Send out your spies and the Nazgûl to find and return the One Ring. Bring Middle-earth to it’s knees. Rule them all..
Shadow of the East
If you maintain your alliances with Khand, Rhûn and Harad, you have the oppurtunity to recruit some of their better units.
The Nine Nazgûl
You don’t have access to all the Nazgûl at the start of the game. They will slowly return to Mordor during the campaign. If they die, they will continously respawn every 15 turns after they were killed. If Dol Guldur dies you get their Nazgûl as well. If Saruman claims the One Ring, the Nazgûl will slowly leave to serve him instead.
These warriors are dedicated to protecting the general on the battlefield. Hand-picked for loyalty and valour and benefiting from quality armour and weapons, the general's bodyguard are elite heavy infantry capable of devastating charges and dealing plenty of carnage in hand to hand, as well as taking on odds that would send lesser units running and screaming for mercy.
Black Uruks are a larger, more powerful breed of orcs, much stronger and more resilient than their lesser cousins, though not nearly as numerous. For this reason, Uruk are often used as archers, able to utilize larger, longer-ranged bows than other orcs. Clad in heavy armour, they are more than capable of defending themselves if charged by the enemy, replacing their bows with short swords to hack away at the enemy.
Black Uruks are a larger, more powerful breed of orcs, much stronger and more resilient than their lesser cousins, though not nearly as numerous.
Sometimes, to serve as a bodyguard for important leaders, the biggest, tallest, meanest of Uruks are gathered. Each of them a captain in their own right, they are armed with better armour and weapons as befits their status. Being more than the rank-and-file Uruk, they possess a level of tactical flexibility that makes them a source of terror for the armies of Men. Before combat is joined, they will unleash a hellish salvo upon their foe from afar, with surprising accuracy for Orcs, before charging into the fray with reckless abandon and barely constrained bloodlust.
Black Uruks are a larger, more powerful breed of orcs, much stronger and more resilient than their lesser cousins, though not nearly as numerous. When wielding halberds, Uruk halberdiers become one of the most potent defensive units in Mordor's vast armies. Wielded by powerful soldiers clad in heavy armour and chain mail, these halberdiers are capable of stopping charging enemy cavalry in its tracks, before hacking away with their halberd's chopping blade.
Black Uruks are a larger, more powerful breed of orcs, much stronger and more resilient than their lesser cousins, though not nearly as numerous. Clad in heavy armour plates over chain mail and leather, Uruk infantry serve as brutal frontline soldiers, smashing into the ranks of the enemy at the forefront of the Dark Lord Sauron's attacks, hacking wildly at the enemy with their sword and parrying enemy attacks with their stout shield.
The Great Beasts reside predominantly around the plains of Gorgoroth and Nurn, they are large docile creatures that act as beasts of burden for Mordor in the absence of horses. Their exact origins are unknown, whilst many in Gondor believe that Eru couldn't have created such creatures of malice, it is common belief that they have always resided their and Morgoth just bent them to his evil will. There are even rumours that they are Morgoth's own creation; Orcs to mock the Elves, Trolls to mock the Ents and Beasts to mock the Eagles. These rumours have been unfounded yet they continue. Whilst these beasts act more like cattle and are at their happiest grazing on the grasslands of Nurn, they can whipped into a furious frenzy and can outmatch all but the mighty Oliphaunts on the battlefield. Equipped with a small rickety platform, Orcs climb atop these monsters and throw javelins at any would-be attacker below. It takes great resolve and fine pikes or spears to bring down these creatures and should they find their way to the battlefield the free peoples have a lot to fear...
Orcs are formed only for the purpose of pillaging and looting, murder and terror. But not all orcs are used as nameless masses to destroy the Free People of Middle-earth. Orc Guards are positioned to protect and hold important chokepoints and main entryways into to the dark lands of Mordor and beyond. They are armed with heavy spears and iron shields, and they wear heavy mail forged in the deeps of Barad-dûr and Durthang. Unlike other Orcs they are well trained and they are able to form a very effective defensive line against enemy troops.
