Early Mordor

Early Mordor

SA 1980 - SA 3441

This list represents forces of Sauron in the Second Age.  He began to establish himself in Mordor, SA 1000, in response to the growing power of Numenor.  In SA 1600 he forged the One Ring and the Elves of Eregion knew they were betrayed.  By then he had raised the fortress of Barad-dur as his stronghold.  He destroyed Eregion ending in 1698.  Although he was stopped from destroying Imladris and Lindon by a combined Elvish and Numenorean force, he dominated the rest of Middle Earth for the next 1600 years (the "Accursed Years").

Major timeline events relevant to this army list are:

• SA 500 Sauron resumes activity, deciding that the Valar will not intervene again in Middle Earth.

• SA 882: Gil-Galad senses a shadow rising in the East and warns Numenor

• SA 1000: Sauron is alarmed by the rising power of Numenor and chooses Mordor as a land to make into a stronghold; begins building Barad-Dur

• SA 1200: Sauron visits the Elves as Annatar, lord of gifts.  Never welcomed in Lindon, where Elrond and Gil-Galad do not trust him, but received by the Noldor smiths of Eregion, in spite of the advice of Galadriel.

• SA 1500-1590: Celebrimbor forges the Three Rings.

• SA 1600: Sauron forges the One Ring in Mount Doom, and the Elves realize they have been betrayed.

• SA 1600-1692: Sauron builds the strength of his armies.

• SA 1693-1697: War of the Elves and Sauron.  Eregion is destroyed.  Lindon only saved at the last by the intervention of a mighty army of Numenor that shatters Sauron’s forces west of the Misty Mountains.

• SA 1698 – 3262: the Accursed Years: Sauron rules almost all Middle Earth, save only Lindon and Imladris.

• SA 2251: Ringwraiths appear

• SA 3262: Ar-Pharazon the Golden brings an army to Mordor so mighty that Sauron’s forces flee in fear; Sauron surrenders and is brought to Numenor.

• SA 3319: Drowning of Numenor; Sauron’s spirit returns to Mordor but is never again able to assume a fair shape.

• SA 3429 – 3434: War of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, ending in the Battle of Dagorlad.

• SA 3434-3441: Siege of Barad-Dur.  At the end Sauron is forced to sortie, and is killed by Gil-Galad and Elendil, who both perish in the battle.

Invasion Rating: 0  (TA 1980 - TA 1999, and during the Watchful Peace TA 2063 - TA 2460)

1  (TA 2000 - TA 2062, and TA 2461 - TA 2950)

3 (TA 2951 - TA 3019)

Maneuver Rating: 3

Home Topography: Dry

General's Troop Type: Knight or Elite Foot.  General should have the battle cards Deadly and Armored.  Nazgul (usually Heroes) may have the battle card Terror.

Army Battle Cards

Troop Options

Required Troops

Troop Types Min Max Battle Line Restrictions Battle Cards

Elite Foot 0 1 all

Uruks

Javelin Cavalry 1 3 Woodland Creature (+1/2), Fierce (-1/2), Slow (-1/2)

Goblin wolf-riders and riderless wargs called "Hounds of Sauron"

Archer 0 1 all

Elite bow-armed goblins with mail and spear

Bow Levy  or Skirmisher 2 4 (only Bow Levy) optionally Ranged Attack (+1)

Goblin bow in formed units or veteran goblin skirmishers

Warband or Warrior 2 8 all

Large goblins with shield, mail or mixed armor, and spear or sword

Rabble 4 12

Goblin infantry

Behemoth 0 2 all

Trolls