SAURON – V2.5
SAURON – V2.5
(By OmbraTv)
Sauron is a commander of the evil faction who excels in the support role.
His abilities allow him to inflict numerous control checks, reduce the commanders’ stats and increase the damage taken by the enemy.
Sauron does not require a large investment in respect or equipment to be effective, and is one of the best choices at any level for your build in both RP and NRP.
SKILL BUILD R4
Start by placing 10 points on “The Enemy”, a skill that reduces Attack, Defense and Focus by 15% of enemy commanders that are affected by it.
This skill increases its effectiveness based on Sauron’s Focus and makes him immune to stun.
Absolutely the first to max because at level 10 it hits all 4 enemy commanders.
Now place another 10 Points on “The Deceiver”, a skill that increases the damage taken by 3 enemies by 10% for the entire duration of the fight.
This skill will also increase its effectiveness with Sauron’s Focus.
In addition, at level 5, enemies hit have a 30% chance of suffering the Madness status during the first round.
Now place 1 point on “Ghortaur” and then 1 point on “Lord Of The Gift” to unlock Sauron’s two main CC skills.
Unlocking the skills in this order is essential to maximize their effectiveness and synergy.
Place the last 2 points on “Ghortaur”, not so much to increase his damage, which will be irrelevant on Sauron, but because that will be the skill to invest in in the future.
SKILL BUILD R10
At this level you will have enough points to take “Gorthaur” to level 9, thus unlocking the Keen Eye effect for this skill that will allow you to ignore the enemy’s Evasion skills and always hit your skill.
Unfortunately you will not reach level 10 of this skill until respect 11, so if you have made it this far I suggest you make a little effort to reach it and unlock its last trait.
FINAL SKILL BUILD
Place your first point on “Gorthaur” to increase the Focus Damage received by the enemy hit by this ability by 15% for 2 rounds.
Now place all your remaining points on Lord of the Gift to increase the damage inflicted and to unlock the +5 focus for the commander.
Above respect 11 the gain for Sauron is minimal and the investment is recommended only for players of Kraken level.
EQUIPMENT
Sauron’s gear is one of the most debated points at the moment because it varies depending on the way the commander is used.
In this guide I will suggest you the best way ever to dress your Sauron, taking into account all the stats that you really need to perform at your best.
HAND RANKING
RANK
ITEM NAME
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
36
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
220
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
18
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
240
UNIT ATTACK
9
UNIT DEFENCE
45
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
9
COMMAND
130
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
15
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
INITIATIVE
HP
2200
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
6
UNIT DEFENCE
48
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
2000
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
18
UNIT DEFENCE
36
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
1200
DEFENCE
6
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
18
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
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
130
UNIT ATTACK
6
UNIT DEFENCE
48
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
6
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
70
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
18
ACCESSORY RANKING
RANK
ITEM NAME
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
6
HP
DEFENCE
9
COMMAND
110
UNIT ATTACK
15
UNIT DEFENCE
24
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
COMMAND
120
UNIT ATTACK
12
UNIT DEFENCE
42
MIN DAMAGE
MAX DAMAGE
ATTACK
FOCUS
INITIATIVE
HP
DEFENCE
6
COMMAND
70
UNIT ATTACK
UNIT DEFENCE
18
WEAPON
As a weapon, the best choice is the “Noldor Sword”, because it provides 220 Command, 36 Focus and 18 Unit Defense.
All the stats that Sauron needs to resist hits and increase the effectiveness of his debuffs.
Alternatively, the “Reckoning”, with 240 Command and 45 Unit Defense, will make Sauron more resistant than the “Noldor Sword” but will not improve his abilities.
Both are very valid choices and are better depending on the use of Sauron and the rest of the Gear chosen.
At Epic level, the weapon to use is the “Cutlass”, because it provides 130 Command and 15 Unit Defense, the highest values obtainable from an epic weapon.
CHEST
As a chest, the best choice is the High Elf Hauberk, which provides 48 Unit defense, making your formation extremely resistant.
Alternatively, only slightly inferior, you can use the Durins Plate, to receive 36 Unit Defense.
At Epic level, the best choice is the Superior Hauberk, which provides 18 Unit Defense.
It is not necessary to refine any of these armors as the HP bonuses in 99% of cases are not useful for Sauron.
HELMET
As a helmet, wear the Caul Of The Forest, to get 100 Command, 15 Unit Defense and 6 Initiative, essential to reach the right initiative without using particular sets or troops.
Alternatively, you can also opt for a full defensive approach and use the Casque Of The Submerged Isle, which provides 130 Command and 48 Unit Defense.
