Shadow of War: Enemy types Middle-earth: Shadow of War Guide

Middle-earth: Shadow of War features a whole range of powerful creatures and orcs that want to challenge Talion. On the following page of our guide, you can find a list of all enemy types along with their short descriptions:

• Basic types of orcs
• Advanced types of orcs
• Other enemy types

Basic types of orcs

The basic types of orcs shouldn't be a problem to you.

Sauron's army is divided into a few basic types of units where each enemy uses a different weapon and tactics:

1. Warriors - The basic enemies that use swords. They are easy to counter but usually you will have to fight with hordes of them.
2. Archers - They use crossbows that are deadly at a distance. These enemies are very dangerous because, during a fight, it is easy to "catch" a random arrow that can take a lot of your health. You should try to eliminate them immediately.
3. Hunters - Similarly to archers, these enemies prefer to fight from a distance. They throw spears at you - try to eliminate these orcs as fast as possible.
4. Defenders - These enemies use iron shields and fight with long spears. Some of their attacks can't be countered - try to get behind their back to bypass their covers.
5. Savages - Equivalent of berserkers. These enemies use two axes. They are very dangerous in close-quarters because they can deflect and counter melee attacks. Try to use your bow and stun them.
6. Olog-hai - Powerful war trolls that muster respect just with their size alone. These enemies have a lot of health and the best way to deal with them is to use stealth attacks. You can't jump over them in a direct fight (they can catch you and throw on the ground) but, in a right moment, you can perform a slide between their legs. When you stun them, you can jump on their backs, hurt with your dagger and control their movements for a moment.

Advanced types of orcs

Eventually, you will meet stronger types of orcs. This picture shows a proud orc captain who specialized himself to be a berserker.

When a regular orc gets experience, he can get promoted and also specialize himself in art of killing. Here, you can find advanced types of orcs:

1. Assassins - they are fast and prefer stealth attacks. Most of the times, these enemies have cursed/poisoned weapon that deals additional damage after hitting you.
2. Beastmasters - these orcs can tame beasts that are later used by them in battles. They can also heal their companions and order them to fight with their enemies. Usually, this enemy can kill your dominated creatures in a blink of an eye.
3. Berserks - they are in battle frenzy right from the start of a fight and they charge at you immediately. They are very resistant and deadly in fights - watch out for them!
4. Commanders - probably the most problematic type of orcs. They are accompanied by a few of their followers who can be strengthened by commanders.
5. Destroyers - these orcs use explosive charges and fire. Be careful and observe your surroundings.
6. Marksmen - a very dangerous type of orcs who must be prioritized during fights. Usually, you fight with a lot of enemies and this is used by marksmen to attack you from a safe distance. If a marksman has a poisoned weapon... then you can have a lot of troubles.
7. Slayers - these orcs use melee attacks, counters and precise hits. Try to weaken them with your bow/use stealth attacks.
8. Tanks - walking tanks that are unbelievably resistant. They can also heal themselves and attack their enemies with ranged attacks. A great candidate for a bodyguard!
9. Trackers - they can track you, even if you are hiding, and call reinforcements when they find you. They are also persistent in chasing you.
10. Trickster - cunning orcs that use their speed and tricks to deceive their enemies. They can dodge a lot of your attacks and they usually run away when they are losing.

Other enemy types

Even Wraiths will stand on your path!

Besides orcs, Sauron also controls other enemies that can attack you on a battlefield:

1. Spiders - from time to time, you will come across spiders. However, they are easy to kill and are no threat to you.
2. Ghuls - Ghuls live underground and you can notice a characteristic dust in a place from where they will emerge. They die from one hit and are easy to kill. However, if one of them runs away during a battle, they will come back with a powerful matron that can be a problem to you. Because of that you should kill them all and don't allow them to go back to their nest!
3. Caragor - usually, they serve orcs as mounts but many of them can be found living in wild. These gigantic wargs should be attacked from a side or you can shoot an arrow at their head. White Caragors are even more deadly and can give you more trouble.
4. Graug - giant beasts that are one of the most powerful creatures in the game. During fights with them you should focus on your bow and attack them from a side. You should always try to dominate Graugs because they have tremendous power that can crush orcs. In the later parts of the game you will come across rare Graugs that can breathe fire and are even more powerful.
5. Drake - they are Nazguls' mounts and are well-known to all fans of the universe. The game features a larger number of them and they also received an ability to breathe fire. Drakes must be defeated with a bow and, if a situation requires it, you must finish them off when they land. You can also dominate them and fly on their backs.
6. Wraiths - there are a few moments in the game in which you will face a Wraith. These fights are focused mostly on countering and avoiding their attacks.