Mastering Legendary Gear in Shadow of War: Levels, Acquisition, and Upgrades

Legendary gear in Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a powerful asset for any player. You cannot acquire Legendary gear until you reach at least Reputation (Player) Level 7. Once you reach Reputation Level 8, all gear drops will be Legendary. Understanding the intricacies of how to obtain, level, and upgrade these coveted items is crucial for maximizing your strength and dominating Mordor.

Acquiring Legendary Gear: A Comprehensive Guide

Legendary gear isn’t just handed out; you need to earn it. The game offers several avenues for acquiring these powerful items. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

• Orc Captains: The most reliable method is by defeating Orc Captains. When you defeat a Legendary Orc Captain, you’re guaranteed a Legendary item drop that matches their level. Focus on hunting down these high-ranking enemies to bolster your arsenal.

• Specific Orc Classes and Gear Sets: Certain classes of Orcs are tied to specific pieces of Legendary Arcane armor. This connection offers a focused approach to acquiring targeted gear. For example:

  • To gain the Arcane Armor, kill a Legendary Mystic Tank or Mystic Destroyer.
  • To gain the Arcane Cloak, kill a Legendary Mystic Beastmaster.
  • To gain the Arcane Rune, kill a Legendary Mystic Commander or Mystic Trickster.

• Quests and Challenges: Some quests and challenges within the game reward you with Legendary gear upon completion. Keep an eye out for these opportunities as you progress through the story and side content.

• Marketplace (Prior to Shutdown): While the in-game marketplace is no longer active, it’s worth noting that it previously offered a chance to acquire Legendary gear through loot boxes. This is no longer a viable method in the current version of the game.

Leveling Up Legendary Gear

Legendary gear in Shadow of War isn’t static; it evolves alongside you. The game features a system for leveling up your Legendary items, making them even more potent as you progress. Each piece of Legendary gear comes with three Challenges. Completing these challenges upgrades the gear incrementally. When the challenge is completed the gear upgrades to level 20, 40, and 60, from which the Legendary gear becomes viable for Scaled Upgrade. Each level of Challenge upgrade completed improves the power of a Legendary gear piece’s unique property.

Upgrading Legendary Gear: Enhancing Power

Legendary gear can be upgraded multiple times. This is done through specific challenges associated with each gear piece. These challenges often involve defeating specific types of Orcs or performing certain actions in combat.

• Challenge Completion: Completing the challenge associated with the legendary gear will upgrade the gear.
• Higher-Level Orcs: Some challenges require you to use high level orcs to complete.
• Scaled Upgrade: Completing the challenge will allow for scaled upgrades up to level 85 for gear and level 90 for weapons that an Olog breaks.

Legendary Gear Sets: Synergistic Power

Shadow of War features twelve Legendary Gear Sets. Each set consists of six pieces. Equipping multiple pieces from the same set grants you powerful bonus perks. These sets encourage specialized builds and playstyles, making them highly sought after by players looking to optimize their character. Some of the best Legendary Armor Sets include:

1. Bright Lord: The Bright Lord set increases Dominate range when wearing two pieces, reduces the cost of Elven Rage with four pieces, and summons a Shadow of the Bright Lord when using Elven Rage with six pieces.
2. Ringwraith: The Ringwraith set has might generation increases with two pieces, Wraith abilities cost no focus with four pieces, and using a Wraith ability summons shadows with six pieces.
3. Terror: The Terror set has Intimidate Grunts chance with two pieces, causes Terror when dominating with four pieces, and nearby enemies are Terrified when a dominated grunts dies with six pieces.
4. Mystic
5. Dark
6. Warmonger
7. Slaughter
8. Vendetta

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the maximum level for players in Shadow of War?

The maximum level for players in Shadow of War is level 80. This was increased from the original cap of 60 in a later update.

2. Can I level up my gear beyond my player level?

Yes, you can level your gear and weapons to level 85, and even level 90 for weapons that an Olog breaks.

3. How do I get level 7 Legendary gear?

The information in the provided text is not applicable for Shadow of War as it refers to World of Warcraft.

4. Can I get all skills at max level in Shadow of War?

Yes, you can unlock and max out all skills in Shadow of War. There’s even an achievement associated with doing so.

5. Is it better to upgrade a basic captain to Legendary or an Epic captain?

Upgrading either a basic or Epic captain to Legendary will give them increased damage output and HP, and sometimes change weaknesses/immunities/strengths. Upgrading a basic captain to Legendary will give them 2 Epic Traits, and upgrading an Epic captain will only give the captain one extra Epic Trait on top of the one they already have.

6. Can I dominate Orcs who are higher level than me?

No, you must be at least the same level as the Orc you’re trying to dominate and recruit.

7. What are the best Orc classes to recruit in Shadow of War?

Some of the best Orc classes to recruit include Berserkers, Tricksters, Tanks, Marksman, and Destroyers. Each class offers unique strengths and strategic advantages.

8. Is it better to equip epic or rare gear?

Epic gear is generally superior to rare gear. Legendary and epic gear each have trade offs.

9. What does it mean when a captain becomes Legendary?

When a captain becomes Legendary, they gain two bonus Epic Traits, making them significantly more powerful than normal or Epic Orcs.

10. How long does it take to 100% complete Shadow of War?

Completing the main story takes around 20.5 hours. Achieving 100% completion typically requires around 55.5 hours.

11. Is Shadow of War still a grindy game?

Depending on your goals, Shadow of War can be considered grindy, especially if you’re aiming to see the true ending. This requires significant time and effort to defend your fortresses.

12. What is the “Shadow Wars” endgame in Shadow of War?

The Shadow Wars endgame consists of 20 sieges where you must defend your fortresses against increasingly challenging invaders.

13. What difficulty level should I choose in Shadow of War?

Normal difficulty offers a balanced experience, while Gravewalker provides a significant challenge for experienced players.

14. Does Shadow of War have a true ending?

Yes, Shadow of War has a true ending. But in order to see it, you must play the Shadow Wars endgame.

15. Why are video games a good teaching tool?

Video games are an increasingly popular tool in education, and are gaining in popularity, especially at the University level. Video games are able to provide students with the tools to problem solve and think critically. To learn more, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Conclusion

Mastering the acquisition, leveling, and upgrading of Legendary gear is essential for success in Middle-earth: Shadow of War. By understanding the mechanics, focusing on specific Orc classes, and completing challenges, you can forge a formidable army and conquer Mordor. Remember to leverage Legendary Gear Sets for synergistic bonuses and continuously upgrade your gear to stay ahead of the ever-growing threats.