recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Black Uruk Marauders

* Portrait
* Standard
* Upgraded

"In the last years of Denethor I the race of uruks, black Orcs of great strength, first appeared out of Mordor, and in 2475 they swept across Ithilien and took Osgiliath."
—Return of the King, Appendix A

The Black Uruks of Barad-dûr are the elite of Sauron's orc armies, first bred to devastate Ithilien.

Black Uruk Marauders are one of Mordor's several elite swordsmen units, which are recruitable from a level 2 Orcish Stronghold. Black Uruk Marauders are arguably the most spammable of these elite swordsmen units due to their comparatively lower cost and that they are recruitable from a standard recruitment structure rather than the fortress (as is the case for Legions of Morgul).

They are also recruitable from a Level 3 Moria Orc Cave in the Adventure: Shadow and Flame subfaction of the Misty Mountains.

## Abilities and Formations

**Brawl (R)** - Requires Shagrat. Order this unit to kill friendly Orcs or Legions of Morgul to gain combat experience. Left click icon then left click on target.

*Note: In Adventure: Shadow and Flame only, **Brawl** is automatically unlocked and can be used to kill friendly Moria Orcs. It also does not require a hero to use.*

**Level 3:** **Despoiler (T)** - Black Uruk Marauders temporarily gain +25% damage against structures and leech resources when attacking structures. Left click to activate.

**Level 4: Mark of the Red Eye** - Bloodlust grants +25% damage. Passive ability.

## Upgrades

**Cruel Blades (C)** - When equipped, increases damage dealt by melee weapons. Research upgrade at Gorgoroth Foundry to enable this upgrade. Cost: 250

**Banners of the Red Eye (V)** - When equipped, increases this battalion to level 2. Research upgrade at Gorgoroth Foundry to enable this equipment. Cost: 100

## Strategy

Black Uruk Marauders are the most accessible of Mordor's various elite swordsmen units (Variags of Khand, Golden Axemen and Legions of Morgul) and so become a vital part of Mordor's army in the mid-game. Whilst less heavily armored than than their Legions of Morgul counterparts, Black Uruks inflict more damage. Consequently, they are most effective when attacking with basic orc units which can act as meat-shields for the Uruks and then with more heavily-armored units in the later stages of the game. By pairing them with Shagrat, he can support them with his abilities, both passive and active. He can also allow them to use **Brawl** to level up faster. This can allow them to access **Despoiler** which turns the Black Uruks into a powerful harassment force, letting them take down buildings with ease.

They are also recruitable in the Adventure: Shadow and Flame faction, and are the elite Swordsmen units of that faction. They are significantly more powerful and durable than the Moria Orc Screechers and will likely make up the majority of a player's Swordsmen units in the mid-late game.
Bard the Bowman (Adventure: Durin's Folk)

* Portrait
* Ingame

"Their captain was Bard, grim-voiced and grim-faced, whose friends had accused him of prophesying floods and poisoned fish, though they knew his worth and courage. He was a descendant in a long line of Girion, Lord of Dale, whose wife and child had escaped down the Running River from the ruin long ago. Now he shot with a great yew bow, till all his arrows but one were spent."
—Fire and Water, The Hobbit

Bard the Bowman was the descendant of Girion, Lord of Dale. He'd spend much of his life as a fisherman and smuggler for Laketown, acting as the people's champion when the Master acted against them too much. When Smaug came to destroy the town, Bard fought against the Dragon and managed to kill it with the Black Arrow inherited from his ancestors. After the Battle of Five Armies, Bard rebuilt the city of Dale and ruled as its king.

While Bard is a recruitable hero for the Oakenshield era Erebor faction, he also appears as a temporary summon in its Adventure: Durin's Folk subfaction. He is summoned using the **Mannish Allies** (10 PP) power alongside 2 battalions of Lake Town Bowmen for 120 seconds while playing as the Reign of Oakenshield.

*For his Erebor counterpart in standard play, see the Bard the Bowman page.*

## Abilities

**Descendant of Girion** - Archers near Bard gain +33% damage, +33% vision, and +15% attack range. Passive ability.

**Black Arrow of Dale (W)** - A precise arrow shot that that decreases enemy armour by -25% for 30 seconds. Left click icon then left click on target unit.

**Honest Bargeman (R)** - Bard delivers several barrels of fish that heal nearby units. Left click then left click on target position.

## Strategy

Although not quite as powerful as his standard Erebor counterpart, Bard is still quite potent as a summon. He provides a significant leadership to nearby archers with **Descendant of Girion** by boosting both their damage and range, including the 2 units of Lake Town Bowmen that are summoned alongside him. He can utilize **Black Arrow of Dale** to deal damage to and reduce the armour of a single unit, making it very useful against high priority enemies such as heroes or monsters. He also has some supporting capability with **Honest Bargeman**, allowing him to place barrels in a specific area that will heal nearby allies, increasing their longevity in battle. If utilized alongside proper support, especially fully upgraded archers, Bard the Bowman can be quite the thorn in the side for enemies to deal with especially since he and his accompanying Lake Town Bowmen last on the field for a long period of time before they disappear.
AOTR Wiki

**Welcome to the Age of the Ring Wiki!**

This is a wiki dedicated to the Age of the Ring modification for the Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth 2: Rise of the Witch-king. We'll need all the help we can get and anyone can edit this wiki, even you!

