Yellow Lore-master ‘Ancient Master’ Build
By Araphorn – Updated for Gundabad, U31.1
Table of Contents
Introduction
Welcome, here you will find a great build for Yellow Lore-masters, built specifically for T3+ content, which requires a LM to have a high morale pool along with great finesse.
A spot for LMs is always there, in just about any content. In 3-mans, LMs replace the healer, in 6-mans a LM is required for the overall debuffs, especially ones which increase DPS, and in raids LMs are required for just about everything a LM brings. This is something which has always been the case since LOTRO started, and it isn’t something which is going to change, so having a LM yellow spec is always good to have.
A Lore-master has lots utility if played right, they bring debuffs which reduce target’s damage, by quite a margin, and they also have debuffs which makes your group deliver more damage to targets. Moreover, LMs also have to control their Pets, which have further unique debuffs, and LMs also have off-healing utilities, which helps the tanks/group. There’s usually no rotation gaps/waiting periods on LM, there’s always something to do, something to refresh, which makes the class a little challenging in raids, but engaging at the same time.
Stat Goals
There are no primary stats on a Yellow Lore-master, they need a little bit of everything.
These stat goals are kept with Essence & Gear planning in mind, as to which Essences are to be prioritized over others. These goals can also be used when picking Virtues.
Finesse (30%+) > Critical Rating > Tactical Mastery > Vitality > Tactical Mitigation
After Finesse is at 30%+, so the Lores do not resist at a T3+ level, then remaining Essences can be used on Critical Rating and Tactical Mastery, so those 2 stats are at an acceptable level (roughly 20%+ Crit and ~150% Mastery). Then some room can be saved for Class & Trigger essences, and if there is still room available, then some Old Vitality essences and Tactical Mitigation essences can be used. At the beginning of expansion, Essence slots are really limited, this gets easier as better items become available later down the line.
* Before planning Essences, slot the right Virtues (more on that down below). This way you can plan your setup better, and utilize Essences perfectly, and you can dump the remaining Essence slots in Old Triggers, or other Stat of your choice after meeting Stat goals mentioned above.
Gear
With new Gundabad expansion released, new gear for Yellow Lore-master is published in the tables down below. There are 2 published Builds, one for Endgame and one for Starters.
End-game Build
Armour Pieces
| Gear Slot | Set Piece | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Helm | Gundabad 6-Man Instance | |
| Chest | Gundabad 6-Man Instance | |
| Shoulders | Gundabad 3-Man Instance | |
| Gloves | Gundabad 3-Man Instance | |
| Legs | Gundabad 3-Man Instance | |
| Boots | Gundabad 3-Man Instance | |
| Cloak | Gundabad 6-Man Instance | |
| Off-hand | Embers Box Barter | |
| Class Item | Throne Raid Barter Use Class Essence here. |
Jewelry Pieces
| Gear Slot | Set Piece | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Earring 1 | Gundabad 6-Man Instance | |
| Earring 2 | Gundabad 6-Man Instance | |
| Necklace | Gundabad 6-Man Instance | |
| Gundabad 6-Man Instance | ||
| Bracelet 1 | Storvagun Winter Festival | |
| Bracelet 2 | Storvagun Winter Festival | |
| Bracelets Alternative | Mountain-hold Barter. Use these if no Storvagun Bracelets. | |
| Ring 1 | Gundabad 6-Man Instance | |
| Ring 2 | Gundabad 6-Man Instance |
Starter Build
Armor/Jewelery boxes of the respective weight from the Adventurer’s Quartermaster NPC. As for Essences, you can use the ones you get from Questing or Crafting (whichever Tier is fine), and try to follow the Stat Goals above and Slot the ones which are needed by your Class.
