LOTRO Guides: Tips and tricks for succeeding in Lord of the Rings Online

Class Guide

This post was originally a page on the site which I have moved. The URL is the same, but sadly I last the original commentary. Updated Jan. 10, 2009 to add Rune Keeper and Warden classes.

This is intended to be an exhaustive guide for those new to LOTRO who are looking for help choosing a class to play. This guide will not only tell you the specific roles that each classes fulfill, but also give you some information about the strengths and weaknesses of the four races and what I feel is the best race/class combinations.

LOTRO Class Descriptions

Your character’s class defines whom he or she is and the role they play within the game and, more importantly in an MMOG, his or her role in a fellowship. Choosing your character’s class can be a daunting experience when playing LOTRO for the first time, given you have seven very distinct choices.

When deciding what class you choose, the thing to keep in mind more than anything else is how you want to play the game. Do you want to be able to raise everyone’s spirits and heal yourself and those around you? Perhaps you would like to be an axe-wielding whirlwind of destruction? Simply follow your instincts to choose the perfect class.

Fortunately, in LOTRO if you want to solo as much as possible you are not hindered in your class choice, so don’t worry too much about making a bad long-term decision. The classes are pretty well-balanced, though obviously there is some content that you must join a fellowship for. If this type of content is more your game you might want to find out where a dearth (meaning a lack) in a particular class exists on your server and choose that class – that way you will have an easier time finding fellowships as your character’s class will be more in-demand.

Available LOTRO Classes (with roles):

• Burglar (Debuffs, Stealth)
  • Burglars are masters of stealth and misdirection. They are able to confound their foes with a variety of clever and debilitating tricks. Burglars’ sleight-of-hand and startling attacks allow their companions to overwhelm adversaries.
  • This class is available to the Man and Hobbit races.
  • Primary function: The Burglar’s role is to rob monsters of the ability to deal damage and attack at full strength. As the only class that can reliably initiate fellowship manoeuvres (high-yield group-based attacks), its role in groups is a coveted one.
  • Choose this class if: you enjoy playing a sneaky character who relies on surprise and cunning rather than armor and brute strength.
  • CLICK HERE to download the premium guide for the Burglar class.
• Captain (Buffs, Ressurect, Pet)
  • Captains are masterful leaders whose commanding presence strengthens allies. Their battle cries strike fear into the hearts of enemies and rally companions to their war banners.
  • This class is available to the Man race.
  • Primary function: The armoured Captain posseses some of the most potent enhancements to the heroes of Middle-earth, this makes the Captain a key member of any fellowship. The Captain’s ability to summon a Herald pet at later levels, plus the ability to bring fallen heroes back into the fight, make it a desired group class.
  • Choose this class if: you like classes that can buff and heal yet do damage as well. Captains use two-handed weapons more than other classes.
• Champion (DPS)
  • Unrelenting in battle, Champions are consummate warriors. Their fervour allows them to make increasingly powerful attacks. Champions excel at melee combat and can absorb punishment with their heavy armour.
  • This class is available to the Dwarf, Elf, and Man races.
  • Primary function: The Champion trades survivability for the ability to deal explosive amounts of damage to multiple foes. Although a fully armoured class when not in fervour mode, it is when Champions enter this state that they deals out the greatest damage, both to single and multiple foes.
  • Choose this class if: you like to damage your opponents quickly and overwhelmingly. Offense is the best defense would be a motto of a Champion. A Champion’s primary fighting style is with two melee weapons.
  • CLICK HERE to download the premium guide for the Champion class.
• Guardian (Tank)
  • The Guardians are protectors of the weak and defenders of those in need. They are capable of withstanding mighty blows and retaliating in kind. True Guardians stand to the forefront of battle, shielding their allies from enemy assaults.
  • Available to the Dwarf, Elf, Hobbit, and Man races
  • Primary function: The Guardian’s ability to wear heavy armour and defensive skills enable the Guardian to face creatures that would make other heroes’ morale fail. Guardians also have the ability to draw foes’ attention away from their allies and to themselves.
  • Choose this class if: you want to rely on huge amounts of armor and muscle to outlast your opponent in a fight. Guardians are the class that makes the most use of shields.
  • CLICK HERE to download the premium guide for the Guardian class.
• Hunter (Nuker)
  • Hunters are masters of field and forest, unmatched in their dexterity with the bow. They use their survival skills to guide companions and lay traps for enemies. Hunters are at their strongest when attacking from a distance, but are able to defend themselves in melee combat when the need arises.
  • Available to the Dwarf, Elf, Hobbit, and Man races.
  • Primary function: The Hunter is proficient at dealing out good damage to single foes at both range and melee. When Hunters are at range, they can unleash devastating arrow shots that do high damage to single targets. When the lone enemy finally manages to close into melee range, the Hunter is well-equipped to deal the finishing blow with some melee skills.
  • Choose this class if: you are the type of player who like to hang back and do massive amounts of ranged damage to a single target. It goes without saying that the Hunter’s primary weapon is their bow.
  • CLICK HERE to download the premium guide for the Hunter class.
• Lore-master (Crowd Control, Pet)
  • Lore-masters are seekers of knowledge and the guardians of wisdom. Their knowledge of ancient lore allows them to confuse and stun foes, as well as protect against the dark powers of the Enemy. Lore-masters are also capable of calling animals to their aid.
  • Available to the Elf and Man races.
  • Primary function: Lore-masters are the unparalleled masters of crowd-control, with the ability to trap creatures and keep them from hurting their allies. They have many skills that invoke the natural world of Middle-earth but it is draining on the will thus costing them morale to fuel some of these powerful skills. Because of this, they must rely on their pets to supplement their ability to take damage.
  • Choose this class if: you enjoy casting spells both to damage and confuse your enemies. Lore-Masters primary weapons are their magic and their animal companions.
  • CLICK HERE to download the premium guide for the Lore-Master class.
• Minstrel (Healer, Buffs)
  • Minstrels are skilled at maintaining their companions’ morale and stirring their hearts to perform greater feats of prowess. They ward against the forces of darkness and inspire their allies using their knowledge of ancient songs and lore.
  • Available to the Dwarf, Elf, Hobbit, and Man races.
  • Primary function: A master at surviving and keeping it’s friends alive in Middle-Earth. Also able to deal damage on the battlefield with light based attacks and various musical songs of power.
  • Choose this class if: you like to be the healer and also provide some enhancements to your group. The Minstrel’s primary weapons are their songs which they use to damage enemies.
  • CLICK HERE to download the premium guide for the Minstrel class.

