Complete guide for all levels
SARUMAN – V2.5
SARUMAN – V2.5
(By OmbraTv)
Saruman is a commander that excels at dealing Focus Damage and is the best commander in the meta to remove White Council uses.
He is currently the perfect commander to fight against the Good and Nrp meta and for this reason he is highly recommended for everyone, from F2P to Kraken.
SKILL BUILD R4
At respect 4, the first skill you should invest in is “Head Of The White Council”, place 5 points on it to have a skill that deals 35% Focus Damage twice per turn on 3 enemy formations, for the first 5 rounds.
A fundamental skill to eliminate the uses of White Council, which cannot be defended even by units with protection or Taunt.
Then place 5 points on “Voice Of Saruman”, a skill that deals 270% Focus Damage to 1 enemy in rounds 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
In addition it has a 50% chance to inflict Madness on the enemy hit for 1 round.
Now place 10 points on “Of Many Colours”, a skill that deals 3 hits of 380%, One Focus Damage, One Poison Damage and One Burn Damage.
This skill activates in rounds 3, 6 and 9 and is Saruman’s main damage skill.
Now with the last 4 points, bring “Voice Of Saruman” to 9, increasing the damage inflicted to 486%.
At this level Saruman is already an excellent Damage Dealer and the best at eliminating enemy skill uses and for this reason it is strongly recommended for all Evil Players to invest in him.
At respect 10 Saruman however obtains one of his main Power Spikes and it is therefore recommended to proceed up to this level.
SKILL BUILD R10
Once you reach level 10, the build will remain the same for the first points assigned, only now you will have the points to bring “Voice Of Saruman” to level 10, increasing its damage to 540%.
In addition, targets that suffer a stun or madness will now suffer 5% increased damage.
Then use the last 5 points to also bring “Head Of The White Council” to 10, to inflict 75% Focus Damage with each hit, doubling its damage inflicted.
In addition, enemies hit by this skill will suffer 5% additional damage.
At this level, Saruman has all his damage kills maxed out and also has the possibility of unlocking his incredible unique item, becoming a true unstoppable war machine.
Upgrading beyond Saruman is recommended only for High Spender + players, for all those who are mid spenders, low spenders or F2P, you can stop here and already have a dominant Commander.
FINAL SKILL BUILD
Once you reach maximum respect, you will have another 6 points to place on “Sharkey”, a skill that will increase the Attack and Defense of all evil units in 3 allied formations by +6, and will increase with the commander’s command level.
In addition, it increases the initiative of the units by 3.
It is not necessary to reach this level of Respect to maximize Saruman’s power, his Hard Cap is at Z1, where he gets all his offensive potential, with the ascension.
EQUIPMENT
As for the equipment Saruman prefers the Damage statistic followed by the Focus one, these are the priorities on him, to maximize his damage.
In addition however he also likes a minimum of Command, to reach at least 100 of Command and as a last statistic the Troop defense.
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
10
MAX DAMAGE
10
ATTACK
FOCUS
48
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
6
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
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
18
INITIATIVE
HP
860
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
6
UNIT DEFENCE
WEAPON
As a weapon the best choice for Saruman is the “Obsidia Dagger”, which provides 22-22 Damage and 51 Focus, the maximum that can be obtained from an item.
As an alternative, although slightly inferior the “Morgul Blade” provides 20-20 Damage and 42 Focus.
At Epic level the Carver is the best choice providing 12-12 Damage and 18 Focus.
CHEST
As a Chest use the “Protection of Numenorean” which provides 48 Focus.
As a secondary option you can go for “Greatplate of the East” which provides 39 Focus.
At epic level the “Hunter’s Skin” with 15 Focus is the best option.
HELMET
For your helmet, go for “Caul of the Forest” which provides 18 Focus, 100 Command and 15 Unit Defense.
Alternatively, if you want to maximize your damage, you can use the “Grey Wizard Hat” increasing your Focus by 48.