Armour Pieces
| Gear Slot | Set Piece | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Helm | Embers Box Barter | |
| Chest | Embers Box Barter | |
| Shoulders | Embers Box Barter | |
| Gloves | Embers Box Barter | |
| Legs | Embers Box Barter | |
| Boots | Embers Box Barter | |
| Cloak | Embers Box Barter | |
| Off-hand | Embers Box Barter | |
| Class Item | Throne Raid Barter Use Class Essence here. |
Jewelry Pieces
| Gear Slot | Set Piece | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Earring 1 | Embers Box Barter | |
| Earring 2 | Embers Box Barter | |
| Necklace | Embers Box Barter | |
| Embers Box Barter | ||
| Bracelet 1 | Embers Box Barter | |
| Bracelet 2 | Embers Box Barter | |
| Ring 1 | Embers Box Barter | |
| Ring 2 | Embers Box Barter |
Essences
| Essence Name | Essence | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Class Essence | Use this on Class Item. | |
| Finesse | Use these to reach 30%+ Finesse. | |
| Critical Rating | Use these to reach near 20% Critical Rating. | |
| Tactical Mastery | Use these to reach near 150% Tactical Mastery. | |
| Crit Trigger | Use 1 of these. | |
| Heal Trigger 1 | Use 1 of these. | |
| Heal Trigger 1 | Use 1 of these. | |
| Vitality | Use these to fill slots after above Essences are met. | |
| Tactical Mitigation | Use these to fill slots after above Essences are met. |
Trait Trees
There are two ways to trait a Yellow LM for instances/raids. One is to build for a little bit of DPS from Lightning-storm, and the other way is pure Yellow-Blue for extra morale/mits and lower inductions, which help with Water-lore spam for healing. You generally only need to trait for Yellow-Red (Lightning-storm) for DPS heavy fight, where the group can use your help.
Here is the build for Yellow-Red:
I have everything important from Yellow line here, and Catmint from Blue. While also having maxed out damage for Lightning-storm, which can hit really hard if the target is debuffed and has Oathbreakers on it.
Next, here is my tree for Yellow-Blue, I use this tree if I’m solo-healing the instance (3-mans for example) and if my group doesn’t require me to DPS at all.
This Tree has everything important from Yellow line and the best stuff from Blue.
35 Trait Points Build for Legendary Servers
60 Trait Points Build for Beginners
EXTRA: A Red-line Trait Build for Landscape, since LotroHQ does not have a dedicated Red-line Build page yet.
Red-Line 35 Trait Points Build for Legendary Servers
Red-Line 60 Trait Points Build for Beginners
Virtues
These are the virtues I use to reach the Stat Goals. I use mostly Mastery/Outgoing Healing, Critical Rating and Finesse options, but if need be, some of them can be switched to more Defensive options as well, depending on the type of fight. More explained down below.
Here are the Virtues which go along with the Stat Goals:
- Honesty (Great for Mastery/Outgoing Healing and Critical Rating)
- Wisdom (Great for Mastery, Finesse and Critical Rating)
- Confidence (Great for Critical Rating and Finesse)
- Wit (Great for Finesse, Mastery and Critical Rating)
- Loyalty (Great for Vitality and survival)
If you don’t have these virtues, here are some alternatives:
- Fidelity (Great for Vitality + Tactical Mit)
- Tolerance (Gives great amount of Tactical Mit, decent Physical Mit and Resistance)
- Innocence (Gives great amount of Physical Mit, decent Tactical Mit Mit and Resistance)
Legendary Items
Few things have changed for Yellow Lore-masters with the new LI revamp, there are new Traceries giving them access to more AoE targets, higher range on their Healing Skills, much higher DoT DPS and better overall HoTs. Since there is a new Tracery for Fire-lore Debuff strength, it has eliminated the need to Book swap (which is disabled now anyway as LIs cannot be swapped in combat anymore). A Yellow LM just needs 2 LIs now.
*Note: Please use Word of Craft Traceries as per Stat Goals. Generally Critical Rating is better to take from Word of Crafts, as you get more passive Mastery from Primary Stats. So Critical Rating from WoC will be better in the long-term.
