Grimbeorn

* Portrait
* In Game
* Ursine Soul

### Recruitment Location

Woodland Realm Fortress (Woodland Realm), Dorwinion Fortress (Adventure: Dorwinion)

### Voiced By

Ki McKenzie

"Frodo learned that Grimbeorn the Old, son of Beorn, was now the lord of many sturdy men, and to their land between the Mountains and Mirkwood neither orc nor wolf dared to go.
"lndeed," said Glóin, "if it were not for the Beornings, the passage from Dale to Rivendell would long ago have become impossible. They are valiant men and keep open the High Pass and the Ford of Carrock. But their tolls are high," he added with a shake of his head; "and like Beorn of old they are not over fond of dwarves. Still, they are trusty, and that is much in these days."
—Fellowship of the Ring, Many Meetings

Grimbeorn the Old, son of Beorn, was now the lord of many sturdy men, and to their land between the Mountains and Mirkwood neither orc nor wolf dared to go. He and his men kept guard of the High Pass and the Carrock, so that travelers could traverse these lands without fear of orc ambushes. Like his father, Grimbeorn was a Skin-changer and could transform into a great black bear that was the bane of the orcs of the Misty Mountains and the terrible forces of Dol Guldur.

In Age of the Ring, Grimbeorn is a hero in Woodland Realm and its Adventure: Dorwinion subfaction. He requires a Beorning Lodge to be built in order to be recruited.

## Poem

**Bear Ballad** by Valkyrie. Click **Expand** to read.
*I overheard one odd recount
From woodsmen telling tales:
“No horses Fairies like to mount
But deer and nightingales.”*

*On elks, in fact, they’re thought to roam
The green across and through,
While birds of song ‘neath forest-dome
Bemock their Elven rue.*

*Another story laid its root
In sylvan nearer grounds:
“Some kin of yore still walk afoot
And louder roar than hounds!”*

*They labour, log, till earth, and draw
Sweet honey off their work
To order nature’s bitter flaw,
Though happy trees grew mirk.*

*This elder line know many pains
By either sword or time,
For once the serf was kept in chains,
Enslaved being all his prime.*

*It seems their skin could change at will;
It does when they so list.
Their hair is made a hide for chill
And cold to well resist.*

*Where nails would lie, now claws appear,
The size of lance’s point;
More dreadful jaw’s not known to fear,
Be wolf and ogre joint.*

*“Who bears within a bear,
May look without a man;
A man who’s naked-bare
On ursine leg may run.”*

## Abilities

**Son of Beorn (W)** - Provides +33% armor to nearby Beornings. Passive ability. When activated, Grimbeorn instills fear into the hearts of all Orc and Warg units for 15 seconds. Left click to activate.

**Strongman (R)** - Grimbeorn powerfully swings his massive axe, dealing damage to everything around him. Grows in strength as Grimbeorn ranks up. Left click to activate.

**Level 3: Toll-keepers (T)** - Can be cast on any resource structure to spawn a chest of 850 resources. Pauses resource production for 30 seconds as a result. Left click icon then left click on target structure.

**Level 6: Beorning Bodyguard (C)** - Grimbeorn summons three Beornings to guard an allied hero or structure for a short time. Left click icon then left click on target hero or structure.

**Level 10: Ursine Soul (V)** - Grimbeorn permanently deals knockback damage. Passive ability. When activated, Grimbeorn for transforms into a bear for 90 seconds to wreak havoc among the enemy, gaining additional +25% damage and +50% armor. Causes nearby enemies to flee in terror. Left click to activate.

## Strategy

Although he is locked behind a Beorning Lodge and a significant build cost, Grimbeorn is a deadly force on the battlefield who is more than worth the investment. His basic attack deals splash damage which allows him to engage multiple enemies at once, this combined with **Strongman** makes him a deadly foe to any army. Grimbeorn also has a supportive role as he buffs Beorning Berserkers with additional armour and can summon Beornings to protect valuable heroes and structures with Beornings via **Beorning Bodyguard** - this can give heroes such as Thranduil and Legolas an even greater edge in combat as they are defended by sturdy bodyguards. **Toll-keepers** strengthens Woodland Realm's already strong economy: it can be used out of combat on a friendly resource structure for an acute boost in resources or can be used during a siege on the enemy's base on an enemy resource structure to grant Woodland Realm a large amount of resources whilst pausing enemy resource production. Without a doubt, Grimbeorn's deadliest ability is **Ursine Soul**, which allows him to transform into a black bear. In this form he can trample enemies, deals additional damage and is even more durable than in Man form - his greatest weakness in this form is being attacked by multiple heroes and pikemen as they deal trample revenge damage.