy to go on and on with the fight without ever taking a look at your ever-dwindling HP. Try to eliminate the Ents before focusing on Gandalf. This is a tough task in its own, since Gandalf will either be killing your troops or tossing lightning bolts or fireballs your way. Knock him around until he's on his back, then deal with the Ents. As for Gandalf himself... I'm sure you know well enough how to take down a Mage. You've played through two campaigns, so I don't really know how else to describe it. Use a chain of melee attacks and finish it off with Heart of Horror or Soul Collector. Gandalf likes to keep his distance in order to use Lightning or Cleansing Fire; chop him down with a throwing axe and cut the distance between the two while he's down. And for some cheap strategies. Like with Elrond, you can try knocking Gandalf into the river with your Medium or Heavy attacks. If you're feeling cocky, confident, and kinda like a jerk, you can always use a Scout to backstab him. It's very much possible if you are patient. Once Gandalf is down for the count, the level - and the campaign - is over. Congrats on beating both single player modes! Go ahead and try out the multiplayer, eh? I'd cover it in this FAQ, but I don't have any friends that would play it with me nor do I have Xbox Live. :( ______________________________________________________________________________ [7] MOVE LIST [0700] ______________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Archer ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Melee Attack ------------ - X Jump Attack ----------- - A, X Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X Shoot Bow --------- - RT Zoom ---- - LT Multi-Arrow (energy) -------------------- - LB Poison Arrow (energy) --------------------- - Y, RT Fire Arrow (energy) ------------------- - B, RT Sample Tactic ------------- - X, Y, RT Sample Tactic ------------- - B, RT, Y, RT, LB ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Melee Attack ------------ - X, X, X Jump Attack ----------- - A, X Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X Lightning (hold to charge) -------------------------- - RT Defensive Shield ---------------- - LT Heal ---- - LB Shockwave --------- - Y Fire Wall --------- - B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, X, Y Sample Tactic ------------- - Y, B, RT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scout ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X, X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B, B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Cloak, Backstab (behind enemy) ------------------------------ - LB, RB Satchel Bomb ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Roll ---- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Foe Hewer (25% energy) ---------------------- - LB + X Foe Hammer (25% energy) ----------------------- - LB + Y (Y, Y, X) Blasting Powder (25% energy) ---------------------------- - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, X, X, Y, Y, B, B, LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, Y, B, LB + X, LB + Y, LB + B ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Warrior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Throwing Axe ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Evade ----- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Fire Strike (25% energy) ------------------------ - LB + X Whirlwind Sweep (25% energy) ---------------------------- - LB + Y (Y, Y, Y, Y) Flame of Fury (25% energy) -------------------------- - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - LB + X, LB + Y (Y, Y, Y, Y), LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, X, Y, Y, B, LB + Y, LB + B ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X Heavy Attack ------------ - Y Regenerate Health ----------------- - A Defense Rally ------------- - B Grab ---- - RT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Troll ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X Heavy Attack ------------ - Y Regenerate Health ----------------- - A Attack Rally ------------ - B Grab ---- - RT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aragorn ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Throwing Axe ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Evade ----- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Dunharrow Dash (25% energy) --------------------------- - LB + X Anduril's Spirit (25% energy) ----------------------------- - LB + Y Wave of Undead (25% energy) --------------------------- - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - Y, B, LB + X, LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, X, Y, Y, B, LB + B ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Balrog ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B Regenerate Energy ----------------- - A Grab ---- - RT Trample Attack (50% energy) --------------------------- - LT + X Breath of Morgoth (50% energy) ------------------------------ - LB + Y Valaraukar Smash (100% energy) ------------------------------ - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, Y, B Sample Tactic ------------- - A, A, A, LB + B ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Elrond ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Throwing Axe ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Evade ----- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Tsunami Blade (25% energy) -------------------------- - LB + X River of Bruinen (25% energy) ----------------------------- - LB + Y Water Sphere (25% energy) ------------------------- - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, Y, B, LB + X, LB + Y Sample Tactic ------------- - LB + B, LT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eowyn of Rohan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X, X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B, B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Cloak, Backstab (behind enemy) ------------------------------ - LB, RB Satchel Bomb ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Roll ---- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Ederas Dash (25% energy) ------------------------ - LB + X Whirling Dervish (25% energy) ----------------------------- - LB + Y Blasting Powder (25% energy) ---------------------------- - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, B, B, LB + A, X, B, B, LB + A Sample Tactic ------------- - X/Y/B, A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Faramir ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Throwing Axe ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Evade ----- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Ranger's Fire (25% energy) -------------------------- - LB + X (X, X, X, X) Gondorian Courage (25% energy) ------------------------------ - LB + Y (Y, Y, Y, Y) Steward of Gondor (25% energy) ------------------------------ - LB + B (B, B, B, B) Sample Tactic ------------- - A, A, Y, Y, LB + X, LB + Y, LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - Left Stick + Y, Y, LB + Y, LB + B (B, B, B, B) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Frodo ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X, X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B, B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Cloak, Backstab (behind enemy) ------------------------------ - LB, RB Satchel Bomb ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Roll ---- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Sting's Fury (25% energy) ------------------------- - LB + X Underhill Roll (25% energy) --------------------------- - LB + Y Blasting Powder (25% energy) ---------------------------- - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - LB, X, X, X, RB Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, Y, Y, B, B, LB + Y ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gandalf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Melee Attack ------------ - X, X, X Jump Attack ----------- - A, X Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X Lightning (hold to charge) -------------------------- - RT Defensive Shield ---------------- - LT Healing Wisdom (energy) ----------------------- - LB You shall not PASS! (energy) ---------------------------- - Y Cleansing Fire (energy) ----------------------- - B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, X, Y Sample Tactic ------------- - Y, B, RT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gimli ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Satchel Bomb ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Evade ----- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Dwarven Run (25% energy) ------------------------ - LB + X (X, X, X, X, X) Balin's Revenge (25% energy) ---------------------------- - LB + Y Longbeard Pound (25% energy) ---------------------------- - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, X, Y, Y, Y, LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - LB + B, X, LB + B ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Isildur ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Throwing Axe ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Evade ----- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Aeglo's Sharp (25% energy) -------------------------- - LB + X Blade of the Mark (25% energy) ------------------------------ - LB + Y (Y, Y, Y, Y) Narsil Spike (25% energy) ------------------------- - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, Y, LB + X Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, X, Y, Y, LB + Y, LB + B ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Legolas ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Melee Attack ------------ - X Jump Attack ----------- - A, X Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X Shoot Bow --------- - RT Zoom ---- - LT Multi-Arrow (energy) -------------------- - LB Poison Arrow (energy) --------------------- - Y, RT Fire Arrow (energy) ------------------- - B, RT Sample Tactic ------------- - X, Y, RT Sample Tactic ------------- - B, RT, Y, RT, LB ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lurtz ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Melee Attack ------------ - X Jump Attack ----------- - A, X Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X Shoot Bow --------- - RT Zoom ---- - LT Multi-Arrow (energy) -------------------- - LB Poison Arrow (energy) --------------------- - Y, RT Fire Arrow (energy) ------------------- - B, RT Sample Tactic ------------- - X, B, RT Sample Tactic ------------- - B, RT, Y, RT, LB ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mouth of Sauron ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Melee Attack ------------ - X, X, X Jump Attack ----------- - A, X Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X Lightning (hold to charge) -------------------------- - RT Defensive Shield ---------------- - LT Heal ---- - LB Barad-dur Fury (energy) ----------------------- - Y Fire Wall --------- - B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, X, Y Sample Tactic ------------- - Y, B, RT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nazgul ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Throwing Axe ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Evade ----- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Flurry of Terror (25% energy) ----------------------------- - LB + X Black Breath (25% energy) ------------------------- - LB + Y (Y, Y, Y, Y) Power of the Nine (25% energy) ------------------------------ - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, B, LB + X, LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - LB + B, LB + B, LB + X ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saruman ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Melee Attack ------------ - X, X, X Jump Attack ----------- - A, X Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X Lightning (hold to charge) -------------------------- - RT Defensive Shield ---------------- - LT Heal ---- - LB Isengard Blast (energy) ----------------------- - Y Fire Ball (energy) ------------------ - B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, X, B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, B, Y ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sauron ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Throwing Axe ------------ - RT Heart of Horror (50% energy) ---------------------------- - LB + X Mordor Pound (50% energy) ------------------------- - LB + Y Soul Collector (100% energy) ---------------------------- - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, Y, Y, B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, LB + Y ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Witch-King ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Throwing Axe ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Evade ----- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Angmar Flurry (25% energy) -------------------------- - LB + X Black Breath (25% energy) ------------------------- - LB + Y (Y, Y, Y, Y) Terror Quake (25% energy) ------------------------- - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, X, Y, Y, B, LB + X Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, Y, Y, LB + Y (Y, Y, Y), LB + B ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wormtongue ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light Attack ------------ - X, X, X, X Medium Attack ------------- - Y, Y Heavy Attack ------------ - B, B Jump Attack ----------- - A, X/Y/B Rising Attack (from knockdown) ------------------------------ - X/Y/B Sprint Attack (while running) ----------------------------- - Left Stick + X/Y/B Cloak, Backstab (behind enemy) ------------------------------ - LB, RB Satchel Bomb ------------ - RT Block ----- - LT Roll ---- - LT + Left Stick CrowdBreaker (100% energy) -------------------------- - LT + B Powder Keg (25% energy) ----------------------- - LB + X Deception Strike (25% energy) ----------------------------- - LB + Y Soul Punch (hold, 25% energy) ----------------------------- - LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - LB + X, X, X, X, X, Y, Y, B, B, LB + B Sample Tactic ------------- - X, X, X, Y, B, B, LB + B ______________________________________________________________________________ [8] ACHIEVEMENTS [0800] ______________________________________________________________________________ Here are all the achievements found in the game, in alphabetical order. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Knife in the Dark (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Use the Scout to backstab 10 enemies in one life ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Red Sun Rises (50) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 30 enemies in a ranked Team Deathmatch match ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Storm is Coming (20) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 15 players with the Mage's lightning in any ranked match ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ All's Well as Ends Better (35) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Black Gate level in the single player "War of the Ring" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Assassin (20) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Backstab 10 players as the Scout in any ranked match ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Assault on Minas Morgul (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Minas Morgul level in the single player "War of the Ring" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Assault on Mount Doom (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Mount Doom level in the single player "Rise of Sauron" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Assault on Osgiliath (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Osgiliath level in the single player "War of the Ring" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Battle of Helm's Deep (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Helm's Deep level in the single player "War of the Ring" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Battle of Pelennor Fields (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Pelennor Fields level in the single player "War of the Ring" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Battle of Weathertop (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Weathertop level in the single player "Rise of Sauron" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Blade That Was Broken (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Score 30 hits on the combo counter as the Warrior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Blademaster (20) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 25 players as the Warrior in any ranked match ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conquer over Isengard (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Isengard level in the single player "War of the Ring" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eagle Eyes (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get 25 headshot kills in one life as the Archer ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fall of Minas Tirith (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Minas Tirith level in the single player "Rise of Sauron" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fellowship of the Ring (10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete a campaign level cooperatively ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fire and Slaughter (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 25 enemies in one life with the Scout's bombs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Flame of Anor (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 100 enemies in one life with the Mage's Fire Wall ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ House of Healing (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heal 30 allies in one life as the Mage ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I Will Take It (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture a ring with Frodo in a ranked Capture the Ring match ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lord of Mordor (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defeat Gandalf as Sauron in the Shire ("Rise of Sauron" Campaign) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lord of the Nine Riders (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 10 players in one life as the Witch-King in any ranked match ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marksman (20) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Headshot kill 10 players as the Archer in any ranked match ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mithril Armor (10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete any campaign level without dying ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Never Toss a Dwarf (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defeat Gimli as the Balrog in the Mines of Moria ("Rise of Sauron" Campaign) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No Living Man Am I (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defeat the Witch-King as Eowyn in Pelennor Fields ("War of the Ring" Campaign) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rain of Fire (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 25 enemies in one life with the Archer's fire arrows ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Razing of Rivendell (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Rivendell level in the single player "Rise of Sauron" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Return of the King (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defeat 3 Nazgul as Aragorn in Minas Morgul ("War of the Ring" Campaign) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ride to Ruin (50) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture 10 control points in ranked Conquest match ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rings of Power (50) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capture 3 rings in a ranked Capture the Ring match ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Siege of Minas Tirith (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Minas Tirith level in the single player "War of the Ring" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Siege of Moria (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Mines of Moria level in the single player "Rise of Sauron" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Siege of Osgiliath (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Osgiliath level in the single player "Rise of Sauron" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Splintered Shields (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 100 enemies in one life as the Warrior ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Storm and the Lightning (50) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Score the most points on the winning team in any ranked online match ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stupid Hobbitses (10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 300 Hobbits in the Shire in one playthrough ("Rise of Sauron" Campaign) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ That Still Only Counts as One (10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Climb and kill an Oliphaunt ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Land of Shadow (35) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Shire level in the single player "Rise of Sauron" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Mines of Moria (25) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the Mines of Moria level in the single player "War of the Ring" Campaign ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Way of Pain (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defeat Aragorn as Saruman in Weathertop ("Rise of Sauron" Campaign) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Unfriendly Skies (10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get picked up by a Fell Beast or eagle ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ War of the Last Alliance (5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Complete the training level ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ You Have My Axe (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 20 enemies with Gimli in any Team Deathmatch game ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ You Have My Bow (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kill 20 enemies with Legolas in any Team Deathmatch game ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ You Shall Not Pass! (15) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Defeat the Balrog as Gandalf in the Mines of Moria ("War of the Ring" Campaign) ______________________________________________________________________________ [9] THANKS/CREDITS [0900] ______________________________________________________________________________ Of course, this guide couldn't have been made without some extra help. Here is a shoutout to everyone who made this FAQ possible: CJayC: For being an awesome host of an awesome site. Eternal Czar Smapdi: For being the best co-author anyone could have, and for being yourself. Prima Official Guide: The guide was surprisingly in-depth, especially when dishing out info on the classes and heroes. Definitely helped me out a lot when writing this guide. MrSkorm: For correcting me on a few subjects here and there. FESBians: Because you're cool. You: For reading this FAQ. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LEGAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This document is copyright (c) DomZ Ninja 2009-2011. This document may be found on the following sites: * GameFAQs - http://www.gamefaqs.com * GameSpot - http://www.gamespot.com * IGN - http://faqs.ign.com * Super Cheats - http://www.supercheats.com * Neoseeker - http://www.neoseeker.com * HonestGamers - http://www.honestgamers.com The latest update of this document can always be found on GameFAQs. Other sites may use this guide, but only with my permission. If you see this document on a website not listed above, please email me. Do not edit or alter this document in any way. Do not steal anything from this document. Do not host or distribute this document for profit. That is plagiarism, and it is against the law. If you have any questions, comments, or anything that you would like to add to this guide, then feel free to email me. My email address is found at the top of this guide. However, if you do email me, please include the name of the game in the title. Lastly, thanks for reading and using this FAQ. If you like this FAQ, then please recommend it to others by clicking the "recommend" button at the top of the guide. :] http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/52173.html "And when it's all over and you open your eyes, and it still won't turn on inside, and you'll be lying down low on the floor side" - Silversun Pickups ______________________________________________________________________________ END OF DOCUMENT