- Lord of the Rings War in the North builds rely heavily on maximizing Mithril upgrades for endgame stats.
- Mithril Quest: Unlock gear upgrades by completing the Miravor and Truesilver side quests from Arwen in Rivendell.
- Hard Cap: Each piece of equipment can receive a maximum of 8 Mithril upgrades.
- Farming Strategy: Replay Mount Gundabad on Legendary difficulty to efficiently farm golden chests and resources.
- Best Results: Apply Mithril to your primary weapons and armor pieces for maximum damage and survivability.
Understanding Lord of the Rings War in the North Builds
Creating the ultimate character in Lord of the Rings War in the North requires more than just leveling up. To tackle Legendary difficulty, you must optimize your gear through a specific side questline that unlocks Mithril upgrades. This system allows you to permanently enhance your weapons, armor, and accessories.
Video Highlights:
- Step-by-step walkthrough for unlocking the Mithril (Truesilver) side quest
- How to navigate Ettenmoors to find Miravor ingredients for Arwen
- Locating the hidden Mithril wall in Mount Gundabad using Farin
- Applying runes to gear and viewing before-and-after stat comparisons
- Testing the maximum Mithril upgrade cap on endgame staves and weapons
Throughout the campaign, you will find golden chests that offer RNG-based loot. While these are valuable, the most consistent way to push your character to endgame status is through the Mithril upgrade system. This mechanic becomes available after reaching Rivendell and speaking with Arwen.
Always prioritize visiting Arwen in Rivendell early in your campaign. Initiating the Miravor conversation unlocks the entire upgrade questline, which is essential for your build.
Unlocking the Mithril Upgrade System
The Mithril upgrade system is gated behind a two-part side quest. You cannot access the gear enhancement menu until you complete both the Miravor and Truesilver quests. Here is how the progression works.
Quest Progression Overview
| Quest Name | Location | Key Objective | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miravor | Rivendell / Ettenmoors | Gather ingredients on the ground | Talk to Arwen about Miravor |
| Truesilver | Mount Gundabad | Find hidden Mithril ore | Have Farin in your party |
Step 1: The Miravor Quest
After arriving in Rivendell, speak to Arwen and select the dialogue option about Miravor. This activates the first quest. You must then load into the Ettenmoors level and search the ground for specific ingredients scattered throughout the map. Once collected, return to Rivendell and turn in the quest to Arwen.
Step 2: The Truesilver Quest
Turning in Miravor unlocks the Truesilver quest. This requires you to find a quantity of Mithril in a specific hidden location within Mount Gundabad. The catch is that only Farin can reveal the hidden wall containing the Mithril chest.
If you are playing solo, you must switch your character to Farin for the Mount Gundabad mission. Complete the mission once with your main character, then replay it with Farin to access the hidden cave.
Step-by-Step Mithril Farming Route
To efficiently obtain Mithril and apply it to your gear, follow this optimized farming route designed for both solo and co-op play.
Clear Mount Gundabad First
Play through the Mount Gundabad mission with your main character and complete it fully. This reduces the enemy count for subsequent runs, making farming much easier.
Replay with Farin
Switch to Farin and replay the Mount Gundabad mission. Navigate up the hill and make a right into the cave area. Only Farin can detect the crack in the wall.
Collect the Mithril
Break open the hidden wall, enter the passage, and open the golden chest inside to obtain the Mithril ore for the Truesilver quest.
Trigger the Save Point
Continue forward in the mission until you trigger a save point. This ensures the game registers your Mithril collection. You can then teleport out or finish the mission.
Apply Runes with Angmir
Return to Rivendell, speak to Arwen to turn in the quest, then speak to Angmir. Select the item you wish to upgrade and confirm adding the runes. The game saves immediately after application.
Be absolutely certain which item you want to upgrade before confirming with Angmir. Once Mithril runes are applied, the game saves instantly and the decision cannot be undone.
