Menu
GANDALF THE WHITE – V2.5
GANDALF THE WHITE – V2.5
(By OmbraTv)
Maiar
Gandalf The White is currently the best defensive support in the game, he is essential in every Good faction or NrP team and dominates the current meta, in all the best formations.
At any level from Respect 2 onwards, Gandalf The White is usable and becomes increasingly stronger and useful based on how much respect is invested in him.
Highly recommended to anyone who wants to win a fight.
SKILL BUILD R4
Start by placing 10 points on White Council, the most powerful damage reduction buff in the game, which reduces the damage taken by all friendly formations by 18% for the first 7 hits taken by each formation.
This value increases with the commander’s focus, reaching up to 80% damage reduction.
Now also place 10 points on White Rider, a skill that increases the damage taken by 3 enemy formations by 25% for the first 4 Rounds.
Then place 1 point on The White to deal 45% Focus Damage to an enemy in Rounds 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.
Place 1 Point on Wizard, to deal 27% Focus Damage to 1 or 2 enemies in Rounds 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.
Place another 2 points on The White, to increase the damage dealt to 135%.
Compared to 4, this commander is already very strong as a support and definitely necessary for anyone at any level.
SKILL BUILD R10
Assigning points to respect 10 is very easy, but requires a reset to get the maximum value.
Reposition the points on White Council and White Rider in the same way, but then instead of alternating the points on the other two skills assign all 10 of them to the skill The White.
Doing so will increase the skill’s damage to 450%, increase the commander’s focus by 5 and with the last level you will have a 25% chance to stun the target hit for one round.
This control possibility is fundamental and must be obtained as soon as possible, for this reason it is recommended to follow this new assignment of points when reaching respect 10.
FINAL SKILL BUILD
Once you have maxed out your respect you will have 6 points to spend.
Everyone will be placed on the last skill, to inflict 162% Focus Damage to 1 or 2 enemies in rounds 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 and decrease defense by 10 points for 1 round.
At this level you will not only be the best support, but with the right gear you will also do considerable damage.
Investing in this commander is never wrong, scaling it with respect will always pay off.
EQUIPMENT
Gandalf The White scales his main support and damage skills on the amount of Focus he has and for this reason his Gear must aim to increase this value as much as possible.
In addition, it is also necessary for him to act first in pre-battle, for this reason I will look for a good compromise between Focus, Initiative and when possible also Command.
HAND RANKING
RANK
ITEM NAME
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
22
MAX DAMAGE
22
ATTACK
FOCUS
51
INITIATIVE
3
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
20
MAX DAMAGE
20
ATTACK
FOCUS
42
INITIATIVE
3
HP
DEFENCE
9
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
12
MAX DAMAGE
12
ATTACK
FOCUS
18
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
6
UNIT DEFENCE
ARMOUR RANKING
RANK
ITEM NAME
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
48
INITIATIVE
HP
2200
DEFENCE
6
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
39
INITIATIVE
HP
2000
DEFENCE
15
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
15
INITIATIVE
HP
1100
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
9
HEAD RANKING
RANK
ITEM NAME
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
18
INITIATIVE
6
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
100
UNIT ATTACK
15
UNIT DEFENCE
15
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
48
INITIATIVE
HP
1570
DEFENCE
6
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
18
INITIATIVE
HP
800
DEFENCE
6
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
ACCESSORY RANKING
RANK
ITEM NAME
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
6
MAX DAMAGE
10
ATTACK
FOCUS
42
INITIATIVE
3
HP
DEFENCE
9
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
10
MAX DAMAGE
10
ATTACK
FOCUS
48
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
6
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
18
INITIATIVE
HP
860
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
6
UNIT DEFENCE
WEAPON
The best weapon for Gandalf The White is “Obsidian Dagger”, which provides 22-22 “Damage”, 51 “Focus” and 3 “Initiative”.It has the highest “Focus” value in the game and also “Initiative”, everything you could hope to have.
The second choice is “Morgul Blade”, with 20-20 “Damage”, 42 “Focus” and 3 “Initiative” , it is the weakest version of “Obsidian Dagger”.
At epic level the only valid choice is “Carver”, which provides 12-12 “Damage” and 18 “Focus.
At this level I recommended to think about closing the set effect with absolute priority.
CHEST
As armor the best option is “Black Numenorean” for 48 “Focus”, which will significantly increase the damage and power of Gandalf’s defensive skill, but don’t give any “Initiative”.
Alternatively the “Greatplate Of The East”, which provides 39 “Focus”.
At an epic level the best choice is the “Hunter’s Skin” which provides 15 “Focus”, an excellent basic armor for Gandalf.
HELMET
The best choice is the “Caul Of The Forest”, which provides 6 “Initiative”, 18 “Focus” and 100 “Command”, essential for acting first and resisting longer.
As alternative, The “Grey Wizard Hat”, which provides 48 “Focus” but does not provide “Initiative” and “Command”.
At epic level the best choice is “Bone Mask” to have 18 of “Focus”.
ACCESSORY
As an accessory, the best is the “Signet of the Barrows” which provides 6-10 “Damage”, 42 “Focus” and 3 “Initiative”, very strong both for damage and for keeping “Initiative” high.
As alternative, “Fine Smoking Pipe”, which provides 10-10 “Damage”, 48 “Focus”, but no Initiative.
At the epic level “Harp of Lothlorien” is the best choice because it provides 18 of “Focus”.