The mod aims to create an RTS experience that is faithful to the spirit of the Tolkien mythos, with diverse, engaging and balanced gameplay. It features dozens of new heroes, units, spells and abilities as well as new maps and a campaign following the journey of the Fellowship of the Ring.

Want to contribute to the wiki? Please check out this style guide!

## Frequently Asked Questions

A list of frequently asked questions. The answers to these questions are unlikely to change in the future and so there is little point in asking them again. Have a look here before asking your own questions.

## Featured Image

The last model for 8.0 - Aragorn will now wear his Rivendell attire when you meet him in the Hall of Fire!

Age of the Ring Version 8.0 has finally released! Download it from ModDB here
Bilbo (Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies)

* Portrait
* In Game

"Look, I know you doubt me, I know you always have. And you're right. I often think of Bag End. I miss my books. And my armchair. And my garden. See, that's where I belong. That's home. That's why I came back, because you don't have one. A home. It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back if I can."
—Bilbo

Bilbo Baggins was a simple Hobbit of the Shire. When the Company of Thorin Oakenshield required a burglar for their quest to reclaim Erebor, Gandalf the Grey suggested that Bilbo would be suitable. After some convincing, Bilbo joined the Company as its fourteenth member. During the long journey, he proved his worth and revealed his hidden courage when he delayed the trolls from eating the Company, escaped from Goblin Town, saved the Company from both Spiders and Elves of the Woodland Realm, and tried to negotiate a peace between Dwarves, Elves and Men. He also found a magic ring after an encounter with Gollum, a ring that would have a huge effect on the fate of Middle-earth.

While Bilbo is typically the Ring Hero for the Reign of Oakenshield Erebor and Woodland Realm factions in standard play, he also appears a regular recruitable Hero in the Adventure: Battle for Five Armies subfaction. He has much reduced capabilities, cost, and stats in comparison to his Ring Hero counterpart, but does not require the Ring and is recruitable from the Erebor Fortress.

*For his Ring Hero variant in standard play, see the Bilbo page.*

## Abilities

**Toggle Rock-Throw Mode/Sting (W)** - Left click to switch between melee and rock throwing mode.

**Kingly Gift (R)** - Bilbo gains +33% armour against ranged attacks for 30 seconds. Left click to activate.

**Company's Burglar (T)** - Bilbo becomes stealthed and can neither be attacked nor make an attack for 30 seconds. Left click icon to activate.

## Strategy

While Bilbo as a hero for the Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies subfaction is much less impressive compared to his Ring Hero counterpart with significantly reduced health and a completely altered skillset, he still has utility primarily as a scouting hero. He still has the ability to switch to throwing rocks, which makes it easier for the player to keep him at a safer distance from enemies. **Kingly Gift** allows Bilbo to increase his armour against ranged attacks, making him much less susceptible to being shot down and killed if he is spotted by enemy archers while performing his scouting. **Company's Burglar** allows Bilbo to effectively make himself invincible to enemy attacks for 30 seconds (although in turn he cannot attack either), allowing him to scout out the enemy without risk of being attacked or safely flee from a battle if his health gets low. While he may not be nearly as powerful as his Ring Hero counterpart, it is still possible to get mileage out of Bilbo in this subfaction if he is utilized correctly.
Damrod

* Portrait
* Bow
* Sword

"After a while he spoke to them; but they were slow and cautious in answering. They named themselves Mablung and Damrod, soldiers of Gondor, and they were Rangers of Ithilien; for they were descended from folk who lived in Ithilien at one time, before it was overrun. From such men the Lord Denethor chose his forayers, who crossed the Anduin secretly (how or where, they would not say) to harry the Orcs and other enemies that roamed between the Ephel Dúath and the River."
—The Two Towers, Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit

Damrod was a ranger of Ithilien who loyally served his captain, Faramir of Gondor. Chosen by the steward, the Ithilien Rangers were tasked with disrupting the forces of the Enemy as they passed through the forests of Ithilien. During the War of the Ring, such an ambush was witnessed by the Ringbearer, Frodo Baggins, when Damrod and his men waylaid a Haradrim convoy.

In Age of the Ring, Damrod is temporarily summoned by Faramir's Captain of Ithilien ability along with a battalion of Ithilien Rangers; they are unable to move and last on the battlefield for two minutes. A fully controllable version of Damrod is a Lord of the Rings Campaign exclusive hero that appears in the Ambush in Ithilien mission.

*For his Adventure: Ithilien variant, see the Damrod (Adventure: Ithilien) page*.

## Abilities

**Campaign Exclusive**

**Toggle Weapon (W)** - left click to toggle between sword and bow.

**Lure (R)** - Lures nearby enemy units. Left click to activate.

**Skilled Hunter (T)** - Can be cast on enemy units to permanently track their movements. Can only use with bow equipped. Left click, then left click on target.

