[Guide] Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Tips and Tricks (25 Best Tips)

Updated:

16 Feb 2024

1. Actually watch/play the tutorial

Talion & Dirhael training/ Talion and wife

If you have played any of the Batman Arkham games this will be familiar and you will do great. If you haven’t, actually pay attention, it’s important!

If you love stories and plot remember this whole thing, it’s important to know both from a nerdy Middle Earth perspective and for what drives the main character Talion throughout the game.

How it works:

Getting control of main character is 1st and you begin by practicing blocking with your son Dirhael
Then it moves to retaliating blows
Scene moves forward and you practice what you learned on incoming Uruk enemies
Learn about filling the combo meter to perform a takedown move
Then it moves to a happier memory where you practice stealth to sneak up on your wife and kiss her.
Soon gets darker as Uruks appear and you need to sneak up on then kill them
Unfortunately it doesn’t get better as the scene will end badly and you learn that Talion is now tied to a Wraith (which you should remember hearing the name of).

2. Reforge Towers

Bring back the Light

The towers found throughout the game are important as they allow you to travel all across the map as you find more of them. Without them you will be walking/running/sneaking everywhere slowly.

My advice, just reforge any towers you come across for both travel and sometimes safety purposes.

How it works:

Unforged towers will be a dark tower icon on the map
Go to dark icon and climb to top of tower
Press corresponding button to activate

3. Use map frequently to find intel (green dots)

Find these symbols for intel

The Uruks or human slaves will have information on various captains which is important in defeating them.

Don’t kill them, intel can only be gotten while alive

How it works:

Sneak approach the green dot Uruks and chokehold them
Press corresponding button to gain intel
Use accordingly
On humans just press the gain intel button

4. Get collectibles found on map

Ithilden & Artifacts

On the map there are various icons. Two of which are Ithildin and Artifacts. Both of these are useful for getting Mirian, which is the currency of this world. Find them and use them for weapons upgrades and level ups.

Personally, I made it a point to find both of these continuously due to the Mirian (money) thing. But getting to some of them can be interesting so be careful.\

How it works:

For Ithildin

Put it as your current mission
Go Wraith mode to seek and find them
Once found press corresponding button

For Artifacts

Once the artifact shows up on screen rotate the object around repeatedly
Somewhere the controller will vibrate or make a noise to let you know you are close
A blue dot will appear and a corresponding button
Press it and read/listen to the dialogue

5. Explore the area to gain familiarity

Going on an adventure

Each area has different objects to find and can be useful to know where dangers are or places to hide

Always have escape plans for each area in case you are seen or attacked unexpectedly. Personally I made sure to have knowledge of any health options and any climbable objects in case of attack.

How it works:

Check each area for health options which is marked on the map with a red dot
Be aware of enemies such as wargs or cave trolls that you may not be strong enough to handle at present
Any arrow icons need to be marked in your brain in case a reload is necessary

6. Do Dagger Missions

Acharn, your dagger

At first this is more a side mission than an actual important thing. But it is important because without proper weapons you can’t cause proper damage.

How it works:

Go to where there is a dagger icon
Do the task it sets
Get a new rune upgrade for the dagger

7. Do Bow Missions

Azkâr, your bow

As with the dagger it is important, even as a side mission, to upgrade weapons as much as possible. Being over prepared for any enemy is better than dying because your weapon is bad.

How it works: same as the dagger

Go to where there is a bow mission
Enter the area and succeed in mission
Get new bow rune upgrade

8. Do Sword Missions

Urfael, your sword

The sword is one of my favorite tools in this game and it needs to be upgraded to succeed in most missions.

How it works: same as others

Go to where sword icon is
Go through the mission successfully
Get new rune upgrade

9. Help outcasts

Help will come

This may sound like a waste of valuable time but I found it was quite important. They can also offer help in minor attacks against Uruks and offer intel.

How it works:

See a white fist icon the humans need help
White fist inside a shield is an Outcast side mission that helps with side stories
Do them!

10. Level up abilities

Abilities screen

In the beginning of the game it is explained about leveling up and the higher you get the better the abilities open for you.

I always keep an eye on these as some of the abilities are amazing like caragor riding or more arrow capacity.

How it works:

Go to abilities screen
Points will be in top left side
Use them to unlock specific abilities
Locked ones will be shown with a red lock icon
Yellow locked ones apply to main missions

11. Fast travel between towers

Travel and reforge the Towers

Towers were explained previously but the ability to fast travel is only unlocked when you find more than one tower and reforge them. Finding them helps but reforging is the part that counts

How it works:

Go to a reforged tower
Climb to top and approach the anvil
Press corresponding button and select tower you wish to travel to

12. Captains

Off with his head!

These Uruks are generally stronger and better equipped than normal ones. They also have strengths and weaknesses.

Use intel to gain information on a Captain’s strengths and weaknesses. Exploit them because they don’t die easily.

How it works:

Gain intel from humans or Uruks
Reveal strengths and weaknesses
Use weaknesses against them to defeat them

13. Wraith World usage

You will suffer me

This comes in handy when following the tracks in “An Interested Party” mission. You cannot see the tracks or Ithildin without it. It also allows you to spot plants that provide health and plants that help refresh your powers.

