Race Guide

By Marenzo1 – Updated for Before The Shadows, U34

Introduction

This guide covers all Classes and Races in LOTRO and provides you with important information to help you better understand the Race, it’s weakness and it’s strengths and gives you a recommendation on what classes work best for the race.

There are a total of 7 Races and 11 Classes in LOTRO.

Races:

  • Man: Men are a race of courage, with a range of cultures and societies. They are generally well-rounded and excel in a variety of scenarios.
  • Elf: Elves are a long-lived race with strong connections to nature. They have a variety of abilities that make them well-suited for ranged combat.
  • Dwarf: Dwarves are a sturdy and doughty folk, with a number of abilities that increase their survivability. They are well-suited for tanking and melee combat roles.
  • Hobbit: Hobbits are a small and nimble race, with a number of abilities that increase their stealth and agility. They are well-suited for stealth and ranged combat roles.
  • Beorning: Beornings are a race of shapeshifters, with the ability to transform into bears. They are a very strong race primarily used for their strong area healing.
  • High Elf: High Elves are a highly advanced and cultured race, with a number of abilities that increase their movement speed and damage.
  • Stout-axe: Stout-axes are a sturdy melee race that use their abilities to stay alive and deal increased damage to their foes.

Classes:

  • Guardian: Guardians are tanks who specialize in protecting their allies and absorbing damage. They have a variety of abilities that increase their durability and control over the battlefield.
  • Champion: Champions are melee fighters who specialize in dealing heavy damage. They have a variety of abilities that allow them to quickly take down their enemies.
  • Captain: Captains are support classes who specialize in buffing and healing their allies. They have a variety of abilities that increase the strength and survivability of their party members.
  • Hunter: Hunters are ranged fighters who specialize in dealing damage from a distance. They have a variety of abilities that allow them to control the battlefield and take down their enemies from afar.
  • Lore-master: Lore-masters are magic-based classes who specialize in summoning powerful pets and debuffing enemies. They have a variety of abilities that allow them to control the battlefield and support their allies.
  • Minstrel: Minstrels are support classes who specialize in buffing and healing their allies through music. They have a variety of abilities that increase the strength and survivability of their party members.
  • Burglar: Burglars are stealth-based classes who specialize in debuffing enemies. They have a variety of abilities that allow them to control the battlefield and take down their enemies from behind.
  • Rune-keeper: Rune-keepers are a magic-based class who specialize in dealing damage and supporting their allies through the use of elemental runes. They have a variety of abilities that allow them to control the battlefield and support their allies.
  • Warden: Wardens are fighters who specialize in controlling the battlefield via gambits that allow them to take down their enemies and support their allies.
  • Beorning: Bound to it’s race of shapeshifters. Beornings are resilient and very capable healers and tanks.
  • Brawler: Brawlers are a class dedicated to fighting hand-to-hand combat. Capable of using their abilities to devastate their enemy and support their allies.

Most classes are available to most Races, but there are some exceptions.

Dwarves

Dwarves are a very resistant and tanky race. Their passive and racial skills provide extra Survivability, thus making them great for heavy armour tanking or damage classes.

Dwarves make for great Tanky Heavy Classes, such as Guardians and Brawlers.

All dwarfs have 4 Passive Skills, that are always present.
Dwarf players have access to 9 race traits that can be unlocked by doing specific slayer and reputation deeds. Up to 5 race traits may be active at once.

Passive Skills:

  • Lost Dwarf-Kingdoms: Reduces fate by 7, but increases might by 10 and vitality by 5.
  • Stocky: Reduces agility by 7, but increases might by 10 and vitality by 5.
  • Sturdiness: Increases might by 15, vitality by 10, and grants a 1% common mitigation bonus.
  • Unwearying in Battle: Increases in-combat morale and power regen, but decreases out of combat regen.

Race Traits:

  • Head-butt: Allows for the skill “Head-Butt” to be used, which inflicts common damage and dazes your opponent for 3 seconds.
  • Guile and Might Bonus: Increase the damage done from the Red and Yellow Fellowship manoeuvre skill by 5%.
  • Dwarf Axe-damage Bonus: Increases damage done by 1-handed and 2-handed Axes by 5%.
  • Fateful Dwarf: Increase Fate. (Amount gained scales based on your character level).
  • Return to Thorin’s Gate: Allows you to use the Return to Thorin’s Gate travel skill.
  • Endurance of Stone: Allows you to use the Endurance of Stone skill. Using the skill reduces damage taking by Melee, Ranged and tactical damage by 50% for 10 seconds.
  • Dwarf-endurance: Allows you to use the Dwarf-endurance skill. When used this skill will increase the vitality for yourself and fellowship members around you. (Amount gained scales based on your character level).
  • Shield Brawler: Increases block rating. (Amount gained scales based on your character level).
  • Virtuous Dwarf: Increases the Fidelity, Honesty and Loyalty virtue by 1.

