Gandalf the Grey (Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies)

* Portrait
* In Game

"Gandalf: 'Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it. I'm Gandalf. And Gandalf means...me.'
Bilbo: 'Gandalf? Not Gandalf the wandering Wizard who made such excellent fireworks? Old Took used to have them on Midsummer's Eve. No idea you were still in business.'
Gandalf: 'And where else should I be?'"
—An Unexpected Journey

Gandalf the Grey was one of the Istari who came to Middle-earth to help the Free Peoples against Sauron. Using the Elven Ring Narya, Gandalf wandered across Middle-earth for hundreds of years, helping the Free Peoples in their troubles and investigating the forces of Sauron. He was known as a bringer of bad news in some places but those close to him knew his true worth. Gandalf knew the most of the Shire out of all the Wise and so it was he who suggested that Bilbo join the Quest for Erebor. He was also the first one to realise that the One Ring was in the Shire after it was taken from Gollum's cave.

While Gandalf the Grey is typically a temporary summon for multiple factions in standard play, he also appears as a permanently recruitable hero for the Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies subfaction of Erebor. He is recruitable from the Erebor Fortress.

*For his temporary summon variant in standard play, see the Gandalf the Grey page.*

## Abilities

**Gandalf's Cart (W)** - Summons' Gandalf's travelling cart. Heals nearby allies. Left click icon then left click on pathable location.

**Level 2: Let's Risk A Little More Light (R)** - Nearby archers gain +20% range and +15% damage for 30 seconds. Left click to activate.

**Level 3: The Foe-Hammer (T)** - Shoots out lightning bolts from Gandalf's sword. Left click icon then left click on target.

**Level 7: Disturber of the Peace (C)** - Gandalf shoots off a peculiar firework at the selected target. Left click icon then left click on target.

**Level 10: You Shall Not Pass (V)** - Stuns enemy units in a wide radius surrounding Gandalf for 10 seconds. Left click to activate.

## Strategy

The Battle of the Five Armies version of Gandalf the Grey is permanent and can therefore be a severely disruptive force who can single-handedly turn the tide in the player's favor multiple times. To balance this out, however, he is significantly less durable than his temporary summon counterpart and needs to level up in order to unlock all the skills that his temporary summon variant has immediate access to. His skills otherwise operate the same way as his counterpart's. He can deal damage to clumps by using **Disturber of the Peace** which functions similarly to Saruman's Fireball. **The Foe-Hammer** is best used on a smaller number of targets so the damage is more focused. **You Shall Not Pass** will throw back and stun enemies around Gandalf, leaving them open for more attacks or allowing your own forces to retreat. Gandalf can also have some supportive bonuses. **Let's Risk A Little More Light** can support archers, while **Gandalf's Cart** can heal nearby allies like a well. If properly utilized and leveled up, Gandalf provides all the benefits of his temporary summon variant without the timer that limits his power in standard play.