I used it to see all enemies or when searching for captains. It is highly recommended you use it just as frequently

How it works:

Press button for wraith world
Everything should turn dark with white spots marking enemies, things to check out, etc

14. Don’t be too carefree with any enemies that seem to want to help

We help the Bright Master..yes....

In-game you have 2 enemies that you can choose to help. Both do NOT have your best interests in mind.

Be leery of the Uruk, the other, called Gollum, wouldn’t care if you were harmed but does help the story along.

How it works:

Helping the Uruk Ratbag

Save him from execution
He offers a plan to get insider info on captains if you help him become one
Help him

Gollum

Follow tracks and corner him
Accept his offer to help the Bright Master
He is key to understanding the reason why Talion and the Wraith Celebrimbor are connected

15.Strongholds are dangerous but useful in finding Captains

The Watcher

These areas are crawling with Uruks and if they set off an alarm you won't be able to move about as freely whether you use ground travel and sneak or wall travel with ease.

My advice, learned over and over, is if you see a torch bearing Uruk running to an alarm beacon, kill them.

How it works:

Get a high vantage point away from Enemy eyes
Go into wraith mode and see if any captains are about (they will be marked in your sight)
If so make sure you have intel on weaknesses
Engage them and gain more xp, mirian, or just to scare the others within the stronghold

16. Unlock Ride Caragor skill

YOU ARE MINE!!!

You are taught this by a dwarf so technically a mission worth doing. Also it can save even more time if you need to exploit a Captain’s weakness for caragors. Useful since you can shoot from the back of one and use it to maul/kill other Uruks

Unlock as soon as possible. This was one of the most enjoyable parts of the game, riding a caragor through Uruk filled areas and leaving them all behind when on a mission to get somewhere.

How it works:

Get to the point where it is unlocked
Avoid/counter their attack
Dominate is successful if they turn the blue-white color of Wraith world
You can now ride caragors
Extra mission of riding Dire Caragor can be done with Torven the dwarf

17. Bodyguards

You will protect until called

These guys are who protect Warchiefs in the game. You eliminate bodyguards to get a Warchief to reveal themselves

How it works:

Use intel to find out a bodyguard’s weakness
Exploit it/use gain intel when they are near dead to get the information on the next one
Kill them after

18. Warchiefs

Be careful or he will have your skull too

Simply some of the biggest bosses in the game. Eliminate bodyguards to draw these guys out but be warned they are much stronger than you think.

Gain intel as before, just remember you need to get intel twice. Once to reveal location, again to reveal strengths and weaknesses.

How it works:

Draw out/find bodyguards
Kill/brand both
Warchief will appear
Attempt to kill

19. Multiple maps

2nd map, area called Nurn

The new second map is obtained when the Black Captain is defeated. As a side note travel is still allowed between maps and events do continue without you being present in previous map

How it works:

Kill the Black Captain
New map opens
Go exploring!

20. Unlockable skill called Branding

You will obey!

This skill is fantastic. It allows you to control various Uruks you have “claimed”. They will kill for you but still act normal mostly. If found by other non-branded Uruks they will be killed.

Brand as many as you can, Captains and Bodyguards included. Gaining intel also will brand them.

How it works:

Sneak up on regular Uruks and click button to brand them
Drain most health from Captains and Bodyguards before branding or it won’t take
Branding can be interrupted if you are attacked before it is completed

21. Graugs

GONNA EAT YOU

Graugs are the biggest enemies in the game and usually only 1 or 2 appear at a time. Using Graug Bleed and the corresponding buttons to dominate it unlock the ability to ride it.

Be wary of attacks because they are quite strong. However, I like gaining the ability then riding one to an outpost and releasing it to cause mayhem.

How it works:

Follow Torvin to the Graug
Do the tutorial

22. Command Captains

Save your captain or he will be dead!

Another bonus of branding is you can do it to Captains as mentioned previously. You gain the ability to command them in a main mission called “Power of the Wraith” where the branded Captain becomes a Bodyguard.

How it works:

Branded Captain will create a Power Struggle with a Bodyguard of your choosing
Help your Captain win and he becomes Bodyguard of chosen Warchief
When time comes to kill Warchief make sure your branded Bodyguard survives so he can help kill Warchief

23. Dire Caragor

We ride!

This is the bigger, stronger version mentioned earlier. If you can dominate this one, regular caragors will come to your call to help in battle if you are riding this type of caragor.

How it works:

Do the mission with Torvin
Brand this caragor

24. Big Boss Fights

Scary lookin' ain't he?

There are only 2 remaining fights left so get prepped. Make sure you branded all 5 Warchiefs so they fight for you. Also make sure all relevant skills have been unlocked because it’s going to be rough before the end.

How it works:

Fight all enemies, the Tower appears
Defeat him
Go climb on a caragor
Ride to the Black Gate
Engage last enemy
Hopefully defeat him
The game is now finished and you are free to roam around

25. Enjoy the game

Free to roam

As you travel through the game, do missions, and learn some cool Middle Earth lore just enjoy it. No speedruns, no just the main stuff, have fun with it!

How it works: