The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II - Game Guide - The Gamers Temple

(Fa)
The Factions

Here I will put down the desciptions, pro's & con's, info about heroes, tactics
and maps that work fine in combination with specific troops.

(Fa1)
Men of the West.

Description:
In Battle for Middle-Earth II, the factions Gondor and Rohan (from BfME-I) have
merged to form this one faction. It is a versatile faction with VERY strong 
units (if upgraded), which are easily even made stronger when combined with the
heroes they have (Aragorn, Theoden, Faramir, Boromir and Eomer all have Leader-
ship, though Eomers Leadership only counts for Cavalry). A downside to this
faction is that they have little to no capabilities for early-game rushes.
The Gondorian infantry and archers are all slaughtered before they can really
make a dent in the enemies army.

Pro's.
+ Lots of Heroes.
+ Powerfull units, if upgraded.
+ Palantir Vision. 2 Fortresses can cover all land with Ivory Tower.

Con's.
- Weak units for early rushes.
- Gondorian infantry and knights are really only good when upgraded.

Heroes.
Note: they got lots of them, and good ones to!

Gandalf - 5000 - 100 CP
Level 1: Wizard Blast
- Put this one on automatic and let the enemy army swarm together ;)
Level 2: Lightning Sword
- Use this one if the army is destroyed and there is a cluster of buildings.
Level 4: Shadowfax
- Use this only if you need him to get somewhere quickly in/out.
Level 7: Istari Light
- Hero Killer!
Level 10: Word of Power
- Allow him to be swarmed (or better, surrounded) by enemies and activate.
  Beware! It takes about 3 seconds before it is really unleashed! If he's killed
  then it won't be released!

Aragorn - 3000 - 80 CP
Level 1: Athelas
- Put it on automatic, and he will heal himself from time to time.
Level 2: Blademaster
- Put it on automatic and he can destroy lots of units.
Level 4: Leadership
- Unit support.
Level 6: Elendil
- Use it when he's surrounded to clear a path for escape.
Level 10: Army of the Dead
- When facing massive numbers, summon it and move them OVER the enemy. They 
  damage them even when attacking a building.

Eomer - 2000 - 60 CP
Level 1: Mount/Unmount
- When doing a Hero assault, unmount him for safety reasons.
Level 1: Spear Throw
- Hero Killer.
Level 5: Horse Lord
- Cavalry Support.
Level 6: Outlaw Leader
- Place him near any place where units are killed fast and watch the cash
  flow in.

Eowyn - 2000 - 60 CP
Level 1: Mount/Unmount.
- When doing a Hero assault, unmount her for safety reasons.
Level 1: Smite.
- Hero Killer. Lot's of damage on flyers.
Level 4: Disguise.
- Not very usefull, except against human players perhaps.
Level 5: Shieldmaiden.
- Put it on automatic and she gains additional armor.

Theoden - 1100 - 40 CP
Level 1: Mount/Unmount.
- When doing a Hero assault, unmount him for safety reasons.
Level 1: Leadership.
- Unit support.
Level 4: King's Favor.
- Cluster the units, then give them free exp.
Level 5: Glorious Charge.
- Put all your cavalry around him, activate, and rush right to the 
  enemies fortress, razing it to the ground.

Faramir - 2000 - 60 CP
Level 1: Toggle Weapon.
- When doing a Hero assault let him wield a bow when attacking units.
  When attacking buildings, switch to sword.
Level 2: Wounding arrow.
- For fast damage on a single unit.
Level 3: Knight/Ranger
- Use this when you need to transport him quickly.
Level 4: Leadership.
- Unit support.
Level 7: Captain of Gondor.
- Cluster units together, and then give them free experience.

Boromir - 1100 - 40 CP
Level 3: Horn of Gondor
- Use it to stun enemies. Put it on automatic.
Level 4: Leadership.
- Unit support.
Level 7: Captain of Gondor.
- Pack the units closely together, then use it.

Army build-up.
Aragorn's Army: 
-Put Gandalf in here, and fill it up with Ithilien Rangers.
-Create-a-Hero can be placed here instead of a Ranger.
Boromir's Army:
-Put Faramir in here.
-Fill up with Ithilien Rangers.
Theoden's Army:
-Put Eomer and Eowyn in here.
-Fill up with Rohirrim.