**Quick Dispatch (C)** - Damrod temporarily receives +25% attack and movement speed. Left click to activate.

## Strategy

Damrod summoned by Captain of Ithilien is non-movable but is fully stealthed and spawns with a battalion of Ithilien Rangers; they automatically loose arrows at enemies that come into their range. This makes Damrod a useful summon to defend specific locations on the map, such as flanks, as not only does he engage the enemy he gives the Gondor player increased warning of their opponents movements. Damrod in the Lord of the Rings Campaign is fully controllable, **Skilled Hunter** can be used to mark dangerous enemy units encountered in Ithilien, such as Mountain-trolls, to track their units and avoid being caught off-guard. **Quick Dispatch** temporarily increases Damrod's attack and movement speeds, allowing him to deal with enemy units and structures faster or escape if he is being overrun.
Frodo

* Portrait
* Ingame

### Faction

Gondor, Rohan, Rivendell, Lothlórien, Reign of Ironfoot Erebor, Adventure: Ithilien, Adventure: Grey Company, Adventure: Dorwinion

### Voiced By

Vanilla voices

"Frodo: 'I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.'
Gandalf: 'So do all who live to see such times but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.'"
—Fellowship of the Ring

Frodo Baggins was a Hobbit of the Shire who lived in Bag End with his uncle Bilbo. On Bilbo's 111th birthday, he left the Shire, leaving behind a magic ring that could turn the wearer invisible. This ring was revealed to be the One Ring of Sauron. Frodo took the Ring to Rivendell where a council took place and it was decided that the Ring should be destroyed in Mount Doom. Frodo volunteered for the task and, with the help of the Fellowship of the Ring, traveled to Mount Doom where the Ring took over his mind at last. However, it was destroyed by Gollum's acts and Frodo, who was still not fully recovered from the physical and mental trauma he'd undergone, left Middle-earth to go to the Undying Lands with the other Ringbearers.

In Age of the Ring, Frodo is the Ring Hero for all of the good factions (other than Reign of Oakenshield Erebor, Adventure: Arthedain, and Woodland Realm). While cheaper and less physically powerful than the evil Ring Heroes, Frodo has very strong supportive skills and can summon his trusty gardener, Sam, and his guide, Sméagol**,** to help him.

## Abilities

**Level 1: Toggle Rocks/Sting (W)** - Left click to switch between melee and rock throw mode.

**Level 1: A Heavy Burden (R)** - Become invisible. But beware the Eye of Sauron. Left click to activate.

**Level 1: Light of Eärendil (T)** - Causes enemy units to flee. Left click to activate.

**Level 1: The Fate of Middle-earth** - Modifier Type: Leadership. Nearby allies gain +50% damage, +50% armour, earn experience twice as fast, reduces recharge time for unit and hero abilities by 25%. Stacks with leaderships, buffs and spells. Passive ability.

**Level 1: The Guide and the Gardener (V)** - Summons Frodo's faithful gardener, Sam, and his guide, Sméagol, to his side. Left click icon to activate.

## Strategy

On the surface, Frodo may appear to be weaker than the evil Ring Heroes such as Sauron or Smaug. However, this could hardly be further from the truth as Frodo provides one of the best leaderships in the entire game, making nearby forces much stronger. By using a combination of the Rock Throw,  **A Heavy Burden** and **Light of Eärendil**, Frodo can be kept safe while his leadership allows allies to fight harder. As he is much cheaper, Frodo can be out on the field much faster than evil Ring Heroes. Frodo is able to summon Sam, who can make him stronger as well as provide other bonuses to nearby allies, and Sméagol, who can support allies and scout enemy forces.
Elrond (Last Alliance)

* Portrait
* Ingame

"I was the herald of Gil-galad and marched with his host. I was at the battle of Dagorlad before the Black Gate of Mordor, where we had the mastery: for the spear of Gil-galad and the Sword of Elendil, Aeglos and Narsil, none could withstand. I beheld the last combat on the slopes of Orodruin, where Gil-galad died, and Elendil fell, and Narsil broke beneath him; but Sauron himself was overthrown, and Isildur cut the Ring from his hand with the hilt-shard of his father's sword, and took it for his own."
—Elrond

Elrond Halfelven rode beside the High King of the Noldor, Gil-galad, as his herald against the hordes of Mordor with the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. They successfully drove Sauron's forces back to Barad-dûr, which they besieged for seven years until at last the Dark Lord himself came forth and killed both Gil-galad and Elendil. Isildur, son of Elendil, assailed Sauron by cutting the One Ring from his finger with the shard of Narsil; this destroyed Sauron's physical form and secured victory for the Last Alliance.

Elrond, knowing of the Ring's power and that the possibility of Sauron's return rested solely on the Ring's survival, led Isildur to the Cracks of Doom and demanded that he cast the Ring into the very fires from whence it came. But the hearts of Men are easily seduced by the Ring's evil and Isildur was overcome by temptation - refusing to destroy the Ring and claiming it for himself. Elrond remained in Middle-earth throughout the Third Age as the Lord of Rivendell.

In Age of the Ring, Elrond during the Second Age appears as a hero in the Lord of the Rings Campaign Last Alliance mission.

*For his Rivendell faction leader variant, see the Elrond page. For his Ring Hero variant in the Adventure: Arthedain subfaction, see the Lord Elrond (Adventure: Arthedain) page.*

## Abilities

**Leithio I Philinn! (W)** - Elrond calls elven archers to bombard anywhere within a great radius with a volley of arrows. Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Herald of Gil-galad** - When Gil-galad and Elendil joined forces, the Lord of Rivendell opened his sanctuary for the Kings to formulate their battleplans and assemble their forces. Scores of mighty arms and armor were wrought in Imladris during this time. Elrond would be Gil-galad's herald in the war to come. Allies near Elrond gain +33% Damage, +33% Armor, and earn experience 50% faster. Passive ability.

