- Eradan build focuses on dual-wielding melee damage supplemented by strong bow versatility
- Dual-wielding is the optimal combat style for maximizing sustained DPS on the Ranger
- Critical Strike and Evasion are the two most important skill trees to prioritize
- Agility determines your effectiveness with both ranged and melee encounters
- Skill resets are not available, so plan your build before spending points
Eradan Build Overview & Core Strengths
Eradan, the Ranger of the Dunedain, is the most versatile character in Lord of the Rings: War in the North. An effective Eradan build leverages his unique ability to switch between devastating dual-wield melee combos and precise ranged bow attacks. Unlike Farin the Dwarf or Andriel the Elf, Eradan thrives on mobility, critical hits, and evasion, making him the ideal choice for players who prefer an aggressive, fast-paced combat style.
Video Highlights:
- Legendary difficulty Eradan playthrough demonstrating combat techniques
- Shows effective use of bow interrupts against archers and spellcasters
- Highlights dual-wield combo strings against troll-class enemies
- Features strategic use of Beleram the Eagle for crowd control
Eradan functions best as a skirmisher — dive into combat to build combo multipliers, then retreat to ranged attacks when overwhelmed. His moderate health pool requires careful positioning compared to Farin's tank-style approach.
Best Skill Tree Progression
Eradan has access to three skill trees: Strength (melee damage), Agility (ranged and evasion), and Will (health and stamina). Since skill points are limited and no respec option exists, investing wisely is critical to a successful playthrough, especially on Legendary difficulty.
Skill Priority Table
| Skill Name | Tree | Max Rank | Effect | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Strike | Strength | 5 | Increases critical hit chance with melee weapons | ★★★★★ |
| Dual Wielding | Strength | 5 | Unlocks and enhances dual-weapon combos | ★★★★★ |
| Evasion | Agility | 5 | Increases dodge chance against all attacks | ★★★★★ |
| Bow Mastery | Agility | 5 | Boosts bow damage and draw speed | ★★★★☆ |
| Power Attack | Strength | 3 | Charged attacks deal bonus damage | ★★★★☆ |
| Health | Will | 5 | Increases maximum health pool | ★★★☆☆ |
| Stamina | Will | 5 | Increases maximum stamina for sprinting and skills | ★★★☆☆ |
| Weapon Throw | Agility | 3 | Throw weapons to stagger enemies at range | ★★☆☆☆ |
War in the North does not feature a skill reset mechanic. Every point spent is permanent. Plan your build carefully before committing to a skill path, especially on higher difficulties.
Recommended Leveling Path
| Level Range | Primary Investment | Secondary Investment | Playstyle Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | Dual Wielding (Rank 1–3) | Bow Mastery (Rank 1) | Focus on unlocking dual-wield early |
| 6–10 | Critical Strike (Rank 1–3) | Evasion (Rank 1–2) | Begin building crit chance for DPS |
| 11–15 | Evasion (Rank 3–5) | Bow Mastery (Rank 2–3) | Survivability becomes critical |
| 16–20 | Critical Strike (Rank 4–5) | Health (Rank 1–2) | Maximize damage output |
| 21+ | Dual Wielding (Rank 4–5) | Power Attack / Stamina | Round out remaining skills |
Combat Strategy & Mechanics
Mastering the Eradan build requires understanding how his mechanics interact with enemy types throughout the campaign. From the ruins of Fornost to the final confrontation at Carn Dum, each encounter demands adaptive tactics.
Melee Combat Priorities
Eradan's dual-wield combos build a damage multiplier that increases with consecutive hits. The key to maximizing DPS is maintaining this combo chain without interruption:
- Light attacks chain into fast multi-hit combos — use these against standard goblins and orcs
- Heavy attacks break enemy guards and stagger shielded foes — essential against Uruk-hai
- Power attacks (hold the attack button) deal massive damage to trolls and armored targets
- Roll-dodge resets your combo counter, so time your evasions carefully
Ranged Combat Integration
The bow is not merely a backup weapon — it is a core part of the Eradan build toolkit. Use ranged attacks to:
- Eliminate enemy archers positioned on high ground
- Interrupt orc sorcerers casting dark magic spells
- Pick off suicide-bomber goblins before they reach your party
- Whittle down troll health before engaging in melee
The damage multiplier from consecutive melee hits can reach substantial levels. Prioritize groups of weak enemies to build your combo, then unleash a power attack on the nearest tough target for devastating burst damage.
Enemy Encounter Reference
| Enemy Type | Recommended Approach | Weapon Type | Threat Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goblins | Fast light attack combos | Dual Swords | Low |
| Orc Warriors | Heavy attacks to break guard | Dual Axes | Medium |
| Archers | Bow snipe or weapon throw | Longbow | Medium |
| Sorcerer Orcs | Bow interrupt, then rush | Bow → Dual Swords | High |
| Trolls | Dodge-roll + power attacks | Dual Hammers | Very High |
| Fire Bearers | Priority bow elimination | Bow | Very High |
Gear & Equipment Optimization
Equipment in War in the North drops from enemies, is found in hidden caches, and can be crafted using artifacts collected throughout the world. Eradan benefits most from gear that enhances his critical hit chance, melee damage, and evasion stats.