SET EFFECT
SET EFFECT RANKING
RANK
SET NAME
EFFECT
Agility
Initiative of the commander's formation +5.0 (2-Piece Set) / +12.0 (4-Piece Set) during combat.
Fortitude
[This Formation] Physical Damage received by the commander's formation -5.0% (2-Piece Set) / -12.0% (4-Piece Set) .
Divide and Conquer
[This Formation] Damage received -1.0% (2-Piece Set) / -2.0% (4-Piece Set) each round.
Evasive Action
[First 3 Round(s)] This formation's damage received -10.0%. (2-Piece Set) / -24% (4-Piece Set)
The best set for Gandalf The White is still Agility, being faster than the opponents in pre battle is still essential to prevent commanders with pre battle skills from inflicting damage before Gandalf applies White Council and before Sauron can decrease his Focus.
Alternatively, you can focus on Fortitude, to reduce the damage taken by 10% or on Divide and Conquer, for a more evident reduction in the final part of the fight.
Both are better than Early game reductions, as in the initial part White Council and any other commanders in Gandalf The White’s formation, already offer sufficient protection.
If you don’t have any of these, you can use Evasive action, for an additional reduction in the initial part of the fight, which will not be so fundamental, but is still a good set to have.
RELIC “UNIQUE”
Narya Ring Of Fire
Stat 1
[Commander] Command +30
Stat 2
[Commander] Focus +6
Stat 3
[Unit] Attack +5
Stat 4
[Unit] Defense +5
After the Commander launches normal attacks, deals 60.0% Physical Damage once and 60.0% Focus Damage once.
Reduces this formation’s damage received by 6.0% when the enemy army includes Orcs.
Reduces this formation’s damage received by 6.0% when the enemy army includes Orcs.
Stats-wise it provides Focus, Command and Unit Defense, which are all very useful, making it a great one to upgrade for relevant stats.
Its unique passive provides Gandalf The White with a great source of physical damage and Focus, every time he lands a hit, which makes him a decent Damage Dealer at very high levels and makes him a decent skill eliminator for enemy uses at low levels.
I recommend everyone to unlock Gandalf The White’s unique, and I also recommend upgrading it to anyone who already has a gold equipment for the main team commanders.
Refining it instead is only recommended if you are at least Z1 and with Best equipment in the slot, because otherwise you will not see much difference in your overall damage.
TROOPS SELECTION
The best units for Galdalf The White are directly dependent on the formation in which he is played, but they all have in common the fact of being units with good Initiative, good defensive stats and the characteristic of being medium units.
If used in the Meta Team, you would like to use the Bow Knights, to make the most of Gil’s evasion and resist more to the early game damage of the enemies, or you can opt for the Cavalry Archer, the T2 version, which despite being less expensive maintains practically identical performances to their T3 version and for this reason is strongly recommended.
If played in combination with Falgin instead, the Ram Raiders are the best choice, always very resistant and medium unit, being dwarves they exploit Falgin’s R4 to the maximum.
Then we have the Cataphract, a neutral option, always very resistant that can be used in any formation that does not include one of the two commanders mentioned above.
Obviously also the T2 versions of these units are always considered very competitive, always in a quality-price perspective.
Lastly, if you decide to go for a small unit, I suggest you play Guardians, for their enormous defensive capabilities, or better yet Berserkers if you play nrp, so as to maintain a high Initiative value with excellent defensive values.
COMMANDERS SUGGESTED
Gandalf The White has the best damage reduction skill in the game, whose only weakness is the commanders that hit a lot in the early game, wasting their uses before the damage skills of rounds 3 and 4 arrive.
Gil Galad provides a 70% chance of not being hit by any hits for the entire duration of the first 2/3 Rounds, ensuring that Gandalf’s skill reaches the phase where the damage reduction is most relevant almost completely intact.
Together these two commanders form the formation that is currently meta.
Beorn, bases a good part of his potential on the damage he deals in round 4, with a skill that deals up to 50K damage to enemy formations.
Gandalf The White is able to protect him for the first 4 Rounds, until his turn and even more importantly, increase the damage inflicted by 25% from Beorn’s skill, thanks to his White Rider skill.
COMMANDERS THAT COUNTER
The Shadow and The Undying are two of the main counters of Gandalf The White and his “White Council”, as they neutralize its uses in very few turns and especially if played together, make its application almost useless, eliminating it in 1 or 2 turns .
They are currently the best answer to the skill that defines the entire Meta.
Skalhelm is both a counter but also Countered by Gandalf The White.
Two of his skills are applied in Pre battle and therefore can ignore Gandalf’s “White Council”, if Skalhelm acts before him, dealing full damage.
But his unique item hitting in Round 1 is always parried by Gandalf’s skill, making it almost useless.
In general he can do excellent damage, but I consider him only a soft Counter and only if he is specifically built to be one, with “initiative” to attack first.
Saruman thanks to the skill received in 2.5 that hits 3 enemies with 2 hits per turn for the first 5 turns, has become the best at clearing Wc stacks and any skill with uses.
His kit is also deadly because it also Counters units with provoke and Taunt, unlike Shadow and Undying.
All commanders with multiple hits can annoy Gandalf The White.
In general dd troops are not great in the meta but in this specific case they can help to quickly eliminate the defensive skill.
CONCLUSION
I hope this guide can help anyone compete better with their commander in this meta.
Gandalf The White is the best Support in the game and one of the best investments to make for a player who craves to dominate the field.
For any questions, I invite you to join my discord and follow me on YouTube!