## Strategy

Elrond is playable throughout the entirety of the Last Alliance mission, he has a larger amount of health than Isildur and so should be used to absorb damage, for example from the Mordor battle towers in the early stages of the mission. **Herald of Gil-galad** stacks with the leaderships provided by the other heroes which enables the players army to withstand the hordes of Mordor despite being thoroughly outnumbered - Elrond himself is particularly useful at thinning Mordor's numbers by casting **Leithio I Philinn** on grouped up orc battalions. Low level Orcs are killed instantly by this ability whilst higher level orcs are severely damage, allowing the player's units to easily finish them off.
Bard the Bowman

* Portrait
* Ingame
* Armoured

"Their captain was Bard, grim-voiced and grim-faced, whose friends had accused him of prophesying floods and poisoned fish, though they knew his worth and courage. He was a descendant in a long line of Girion, Lord of Dale, whose wife and child had escaped down the Running River from the ruin long ago. Now he shot with a great yew bow, till all his arrows but one were spent."
—Fire and Water, The Hobbit

Bard the Bowman was the descendant of Girion, Lord of Dale. He'd spend much of his life as a fisherman and smuggler for Laketown, acting as the people's champion when the Master acted against them too much. When Smaug came to destroy the town, Bard fought against the Dragon and managed to kill it with the Black Arrow inherited from his ancestors. After the Battle of Five Armies, Bard rebuilt the city of Dale and ruled as its king.

Bard the Bowman is a recruitable hero for Reign of Oakenshield Erebor as well as its Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies subfaction.

*For his temporary summon variant in the Adventure: Durin's folk subfaction, see the Bard the Bowman (Adventure: Durin's Folk) page.*

## Abilities

**Black Arrow of Dale (W)** - A precise arrow shot that that decreases enemy armour by -33% for 30 seconds. Left click then left click on target unit.

**Level 3: Honest Bargeman (R)** - Bard delivers several barrels of fish that heal nearby units. Left click then left click on target area.

**Level 5: Rabble-Rouser (T)** - target units gain moderate experience. Only affects Laketown units. Left click then left click on target units.

**Level 8: Descendant of Girion** - Modifier Type: Leadership. Archers near Bard gain +33% damage, +33% vision and +15% attack range. Stacks with buffs and spells. Passive ability.

**Level 10: Dragonslayer (V)** - Bard summons a thrush. He gains +33% attack speed, +70% damage, and +30% range. Bard does bonus damage against monsters and flying units. Lasts for 20 seconds. Left click to activate.

## Strategy

Bard acts as one of Erebor's two ranged heroes. He's very useful when opting for a Lake-town focused strategy as he can help them level up faster. He can also assist other units too as his **Honest Bargeman** acts as a "portable well". **Descendent of Girion** allows Bard to support all the archers in the faction, not just the Lake Town Bowmen. This is especially helpful for the Erebor Archers and Iron Hills Crossbowmen who have low range and attack speed. In combat, Bard can act as a long range sniper by attacking from afar. **Black Arrow of Dale** can do moderate damage and slow down targets for follow up attacks. When Bard reaches Level 10, **Dragonslayer** can be devastating, allowing him to take out monsters like trolls with ease or even let him deal very high damage to heroes.
Angmar

In The Age of the Ring, the ancient and dead realm of Angmar features as a sub-faction of the Misty Mountains. The Ruins of Angmar is a mid-tier power, a building summon from which you can spawn long-buried Dead of Arnor and recruit the White Wolves of the northern wastes. The Snow-trolls, recruited at the Troll Lair make a return as a powerful siege unit. The Witch-king, who once ruled Angmar, now resides in Minas Morgul. Neither Arnor nor Angmar will be given a full faction as Age of the RIng exists in the late Third Age when both countries have already perished long ago.

A technical explanation is that the future Haradwaith faction will entirely replace Vanilla Angmar's in-game code. In place of the Rise of the Witch-king faction, players will be able to enjoy the Misty Mountains, with its Angmar sub-faction, as well as enjoy Dol Guldur for its black dread atmosphere. The latter of which is also the foundational faction upon which the Adventure: Angmar subfaction has been developed.

The following pages exist for Angmar-related units and buildings in standard play for The Age of the Ring.

 Snow-trolls | Misty Mountains

## Adventure: Angmar

As of Version 8.0, an Adventure: Angmar subfaction based on Dol Guldur was created, allowing players who wish to play as Angmar to do so through that subfaction. Unlike its Arnorian counterpart, the Angmar subfaction is much closer in style and theme to the faction that it is based off of, featuring its own version of **Dark Presence** known as **Shivering Presence** that represents the Witch-king's power and corrupting influence on both his allies and enemies alike.

The following are lists of units, buildings, and heroes that are part of the Adventure: Angmar subfaction that have their own wiki pages.
Explosive Mine

* Portrait
* In Game

"Helm's Deep has but one weakness. It's outer wall is solid rock for except for a small culvert in space, which is little more than a drain. How? How can fire undo stone? What kind of device can bring down the wall?"
—Gríma Wormtongue

Requiring a method to breach the Deeping Wall, Saruman developed mass quantities of highly destructive explosive powder. It was successful in bringing down the wall during the Battle of Helm's Deep and gave the Isengard host clear passage into the stronghold.

In Age of the Ring, Explosive Mines are a highly destructive Isengard siege weapon recruitable from a level 3 Siege Works. They can be planted nearby enemy structures and detonated, either with archers using fire arrows or by an Uruk Berserker with a lit torch.

