Chapter 4 - Evil Campaign Walkthrough

This section provides general strategies and a complete walkthrough for the evil campaign. You begin controlling the Goblins and move on to the armies of Mordor. Walkthroughs include solutions for completing all objectives and bonus objectives and tips on succeeding in specific battle situations.

One of the most important tips is to remain patient. In most missions, there is no hurry to complete objectives (unless there’s a specific countdown on the screen). It pays to play defensive and concentrate on building structures, upgrading those structures, maximizing your command limit with powerful units, and improving those units. A patient strategy also pays off late in missions when you should have a larger sum of resources available for additional defenses at your base or additional defenses (like a Fortress with multiple expansions) used offensively!

Another important tip is to maximize the level of your heroes during each mission. Lead battles with your heroes and reach that mission’s "level plateau" where the hero will stop gaining levels. This way you can have faster access to abilities.

Likewise, maximize the number of The One Ring power points you can acquire during each mission. You’ll gain points while eliminating enemy units and structures but each level has a plateau where you won’t gain any more points. Reach that level, if at all possible, before completing the level.

The One Ring Powers

The campaigns feature a power set unique to the forces of good and evil. This section provides a rundown of the most important The One Ring Powers--the powers available to the forces of evil--that you may choose from during the evil campaign. Tips for using each are also provided in the mission walkthroughs. You may acquire more than the powers listed below but these are certainly the "must haves" for the campaign. Number of points required to acquire the power is listed in parenthesis.

• Tainted Lands (5) : This is essentially the equivalent of the Evenstar power Elven Wood. It "taints" the targeted area of terrain and provides +50% damage and armor to ally units. Use as the battle begins when enemy units are forced to fight or retreat and remain under assault from your pursuing army.
• War Chant (5) : This power is similar to the Evenstar power Rallying Call. Use War Chant on your most impressive units (high-damage and high-armor trolls are a good bet!) and boost their damage and armor +50%.
• Darkness (10) : Temporarily covers the map in darkness, which boosts ally units damage and armor by 50%. Darkness is excellent for providing an assist during an important skirmish or when assaulting an enemy base.
• Untamed Allegiance (10) : You’ll encounter various monster lairs throughout the evil campaign. Use Untamed Allegiance to gain control of the creatures around the lair; also, you can train more from the lair itself. Although it’s not particularly useful (other than solving a bonus objective) early in the campaign, it pays off at Erebor where you can capture and train Fire Drakes.
• Arrow Volley (15) : This power launches a volley of arrows (hence the name!) at a designated target--it’s best used on a stationary group of enemies. It can wipe out a couple battalions! One of the best uses for Arrow Volley comes at Erebor where you can wipe out a whole group of enemy builders--for their treasure!
• Eye of Sauron (15) : Invoke the Eye of Sauron for a number of benefits: it reveals stealthed enemies (which helps against rangers in several missions, such as Fornost), boosts allies damage and armor +50%, and those allies boost experience twice as fast.
• Industry (15) : A power like Industry can be useful, especially in a mission like Erebor where you need resources as fast as possible to maintain your defense. However, for the most part it’s easier to turtle in and play defense against the not-so-aggressive AI and accumulate a lot of resources with or without Industry.
• Summon Dragon (20) : Obliterate enemy structures or units with the aid of a fire-breathing dragon. This evil power is particularly useful in eliminating King Dain’s army at Erebor.
• Dragon Strike (20) : A fire-breathing dragon does a fly-by scorching. Ignite battalions of units with this devastating power.
• Summon Balrog (20) : This is the pinnacle of evil powers and a huge benefit in the battle at Rivendell, the last mission of the evil campaign. Check Balrog’s powers for additional damage against battalions or structures standing in the Balrog’s way. Work quickly because he’s gone before you know it!
• Rain of Fire (20) : Efficient acquisition of powers means you’ll likely be able to gain Rain of Fire during Rivendell as well. Use it to crush the Rivendell Fortresses (it’s also similar to one of Sauron’s abilities).