Minas Morgul is the only holding of Mordor that has the potential to be in any kind of serious danger because it sits on the border of Gondor and, should they ever desire, the men of the Stone Land could attempt to sweep away the defenders of Minas Morgul and reclaim it. To protect this strategic location, the Witch-king commanded the creation of an unyielding defensive unit, carrying strong spears, mighty shields and wearing armour scavenged and then copied from Gondor. These orcs were then trained tirelessly so they could stand in the face of horrifying odds or against the strongest enemy and not flee. Orc battalions don't often have names but the men of Gondor came to call them 'Chosen' as only the very best Orcs were selected by the Witch-king. Ordered, disciplined and strong, these orcs are a force to be feared on the battlefield but their numbers are few and they are rarely seen outside of the Morgul vale.
The Uruks of Minas Morgul are a strong and powerful breed of Orc, yet they still suffer from the same faults as any of their kin. They are greedy, selfish, and self serving creatures who will descend into anarchy without strong leadership. Enter the Enforcers; Uruks who are selected to bring order to the ranks of hapless maggots that cower before them. Uruks who smile at the chance to cause suffering and make gruesome examples of those who would dare defy the Dark Lord.
These heavy troops answer directly to Gorbag; Captain of the Uruks of Minas Morgul. Gorbag is cunning and keen to maintain his position as Captain, the Enforcers ensure Gorbag is respected by exercising their brutality on their lessers. In this manner Gorbag commands the Uruks, and spreads a healthy fear of their commanders throughout the Morgul host.
Minas Morgul has been breeding a strong and mighty Uruk for many decades, these are the finest specimens of this effort by the Lords of the Morgul Vale. They have been conditioned to accept pain and hardship as if they were meat and grog. Strong and disciplined, these Orc stand as a powerful visage of the future; one where the Orcs rule and the lesser people of middle earth cower and beg at their feet. They are the ones who drive the legions of Mordor to war, drowning the world in a tide of cruelty. They shall bring the final death to the age of men at last.
The Morgul Spearguard are chosen by Gothmog to serve him on the front line. They have been tempered by the most brutal tests of discipline their master can conceive of, and each fears Gothmog more than any enemy. They will fight and kill any man, elf, or beast rather than fail their viscous commander.
Of late, the land of Mordor has been producing a larger, stronger and more resilient breed of Troll, able to withstand direct sunlight unlike their kin who dwell within the Misty Mountains. Clad in partial plate and able to withstand the most punishing blows imaginable, these fearsome monsters tower over Orc, Man and horse alike. Armed with a massive, spiked mace, Battle Trolls cause unimaginable devastation within an enemy's ranks, and are the most lethal and feared troops of the Dark Lord Sauron.
Bows made by the orcs are of sub-standard quality. Often they would break from extended use, or from not receiving proper care and maintenance, as orcs care little for their tools. Arrows on the other hand are more durable and can be reused time and time again. Most often only the shaft or the feathers need replacement. Orcs being clumsy marksmen rarely hunt bird, thus they use fur and sometimes hair from various animals and creatures as arrow feathers. For protection the archers wear simple and worn-out scavenged armour pieces, as they need the freedom of movement to wield their bows. They carry a dagger and crude short swords to defend themselves at close combat, which none of the archers would like to experience.
A tragic and degraded parody of elves engineered by the fallen Vala Melkor, orcs have been the mainstay of evil's presence in Middle-earth for thousands of years. Providing the bulk of labour and soldiers for their dark masters, the orcs have perhaps sacrificed as much to destroy Middle-earth as the Elves have to preserve it. Though untold thousands have fallen by elven arrows, human swords, and Dwarven axes, the orcs' dark pact with evil endures into the Third Age. As Sauron now prepares for his newest campaign against the Free Peoples he is able to quickly call on massive reserves of orcish rabble for any thankless task that needs to be done. Standing on the battlefield with cheaply crafted javelins and shields, the lowly yet numerous orcish scouts' dark blood will once again blacken the ground as they absorb their enemies' main charge while peppering the enemy with arrows and allowing Mordor's deadlier creatures to take up flanking positions.
Orc soldiers, fearful of day, thriving at night. They are brutal and bloodthirsty, both traits exemplified in their love of fighting. Orc warriors wield a mix of axes, swords and whatever else they can find to kill with. A rag-tag assortment of scavenged or orc-smithed armour serves to protect these vicious fighters. Though lacking in training and poorly equipped compared to most human soldiers Orcs will rely on numbers and sheer savagery to overwhelm their foes.
