Risen Dead

* Horde Portrait
* Rabble Portrait
* Rabble Undead
* Orcs Undead
* Restless Warriors

"He wavered, groping in his pocket, and then fought with himself again; and as he did so the arm crept nearer. Suddenly resolve hardened in him, and he seized a short sword that lay beside him, and kneeling he stooped low over the bodies of his companions. With what strength he had he hewed at the crawling arm near the wrist, and the hand broke off; but at the same moment the sword splintered up to the hilt. There was a shriek and the light vanished. In the dark there was a snarling noise."
—Fellowship of the Ring, Fog on the Barrow-downs

Death is no release for the prisoners and servants of the Master of Dol Guldur, for the Necromancer has ever been in command of a great number of phantoms and fell spirits, which he sends forth in number to inhabit the corpses of the fallen, both his own soldiers and those of the enemy. Their lifeless husks are re-animated and fight with a renewed vigour that few armies can withstand. The Necromancer would also teach his greatest servant, the Witch-king of Angmar, how to re-animate the corpses of his allies and enemies alike to create his own army of undead with which he could topple the Northern Kingdom of Arnor.

In Age of the Ring, Risen Dead are an elite swordsmen unit for Dol Guldur and its Adventure: Angmar subfcation. They are not recruited conventionally, instead individual units can be acquired with the death of level 2 Broken Rabble/Angmar Snaga and the death of enemies as a result of The Necromancer's **Abhorred Dread** or the Witch-king's **Dark Sorcerer** abilities. Hordes of Risen Dead can be produced from Orc Gaolers/Hunters and Angmar Pikemen/Hunters via the Necromancy and Fell Spirits abilities respectively; The Necromancer can also summon hordes of Restless Warriors from Restless Barrows with Abhorred Dread once he has reached level 8, as can the Witch-king.

## Abilities and Formations

**Intrepid Corpse** - Risen Dead are immune to all fear and terror effects. Passive ability.

**Level 2: Dark Sustenance** - Risen Dead quickly regain health and restore their horde while outside of combat. Passive ability.

**Level 5: Down with the Sickness** - Enemies slain by Risen Dead have a small chance to be temporarily reanimated on the player's side. Passive ability.

## Strategy

Risen Dead make up the core of Dol Guldur's and Adventure: Angmar's armies in the mid to late game, players are most likely to first acquire them from fallen level 2 Broken Rabble - Thráin the Broken is exceptionally useful as he increases nearby Broken Rabble experience gain so that Dol Guldur can start producing Risen Dead sooner. Once a Spire of Sorcery is built, the Necromancy ability can be used on Gaolers and Hunters to produce full battalions of Risen Dead. Risen Dead's greatest strength is their high movement and attack speed as well as the fact that they do not suffer Slow Decay. This means that players can use them to harass the enemy without fear of them losing health; their speed can be further enhanced by Cargást, whose **March of the Dead** ability increases the speed and experience gain of undead units. Once Risen Dead reach level 2, they can enter combat and retreat when their numbers are depleted so that Dark Sustenance can replenish their health and numbers. The Necromancer's **Abhorred Dread** is another source of Risen Dead and is the most damaging to the other player as it not only produces temporary Risen Dead to attack the enemy's army, but these Risen Dead are produced from the enemy's own troops.

In the Adventure: Angmar subfaction, Risen Dead can be obtained via Level 2 Angmar Snaga as well as casting Fell Spirits upon Angmar Pikemen and Hunters by raising a Spire of Angmar to level 3. The Witch-king can also convert enemies to Risen Dead temporarily through his **Dark Sorcerer** ability.