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.
- The Beorning race can only play the Beorning class. The Race is linked to it’s class.
- Dwarfs may not play as the Burglar class.
- Elves and Hobbits may not play as Captains.
- Dwarves and Stout-axes may not play as Lore-masters.
- Hobbits may not play as Rune-keepers.
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:
- Agility of the Woods: Increases agility by 15.
- Fading of the firstborn: Reduces fate by 7.
- Sorrow of the firstborn: Reduces max morale by 20 and also reduces non-combat morale regeneration by 60.
- Suffer no illness: Increases resistance to Disease and Poison by 1%.
Race Traits:
- Silvan Shadows: Allows access to the Silvan Shadows skill, which allows Elves to enter stealth.
- Tactics and Conviction Bonus: Increases the output of the Blue and Green Manoeuvre skills by 5%.
- Elf Bow-damage Bonus: Increase bow damage by 5%.
- Friend of Man: Increase Fate. (Amount gained scales based on your character level).
- Return to Rivendell: Allows you to use the Return to Rivendell travel skill.
- Eldar’s Grace: Allows you to use the Eldar’s Grace skill. Which allows you to gain +75% Parry Chance and +5% Partial Parry Mitigation for 10 seconds.
- Elf One-handed Sword-damage Bonus: Increases damage done by 1handed swords by 5%.
- Power of the Eldar: Allows you to use the Power of the Eldar skill, which provides your fellowship with a +2% maximum power buff for 10 minutes.
- Virtuous Elf: Increases the Wisdom, Patience and Charity virutes by 1.
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:
- Fading of the Firstborn: Reduces Fate by 7.
- Peace of the Eldar: Increases maximum morale by 20 and increases non-combat morale regeneration by 60.
- Sorrow of the Undying: Reduces Will by 7.
- Suffer no Illness: Increases resistance to Disease and Poison by 1%.
Race Traits:
- Blade Dancer: Increase 1-handed and 2-handed Sword damage by 5%.
- Enmity of Darkness: Increases light-type damage by 5%.
- Glory of the First Age: Grants the skill: Glory of the First Age. Which allows you to hit your foe with a 3 second stun.
- Grace of the Firstborn: Increases out of combat run speed by 10%.
- Grace of Valinor: Grants the skill: Grace of Valinor. Which allows you to revive a fellow while out of combat.
- Those Who Remain: Increases Will. (Amount scales based on your character level.)
- Travel to Caras Galadhon: Grants the travel skill: Travel to Caras Galadhon.
- Virtuous High Elf: Increases the Wisdom, Confidence, and Justice virtues by 1.
- Wrath of the Firstborn: Grants the skill: Wrath of the Firstborn. Which allows you to grant yourself and your fellowship a +5% damage buff for 10 seconds.
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:
- Hobbit Courage: Increases Fear Resistance by 1%.
- Hobbit-toughness: Increases your Vitality by 15.
- Rapid Recovery: Increases Non-Combat Morale Regeneration by 60.
- Resist Corruption: Increases Shadow Mitigation by 1%.
- Small Size: Decreases Might by 7.
Race Traits:
- Stoop for a Stone: Enables use of the skill Throw Stone, a short ranged attack that dazes your opponent for 3 seconds.
- Guile and Conviction Bonus: Increases Fellowship Manoeuvre damage-over-time and healing by 5%.
- Hobbit Club-damage Bonus: Increases damage done by 1-handed and 2-handed clubs by 5%.
- Hobbit-stature: Increases Might by 20.
- Return to Michel Delving: Enables you to teleport back to Michel Delving.
- Hobbit-resilience: Allows you to buff your fellowship with a +2 Hope buff for 10 minutes.
- Hobbit-stealth: Unlocks the use of a Stealth ability.
- Hobbit-silence: Enables the skill Hobbit-silence which allows you to feign death.
- Virtuous Hobbit: Increases the Empathy, Honesty, and Idealism virtues by 1.
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:
- Diminishing of Mankind: Decreases Will by 7.
- Easily Inspired: Increases Incoming Healing by 5%.
- Gift of Men: Increases Fate by 15.
- Strong Men: Increase Might by 15.
Race Traits:
- Upper-cut : Grants access to a Upper-cut that deals damage and dazes your opponent for 3 seconds.
- Tactics and Might Bonus: Increases the potency of the Fellowship Manoeuvre healing and damage by +5%.
- Man Sword-damage Bonus: Increases damage done by 1-handed and 2-handed Swords by 5%.
- Man of the Fourth Age: Increases Will. (Scales based on your characters level.-
- Return to Bree: Allows you to teleport back to Bree.
- Duty-bound: Allow you to buff your fellowship with a 5% maximum morale increase for 10 minutes.
- Balance of Man: Increases your Block, Parry, and Evade ratings.
- Strength of Morale: Restores 2200 – 3000 Morale.
- Virtuous Man: Increases your Confidence, Justice, and Patience virtues by 1.
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:
- Unyielding Will: Increases Will by 15 and increases common mitigation by 1%.
- Wrought by the Black Land: Increases Shadow Mitigation by 1%, Disease resistance by 1%, increase Might by 15 and increases Agility by 5.
- Shadow of the Eye: Decreases Vitality by 7.
- Doom of Drása’s Folk: Decreases Fate by 10.
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:
- Might of the Wild: Increases Might by 15.
- Few in Number: Decreases Fate by 7.
- Natural Resistance: Increases Poison Resistance by 1%.
- Thick Hide:Increases Vitality by 15.
Race Traits:
- Bake a Honey-cake: Allows you to bake a Honey-cake.
- Return to Grimbeorn’s Lodge: Allows you to teleport back to Grimbeorn’s Lodge.
- Beorning Club and Axe-damage Bonus: Increases 1-handed and 2-handed club and axe damage by 5%.
- Emissary:Increase Fate. (Scales based on Character Level)
- Might and Conviction Bonus: Increase Damage and Healing by the Fellowship Manoeuvre by 5%.
- Bracing Roar: Unlocks the Bracing Roar skill. Healing you and giving you 100 wrath.
- Feral Presence: Unlocks the Feral Presence skill. Buffing you and your fellowship with Fate.
- Natural Diet: Increases your Disease Resistance by 1%.
- Virtuous Beorning: Increases the Fortitude, Empathy and Honour virtues by 1.
Passive Skills:
Beorning Traits
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