Part 29

Discover expert tips and strategies for The Lord of the Rings Online's Evil campaign, focusing on Isengard and Mordor tactics for victory.

Hey there! So, you're diving into the Evil campaign in The Lord of the Rings Online? Awesome! This section is all about sharing some cool insights and strategies that players have found super helpful, especially when tackling the tougher missions. We'll cover some neat tricks for both Isengard and Mordor that can really turn the tide in your favor.

Amon-Hen Mission (Isengard): One player suggested a neat opening move: churn out a bunch of Uruk Hordes right away. Use their 'bloodthirsty' ability to get two hordes up to Rank 2, then merge them with Crossbows. This gives you an immediate Banner Carrier Horde, which is super handy for keeping your forces strong.

Merging Hordes (Isengard): You'll often hear about merging hordes, and there's a really effective strategy with Uruk Hordes. Since Orcs don't have a healing well like some other factions, the main way to get troops back to full health is by killing off some units and letting the banner carrier regenerate them. With a merged stack, you can charge into enemies, take some casualties, then retreat to the back. The fresh units can then charge back in at full health. Single hordes get wiped out too fast, but a merged horde can go down to its last Orc and regenerate to full strength. This is especially powerful for Isengard because they have so many upgrades and merging options.

My Take on Merging: I tried this strategy out, and it definitely works! It's a bit of a gamble, though. If you mess up and lose those Level 2 units to the elves, you might be in a tough spot. But if you pull it off, it's a fantastic alternative way to approach the mission. It really leans into the 'evil' theme, doesn't it? Sacrificing units to win!

Isengard's War Machine: You've hit on the core of the unstoppable Isengard war machine! Merging normal Uruk Hordes with Pike Uruks is incredibly effective. They can take down archers, infantry, cavalry, and any mix of them with ease. Plus, they can soak up a ton of damage while your Uruk/Crossbow combos provide massive support fire. What I usually do is rotate them around. If I have 3-4 companies of sword-pike Uruks as my front line, and another 3 companies of crossbow/sword Uruks for support, I can rotate the damaged units to the rear while fresh ones keep pushing forward. This way, you never let up the pressure. It's like an ancient Roman army, but much more evil!

Mordor Headaches: Mordor, on the other hand, can be a bit of a headache for me. I'm not a huge fan of having massive numbers of units that die too easily. I prefer a more tactical approach rather than just mob warfare. If I can figure out some solid Mordor tactics, I'll definitely be adding them to the FAQ.

Sieging Rohan Gates (Isengard): For sieging Rohan gates, a great tactic is to build about 4 Ballistas and set them to fire on the gate. Rohan's only real artillery are the Ents, so your Ballistas can usually stay safely outside of Archer Range. Meanwhile, your Uruks and Pikemen can be ready to push back any cavalry charges. Forget Battering Rams or ladders – they just die too fast. By targeting the gates with Ballistas, you force Rohan to come out and meet you. Once the Siege Works are upgraded, you can even use Mines for some extra fun!

Population Control (Isengard): Sometimes you need to adjust your army's composition. For example, if you start the Edoras level with 7 merged hordes of Uruk/Crossbows but only have 400 Command Points, don't be afraid to break up a horde or two in the slaughterhouse. Just use the lowest-level ones. The Evil economy is so strong that upgrading new merged hordes is pretty manageable.

Emyn Arnen Mission (Mordor): Here's a potential strategy for Mordor on the Emyn Arnen mission. First, you need to survive the initial onslaught of Gondor knights. If you have a few Soldiers of Rhûn left, this should be manageable. After that, move north and take the outpost. Then, build 3 Orc Pits and set them to spawn 15+ Orc hordes from each, north of the outpost. The AI tends to get bogged down fighting these Orcs, allowing your main