## Abilities

**Deploy Mine (W)** - Deploy a powerful explosive. Once deployed can be detonated by Berserker torch or fire arrows.

## Strategy

Explosive Mines are a prime example of high-risk, high-reward. They are extremely vulnerable to melee damage and can detonate prematurely as a result of being targeted by fire arrows - killing any friendly units nearby the resulting explosion. Despite this, well-micromanaged mines can be game changers, if they are deployed in an enemy base they can destroy large numbers of structures; potentially crippling the opponent's unit recruitment.
Gandalf (Stormcrow)

* Portrait
* Ingame
* Mounted

"Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East."
—Gandalf

The duel between Durin's Bane and Gandalf the Grey led them from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm to the peak of Zirakzigil, where they fought for two days and nights until at last the Balrog was slain. The battle also claimed Gandalf's life but his spirit did not depart Middle-earth and was instead sent back until he had completed his task in rallying the Free People against Sauron. Robed in white, Gandalf had become what Saruman should have been, had he not been corrupted by ambition and jealousy. He reunited with the Three Hunters in Fangorn Forest and directed them to Rohan to aid King Théoden against the hordes of Isengard. Gandalf assembled Riders of Rohan that had been exiled by Gríma Wormtongue and helped secure victory for the Rohirrim at the Battle for Helm's Deep.

In Age of the Ring, Gandalf the White is a summonable hero along with Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas for Rohan as part of the Stormcrow spell book power. They last on the battlefield for 90 seconds and have abilities distinct from their counterparts in other factions.

## Abilities

**Harken to Me!** - Modifier type: Leadership. Nearby heroes have reduced ability cooldowns. Passive ability.

**Chief of the Istari (R)** - Short range attack that blasts back enemies. Left click icon then left click on target.

**First Light of the Fifth Day (T)** - Flash of light that stuns nearby enemy units and deals minor damage. Left click activate.

**Mount Shadowfax/Dismount (C)** - Left click to switch between mounted on Shadowfax and on foot.

## Strategy

Gandalf the White summoned by the Stormcrow power has fewer offensive powers than his Gondor counterpart or Gandalf the Grey but he is no less useful at turning the tide of battle when combined with allied forces. **Harken to Me** is incredibly useful at allowing powerful hero abilities (such as Théoden's **Strength Remembered** or **Arise, Riders of Théoden**, or Éomer's **Thirst of Gúthwinë**) to be used more often in close succession which can turn the tide of battle. **First Light of the Fifth Day** is particularly useful when used in the middle of combat when there are lots of nearby surrounding enemies as it enables friendly units to dispatch them without resistance. His most powerful ability is **Chief of the Istari** letting him deal damage to hordes, especially if stunned by **First Light of the Fifth Day**. Gandalf is summoned mounted on Shadowfax, thus allowing him to quickly move across the map, chase down enemy targets and harass enemy structures; whilst mounted, Gandalf is able to more easily position himself for an optimal cast of **First Light of the Fifth Day**.
Dunlending Huskarls

* Portrait
* In Game

"Women cried as the host departed through the gates of Wulfborg. Wulfgar rode at the head, with Brant at his side. Behind them rode the men of the King’s household guard: fifty of his finest warriors, clad in black ringmail over layers of fur and leather."
—Age of the Ring Lore Compendium

The Huskarls of Wulfgar were the chiefest among the Dunlending's warriors. Their loyalty to their chieftain was unwavering and they marched to war without question when Wulfgar made the difficult decision to join Saruman's cause against the Rohirrim. Armed with longswords, the Dunlending Huskarls were capable of cleaving the Horse-lords from their mounts and bludgeoning heavily armoured enemies using Mordhau; there are few warriors in Middle-earth that can match the swordsmanship of the Huskarls.

In Age of the Ring, Dunlending Huskarls are a semi-heroic swordsman unit in Isengard, recruitable from a level 3 Dunlending Longhouse. They are limited to 3 battalions on the battlefield at a time. They are also temporarily summoned by Wulfgar's Crow Banner power for 90 seconds.

## Abilities and Formations

**Mordhau Grip (W)** - Dunlending Huskarls temporarily use Mordhau grip. Whilst active, Huskarls ignore unit armour and deal bonus damage vs heroes but do not deal splash damage. Weak vs structures and spam units. Left click to activate.

**Noble Lineage** - Nearby Wildmen and Dunlendings receive +50% experience gain and fear resistance. Passive ability.

**Level 3: Reckless Swings** - Consecutive attacks temporarily increase attack damage by 5%. Stacks to a maximum of 25%. Passive ability.

## Strategy

Dunlending Huskarls are semi-heroic units that have high health and armour (albeit less than Uruk-hai Man-Slayers) and deal splash damage, enabling them to dispatch large numbers of enemy units. They have a temporary weapon toggle with **Mordhau Grip**, which makes the Huskarls particularly deadly against heroes and elite units, at the cost of being much weaker against structures and spam units whilst the ability is active; heroes should take significant caution if Huskarls are on the battlefield because **Mordhau Grip** in addition to a paralysing ability, such as Lurtz' Cripple or Grishnákh's Wicked Jab, can spell doom for target heroes. Dunlending Huskarls support Dunlending-heavy strategies because they grant all Wildmen and Dunlending units fear resistance and increased experience gain with **Noble Lineage**. This leadership can be combined with Wulfgar's unit support abilities to greatly enhance Dunlending and Wildmen units in combat. **Reckless Swings** increases Huskarls' already high damage the longer they stay in combat, such that it becomes increasingly important for Isengard's opponents to focus these units before they snowball and tear through their army, heroes and structures.
Cave Troll

* Portrait
* Rock Throw
* Fist
* Tree

"They have a cave troll..."
—Boromir

The Cave Trolls of Moria were tormented for years by their goblin captors. This has led to their docile nature being replaced by an overwhelming hatred. Mulitple cave trolls were sent to fight the Fellowship of the Ring as they tried to escape from the Chamber of Mazarbul.