• Warden (Tank) You must have Mines of Moria to play this class.
  • The Warden patrols the borders of civilized lands, preventing the encroachment of Fell Creatures from the Wild. While some Wardens prefer to harass their enemies from range, all are capable of standing toe to toe with the toughest opponents.
  • Available to Hobbit, Elf and Man races.
  • Wardens are limited to medium armor so that they can travel swiftly and silently to defend those they protect from threats. Wardens depend on their Determination for protection rather than heavy shields and armor. Wardens all have some military training and have mastered a style of combat that uses combinations of basic attacks to create masterful Gambits.
  • Choose this class if: you not only like to tank in groups, but enjoy a challenge and are looking for an interesting experience outside of normal group dynamics.
  • CLICK HERE to download the premium guide for the Warden class.
• Rune Keeper (Healer, Nuker) You must have Mines of Moria to play this class.
  • Rune-keepers are gifted linguists and masters of true names. With this knowledge, they craft powerful rune-words that help the Free Peoples. Through unparalleled mastery of certh and tengwar runes, a Rune-keeper evokes much more than a normal scribe.
  • Available to Elf and Dwarf races.
  • The Rune-keeper is powerful, but must choose between damage and healing. the Attunement a Rune-keeper is at determines if damaging Dagor (Battle) skills or restorative Nestad (Healing) skills can be used. At all times, the utility skills of Thalas (Steady) may be used, but will reduce your Attunement. Rune Keepers wear only light armor.
  • Choose this class if: you enjoy the flexibility in changing between being a primary healer or ranged DPS. While you can change your attunement between damage and healing rather quickly, you will not really be able to do both at the same time.
  • CLICK HERE to download the premium guide for the Rune Keeper class.

Racial Characteristics in LOTRO

Also, when determining what race you want to play remember you will be constrained in your choice of classes. And aside from outright restrictions, some races are much better suited to certain classes than other races.

Below is a breakdown of the positives and negatives of each race with what I believe to be the best class choice for each. That is only my opinion and also coming from a power-gamer perspective. If you enjoy Role Playing interesting characters or like a challenge, then you might decide to choose a sub-optimal race/class combination, such as a Dwarf Minstrel or Hobbit Guardian. Fortunately LOTRO classes are balanced well enough that choosing an odd combination will not completely hobble your ability to be successful in the game.

Available Races:

• Humans – Best as Champion or Captain, Good at all classes
  • +15 Might
  • +15 Fate
  • -8 Will
• Dwarves – Best as Guardian, Good as Champion, Not good as Minstrel
  • +15 Might
  • +10 Vitality
  • -8 Agility
  • -8 Fate
  • +1.0% Common mitigation
  • +0.5 In-Combat Morale and Power regneration
  • -1.0 out-of-combat Morale regeneration
  • -0.5 out-of-combat Power regeneration
• Hobbits – Best as Burglar, Good as Minstrel, Not good as Hunter
  • +15 Vitality
  • -8 Might
  • +1.0% Fear resistance
  • +1.0% Shadow resistance
  • +1.0 out-of-combat Morale regeneration
• Elves – Best as Hunter, Good as Lore-Master
  • +15 Agility
  • -20.0 Morale
  • -8 Fate
  • +1.0% Disease resistance
  • +1.0% Poison resistance
  • -1.0 Morale regeneration

Other Resources

A Novel Guide to LotRO Classes by Jasontondro at IGN: A Class selection guide for die-hard Tolkien fans.