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(Fa2)
Elves

Description.
The faction of Elves has very few units and heroes. However, the Mirkwood
Archers are so strong, if used in combination with Summon-powers and heroes,
winning is easy. All infantry has the ability to cloak in forests, the Mirkwood
Archers even have the ability to cloak in open field using their capes.
The powers of the heroes make the Elves a powerfull faction in late-game
assaults. With Elrond's Restoration, powers can be used twice. Because of this,
complete enemy armies can be decimated, if not destroyed by Elrond and Arwen
alone. In combination with Legolas' Arrow Wind, the enemy has no chance.

Pro's.
+ Elrond's Restoration power!
+ Legolas' Arrow wind.
+ Cloacking of most units.
+ Ability to move almost unseen right to the enemies front door.
+ Hero that upgrades Siege Units (Treebeard has Ent Leadership) 

Con's.
- Few units.
- Can easily be defeated by a determined enemy.

Heroes.

Elrond - 3000 - 80 CP
Level 1: Farsight.
- Use it to scout out the enemy.
Level 1: Athelas.
- Set on automatic.
Level 3: Leaderhip
- Unit support.
Level 7: Restoration.
- Heals up to 50% of all units in target range, sets heroes powers on ready.
Level 10: Tornado.
- Summon this tornado to destroy buildings or kill units extremely fast.

Arwen - 1100 - 40 CP
Level 1: Mount/Unmount.
- Mount here if you need to transport her quickly.
Level 4: Flood.
- Destroy a battalion of units with this one.
Level 8: Athelas.
- Put this on automatic.

Glorfindel - 2000 - 60 CP
Level 1: Mount/Unmount
- Mount him when you need to transport him quickly.
Level 3: Blade of Purity
- Set it on automatic for extra damage.
Level 6: Wind Rider
- When you want to trample the enemy, mount him and activate it.
Level 10: Starlight
- Super-support for units.

Haldir - 1100 - 40 CP
Level 1: Toggle Weapon
- Switch between Sword and Bow & Arrow
Level 4: Leadership
- Unit support.
Level 9: Golden Arrow
- Place it on automatic for massive damage on one unit.

Thranduil - 3000 - 80 CP
Level 1: Stealth
- He shoots while stealthed. Passive ability.
Level 3: Dead Eye
- Set it on automatic to do extra damage.
Level 4: Wood Walker
Level 7: Move Unseen
- If you want to get some heroes into a base unseen.
Level 10: Thorn of Vengeance
- Hero killer.

Legolas - 2000 - 60 CP
Level 1: Eagle Eye
- Set on automatic.
Level 3: Train archers
- Free experience for archers.
Level 6: Knive attack
- Fast, powerfull melee attacks for a while.
Level 10: Arrow Wind
- Use it to weaken the enemy's army heavily.

Army build-up.

Elrond's Army:
- Arwen goes in here.
- Fill up with Mirkwood Archers
Thranduils Army:
- Legolas goes in here.
- Fill up with Mirkwood Archers
Glorfindel Army:
- Haldir goes in here.
- Fill up with Mirkwood Archers

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(Fa3)
Dwarves

Description:
The Dwarves are a slow, tough faction. They can't rush in any way, but when
they are in the enemy base, they are hard to remove. With many possible
upgrades for the walls, they can easily defend their fortress and base.
Combining tough units with special catapults, and the possibility to place a
mine-shaft near or even IN the enemy base, they can easily place more and more
units within the heat of the battle. This, combined with powers that can
destroy a base within short times, they are tough to kill if given the time to
grow.

Pro's:
+ Destructive powers for base elimination
+ Hard-to-kill units
+ Very strong catapults

Con's:
- Takes a long time to mount an offense
- Takes a long time to rally a good defense
- Rather expensive to upgrade
- Only 3 heroes.

Heroes.

King Dain - 2000 - 60 CP
Level 1: Leadership
- Make the Dwarves even tougher!
Level 3: Mighty Rage
Level 7: Stubborn Pride
- Your units gain resistance to fear.
Level 10: Summon Royal Guard
- Use it to summon 1 Guardian, Axe-thrower and Phalanx troop, fully upgraded.

Gloin - 1100 - 40 CP
Level 1: Slam
- Set this one on automatic and send them flying.
Level 4: Shake Foundation
- Set automatic and let him attack a building alone.
Level 10: Earthshaker
- Use it to wipe out and damage lots of enemies.

Gimli - 3000 - 80 CP
Level 1: Axe Throw
- Set it on automatic.
Level 3: Leap
- Use it on fresh troops or troops that are packed upon eachother.
Level 5: Slayer
- Set it on automatic or activate manually. He will tear through the enemy.

Army build-up.
King Dain's/Gloin's/Gimli's army:
- 2 Guardians, 2 Axe Throwers and 2 Phalanxes.

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