Shadow of War Guide: How To Rule Mordor Early In The Game

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is available now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It's a vast, mechanically dense game, and if you want to rise to the top of Mordor's food chain, you'll have to scheme and stab your way there. It's tricky, but we've got a few tips that will help make that climb a little easier.

The early game can be a little bit overwhelming as there's a whole lot of skills to unlock and interconnected systems to get your head around. And, of course, there's the pesky orcs looking to stick you with the sharp end of a blade too.

In this part of the game, you don't get the absolute game-changer that is the Dominate ability--that comes a little later--so this tips guide will focus on ways you can make Uruks do your bidding without overpowering their minds. Put the handy tips featured in the video above into practice and you'll be decapitating foes and mounting Caragors in no time.

In GameSpot's Shadow of War review, Justin Haywald awarded it a 7/10, saying that "it tries to be larger than its predecessor … yet it leaves you wanting less." He continued: "But at its core, it's a fun experience with brilliant moments that provide fascinating insight into some of the untold stories of Middle-earth."

For a broader look at the game's reception, take a look at our Shadow of War review roundup.

If you want to get caught up on the story before playing the game, there's a Shadow Of War story recap narrated by Bruz, the charming Olog that took center stage during the game's E3 presentation. Or you can read our Shadow of War story so far article for a quick overview.

For those looking seeking advanced Shadow of War tips, keep your eyes on the site as we'll have some of those coming very soon too. In the mean time, get a broader look at the series' place within video game in our video feature on the history of Lord of the Rings games.