8 - Rivendell

Objective: Penetrate the perimeter of Rivendell.

You begin in the southern edge of Rivendell with a Fortress, archers, Half-Troll Marauders, and Gorkil the Goblin King. Begin construction of tunnels and Lumber Mills throughout the southern area. Move your units west of your Fortress. The enemy will use Arrow Volley and Barrage to damage your units. Keep Gorkil to the east and he’ll take the Arrow Volley blow then simply regenerate health. Move units away from tunnels as well to avoid being killed in any power attack.

It won’t be long before Glorfindel attacks with some cavalry support. He arrives from the east and uses a Barrage attack beforehand (keep your units away from your structures). Use Half-Troll Marauders to counter the cavalry. Surround Glorfindel because he’ll try to escape when he’s low on health. It’s better to slay him now so make sure he’s completely surrounded by units.

Explore the southwestern corner for a Warg Lair (use Untamed Allegiance) and a Signal Fire. Capture the Signal Fire for faster regeneration of your powers. Your goal is to acquire enough points to activate the Summon Balrog power. It shouldn’t be a problem but may not happen until later in the mission.

Consider additional Fortress upgrades, like the Dragon’s Nest to train a Fire Drake. There are also more heroes to recruit.

Play defensively at first and begin construction of Fortress expansions: add the Giant Sentry and Arrow Dens. You can also use resources to upgrade the Fortress with the Web Cocoon (increases Fortress Armor) and then the Dragon’s Nest, which allows you to summon a Fire Drake. It’s expensive but later in the mission when you have plentiful resources in your reserves consider the addition for the extra unit and its power.

Also, select the Fortress and recruit more heroes: Shelob and Drogoth the Dragon Lord. Drogoth is expensive but extremely powerful (his fiery abilities are extremely powerful against enemy battalions). Construct a fissure and upgrade to Mountain Giants, a Treasure Trove, and Orc Pit. Patiently defend your position until you have created a mammoth army and researched full upgrades.

If you press east, expect to encounter additional Elven battalions. Beware of western attacks when you press east. There’s an Outpost in the southeastern corner. Capture it to increase resource production. There’s also a Shipwright on the eastern edge. You can capture it and build Corsair Black Ships to attack the tower on the northern side of the river but it’s not necessary.

One of the most important things to do during this early defense is to locate the southern path found just east of your base. It’s a narrow path leading to the map’s edge. There’s nothing there now but later in the mission, the Fellowship attacks with the Army of the Dead. Use resources to construct a row of four towers at the northern edge of the path. Upgrade each tower to Fire Arrows and even add upgraded archers to each tower.

The Balrog can wipe out legions of enemy troops.

With a maximized command limit, explore the western side and discover the bridge leading to the western side of Rivendell. Enemy towers protect the crossing. Lure Dunedain forces across the bridge and into your heroes and units. Soon Mordor forces arrive with additional reinforcements. At the same time, watch out for a Hobbit assault in the southeast.

You’re given new builders to construct Mordor forces. Use a builder to construct another Fortress at the western bridge and add defensive expansions (especially arrow towers). Add more defensive towers to protect against an impending eagle attack.

You’re also provided with catapults. Construct a Great Siege Works to reinforce them (though you’re likely over the command limit at the moment). Use catapults and Mountain Giants against the towers. Upgraded archers unload from the crumbling tower; these upgraded enemies can make quick work of your catapults and other units. Destroy them quickly with Mountain Giants’ ranged attack with support from your heroes.

Work slowly to destroy each tower protecting the road into Rivendell. Once you have destroyed each tower and penetrated Rivendell, a new objective appears.