Saruman

* Portrait
* In Game
* Ring Form

"We may join with that Power. It would be wise, Gandalf. There is hope that way. Its victory is at hand; and there will be rich reward for those that aided it. As the Power grows, its proved friends will also grow; and the Wise, such as you and I, may with patience come at last to direct its courses, to control it."
—Saruman

**Saruman** was the first and greatest of the Istari. His knowledge, however, turned to vanity and greed, and through his desire to become the ruler of Middle-earth in Sauron's likeness he instead ended up as the Dark Lord's puppet.

A Maia of Aulë, Saruman was one of five emissaries of the Valar sent to help the Free Peoples counter Sauron's re-emergence. Owing to his vast researches into the lore of Middle-earth, particularly the devices of the Enemy, he was recognized as chief of both the Wizards and the White Council. Over time, Saruman fell from his errand, loathing Gandalf as a rival and falling into imitating Sauron. After establishing his seat of power in Orthanc at Isengard, he was lured by Sauron with promises of power. Though acting out the Dark Lord's will, the White Wizard plotted to usurp his new master's place, unaware that he was merely an instrument of that greater spirit. Saruman built an army in Isengard to capture the Ring-bearer first, as well conquer Rohan and join the assault on Gondor per Sauron's command; he also used Wormtongue as a mole to control Théoden. After his gamble to seize the One Ring failed, the White Wizard made a final attack on the Horse-lords, to avoid appearing a rebel to his cheated master. Saruman's treachery was avenged by the combined efforts of the Rohirrim and the Ents of Fangorn, and he cast out from the Istari ranks by the returned Gandalf. Backstabbed by his own mistreated footman, Wormtongue, the corrupted Wizard's spirit was left a lingering shadow, unable to return to Middle-earth.

In the Age of the Ring mod, Saruman is the faction leader of Isengard. The One Ring can be delivered to him or the Isengard Fortress, transforming Saruman into his Ring form - **Saruman of Many Colours**. In this form, Saruman's attacks are ranged and his ability set is replaced by a stronger set.

## Abilities

### Default abilities

**Level 1: Lord of Orthanc (W)** - Close range attack that blasts back enemies. Left click then left click on target.

Modifier Type: Leadership. Allies near Saruman gain +300% armour to magic and elemental damage, earn experience 100% faster and become immune to fear and terror. Stacks with buffs and spells. Passive ability.

**Level 3: Fireball (R)** - Throws a ball of energy. Left click then left click on target.

**Level 5: Speech Craft (T)** - Target units gain excellent experience. Left click then left click on target units.

**Level 7: Redhorn's Wrath (C)** - Strikes a powerful lightning bolt against target enemies. Left click icon then left click on target.

**Level 10: Voice of Curunir (V)** - Temporarily gains control over target enemies. Left click then left click on target units.

### Ring Form abilities

**Level 1: Saruman of Many Colours (W)** - Allows Saruman to attack from great range. Can be used to crush enemy units. Left click icon then left click on target area. Modifier Type: Leadership. Nearby units gain +50% damage, +50% armor, increased experience gain, and fear immunity. At rank 5, nearby furnaces gain +50% resources. Nearby enemies are terrified. Passive ability.

**Level 3: Ruinous Wrath (R)** - Flame erupts from the ground beneath the targeted enemies. Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Level 5: Dark Eloquence (T)** - Give targeted units excellent experience. Shorter cooldown with the One Ring. Left click icon then left click on target units.

**Level 7: Storm of Orthanc (C)** - Summons a moveable cloud that shoots lightning, enemies below are slowed. Left click icon then left click on target area.

**Level 10: The Ruling Ring (V)** - Permanently gain control of targeted enemies. Left click icon then left click on target enemies.

## Strategy

Saruman is designed to be devastating to enemy forces. His basic attack deals AOE damage. **Lord of Orthanc** can be used to deal high damage to clumps of enemies. **Fireball** has a small AOE but can be cast at range, leaving Saruman less vulnerable, and also deals additional fire damage. **Redhorn's Wrath** also deals very high magic damage from range. All 3 of these abilities will knock down their targets even if they aren't killed. However, Saruman's most powerful ability is **Voice of Curunir** which allows him to temporarily take control of enemy units. This can instantly weaken an enemy army while also adding them to your own forces (which can be particularly useful when heroic units are involved). **Speech Craft** is the only non-offensive ability but still useful as it can improve your own forces and save money on banner carriers.

As Saruman of Many Colours, Saruman becomes a force to be reckoned with: he can attack from good range; allowing him to dispatch large numbers of enemies from a safe distance. His ability set is enhanced: **Saruman of Many Colours** allows him to empower friendly units with armour against all damage types and considerably increased damage, as well as disrupt the enemies ranks with a powerful flood-like attack. **Ruinous Wrath** can be used to restrict the map as the target area deals high fire damage to enemies: this ability can be used mid-combat to force the enemy either to retreat to avoid taking damage from the target area at the cost of losing map control and units being chased down, or taking significant damage to their army. **Dark Eloquence** is identical to Speech Craft, except its cooldown is reduced so that new units can regularly be leveled up for free by Saruman. **Storm of Orthanc** has a less immediate effect than **Redhorn's Wrath** but deals damage over time to target units and can make enemy retreats much more difficult as units targeted by the storm are slowed whilst taking damage - this can be used to prevent high priority targets, such as heroes and heroic units escaping combat, and in combination with **Ruinous Wrath** to keep enemies locked in the burning area. **The Ruling Ring** is arguably Saruman of Many Colours most dangerous power as it can permanently convert large numbers of elite and heroic units if the enemy's army is clumped - effectively doubling Isengard's numbers for free.