In AotR, the Cave Trolls are recruited from the Troll Lair and act as a replacement for traditional siege units for the faction.

## Abilities

**Close Range Attack/Throw Rocks (W)** - switch between melee attacks and throwing rocks.

**Bombard (R)** - bombard the target area with devastating artillery. Left click on icon then left click on target area.

**Pick up Goblin/Orc (T)** - find an orc to pick up and throw at the enemy. Enemy units where the orc lands will become terrified.

**Find a Tree (C)** - find a tree as a weapon.

## Strategies

The Cave Trolls will act as a siege unit throughout all stages of the game. This is due to their versatility with being able to use both melee and ranged attacks. They can also be effective against units due to their knockback but must be wary of upgraded archers and pikemen. By using a tree, the troll can have a larger AOE which will increase their effectiveness against units but make it harder for them to destroy buildings. The trolls are faster than ents which makes them more effective at harassment (although not as strong as the Snow-trolls in that regard). A small group of them can be used to effectively destroy buildings quickly before the opponent can react.
Elegost (Adventure: Grey Company)

* Portrait
* In Game

"The Bree-folk called them Rangers, and knew nothing of their origin. They were taller and darker than the Men of Bree and were believed to have strange powers of sight and hearing, and to understand the languages of beasts and birds. They roamed at will southwards, and eastwards even as far as the Misty Mountains; but they were now few and rarely seen. When they appeared they brought news from afar, and told strange forgotten tales which were eagerly listened to; but the Bree-folk did not make friends of them."
—Fellowship of the Ring, At the Sign of the Prancing Pony

Elegost Dúnadan was a Ranger of the North under the command of the chieftain Aragorn, he helped his brothers in arms keep the lands of Eriador safe from the forces of darkness. During his many travels, he met the Hadhod the Dwarf and quickly formed a close bond of friendship. He would also answer the call to join with his chieftain and his fellow Dúnedain brethren in the rescue of Gondor, and together they would form the Grey Company to support their future king.

While Elegost is typically a summonable hero for Reign of Ironfoot Erebor in standard play, he is also a permanent and playable hero for both the Adventure: Grey Company subfaction based on Gondor as well as the Lord of the Rings campaign.

*For his Erebor temporary summon variant, see the Elegost page.*

## Abilities

**True Shot (W)** - A high damage attack that instills fear into enemy units for 10 seconds. Left click icon then left click on target.

**Grace of Kingsfoil (R)** - For 10 seconds, Elegost heals nearby units and heroes over time. Left click to activate.

**Ranger Craft (T)** - Enemies in radius lose -50% vision range and -25% movement speed for 30 seconds. Left click then left click on target area.

## Strategy

Elegost as a permanent hero in the Adventure: Grey Company subfaction and the Lord of the Rings campaign is very similar to his temporary summon variant, although he has less health to compensate for being a permanent hero. He has immediate access to his abilities at level 1, all of which make him a useful and versatile hero. **True Shot** is most effective when used against high priority single targets, such as monsters and heroes due to its high damage; alternatively it can be used to disrupt enemy armies as units to the arrow's impact are temporarily afraid. **Ranger Craft** allows Elegost to significantly reduce the effectiveness of enemy archers by reducing their vision range, allowing his allies to more successfully pursue retreating enemies or retreat themselves with fewer losses. **Grace of Kingsfoil** provides a temporary aura of continued healing, and it is best utilized immediately after **Skilled Healers** or Aragorn's **Kingsfoil** has been cast to provide the player's army and heroes prolonged healing and durability. It is important to keep Elegost safe and protected in the backline so that he can attack enemies safely from a distance and cast his useful abilities multiple times thanks to no longer having a time limit on his presence.
Farmer Maggot

* Portrait
* Ingame

"What's wrong with old Maggot?" Pippin asked, "He's a good friend to all the Brandybucks. Of course he's a terror to trespassers, and keeps ferocious dogs - but after all, folk down here are near the border and have to be more on their guard."
—Fellowship of the Ring, A Shortcut to Mushrooms

Farmer Maggot was a hobbit farmer who lived at Bamfurlong at the borders of the Shire. He was known for chasing off trespassers with his three dogs: Grip, Fang and Wolf. During the War of the Ring, Farmer Maggot offered Frodo, Sam, and Pippin refuge for the night before they met up with Merry and made their way out of the Shire via the Buckleberry Ferry.

In Age of the Ring, Farmer Maggot is a hero for Rivendell recruitable from a level 3 Bree-land Encampment.

## Abilities

**Maggot's Hounds** - Grip, Fang and Wolf passively guard Farmer Maggot. Passive ability.

**Level 2: Bamfurlong (R)** - Summons Farmer Maggot's farm for a short time. Generates a large amount of resources.

## Strategy

Farmer Maggot is not a particularly useful hero in combat, instead he is extremely important for Rivendell in the early game because of his **Bamfurlong** ability which helps buff Rivendell's weak early economy. This makes it easier for Rivendell to transition from early tier units to mid tier units, such as Dúnedain Rangers. **Bamfurlong** is indeed useful through the entire game, and can be coupled with Revelers and Reverance of Yavanna to increase Rivendell's resource production.
Anórien Archers

* Portrait
* Standard
* Skirmish
* Upgraded

"Shot and dart fell thick; siege-towers crashed or blazed suddenly like torches. All before the walls on either side of the Gate the ground was choked with wreck and with bodies of the slain; yet still driven as by a madness more and more came up."
—The Siege of Gondor, The Return of the King

Wielding great bows of heartwood, Anórien Archers played a vital role in the defence of the White City. They were on the walls and by the gate, raining down arrows on any orcs that came too close.

