Middle-earth: Shadow of War releases in a few short weeks and our goal is to round up all the crucial information in one place just for you. This includes DLC, gameplay, and enemy details. Developer Monolith has stated that Shadow of War is 4 times bigger than Shadow of Mordor, so you can expect to sacrifice much more of your time creating the perfect army.
Shadow of War Summary
Shadow of War is a sequel to Shadow of Mordor and features third-person action within an open world. Building on the previous game's Nemesis System player's take control of Talion and Celebrimbor once again and he attempts to build an army against Sauron.
Monolith has confirmed that the world of Shadow of War is 4x bigger than Shadow of Mordor with multiple regions each with unique environments and distinct Overlords, Warchiefs, Captains, Followers, Strongholds, Missions, and much more. The known regions are:
Cirith Ungol
Gorgoroth
Minas Morgul
Nurnen
Seregost
Under the new name of The Bright Lord and using the Ring of Power combined with Talion's combat training and Celebrimbor's supernatural powers, you'll lead an Orc army, capture territories, and lead the charge against Sauron. Sounds impossible but then again you did come back from death, multiple times.
Nemesis System
The Nemesis System gives each enemy and allies unique personalities that sets the edifice for their entire combat persona. This molds the story creating new developments unique to each player's experience. Some allies may betray you and gain abilities over the course of the adventure or vice versa. This creates a powerful dynamic that encourages player's to think what relationships are worth forging, keeping, and dissolving.
Monolith has confirmed that 7 Orc tribes have been added to the Nemesis system. All of them will be in use when you finally take on one of the many Nemesis Fortresses. These large structures house important resources paramount to the war effort. The tribes include:
Mystic
Marauder
Machine
Terror
Feral
Warmonger
Dark
According to Monolith the Overlord, the leader of each Nemesis Fortress, will be unique with their own set of skills and a customized throne room to suit their style of combat. Spies have been added that can aid in infiltrating and aid Talion during the most difficult battles, such as raiding these Nemesis Fortresses. The Nemesis System allows followers to build their own stories that change the game, this includes attacking in the game's world at random or aiding Talion in the midst of battle.
The Army Screen allows the player to review all their followers and enemies. When a fortress is conquered appointing a follower as Overlord will yield benefits unique to that follower's persona.
New Skills and Skill Tree Changes
Talion has changes since the first game and adapted new skills and Wraith abilities. This includes a new Predator tree which focuses on stealth, faster climbing with the Eleven Agility, and poisoning barrels of grog from afar using his bow and arrow. Double jumping was also shown.
Skill Tree: Story
Skill Tree: Combat
Skill Tree: Predator
Skill Tree: Wraith
Skill Tree: Ranged
Skill Tree: Mounted
Characters
Shelob - Unlike other portrayals of Shelob she'll take human form in the game and grant visions to Talion. While the trailer introducing Shelob doesn't confirm her to be an absolute ally, with you attacking her, but it's likely she'll play a role in the Nemesis system.
The Agonizer - Perhaps one of the most uncertain Orcs you'll meet. Actor Kumail Nanjiani who portrays The Agonizer stated that "he wants to be bad-ass and he wants to be cool but he really second guesses himself and he overthinks everything". Maybe I won't kill him, maybe.
Returning Orcs - As part of the Nemesis Forge System those with files from the Shadow of Mordor can import their worst enemies from the original game.
We can expect more characters when the game releases.
Gameplay
Returning are the mix between stealth and open-combat. As a former Ranger Talion is equipped to handle any situation and with Celebrimbor's powers the supernatural advantages give the seasoned warrior a leg up on everyone else.
Like in Shadow of Mordor players can build and link combos together. Doing so will allow Talion to perform deadly attacks. Basically, it's the same system with new attacks discussed in the skill tree section.
Creatures
Shadow of War has expanded the creatures you can ride. You can still ride Caragors but why ride something like that when you can ride a drake!? Unlike Skyrim, you can actually control this epic beast.
Drakes
Orcs
Trolls
Graug (Ice and Fire)
New creatures pending
Equipment
Like Shadow of Mordor Talion can equip new armor and weapons collected throughout the journey. This includes the main hand, off hand, bow, chest, head, and accessory pieces. Each piece of equipment is based on a rarity chart with colors showcasing the rareness of each item.
