Epic Battle: Hammer of the Underworld
Defence of Minas Tirith | |
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Level: | 10 or higher |
Size: | Solo/Duo, Fellowship(6) |
Cluster: | War for Gondor |
Region: | Old Anórien |
Area: | Minas Tirith |
Location: | [Coordinate 56.3S is off the map (top is 62.2S)] |
Hammer of the Underworld is an Epic Battle introduced in Update 17. It can be run as a Solo/Duo instance by characters Level 10 and higher as well as a Fellowship (Six) version.
All players are "Level Scaled" to level 100. Equipment is also scaled and Virtues are scaled to at least level 14.
Lore
The defenders of Minas Tirith have thrown off the first assault by the forces of Mordor, but Mithrandir has predicted their next move: If they cannot master the wall, they will try and break through the Great Gate. For this purpose, the war-forges of Mordor have produced a vile tool of destruction, intimidating as it slowly crawls toward the White City: Grond, the Hammer of the Underworld, named after the dreadful war-hammer wielded by the Black Foe, Morgoth, himself, in ancient times long ago. As Grond makes its way to the gates, the defenders must fight off the ongoing assault on the walls near the gate and attempt to stop or destroy the Wolf's Head ram before it reaches the City and start hammering against its very entrance...
Quests
All quests, including the main objective, can only be completed once per day.
Solo/Duo
- [100] Epic Foe: Mâsorgh, Cleaver of Heads
- [100] Broken by Fear
- [100] Drums of War
- [100] Epic Foe: Ughâsh the Unslakable
- [100] A Brutal Reversal
- [100] On Black Wings
Fellowship
- [100] Epic Foe: Mâsorgh, Cleaver of Heads
- [100] Up from the Depths
- [100] Broken by Fear
- [100] Drums of War
- [100] Epic Foe: Ughâsh the Unslakable
- [100] A Brutal Reversal
- [100] On Black Wings
Walkthrough & Notes |
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Walkthrough
Basic StrategyHammer of the Underworld is a defensive battle in three stages. Like Defence of Minas Tirith, the battle does not begin immediately upon entering; rather, it begins once a player speaks with Mithrandir and clicks the button to continue, or automatically after a few minutes. Layout of the BattleThe battle is divided up into three areas: the northern gate-wall, the southern gate-wall, and the central gate-wall. (This is also the order in which the battle proceeds.) The northern and southern flanks are similar to each other: both areas have three Captains, four Spiked Barricades, and an assortment of supplies and armaments that must be defended. The central area has two Captains commanding Swan-knights, as well as two Medium Catapults on the towers immediately flanking the area. In addition, the courtyard below, just inside the Great Gate, is accessible for side quests. Two sets of stairs provide egress between the wall and the courtyard: the first is inside the tower just north of the northern gate-wall, and the second is inside the tower underneath the south-side catapult. In the lull before the battle begins, players can prepare by setting captains to two-handed stance and/or upgrading the two catapults. Stage I: The Northern Gate-wallThe battle always begins with Mithrandir and Imrahil defending the northern flank of the gate-wall. Groups of enemies will spawn in the field and begin grappling up the wall. In the fellowship version, two enemy catapults will also spawn, and must be destroyed using the Medium Catapult before they start causing mass damage to the defenders. After a while, once the enemies have been whittled down a bit, the first side quest will pop. This will either be Epic Foe: Ughâsh the Unslakable or Drums of War. Shortly afterwards, an enemy Siege-tower will roll up to the wall and begin periodically spawning waves of mobs. It is generally safe to focus on the side quest first before coming back for the Siege-tower. Siege-tower mechanics are identical to Defence of Minas Tirith: three grapnel hooks need to be destroyed, then three powder casks on the Siege-tower need to be ignited to destroy the tower. During the battle, keep an eye on health bars of the four Spiked Barricades, as certain mobs will attempt to pound at them. Repair them as necessary. Otherwise, keep soldiers healthy and wait for the incoming enemies to eventually subside. Stage II: The Southern Gate-wallOnce the enemy waves have been exhausted on the north side, Mithrandir and Imrahil will move to the south side. For all intents and purposes, this stage is identical to the previous stage. Solo/duo players should note that one enemy catapult will also spawn for them; fellowships will get two as before. After a while, the second side quest will pop, selected randomly from Epic Foe: Mâsorgh, Cleaver of Heads, A Brutal Reversal, or Up from the Depths (fellowship only). A second Siege-tower will assail this segment of the wall. Focus on completing the side quest, then destroy the Siege-tower, and proceed as usual. Stage III: The Central Gate-wallWhen Stage II ends, Imrahil shouts that Grond has been sighted, and the battle moves to the centre. Grond will now become a visible and examinable object in the Pelennor fields as it approaches the gate. However, despite Imrahil's orders, Grond cannot be damaged by the wall's Medium Catapults. In solo/duo mode, one enemy catapult will spawn in range of the northern Medium Catapult; in fellowship mode, four enemy catapults will spawn, two for each Medium Catapult. Enemy waves are also in range of the catapults now, although for maximum merit it is wise to avoid defeating them too fast lest the battle end before completing side objectives. Note that the defending Swan-knights are significantly hardier than other types of allied soldiers in Epic Battles; they stand virtually no chance of being defeated, and so are generally safe to ignore. The third and final side quest will pop once enough damage has been done to the enemy waves. This will be either Broken by Fear or On Black Wings. Additionally, two more Siege-towers will assault the wall, one at the northern gate-wall and the other at the southern gate-wall. Unlike the previous Siege-towers, the arrival of these towers is not announced by Imrahil. As long as catapults have not been overused to thin the enemy ranks, there should be ample time to complete the side quest and destroy both Siege-towers. When enemy waves finally run dry, Mithrandir, Imrahil, and several other heroes run down the stairs into the central courtyard. Shortly afterwards, players will be teleported there as well. A cutscene shows Grond breaking through the gate, and the battle ends. Notes
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Rewards |
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Quest Text | |
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Bestowal DialogueHammer of the Underworld BackgroundThe defenders of Gondor struggle to hold the line as Grond, the great ram of the Enemy, crawls towards the Gates of Minas Tirith. Merit RatingThis quest starts with empty Merit Rating.
Objective 1
Mithrandir is on the wall atop the Great Gate. You should talk to Mithrandir when you are ready to defend Minas Tirith.
Objective 2
The battle has begun on the northern flank. You should aid the defenders there and destroy the siege engines of the Enemy.
Objective 3
The battle continues on the southern flank. You should aid the defenders there and destroy the siege engines of the Enemy. Objective 4
The battle has moved to the Great Gate. You should defend it and work to repel Grond before it can reach the gates.
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Gallery
References
Epic Battles
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Tutorial: | Basic Training (Tutorial) | |
The Battle of Helm's Deep: | Helm's Dike • The Deeping Wall • The Deeping-coomb • The Glittering Caves • The Hornburg | |
War for Gondor: | Retaking Pelargir • Defence of Minas Tirith • Hammer of the Underworld | |
Roles and Promotions: | Engineer • Officer • Vanguard | |
Merit and Rewards: | Epic Battle Rewards |