At Epic difficulty, the Horseman Helmet is the best option, providing 70 Command and 18 Unit Defense.
ACCESSORY
The best accessory to use on Sauron is the “Meara’s Reins” which provides 110 Command, 24 Unit Defense and also 6 Initiative, all essential stats to allow Sauron to carry out his task.
Alternatively, if you want to opt for a more defensive approach, you can use the “Silver Harp Of Rivendell” which provides 120 Command and 42 Unit Defense.
At epic level, the best choice is the “Drums of Moria”, which provides 70 Command and 18 Unit Defense.
SET EFFECT
SET EFFECT RANKING
RANK
SET NAME
EFFECT
Evasive Action
[First 3 Round(s)] This formation's damage received -10.0%. (2-Piece Set) / -24% (4-Piece Set)
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.
Thick Armor
[This Formation] Defense +10.0 (2-Piece Set) / 24.0 (4-Piece Set) during combat.
The sets to use on Sauron are mainly 2 and are related to the type of equipment and role chosen for him.
In case you have both Helm and Accessory with initiative the Bis Set Effect will be “Evasive Action” which will guarantee you 20% damage reduction for the first 3/4 Rounds.
In case you have opted for the more defensive objects and without Initiative, the “Agility” set will be necessary to reach the amount of initiative necessary for Sauron to act at the right time in the fight.
As secondary and less performed alternatives, I would also like to mention “Fortitude” and “Divide And Conquer”, both defensive buffs that will improve the resistance of your formation in the medium and advanced part of the fight.
Lastly, “Thick Armor” is a bonus but very secondary, if you don’t find anything else, it can be an acceptable choice.
RELIC “UNIQUE”
Stat 1
[Commander] Command +30
Stat 2
[Commander] Focus +6
Stat 3
[Commander] Defense +5
Stat 4
[Unit] Attack +5
From round 3 onward, Attack, Focus, and Initiative -6.0 each round. Stacks each round and cannot be purified.
As for the only one, on a statistical level it provides two out of 4 useful statistics for the commander, namely Command and Focus.
While on a bonus level, the item provides a Buff to an enemy commander of +6 to attack and Focus for the first two Rounds, then decreasing them by 6 every turn from round 3 onwards.
In general it is not essential to use this item on Sauron, its statistics, if you are lucky, can help the commander perform slightly better but, the cost to strengthen it far outweighs the benefits in most cases.
Refining it, on the other hand, is completely useless, its special rule does not help the commander in any way and is too weak and inconsistent.
I recommend unlocking the item, but do not strengthen it and do not refine it, just take the extra base statistics.
TROOPS SELECTION
Obviously, the best troops for Sauron are resistant troops but they can vary depending on the role he has to play in the team.
If Sauron has to play the role of main Tank, the best choices are 2:
The Swan Knights, a medium cavalry unit, enormously resistant with the ability to protect 2 allied formations in the first 3 rounds from the enemy’s basic attacks.
The Mountain Trolls, a large unit with a high HP value and excellent passive damage reduction, which provokes the enemy by inducing 3 enemy formations to attack them with basic attacks for the first 3 turns.
If you already have a tank and use Sauron as support/Tank the choices are these:
The Cave Trolls, a large T2 unit, much less expensive than the Mountain Trolls, but no less resistant, they do not have the ability to provoke the enemy and for this reason they are much better for a formation that does not want to be the first target but the second/third.
The Marauders, a medium T2 unit, with excellent HP and defense values, much less expensive than any T3 cavalry, and at the same time no less resistant.
The Bow Knights, a T3 Ranged cavalry, essential if you use Sauron in combination with Gilgalad, but not recommended in any other combination.
These are the best performing options in terms of quality and price, you can use other units with good results, but the production costs make them inferior.
COMMANDERS SUGGESTED
Sauron is great for any commander that deals damage throughout the battle because he increases the damage received by about 15% from 3 enemies for the entire duration of the fight.
Additionally if the commanders deal Focus damage to the target hit by his stun they can also deal an additional 15% damage.
COMMANDERS THAT COUNTER
The best Counter ever for Sauron is another Sauron.
This commander bases a good part of his utility on his controls in rounds 3, 6 and 9, controls that in case the commander goes Madness can be used against his own allies instead of against his enemies.
A Sauron that acts first will always have an advantage over the enemy Sauron and will always have the possibility of inflicting double the stuns and madness to the enemy formation.
CONCLUSION
To sum up, Sauron is the best CC commander in the game, the best debuffer and works well at both low and high levels of investment.
I would recommend anyone looking for a support of this type to invest in him.
For any questions, I invite you to join my discord and follow me on YouTube!