The Lord of the Rings Online player character classes

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In The Lord of the Rings Online game, players can choose to create characters belonging to one of the four free peoples: Men, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits. Once their race is chosen, player characters then choose a class. Character classes are set archetypes defining the role of the character within the game, largely by their combat abilities. These abilities include healing (restoring morale), tanking (getting the enemy's attention to keep allies safe) damage or DPS (bringing down the enemy), and support (strengthening allies' abilities or weakening and disabling enemies.) The current existing classes in LOTRO are Beorning, Brawler, Burglar, Captain, Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Lore-master, Minstrel, Mariner, Rune-keeper, and Warden.

Beorning[edit | edit source]

Beornings are the skin-changers of Middle-earth, the only class available by the race of the same name. These fearsome Men and Women have the ability to take the shape of a bear, with the strength and ferocity to match. Beornings are a versatile class, able to deal damage, provide support and healing, or tanking. This class is unique in that it does not use Power, rather a value called Wrath, which can be spent to enter bear form. Beornings can wear up to Medium armour, but unlike the other Medium armour classes use Might as a primary attribute over Agility. They are inspired, of course, by Beorn and his descendants.[1]

Playable by: Beornings

Brawler[edit | edit source]

Brawlers are heavy-hitting, aggressive, and designed to protect allies through very powerful skills. They're excellent in one-on-one combat, but in a fellowship setting are used to distract foes and keep allies safe. Used as off-tanks and DPS, they have a unique resource called Mettle, which is used to power previously stated powerful abilities. They are inspired by Helm Hammerhand.[2]

Playable by: Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Man River Hobbit and Stout-axe.

Burglar[edit | edit source]

The Burglar represents the stealthy, sneaky characters of Middle-earth, from petty thieves to brigands. Their abilities focus on debuffing and disabling enemies through tricks and riddles, as well as dealing high levels of single-target damage. Burglars can wear up to Medium armour. They are inspired by Bilbo Baggins.[3]

Playable by: Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Man, River Hobbit, Stout-axe

Captains[edit | edit source]

Captains are the leaders of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. The Captain is a versatile class, able to heal, tank, and deal damage, but their main advantage lies in inspiring their allies to great deeds, granting combat bonuses or "buffs". Captains can also summon NPC heralds to follow them. Heralds can assist in combat and the banners they carry provide buffs. Captains can wear up to Heavy armour. The class is inspired by Earnur.[4]

Playable by: Dwarf, High Elf, Man, River Hobbit, Stout-axe

Champions[edit | edit source]

Champions are the heavy-hitting melee warriors of Middle-earth. They are known for being able to dual-wield weapons, if not choosing instead to wield a great two-handed weapon. Champions can quickly bring down single enemies with focused attacks or groups with sweeping area-of-effect blows, and also have some tanking capability. They have a special value known as fervour which is built up by some skills and can be spent to use more powerful abilities. Champions can wear up to Heavy armour. They are inspired by Gimli.[5]

Playable by: Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Man, River Hobbit, Stout-axe

Guardians[edit | edit source]

Guardians are the hardy front line fighters of Middle-earth. They can withstand blows that would kill their friends with ease, and so are a primary tanking class, but they are also capable of dealing heavy damage. Guardians are the only class able to equip heavy shields. Guardians can wear up to Heavy armour. They are inspired by Samwise Gamgee.[6]

Playable by: Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Man, River Hobbit, Stout-axe

Hunters[edit | edit source]

Hunters are the deadly archers of Middle-earth. They fill the role of hard-hitting ranged attacks to the Champion's melee. Like Champions, they can dual-wield melee weapons, but they have far more power and versatility with bows and crossbows. In addition to the bow, Hunters can use deadly and cunning traps to disable and defeat their enemies. They have a special value known as focus which is gained by using attacks that take time to prepare and is spent to use nearly instant attacks. Hunters can wear up to Medium armour. They are inspired by Legolas.[7]

Playable by: Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Man, River Hobbit, Stout-axe

Lore-masters[edit | edit source]

Lore-masters are Middle-earth's students of ancient knowledge. They use secret arts and deep knowledge of the workings of the world to heal their allies and damage and disable their enemies. In addition, Lore-masters can call upon the creatures of the wild to aid them. Lore-masters can wear up to Light armour. They are inspired by Elrond.[8]

Playable by: Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Man, River Hobbit

Mariner[edit | edit source]

Mariners are sailors who use their skills learned at sea to support allies and attack foes. Versatile and fluid in combat, these sailors are adept at maximizing pain inflicted on enemies, and supporting allied morale through sea-shanties. This requires them to maintain a balance between attack and defense to avoid debuffs. They are inspired by Eärendil.[9]

Playable by: High Elf, River Hobbit, Man, Stout-axe

Minstrels[edit | edit source]

Minstrels are the musicians of Middle-earth. Their songs can inspire their allies and dismay their enemies, healing and strengthening the one and damaging and weakening the other. Their songs are powerful, causing them to be among the strongest healers and a very capable DPS class as well. Minstrels can wear up to Light armour. They are inspired by Lúthien.[10]

Playable by: Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Man, River Hobbit, Stout-axe

Rune-keepers[edit | edit source]

Rune-keepers are Middle-earth's scribes of runes of power. Their writings are so powerful the effects they describe appear to manifest, allowing them both to heal their allies and use the elements of nature to assail their enemies. Like minstrels, this makes them very capable at both healing and DPS. They have a special value called attunement which makes them more attuned to either healing or dealing damage, depending on how often they use each type of skill. Rune-keepers can wear up to Light armour. The class is inspired by Celebrimbor.[11]

Playable by: Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Man, River Hobbit, Stout-axe

Wardens[edit | edit source]

Wardens are the agile vanguard of Middle-earth. Their use of the javelin and specially designed Warden's shield is unique, and they are also known for using spears, though they are proficient with a variety of melee weapons. Wardens inspire themselves and dismay their enemies, draining morale through their attacks, can deal damage in melee or at range equally well, and have some buffs and debuffs. They have a special system of gambits, combination attacks triggered by using combinations of three simple skills in sequence. Wardens can wear up to Medium armour. They are inspired by Haldir.[12]

Playable by: Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Man, River Hobbit, Stout-axe

The Lord of the Rings Online
Games titles Shadows of Angmar · Mines of Moria · Siege of Mirkwood · Rise of Isengard · Riders of Rohan · Helm's Deep · Mordor · Minas Morgul · War of Three Peaks · Fate of Gundabad · Before the Shadow
Storyline Volume I: Shadows of Angmar · Volume II: Mines of Moria · Volume III: Allies of the King · Volume IV: The Strength of Sauron · The Black Book of Mordor
See also Characters · Locations · Shadows of Angmar soundtrack · Mines of Moria soundtrack · "King Under the Mountain" minigame