The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth

About this board game

The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth is a 2–4 player card game with a 30-minute play time, in which players battle on the side of Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas, and the other companions against the forces of Mordor.

Three enemy cards are always displayed on the table. Each enemy shows a combination of symbols drawn from six types: sword, axe, spear, bow, fist, and shield. Some symbols are associated with magic and appear more rarely than those linked to mundane weaponry.

Players collect companion cards into groups called fellowships. When a group’s symbols match those shown on one or more enemies, it can be sent to battle to defeat them. The group is then discarded, while the defeated enemy can contribute valuable victory points.

• Play a companion card to one of your groups and attack if possible.
• Start a new group and attack if possible.
• Draw cards until a companion is found, placing any Mordor cards drawn onto the table.

Whenever the third Mordor card reaches the table, every player suffers a counterattack. Depending on the Mordor card’s text, a player may lose a card from their hand, a card from a group, or an enemy they have already vanquished. One enemy is then discarded, and the triggering player draws another card.

When no enemies remain, the game ends. Enemy cards are worth between 1 and 10 victory points, and the player with the highest total wins. With its symbol-matching fellowships and escalating Mordor pressure, The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth turns each draw into a meaningful decision.