Each item can be further reinforced using gems. Like equipment, these must be found and earned.
Editions
Standard Edition - PC, PS4, or Xbox One
Silver Edition (digital only) - the base game, plus the preorder bonuses above, plus the Slaughter Tribe Nemesis Expansion, Outlaw Tribe Nemesis Expansion, and a Silver War Chest
Gold Edition - note that the UK Gold Edition on PS4, PC, and Xbox One, and US Gold Edition on PS4 and Xbox One are separate. Includes all of the above, plus the two-story expansions and a Gold War Chest.
Mithril Edition - The UK Mithril Edition on PS4, PC, and Xbox One and US Mithril Edition on PS4 and Xbox One are separate. They include all of the above, plus Limited Edition 12" Tar-Goroth Balrog vs. Carnan Drake Statue; collection of exclusive Lithographs; premium case with magnetic Ring of Power; exclusive Steelcase; official game music soundtrack; a cloth map of Mordor; a Tribes Sticker Pack; and a Mithril War Chest.
DLC
Pre-Order:
4 Legendary Orc Champions
Epic Sword of Dominion
Expansions:
The Blade of Galadriel
The Desolation of Mordor
Loot Boxes
The Market will sell Orcs and other items for use in the game's Nemesis System. You can buy loot chests, war chests, XP boosts, and bundles. The loot chests contain gear with varying rarity and XP boost. War chests provide Orc followers varying on rarity and training orders to level up and customize your Orc.
You can spend Mirian, the game's currency earned by playing the game, or Gold, which is purchased with real-world money. Gold can be earned by reaching milestones or participating in community challenges.
Online Mode
Shadow of War will have an online ranked mode where you can capture Fortresses. Social Conquest has you taking a Fortress from other players or setting your own with an Overlord and defenses. You can then put it online for other players to attack. The player must take all the capture points and kill the Overlord within the time limit and once completed you're ranked and given currency based on your performance. Branding enemy captains will earn you temporary allies for the mission but will not be added to your army. In addition, how fast you capture a point is based on how many allies are in the area.
2 categories exist in Shadow of War's online mode, friendly and ranked. Friendly doesn't risk your own army while ranked gives you points, allows you to take on harder challenges, and puts your army at danger. If one of your captain's dies they're gone for good. Completely a conquest will earn you points and spoils for the campaign.
Vendetta will return with changes. Unlike Shadow of Mordor where the enemy teleports to your location this time you must travel to the Orc, a player has put a contract on. This also means you're teleported to the other player's world and their Nemesis System configuration. Also instead of just going for the kill, you'll have to work for it. This means killing lesser Orcs to draw out the target. Completing the Vendetta will earn the player a Vendetta Chest and the contracted player spoils but failure means your target is lost forever.
End Game
After you've completed the game a new endgame mode is unlocked called the Shadow Wars. Here Sauron's army attempts to take back territories and you must play defense. While the enemies come in waves they don't stop, meaning you have to kill as quickly as possible before the next wave hits. If you lose the fortress the region is taken over by the Orc that killed you and they take over as Overlord. To regain it you must kill the Overlord and choose whether to mount a rescue mission for your Overlord who is now held captive.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War Minimum System Requirements
OS: Windows 7 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core i5-2550K 3.4 GHz or AMD FX-8320 3.5 GHz
RAM: 8 GB System Memory
GPU RAM: 2GB Video Memory
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 or AMD Radeon HD 7950
DX: DirectX 11
HDD: 60 GB available space
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War Recommended System Requirements
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core i7-3770 3.40 GHz or AMD FX-8350 4.0 GHz
RAM: 16 GB System Memory
GPU RAM: 4GB Video Memory
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 480 4GB
DX: DirectX 11
HDD: 60 GB available space
Middle-earth: Shadow of War launches on October 10th for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. It'll also be part of Xbox's Play Anywhere program. Purchase the game digitally on Xbox One or Windows 10 and you'll get a copy for the other platform but it must be linked to the same profile.
Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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