Lore-master’s Staff
| Type | Sockets |
|---|---|
| Heraldic Tracery | Heraldry of the Owl |
| Word of Power | Damage Over Time |
| Word of Power | Damage Over Time Criticals |
| Word of Mastery | Burning Embers Critical Chance & Multiplier |
| Word of Mastery | Burning Embers Initial Damage |
| Word of Mastery | Light of the Rising Dawn Damage & Critical Multiplier |
| Word of Mastery | Lightning Skills Critical Chance & Multiplier |
| Word of Mastery | Lightning Storm Damage |
| Word of Mastery | Test of Will Damage & Devastate Multiplier |
| Word of Craft | Ascendent Lightning |
| Word of Craft | Ascendent Lightning |
| Word of Craft | Empowered Destruction (To be unlocked with Gundabad) |
Lore-master’s Book (Class Item)
| Type | Sockets |
|---|---|
| Heraldic Tracery | Heraldry of the Owl |
| Word of Power | Area Effect Target Count |
| Word of Power | Ranged Healing Extension |
| Word of Power | Healing Over Time Criticals |
| Word of Mastery | Armour Debuff Potency |
| Word of Mastery | Beacon of Hope Heal |
| Word of Mastery | Charged Air Reflect Damage |
| Word of Mastery | Fire Lore Debuff Magnitude |
| Word of Mastery | Signs of Power Durations & Debuff |
| Word of Mastery | Target Resistance: Debuffing Skills |
| Word of Craft | Ascendent Lightning |
| Word of Craft | Ascendent Lightning |
| Word of Craft | Empowered Destruction (To be unlocked with Gundabad) |
Rotation
Here is what I do on Lore-master.
- Before starting the fight, put a few Water-lores on the tank, along with an Air-lore. Throw tar on the area the boss should be at, along with Warding Knowledge Circle.
- Start the fight with Fire-lore, then Frost-lore. Use Wind-lore after, so both the debuffs are at the same duration.
- Now it’s time for pet debuffs, summon Nature Spirit pet first and use Catmint, then apply Nature’s Light pet skill to put a 10% morale return mark for 30s.
- Ask your group leader when they want Ancient Craft and use it accordingly.
- Then dismiss the Spirit pet and summon your Bear and apply its Shatter Arms skill for a incoming damage debuff.
- Then dismiss Bear and summon Bog-lurker and apply Root Strike skill for incoming ranged critical chance debuff (Only summon this pet if you have a Hunter in your group)
- Now is a good time to refresh Wind-lore (which will refresh Fire/Frost-lore). You can also use Signs of Power now, Command and See all Ends.
- If you have the Catmint set, your Catmint will come off cooldown right about now, use it and do the same thing for Raven pet, apply Benediction with Catmint.
- While you have rotation gaps, you can use these gaps to refresh Wind-lore on target(s) to renew your Fire/Frost-lores, give some Water-lores to tank, do some CC as per the instance requirements, and use Burning Embers/Test of Will/Lightning Storm to help DPS a bit.
- It also helps a lot to have a shortcut on your quickslot for dismissing pets. You can do so by typing this in the chat box:
- /shortcut 1 /pet release
- Keep Warding Knowledge Circle on boss on cooldown as much as you can, along with Sticky Tar. Ancient Craft refresh as per group requirements. If they don’t ask for it, then keep it on cooldown.
- Stun immunity on tank as per instance requirements.
- Juggling all Pet skills debuffs takes time to get the hang of, but don’t let them interfere with your ability to refresh Fire/Frost-lores on time with Wind-lore, and other important things.
- To summarize, keep Fire/Frost-lore always on targets, keep your pet skills (names mentioned above) on target as best as you can, priority is Nature Pet > Bear > Raven > Bog-lurker, only Spirit and Raven require Catmint. When you have done that, watch out for CC requirements and help your tank with Water-lores, and finally when all that is running, use Burning Embers > Test of Will > Lightning Storm.
Consumables
There are the consumables I use on Lore-master:
Updated as of U31.1.
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