Legions of orcs have come forth from Mordor to sweep away the remnants of the Free Peoples. The strongest dwarves, elves, and men must band together to confront the forces of evil in a final effort to save Middle Earth. Meanwhile, a secret hope moves closer to the cracks of Mount Doom, unseen by the eye of Sauron. The story of The Lord of the Rings is as legendary as it is epic. It’s also perfectly captured in its premier strategy board game adaption, War of the Ring. In this guide, ꦚwe’re reviewing all of🍰 the exciting editions, expansions, and spin-offs for this tabletop classic to aid you in your journeys through Middle Earth.

Where to Start:

Fans who are new to the War of the Ring tabletop games should begin their adventures with the second edition of the original . In the box, you’ll find an expansive map of Middle Earth, ne꧃atly crafted dice, and a ton of miniatures. The game’s complex strategy mechanics are completely different depending on which sidꦰe you’re playing. If you’re the Sauron player, your goal is to move your forces from region to region, conquering your enemy’s strongholds and claiming ten victory points. If you’re playing as the Free Peoples, you’ll instead need to outlast the war until Frodo and any remaining members of the fellowship reach Mordor.

War of the Ring Board Game Expansions

War of the Ring’s expansion content adds new characters to the board and mo๊re decisions for the players to make each round, transforming what was once a war into an epic fantasy campaign. These boxes bring bigger battles, longer game times, and more immersive mechanics to the table. Below, you’ll find all the expansions listed inও our suggested purchasing order.

The expansion puts some of the most powerful characters from The Lord of the Rings in play, including Elrond, Galadriel, and Durin’s Bane. Gandalf and the Witch King come in a new form, and there are a couple 🍰of added dice to roll on each side of the table. This expansion doesn’t add too much game time but simply optimizes the tabletop experience.

The corruption of Sauron and the evil doings of his envoys are the focus of the expansion. The King Under the Mountain and the King of the Woodland Realm join the fight to the north, while Denethor and Theoden work to keep the darkness at bay in Gondor and Rohan. To oppose𓄧 them, the player siding with the ꩲshadow will gain access to the Dark Chieftains, a new figure type that includes characters like Ugluk and the Black Serpent.

The expansion adds exciting new miniature armies for both the Free Peoples and Sauron. Ents, eagles, and the ghostly traitors of Dunharrow take to the field, while Dunlendings, corsairs, and the spiders of Mirkwood rise to meet them. Thi🃏s box also includes more faction cards and action dice that help make the conflict less predictable.

scenario kit focuses on an alternate version of the War of the Ring in which the Free Peoples have lost the Battle of the Five Armies at the end of The Hobbit. The Lonely Mountain becomes a stronghold of evil, and only a few holdouts remain in its vicinity. This expansion is smaꦿller than the other boxes and contains only a few overlay tiles and alternate editions of characters. However, it’s perfect if you’re looking to add more gameplay variety without spendꦫing too much.

Play This Next:

is also a viable starting point if you’re new to this tabletop series. Though it focuses on the same conflict as t🍸he board game, it’s a completely different experience with its own line of expansions. This time, you’ll have to capture battleground cards with characters and events to shape the fate of Middle Earth. Though it might not have the same strategic depth as the original War of the Ring, the card game is easier to learn, has a more accessible game length, and supports up to four players. It’s a blast for any Lord of the Rings fan and worth getting alongside the board game.

The new expansion for the card game adds more battlegrounds, characters, and factions to both sides of the conflict and brings the war to the northern and western reaches of Middle Earth. There’s also a new set of scenario rules and support for up to six players, which ensures that the War of the Ring is a more exciting battle than ever before.

If you enjoy cooperative or single-player board games, then the expansion for the War of the Ring card game will be the perfect fit for you. A new set of automation cards dict💦ates what the forces of Sauron will do during their turn, and you’ll have to think carefully about what your next move is in opposing them. There are two difficulty levels for every scenario, which adds furthe𝕴r replay value.

More Collectables for War of the Ring Fans

If you love the War of the Ring and you’ve already purchased all the main expansions for the board and card game, there are still a handful of 🅘awesome ways you can continue upg🌱rading your collection and journeying through Middle Earth. 

From the makers of the War of the Ring board game comes , an epic two-player duel that captures the conflict at the end of The Hobbit. This spin-off title features many of the same mechanics as its pred💛ecessor, including the huge collection of miniatures on the board and the action dice. If you love Middle Earth and enjoy tactical board games, this one’s absolutely worth adding to your shelf.

If you have all the War of the Ring expansions, you might have noticed that the game board can get a bit cramped when all the m🃏iniatures are in play. The fixes this issue with a significant increase in map size, so you can more easily see where you’re moving your troops.

If you want to keep your War of the Ring cards in perfect shape for ﷽years to come, you might want to consider picking up a few of the game’s dedicated . There are several variants to choose from, with different character artwork and designs for each of them.