LOTR Rise to War Dain Ironfoot Guide and Build

Dain Ironfoot is one of those decent commanders in a higher tier list of Commanders with below-average base stats. Dain Ironfoot is also one of the iconic characters from Lotr lore and folklore amongst the Dwarven race. Dain Ironfoot is Tier 3 Commander and the first thing that you need to notice and acknowledge is his base trait which is “Warrior”.

“Warrior“ trait will give Dwalin +25 (Commander) Might, +2 Skill points, and 10% bonus (Commander). Dain Ironfoot’s highest stat is Might. Might increase Physical damage dealt with enemy units and commanders. Every time when your Commander levels up you will have a skill point to spend in their skill tree.

There are four main skills and thus four different focus points in Dain Ironfoot’s skill tree which we will talk about here. Note that each of these four main skills has two additional skills connected to them which you will unlock upon leveling the main skill to level 2. On Commander Respect level 0 you will have two starting main skills.

Respect level 0 Build

The first one of two starting main skills is “Ironfoot”. “Ironfoot” skill when active will give:(Round 1) [Against 1 enemy target] Deals % Physical Damage, % chance of Stunning target for 1 round. Additionally “Ironfoot” skill at max level gives Dain a bonus +15 Speed points.

This is a decent skill for extra damage and. This main skill should be your focus point in the early game. Note that “Ironfoot” skill is referenced as a “title” rather than “skill” which essentially means once it’s unlocked and you have a skill point in it, it will act as a passive skill. This skill has 2 rounds of cooldown. As mentioned above upon leveling the “Ironfoot” skill to level 2 you will unlock its two additional skills which you will be able to level up.

These two skills are:
Open Wound: (Against 1 enemy target) Deals % Physical damage, target cannot recover HP for 2 rounds. This skill has 3 rounds of cooldown.
Vengeance: (Round 5 onwards) Deals % Physical damage once each round.
This skill tree should be your focus point in the early game, we highly recommend maxing out the Main skill and it’s both connecting skills if possible.

Naturally effective stats % rise as you level up addressed skills.

The second main skill is “Lord of the Iron Hills” which when active will give:(Dwarven melee units) Normal attack damage dealt +%. Now this skill is something you might bounce back and forth to since it only applies for Dwarven, and melee units in particular, however, if you plan to recruit Dwarven units and them alone, on max level of this skill, the effect will be applied to all Dwarven units.

Other than that, two connected skills are excellent for damage mitigation and bonus Defence for Dwarven units, so again, if you plan to recruit Dwarven units mostly, this can be a very strong skill tree. Note that “Lord of the Iron Hills” skill is referenced as a “title” rather than “skill” which essentially means once it’s unlocked and you have a skill point in it, it will act as a passive skill.

Two additional skills that you will unlock upon leveling “Lord of the Iron Hills” to level 2 are:
Fortify: (While Defending) [Allied units] Physical damage received -%.
Dwarven Leader: (Dwarves) Damage received -% and damage dealt

Naturally effective stats % rise as you level up addressed skills.

Respect level 3 Build

Upon reaching Respect level 3 with Dain Ironfoot you will be able to unlock and level up his third main skill called “Durin’s Blood” which when active will give”(Commander) Skill Damage +% during combat buff. This is a skill tree to focus on in the mid-game and you should max it out as soon as you unlock it.

Note that “Durin’s Blood” skill is referenced as a “title” rather than “skill” which essentially means once it’s unlocked and you have a skill point in it, it will act as a passive skill. Like every other main skill, these stats rise as you level up the skill. At the max level of “Durin’s Blood” skill, Dain Ironfoot will receive additional + 15 Might points.

Two additional skills that you will unlock upon leveling “Durin’s Blood” to level 2 are:
Whirlwind: (Against 2 enemy targets) Deals % Physical damage (prioritizes Melee units).
All-In: (Against 1 enemy target) Deals % Physical damage once (Self) reduces the next damage dealt by %.

It is highly recommended to max out “Durin’s Blood”, if needed reset skill points if you put too many in “Ironfoot” and spend them in this main skill + “Whirlwind” and “All-In” since these all are “skill” every single attack done by skills generally will do insane amounts of damage with “Durin’s Blood” boost.

Naturally effective stats % rise as you level up addressed skills.

Respect level 5 Build

And finally upon reaching Respect level 5 with Dain Ironfoot you will be able to unlock and level up his fourth main skill called “King Under the Mountain” which will give:(Commander) Might +%.

This skill tree focuses mostly on buffing Dain himself or other allied Commanders mostly, so if you want to turn him into a powerhouse, you might consider spending some points in this skill tree. Like every other main skill, these stats rise as you level up the skill. At the max level of the “King Under the Mountain ” skill, Dwarven units will receive +2 HP points.

Note that “King Under the Mountain ” skill is referenced as a “title” rather than “skill” which essentially means once it’s unlocked and you have a skill point in it, it will act as a passive skill.

Two additional skills that you will unlock upon leveling “King Under the Mountain” to level 2 are:
Long Beard: (Commander) Physical damage ignores % of target’s Defence. You should definitely put at least a few points on this skill.
Detect Weakness: (Commander) % chance of gaining +% Damage.

Naturally effective stats % rise as you level up addressed skills.