Shadow Of War Guide: 11 Tips We Wish We Knew Before Starting

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Middle-earth: Shadow of War presents players with a remarkably deep action-RPG experience featuring extensive skill trees, complex game systems, and countless orcs to conquer. While basic guides cover the initial gameplay hours, experienced players need advanced strategies to truly dominate Mordor’s battlefields.

Shadow of War launched on PS4, Xbox One, and PC after being delayed from its original August release date. A complementary free-to-play mobile strategy RPG version also released alongside the main game. For comprehensive game analysis, consult our detailed Shadow of War review.

New players should first understand the narrative foundation by reviewing the game’s story summary. Additionally, our Class Guide principles apply to character specialization here. You’ll also benefit from checking our Shadow Of War Beginner’s Guide, the 12 Best Skills analysis, and Legendary gear acquisition methods.

Once you’ve assembled multiple Orc Captains into your forces, several techniques exist to rapidly increase their combat effectiveness. First, ensure you’ve equipped Wealth Gems to your Ring of Power – these provide automatic level boosts to every new recruit joining your cause. Higher quality gems deliver substantially more experience, making gem upgrading a priority investment.

For targeting specific high-value Orc Captains, employ worms to deliver death threats before engagement. This tactical preparation increases their level by five, creating stronger recruits when dominated. The mission system operates on a three-turn timer where completing other Nemesis missions or advancing time at Haedir towers consumes turns. Crucially, if you miss the death threat deadline, you can issue another threat for an additional five-level boost.

The most efficient method for army-wide strength development utilizes regional fighting pits. Controlling a territory grants access to its combat arena where you can pit orcs against each other. Winners gain significant level increases through this automated process, making it ideal for bringing your entire army to the current level cap with minimal effort.

Strategic deployment of weaker orcs into the pits allows replacement with victorious opponents. If you haven’t previously dominated the winning Captain, they remain near the arena awaiting recruitment. As an added tactical advantage, these victors typically enter your service with reduced health from their recent combat.

Dominating orcs becomes significantly challenging when surrounded by multiple hostile forces. To simplify this process, summon a bodyguard or mount a caragor then create distance. Having allied units absorb enemy attention allows you to safely activate the Dominate ability, converting groups of orcs to your side efficiently.

Pro Tip: Position yourself on elevated terrain before attempting domination in crowded areas. This reduces the number of enemies that can immediately attack you during the vulnerable channeling process.

While exploring Mordor’s diverse regions, watch for orcs displaying white symbols above their heads – these indicate treasure carriers. Eliminate them promptly to secure valuable rewards. While typically providing moderate Mirian amounts, these targets occasionally yield precious Gems for your collection.

Common Mistake: Many players overlook treasure carriers during intense combat situations. Designate specific hunting sessions focused solely on resource acquisition to maintain steady progression.

For optimal resource gathering, establish dedicated farming routes through high-density orc territories. These paths should incorporate multiple Haedir towers for efficient mobility between hunting grounds.

Many players underestimate the importance of fortress defense mechanics. Regular maintenance of your strongholds prevents costly rebuilding efforts and maintains your regional influence.

Advanced Strategy: Rotate your most powerful orcs between offensive missions and defensive assignments to ensure balanced army development. This approach mirrors effective strategies found in our Complete Guide to military resource management.

Skill point allocation anxiety affects many players, but Shadow of War’s progression system eventually provides sufficient points for all essential abilities. Focus initially on domination-related skills to accelerate army building.

Don’t overlook the game’s photo mode feature for capturing your most epic domination moments and strategic setups. These visual records can help analyze and improve your tactical approaches.

For weapon optimization techniques that complement these army-building strategies, explore our Weapons Unlock strategies adapted to Shadow War’s systems.

No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Shadow Of War Guide: 11 Tips We Wish We Knew Before Starting Advanced strategies to master Shadow of War's army building, domination tactics, and resource optimization systems