Orc soldiers, fearful of day, thriving at night. They are brutal and bloodthirsty, both traits exemplified in their love of fighting. Orc two-handers wield a mix of axes, hammers and whatever else they can find to kill with. A rag-tag assortment of scavenged or orc-smithed armour serves to protect these vicious fighters. Their weapons, though cumbersome, are brutally effective at shattering armour or cleaving the heads from the necks of their opponents.
Orcish raiders make frequent forays into Ithilien, leading towards Gondor and Rohan or into southern Mirkwood, pillaging and terrorizing any poorly defended settlements. With the advent of a new war they had been tasked with probing Gondor's defences and harassing the elves of Mirkwood and Lórien, but now Sauron's conquests have taken them from their usual prowling grounds straight to the walls of Minas Tirith, Caras Galadhon, and beyond. Though their scavenged and improvised weapons and armour together with a lack of tactical sense for open warfare make them unsuited for head on clashes with decently equipped and disciplined troops, inexperienced or overconfident commanders just might find their lines broken and overrun by the raiders' sheer numbers and beastly aggression.
In origin, Sauron was a Maia named Mairon. In the earliest of days he was among people of Aulë, the Smith the ruling powers of the world. However, Mairon was soon ensnared by Melkor (Morgoth), who wished to rule and order all Arda. Mairon was renamed Sauron served Morgoth faithfully, and even in later days, after Morgoth was defeated and locked outside the confines of the world, Sauron encouraged and coerced Men to worship Morgoth as a God. However, while Morgoth wanted to either control or destroy the very matter of Arda itself, Sauron's desire was to dominate the minds and wills of its creatures. It was in this that Sauron was perhaps more practical than his master Morgoth. Sauron is the Chief Lieutenant of Morgoth, who after his fall became another Dark Lord, and ultimately walks down the same ruinous path to oblivion. In Sindarin he is called Gorthaur and also he is known as the Necromancer, the Abhorred Dread and the Nameless Enemy, whereas Morgoth is the Dark Enemy. The Dúnedain call him Sauron the Deceiver due to his role in the downfall of Númenor and the Forging of the Rings of Power. His two most common titles, the Dark Lord of Mordor and the Lord of the Rings, appear only a few times. His other titles were similar to Morgoth's.
It is very rare for a battalion of orcs to be designated anything other than 'horde' or 'rabble'. Indeed names are only given if the unit has proven themselves in a great feat of war of if they come to be feared enough by their enemies that they have nicknamed them. Therefore, it is a foolish commander who fights against the ranks of 'Sauron's Will' and doesn't have the best of the best with him! Heavily armoured and armed with an horrific array of fierce two-handed weapons, that they wield as if they were a child's wooden sword, these Uruks have rightly earned the name of Sauron's Will as when they fight, his will is done! They are best used as shock troops, routing enemies in almighty charges but can equally hold their own in prolonged combat. Their fighting prowess and renown drew the attention of the Mouth of Sauron and he moved their garrison to Barad-dûr where he took personal command of them, thus protecting the Dark Tower with the very best of Mordor's savage ranks.
These dark descendants of ancient Númenor represent the worst humanity has to offer. Strong, ruthless and ambitious these Númenóreans succumbed to the same weakness of spirit that plagues all of mankind. They gave themselves to Sauron in exchange for power but have only gained hatred and emptiness. After the War of the Last Alliance their numbers dwindled, but even now, after three thousand years, they rise again fuelled by their pride and unquenchable hatred of Gondor. When stepping onto the battlefield the Black Númenóreans leave no doubt about their thoughts and intentions. Led by the Witch-king and advancing in imposing black armour, their faces covered by cruel iron masks, the Black Númenóreans resemble cold executioners as they massacre the enemy ranks with fearsome charges and great swords. These harbingers of death and darkness are a true terror weapon that only the very bravest can hope to stand against.
When the power of Númenor was firmly held by Sauron in his role as chief advisor, he began construction of the infamous 'Temple'. A monstrous worship space, dedicated to Melkor, in the heart of the Númenórean capital of Armenelos. The Temple fell when the island was drowned by The One but the memory of the colossal structure lives on in the descendants of the fell Númenóreans who emigrated to Middle-earth before the Downfall. These Black soldiers now take up the name of the Temple as their war cry as they march across Middle-earth in the name of Sauron the Deceiver! Unlike their melee counterparts, the Marksmen prefer to continue on the famed Númenórean practice of archery. They readily out perform any of Gondor's archers owing to their pure bloodline and constant, almost arm-breaking, practice.