Optimal Gear Upgrade Priorities
Since Mithril upgrades are limited per playthrough cycle, you need to prioritize which gear receives enhancements first. Each item can receive a maximum of 8 Mithril upgrades before hitting the hard cap.
Upgrade Impact by Gear Type
| Gear Type | Key Stats Boosted | Priority Level | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Damage, Crit Damage, Reduced Wear | ★★★★★ | All characters |
| Staff (Eradan) | Damage, Reduced Wear, Crit | ★★★★★ | Mage builds |
| Armor / Chest | Armor rating, Dexterity | ★★★★ | Tank builds |
| Boots | Dexterity, Armor, Damage | ★★★ | Mobility builds |
| Rings / Necklace | Various stat boosts | ★★ | Supplementary |
Example Stat Improvements
Here is a comparison of gear stats before and after Mithril upgrades, based on endgame testing:
| Item | Stat | Before | After (8 Upgrades) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boots | Dexterity | ~20 | 42 |
| Boots | Armor | ~80 | 150 |
| Boots | Damage | ~30 | 65 |
| Boots | Reduced Wear | Base | -5000% |
| Staff | Reduced Wear | Base | -40,300% |
| Ember Fire Sword | Overall Damage | Moderate | Significantly Increased |
For maximum impact, apply your first Mithril upgrades to your primary damage-dealing weapon. The damage scaling on weapons like the one-handed Ember Fire Sword or Eradan's staff provides the most noticeable improvement in combat effectiveness.
Endgame Build Strategies
Once you have access to Mithril upgrades, your approach to building each character changes dramatically. The goal is to reach level 40, complete the campaign on Legendary difficulty, and then use New Game Plus to fully optimize your gear.
Damage Build
- Focus: Primary weapon upgrades
- Maximize crit damage and raw attack
- Best for aggressive players
- Pair with damage-boosting rings
Tank Build
- Focus: Armor and chest upgrades
- Prioritize armor rating and dexterity
- Ideal for Farin frontline combat
- Reduces wear significantly
Hybrid Build
- Focus: Balanced upgrades across gear
- Split Mithril between weapon and armor
- Versatile for co-op play
- Adapts to various encounter types
New Game Plus on Legendary
When you complete the campaign on Legendary difficulty, you unlock the ability to start a new playthrough while retaining all your gear and items. This is the key to farming enough Mithril to max out your equipment to the 8-upgrade cap.
Replay Mount Gundabad repeatedly on Legendary difficulty. Each completion gives you another opportunity to collect Mithril and apply it to a different piece of gear. Focus on one item at a time until it reaches the 8-upgrade cap.
Endgame Build Checklist:
- Reach level 40 on your main character
- Complete the Miravor side quest in Ettenmoors
- Complete the Truesilver side quest in Mount Gundabad
- Apply first Mithril upgrade to primary weapon
- Beat the campaign on Legendary difficulty
- Farm Mithril in New Game Plus to reach 8 upgrades on key gear
FAQ
Q: What is the maximum number of Mithril upgrades per item in Lord of the Rings War in the North builds?
Each piece of equipment can receive a maximum of 8 Mithril upgrades. Testing confirmed that while a 9th upgrade may briefly appear, the game enforces a hard cap of 8, reverting any excess back to the limit.
Q: Do I need Farin to complete the Truesilver quest?
Yes, Farin is required to find the hidden Mithril ore in Mount Gundabad. Only he can reveal and break the crack in the wall leading to the golden chest. If playing solo, switch to Farin and replay the mission.
Q: Can I change which item I upgrade after applying Mithril?
No. Once you confirm adding runes with Angmir in Rivendell, the game saves immediately and the upgrade is permanent. Choose carefully before confirming.
Q: What gear should I upgrade first for my build?
Prioritize your primary weapon first for maximum damage output. Weapons like the Ember Fire sword or Eradan's staff benefit greatly from the damage and crit boosts. After your weapon, focus on armor pieces for survivability.