Passive Skills:

Dwarf Traits

Elves

Elves are an agile race. Their passive and racial skills provide increases survivability and increased damage, making them great for medium armour classes.

Elves make for excellent Hunters.

All Elves have 4 Passive Skills, that are always present.
Elves have access to 9 race traits that can be unlocked by doing specific slayer and reputation deeds. Up to 5 race traits may be active at once.

Passive Skills:

Race Traits:

Passive Skills:

Elf Traits

High Elves

High Elves have a number of racial traits that set them apart from other races. These traits can be useful in various situations and can give High Elves an edge in certain areas of the game.

 

High elves make for great Red Captains, Red Wardens and Champions.

 

All High-Elves have 4 Passive Skills, that are always present.
High-Elves have access to 9 race traits that can be unlocked by doing specific slayer and reputation deeds. Up to 5 race traits may be active at once.

Passive Skills:

Race Traits:

Passive Skills:

High-Elf Traits

Hobbits

Hobbits are a nimble and stealthy race. They are small in stature, but their quick reflexes and sharp minds make them formidable opponents.

Hobbits make for great burglars.

All Hobbits have 5 Passive Skills, that are always present.
Hobbits  have access to 9 race traits that can be unlocked by doing specific slayer and reputation deeds. Up to 5 race traits may be active at once.

Passive Skills:

Race Traits:

Passive Skills:

Hobbit Traits

Man

Men, a very strong race that is considered the best race in LOTRO Men have access to some of the best passive and racial traits. They are an excellent choice for classes that can benefit from the extra survivability.

Men make for excellent Brawlers, Burglars, Captains, Champions, Guardians, Lore-Masters and Minstrels.

All Men have 4 Passive Skills, that are always present.
Men have access to 9 race traits that can be unlocked by doing specific slayer and reputation deeds. Up to 5 race traits may be active at once.

Passive Skills:

Race Traits:

Passive Skills:

Man Traits

Stout-axe

Stout-Axes are the latest Race to be added to LOTRO. Its Racial skills and passives are all quite widespread.

Stout-Axes make for excellent Rune-Keepers and tanky classes such as Guardians and Brawlers.

All Stout-Axes have 4 Passive Skills, that are always present.
Stout-Axes  have access to 9 race traits that can be unlocked by doing specific slayer and reputation deeds. Up to 5 race traits may be active at once.

Passive Skills:

Race Traits:

  • Flame-tempered: Increases Fire Mitigation by 1%.
  • Fortitude of the Stout-axes: Allows access to the Fortitude of the Stout-axes skill. Which buffs your fellowship, providing them 1% Shadow Mitigation for 2minutes and 30 seconds.
  • Heart of Fire: Increase Fire-type damage by 3%.
  • Needful Ingenuity: Provides you with a 5% craft experience modifier.
  • Nimble-handed: Increases damage done by 1-handed and 2-handed Axes by 5% and increases dagger damage done by 1%.
  • Return to Thorin’s Hall: Allows you to use the Return to Thorin’s Hall travel skill.
  • Stout-shield: Allows you to use the Stout-shield skill. Which grants you +75% block chance for 10 seconds.
  • Unwritten Destiny: Increases your vitality. (Amount scales with character level.)
  • Virtuous Stout-axe: Increases the Wit, Determination and Fortitude traits by 1.

Passive Skills:

Stout-axe Traits

Beorning

There isn’t all that much to say about Beornings, the Beorning class is locked to it’s race.

Beornings make for excellent healers and tanks. They have a great history of being one of the better healing classes and are an excellent choice if you’re looking for a defensive aoe healer!

Boernings have 4 Passive Skills, that are always present.
Boernings have access to 9 race traits that can be unlocked by doing specific slayer and reputation deeds. Up to 5 race traits may be active at once.

Passive Skills:

Race Traits:

Passive Skills:

Beorning Traits

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