The Black Númenóreans represent Sauron’s most potent vision for humanity. Heartless and devoid of any mercy, these men are the Dark Lords greatest enforcers of his will. Utterly devoted to their master and twisted by his dark magics, what was once a noble man of the west has long since passed into ruinous evil.
Morgoth’s Temple is now Sauron’s training ground for his greatest warriors. These men have devoted themselves to perfecting the art of war. Their brutality and cunning in battle is matched only by their contempt for Sauron’s enemies. As such; they are feared by the Orcs and Uruks of Mordor, and rightly so! For if these men see their own kind as faithless dogs, imagine what brutality they unleash on those not of their kin? Orcs bow and cower before their rightful masters, lest they suffer agonizing death.
War-Champions carry heavy mauls in likeness to their Dark Lord, crushing the faithless beneath cold steel.
The Black Númenóreans represent Sauron’s most potent vision for humanity. Heartless and devoid of any mercy, these men are the Dark Lords greatest enforcers of his will. Utterly devoted to their master and twisted by his dark magics, what was once a noble man of the west has long since passed into ruinous evil.
Morgoth’s Temple is now Sauron’s training ground for his greatest warriors. These men have devoted themselves to perfecting the art of war. Their brutality and cunning in battle is matched only by their contempt for Sauron’s enemies. As such; they are feared by the Orcs and Uruks of Mordor, and rightly so! For if these men see their own kind as faithless dogs, imagine what brutality they unleash on those not of their kin? Orcs bow and cower before their rightful masters, lest they suffer agonizing death.
War-Lords are true masters of their craft. To ride beside the Nazgûl is the greatest honor bestowed upon them, although their sense of ‘honor’ has long since faded into bloodlust.
The Black Númenóreans represent Sauron’s most potent vision for humanity. Heartless and devoid of any mercy, these men are the Dark Lords greatest enforcers of his will. Utterly devoted to their master and twisted by his dark magics, what was once a noble man of the west has long since passed into ruinous evil.
Morgoth’s Temple is now Sauron’s training ground for his greatest warriors. These men have devoted themselves to perfecting the art of war. Their brutality and cunning in battle is matched only by their contempt for Sauron’s enemies. As such; they are feared by the Orcs and Uruks of Mordor, and rightly so! For if these men see their own kind as faithless dogs, imagine what brutality they unleash on those not of their kin? Orcs bow and cower before their rightful masters, lest they suffer agonizing death.
War-Priests dulewield twin Morgul blades in battle, singing foul hymns in the black speech of Mordor as they carve up their hapless foes.
The Black Númenóreans represent Sauron’s most potent vision for humanity. Heartless and devoid of any mercy, these men are the Dark Lords greatest enforcers of his will. Utterly devoted to their master and twisted by his dark magics, what was once a noble man of the west has long since passed into ruinous evil.
Morgoth’s Temple is now Sauron’s training ground for his greatest warriors. These men have devoted themselves to perfecting the art of war. Their brutality and cunning in battle is matched only by their contempt for Sauron’s enemies. As such; they are feared by the Orcs and Uruks of Mordor, and rightly so! For if these men see their own kind as faithless dogs, imagine what brutality they unleash on those not of their kin? Orcs bow and cower before their rightful masters, lest they suffer agonizing death.
War-Sentinels train in the use of the bow, but focus not on killing so much as maiming their targets so they can live to feel the Sentinels' blade.
When the power of Númenor was firmly held by Sauron in his role as chief advisor, he began construction of the infamous 'Temple'. A monstrous worship space, dedicated to Melkor, in the heart of the Númenórean capital of Armenelos. The Temple fell when the island was drowned by The One but the memory of the colossal structure lives on in the descendants of the fell Númenóreans who emigrated to Middle-earth before the Downfall. These Black soldiers now take up the name of the Temple as their war cry as they march across Middle-earth in the name of Sauron the Deceiver! The numbers of these Wards are very few however they are the pinnacle of Sauron's warriors. Indeed, a few Wards accompany every orc battalion into war but when gathered into their own battle group they are more than a match for any Gondorian pretender.
Constructed of wood and capable of flinging stones large enough to crush a man's head, the catapult is a common sight on the battlefields of Middle-earth.