The Anórien Archers are Gondor's ranged units in the mid-late game. They are less specialized for pure damage than the Ithilien Rangers but are more heavily armoured and can use fire arrows to deal increased damage to buildings and siege. They can also form combo hordes.

## Abilities and Formations

**Bombard (W)** - continually bombard the target area with a volley of projectiles. Left click icon and then left click on the target area.

**Level 2: Skirmish Formation (R)** - +25% damage, +15% speed, -50% armour

## Upgrades

**Heavy Armour (T)** - When equipped, significantly reduces the amount of damage taken. Research upgrade at Blacksmith to enable this equipment. Cost: 300

**Fire Arrows (C)** - upgrades this battalion with fire arrows. Significantly increases the damage done by arrows. Cost: 300

**Banner Carriers (V)** - When equipped, increases this battalion to level 2. Research upgrade at Blacksmith to enable this equipment. Cost: 100

## Strategy

The Anórien Archers are the most heavily armoured of all the Gondor archers, enabling them to take the most damage which would make them more appropriate in the later stages of the game. Their formation can be used to deal additional damage but only if the player is certain that they will not be attacked too much as the armour debuff is considerable. In later stages of the game, Fire Arrows can be a good investment to increase attack damage, especially against buildings. Faramir is a good hero to work with the archers due to his own bow, leadership and ranged abilities.
Gimli (Stormcrow)

* Portrait
* In Game
* Mounted

"Down from the wall leapt Gimli with a fierce cry that echoed in the cliffs. 'Khazâd! Khazâd!' He soon had work enough. "Ai-oi!" he shouted. "The Orcs are behind the wall. Ai-oi! Come, Legolas! There are enough for us both. Khazâd ai-mênu!"
—The Two Towers, Helm's Deep

Following the breaking of the Fellowship and the passing of Boromir, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli pursued the squad of Uruk Scouts that had taken Merry and Pippin captive. The Three Hunters' pursuit led them to Fangorn Forest where they discovered the newly resurrected Gandalf the White, who assured them of the Hobbits' safety and instead took them to Rohan. They helped free King Théoden from the influence of Saruman and Wormtongue and defend Rohan from the Isengard army at the Battle for Helm's Deep, where they were ultimately victorious. During this battle, Gimli and Legolas competed with each other to kill the most Uruk-Hai. Gimli won this competition with a kill count of 43 as opposed to Legolas' 42.

In Age of the Ring, Gimli is a summonable hero along with Aragon, Legolas and Gandalf the White for Rohan as part of the Stormcrow spell book power. They last on the battlefield for 90 seconds and have abilities distinct from their counterparts in other factions.

## Abilities

**The Three Hunters**- Modifier type: Leadership. When near Aragorn or Legolas, Gimli gains +25% armour and speed. Passive ability.

**Baruk-Khazad! (R)** - Gimli jumps to a location causing area-effect damage. Left click icon then left click on target area.

## Strategy

Out of the four heroes summoned by Stormcrow, Gimli is easily the tankiest and should be used to absorb damage in the stead of Rohan's army. He is excellent at dealing damage against enemy units and can be used to clear large groups using his **Baruk-Khazad** ability which knocks back enemies near to the target area. Gimli is a particularly slow hero and so should be kept nearby his fellow Hunters to grant him additional speed and armour, which makes him even more durable. Gimli can ride alongside Legolas as a passenger - he cannot attack in this state but it enables the player to quickly move him across the map, such as to attack the enemy base or defend Rohan's army.
Bolg (summoned)

* Portrait
* Bow
* Melee

"Dread has come upon you all! Alas! It has come more swiftly than I guessed. The Goblins are upon you! Bolg of the North is coming, O Dáin ! Whose father you slew in Moria. Behold! The bats are above his army like a sea of locusts. They ride upon wolves and Wargs are in their train!"
—Gandalf the Grey

**Bolg** was the spawn of Azog, assuming control of his sire's realms in the event of his death at the hand of Dáin Ironfoot in the Battle of Azanulbizar. From the Orc-hold of Gundabad, Bolg prepared his conquest of the North.

After the death of the Great Goblin, Bolg incited Orcs from across the Grey Mountains and the Misty Mountains to march to the Lonely Mountain, which had been recently reclaimed by Thorin Oakenshield and his company. Unbeknownst to him, armies from the Iron Hills, Woodland Realm and Lake-town had also come to the Mountain culminating in the Battle of the Five Armies. During the ensuing skirmish, Bolg saw the chance to avenge his father against Durin's folk, with him and his Bodyguards slaying the royal princes Fíli  and Kíli as well as the newly crowned King under the Mountain Thorin. Though fulfilling his goal, Bolg himself was soon after crushed by the Skin-changer Beorn, with the battle itself soon after ending in a disastrous defeat of the depleted Orc ranks.