At epic level the best choice is “Bone Mask” which provides 18 Focus.
ACCESSORY
As an accessory the best is “Fine Smoking Pipe” which provides 10-10 Damage and 48 Focus.
As an alternative you can also use “Signet of the Barrows” which provides 6-10 Damage and 42 Focus.
At epic level choose “Harp of Lothlorien” which provides 18 Focus.
SET EFFECT
SET EFFECT RANKING
RANK
SET NAME
EFFECT
Lore of the Arcane
[This Formation] Burn, Poison, and Focus Damage dealt +5.0%. (2-Piece Set) / +12.0% (4-Piece Set)
Evasive Action
[First 3 Round(s)] This formation's damage received -10.0%. (2-Piece Set) / -24% (4-Piece Set)
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.
The best set effect for Saruman is “Lore of the Arcane” which increases Saruman’s elemental damage by 10% for the entire duration of the fight.
Alternatively, opt for defensive bonuses, the best is “Evasive Action”, which reduces the damage taken by Saruman by 20% for the first 3 rounds and thanks to his poor initiative often lasts for 4 Rounds.
Alternatively I recommend “Fortitude”, which provides 10% physical damage reduction for the entire battle.
Lastly “Divide and Conquer” which reduces the damage taken by 2% and stacks up to 20% in round 10.
RELIC “UNIQUE”
Stat 1
[Commander] HP +215
Stat 2
[Commander] Focus +6
Stat 3
[Unit] Attack +4
Stat 4
[Unit] Defense +6
Saruman’s unique item is the “Dark Staff Of Power” and statistically it provides 6 Focus and 6 Unit Defense, which are useful for the commander but also 2 completely useless stats.
It is not recommended to Reinforce the item if you do not have large availability of items, and for all those who are not at least whales.
Its special effect allows the commander to inflict 120% Focus Damage immediately after inflicting a basic attack.
This effect is essential both for the amount of damage it inflicts and to remove the enemy White Council more quickly and for this reason it should always be refined if possible.
In conclusion, everyone must unlock the unique one, which is already useful even if they are unrefined and strengthened.
Everyone who has the possibility can also refine it, because the increase in damage is very significant.
Only krakens must strengthen the item, because the stats that give a real benefit to Saruman are only 2.
TROOPS SELECTION
In the current meta, medium units are the most used and also in the case of Saruman they are the best.
Use Dragoons or their T2 version, Marauders, both very resistant and moderately costly.
In particular, Marauders are perfect for long wars and for those who want to fight many battles every day.
If you want to use the Counter Meta and opt for Big units, use Cave Trolls, a T2 unit, with a medium cost but a very high sustain.
Finally, if you want to play small units, I recommend Berserkers, a unit that is not very expensive but with a lot of HP and physical defense, very effective for fighting against the counter meta.
There are other situational options for Saruman, but these are the best that I feel like recommending.
COMMANDERS SUGGESTED
Sauron is a great companion for Saruman because with each of his skills he increases Saruman’s damage.
With “The Deceiver”, he increases the damage by about 15%, with both of his controls, he increases the damage by 5% thanks to Saruman’s skill that increases the damage inflicted by 5% on targets under Madness and stun and with “Gorthaur” he increases the focus damage taken by the affected target by 15%.
A commander built specifically to synergize with other elemental damage commanders.
Lurtz is a commander who can deal massive damage in round 3 to enemy commanders, but he needs someone who can take out the White Council before he can act.
Saruman provides him with this and for this reason together they become a deadly duo for any team.
COMMANDERS THAT COUNTER
Gilgalad is the one commander who can attempt to stop Saruman from completely removing the White Council with his skill.
His evasion skill allows allies to evade 70% of attacks, making Saruman and his abilities much less effective.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Saruman is one of the best Damage Dealers in the game, he is the best at eliminating White Council, which is currently the meta and is extremely synergistic with every Damage Dealer, making him free to attack without reductions.
For these reasons he is recommended to every player from F2P to Kraken level.