Weapon Types Comparison
| Weapon Type | Attack Speed | Damage Per Hit | Combo Potential | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual Swords | Fast | Moderate | Excellent | Sustained DPS, combo building |
| Dual Axes | Moderate | High | Good | Guard-breaking, armored foes |
| Dual Hammers | Slow | Very High | Limited | Trolls, bosses, heavy armor |
| Longbow | N/A | Moderate | N/A | Ranged interrupts, archers |
| Shortbow | N/A | Low-Moderate | N/A | Rapid fire, mobility |
Collect Numenorean artifacts found in ancient ruins (Fornost, Barrow Downs). Take them to smiths like Angmir in Rivendell or Beleri in Nordinbad to forge unique weapons with enhanced properties. An Elven smith will produce different weapon qualities than a Dwarven smith from the same materials.
Notable Equipment Sources
| Equipment | Location | How to Obtain | Stat Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger Cache Supplies | Fornost ruins | Look for hidden markers on walls | Various gear |
| Dunedain Weapons | Barrow Downs | Hidden cache in tomb areas | Agility/Crit |
| Numenorean Artifacts | Multiple locations | Search ruins throughout campaign | Crafting materials |
| Mithril Gear | Nordinbad / Mount Gundabad | Quest rewards + excess mithril | Defense/Strength |
| Gemstone Imbued Items | Rivendell (Angmir) | Collect gems, have Angmir imbue them | Variable bonuses |
Balanced Build
- Dual Swords for primary DPS
- Longbow for ranged utility
- Focus on Crit + Evasion gear
- Best for most encounters
Heavy Damage Build
- Dual Axes for guard-breaking
- Shortbow for rapid fire
- Focus on Strength + Power Attack
- Best for boss encounters
Survival Build
- Dual Swords for fast combos
- Longbow for safe distance
- Focus on Health + Evasion gear
- Best for Legendary difficulty
Build Progression Roadmap
Early Game (Bree through Fornost)
Invest your first skill points into Dual Wielding to unlock the core combat style. Collect weapons from fallen enemies and bring extra gear to townsfolk like Otto in Bree for rewards. Search Fornost thoroughly for hidden Dunedain caches containing valuable early-game equipment.
Mid Game (Barrow Downs through Ettenmoors)
Shift focus to Critical Strike and Evasion to handle the increasing threat from Barrow Wights and troll encounters. Collect Athelas herbs for side quests that yield unique rewards. In the Ettenmoors, coordinate with Beleram the Eagle to manage large enemy groups effectively.
Late Game (Mount Gundabad through Mirkwood)
Maximize your Critical Strike tree and begin investing in Health for survivability. Gather gemstones for Angmir in Rivendell to create imbued equipment. In Mirkwood, prioritize eliminating spider and sorcerer enemies first using your bow before engaging in melee.
Endgame (Nordinbad through Carn Dum)
Complete your skill trees with remaining points in Power Attack or Stamina. Use excess mithril from Mount Gundabad to have Angmir craft enhanced gear. At Carn Dum, use every tool available — Beleram's aerial support, fully upgraded dual-wield combos, and strategic bow interrupts to bring down Agandaur.
Throughout the campaign, collect the seven dark sorcery scrolls created by Agandaur. Bring them to Elrond in Rivendell for destruction. Recovering all scrolls yields powerful relic rewards that significantly enhance your endgame build.
Build Checklist & FAQ
Eradan Build Milestones:
- Unlock Dual Wielding by Level 3
- Reach Rank 3 Critical Strike by Level 10
- Maximize Evasion (Rank 5) by Level 15
- Collect all 7 dark sorcery scrolls for Elrond
- Obtain at least one Numenorean-forged weapon
- Gather gemstones for Angmir's imbued equipment
- Complete the Ettenmoors to earn Eagle allies
- Reach Level 20 before entering Carn Dum
Eradan works best when paired with Farin (tank) and Andriel (healer/support). Let Farin draw aggro from heavy enemies while Eradan flanks for critical strikes. Andriel's healing abilities compensate for Eradan's lower health pool compared to the Dwarf.
Q: Is Eradan good for solo play in War in the North?
Eradan is viable for solo play due to his versatility, but he requires more careful positioning than Farin. His lower health pool means you must rely on Evasion and ranged attacks to survive tough encounters. For pure solo survivability, Farin is generally the safer choice.
Q: What is the best Eradan build for Legendary difficulty?
On Legendary difficulty, prioritize the Evasion skill tree early to survive. A balanced approach with maxed Evasion (Rank 5), strong Critical Strike investment, and at least Rank 2 in Health provides the best combination of damage output and survivability.
Q: Can I reset my skill points if I make a mistake?
No, War in the North does not feature a skill respec system. All skill point allocations are permanent. Plan your build carefully and consult skill guides before spending points, especially on your first playthrough.
Q: Should Eradan use swords, axes, or hammers?
Dual Swords are the best all-around choice for the Eradan build due to their fast attack speed and excellent combo potential. Switch to Dual Axes when facing heavily shielded enemies, and reserve Dual Hammers for trolls and boss-type enemies with high armor.
Q: How important is the bow for an Eradan build?
The bow is essential. It allows Eradan to interrupt enemy spellcasters, eliminate archers on high ground, and pick off dangerous fire-bearer goblins before they reach the party. Invest at least Rank 2-3 in Bow Mastery for reliable ranged damage throughout the campaign.