**Bolg was a summonable hero in older versions of Age of the Ring and is no longer a feature of the mod in this state. To see the previous role of this hero in Misty Mountains, please click "expand".**

In Age of the Ring, Bolg is a hero for Misty Mountains who is summoned, along with a temporary battalion of Horrors of Gram, by Azog's level 10 ability Spawn of the Defiler. He lasts on the battlefield for 80 seconds.

## Abilities

**Toggle Weapon (T)**- Left click to toggle between bow and melee.

**Orcish Fury (R)**- Bolg temporarily gains 200% damage and 25% armour, can only be used with melee equipped. Left click to activate.

## Strategy

Bolg is a very useful summonable summon in the middle of a battle because he spawns with an additional heroic unit which can inflict heavy damage to the enemy unit, particularly if Misty Mountains already has Horrors of Gram in the battle. Bolg himself is a versatile hero as he can inflict damage from range when using his bow or can engage the enemy using his melee weapon; **Orcish Fury**allows Bolg to dispatch large numbers of enemies or specifically target heroes - especially those weakened by Azog's **Headhunter** ability which reduces hero armour and speed.
Brood of Shelob

* Portrait
* In Game

"Far and wide her lesser broods, bastards of the miserable mates, her own offspring, that she slew, spread from glen to glen, from the Ephel Dúath to the eastern hills, to Dol Guldur and the fastnesses of Mirkwood."
—Shelob's Lair, The Two Towers

Shelob had many children in her lair in the Pass of Cirith Ungol. While some of them spread north to the forests of Mirkwood, others stayed within the valleys and caves of the Ephel Dúath, hunting down orcs and men who ventured into the Mountains.

Brood of Shelob are summoned from Mordor's Terror of Cirith Ungol (15PP) spellbook power. They come upgraded with venom sacs.

## Strategy

Brood of Shelob are one of Mordor's only cavalry units. This can make them powerful at trampling swordsmen and archers if summoned behind their line, although they must be careful not to be focused down by archers or attacked by pikemen. They can also use their speed to chase enemy cavalry as well and can use their poisonous attacks to deal heavy damage. This can be combined with Shelob's Dark Deterrent to great effect as this power will freeze enemy units in place.
Heavenly Light Goddess

## Appearance

She was a stunningly beautiful Heavenly Goddess. Her body was composed of countless specks of light, and she measured over one million feet in height. Behind her, there was a gigantic wheel formed from nine hundred and ninety thousand distinctly different phenomena. It was as though all of heaven and earth were encompassed within them.

## History

She created and ruled over the Heavenly Human Tribe in order to exterminate all humans. Originally she was waiting for the Heavenly Dao's backlash to disappear before showing up, but when Chen Chen went out of his way to capture Heavenly Fire God as a gift for An Lin, Heavenly Light Goddess got infuriated, along with Heavenly Earth God they attacked Heaven Crushing Sect's base, Land of Eternal Light. Cyril and rest of the Heaven Crushing Sect members managed to hold them off for a while with the help of an immensely powerful spell formation, just as it was about to crack entirely Chen Chen arrived back, fighting with Heavenly Light Goddess and getting hurt, but Heavenly Light Goddess got a strong backlash after the fight as well.
Dunlending Spearmen

* Portrait
* In Game
* Upgraded
* Spear Wall

"Since Orcs were less avail in such fighting because of their stature, fierce companies of the Dunlendish hillmen were thrown against it. But for all their hatred the Dunlendings were still afraid of the Rohirrim if they met face to face, and they were also less skilled in warfare and less well armed. The shieldwall still held."
—Unfinished Tales, The Battles of the Fords of Isen

The armed forces of Wulfgar of Dunland included a number of well-equipped spearmen. In times of peace, these spears would have been used for the Dunlendings' regular hunts of boar and stag. By the War of the Ring though, peace was no longer an option, and Wulfgar was forced into war with the people of Rohan under the banner of Saruman. Those same spears were now used against the fearsome Rohirrim cavalry.

The Dunlending Spearmen are the Auxiliary Camp unit for the Forces of Darkness in Enedwaith maps.

## Abilities and Formations

**Spear Wall Formation (W)** - The units form a spear wall. Units lose 40% speed, gain resistance to knockback, decelerate crush, and gain +30% armour.

**Level 2: Death to the Forgoil! (R)** - Dunlending Spearmen gain 15% armour and immunity to fear and terror for 30 seconds. Left click to activate.

## Upgrades

**Blackened Plate (T)** - When equipped, significantly reduces the amount of damage taken. Cost: 300

**Cruel Blades (C)** - When equipped, increases damage dealt by melee weapons. Cost: 300

**Crow Banners (V)** - when equipped, increases this battalion to level 2. Cost: 100

## Strategy

Dunlending Spearmen are the pikemen equivalent of the other Dunlending available to Isengard such as the Dunlending Axemen, the Dunlending Longbowmen and the Dunnish Outriders, though the Spearmen are available to all Forces of Darkness factions in Enedwaith maps. As such, these Spearmen are effective units for the mid and late stages of the game with good stats and the ability to purchase armour and damage upgrades. **Spear Wall** **Formation** works here as it does for all pikemen units that have it, offering a strong boost in survivability at the expense of speed. **Death to the Forgoil!** is unique to the Dunlending Spearmen though. The ability further amplifies their defensive strengths while also granting immunity to fear and terror, something that can come in very useful in certain matchups, such as Gondor with Boromir or Mordor with the Nazgûl. As such, the Dunlending Spearmen are an effective, general-case unit for the Forces of Darkness.