Choosing the right race in Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) can significantly impact your Champion's effectiveness. While the differences aren't earth-shattering, certain racial traits synergize better with the Champion's strengths and weaknesses. This guide will delve into the best races for Champions, considering both PvE (Player versus Environment) and PvP (Player versus Player) scenarios. We'll examine the pros and cons of each popular choice to help you make an informed decision.
Understanding the Champion Class
Before diving into racial choices, it's vital to understand the Champion class itself. Champions are powerful melee fighters, excelling in both dealing damage and mitigating incoming attacks. Their strengths lie in their high survivability and significant damage output, making them versatile in various game situations. They rely heavily on critical hits and defensive capabilities.
Top Contenders for Champion Race:
Several races offer compelling advantages for Champions. Let's break down the top contenders:
1. Man (High Elf & Man):
- Pros: Men offer a solid all-around racial package. Their inherent strength and vitality bonuses directly benefit a Champion's damage and survivability. High Elves, a sub-race of Men, provide an extra boost to critical hit chance, further enhancing their damage output, making them particularly attractive.
- Cons: Men lack standout features that significantly outshine other races. They provide a reliable foundation but might not offer the same specialized advantages as other options.
2. Dwarf:
- Pros: Dwarves' inherent bonuses to critical hit rating and critical hit multiplier are extremely valuable for Champions. Their increased damage resistance and additional vitality further enhance their survivability in combat.
- Cons: Dwarves generally have a lower movement speed compared to some other races. While not game-breaking for Champions, it can slightly hinder their mobility in certain situations.
3. Beorning:
- Pros: Beornings offer incredible survivability thanks to their innate abilities. Their ability to shift into bear form grants them significant health and damage resistance, allowing them to withstand immense punishment. This is extremely beneficial for tanking roles within a group.
- Cons: Their damage output in human form might not be as high as some other races. Beornings excel at survivability but might compromise on raw damage numbers in comparison.
Race Considerations for PvE vs. PvP
While the races discussed above perform well in both PvE and PvP, there are subtle differences to consider:
PvE (Raids & Instances):
In PvE, maximizing damage and survivability are crucial. Dwarves and High Elves (Men) are excellent choices due to their critical hit bonuses that significantly boost damage output, and their inherent increase in survivability. Beornings offer unmatched survivability for tanking roles.
PvP (Player vs. Player):
PvP scenarios favor races with strong defensive capabilities and mobility. While Dwarves still offer solid damage and survivability, their lower movement speed can be a disadvantage in PvP. High Elves provide a good balance of offense and defense, and their speed advantage can be quite useful.
Final Verdict:
There's no single "best" race for a Champion in LOTRO. The optimal choice depends on your preferred playstyle and the specific content you'll be focusing on.
- For maximizing damage in both PvE and PvP: High Elves offer a powerful combination of critical hit bonuses and solid survivability.
- For superior survivability in PvE, especially tanking roles: Beornings are unmatched.
- For a strong balance of damage and survivability in PvE: Dwarves excel, especially when paired with gear and build that emphasizes critical hit chance.
Ultimately, the best race is the one that you find the most enjoyable to play. Experiment and find what suits your play style best! Remember that the gear, skills, and build you choose will also significantly impact your Champion’s effectiveness, regardless of your chosen race.
