Patch 2.02 v9.7 Series Overview

This patch addresses a critical bug in which Dwarven Phalanxes would neither generate nor award experience points. Various other changes have been implemented as part of this update. Refer to the patch notes below.

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2.02 Version 9.7.7 Patch Notes

June 30, 2026

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General

• Lesser Wights (spawned from Blight, Morgul Blade, etc, no longer provide a bounty value.
• Hobbit rocks now cause a very small amount of knockback on infantry when killed.
• Upgraded ranged units now deal 75% less damage against Fortresses, Expansions, and Towers (this is to match current scalars against Production and Technology Research structures).
• Captured Trolls from Lairs (from Untamed Allegiance) can now be healed at Troll Cages and Fissures.
• Optimised several unit targeting interactions.
• Trolls turned to stone by Cloud Break duration reduced to 20s (from 30s).

General Balance

• Lesser Wights spawned from Morgul Blade/Morgul Corruption and Well of Souls now take up 15 Command Points (was 30).
• Wyrm us now signficantly more resistant to Siege Weapon attacks and Monster rock throws.
• Arrow Volley:

--- recharge time reduced to 3m 30s (from 4m).

--- passive ground fire tick damage increased to 6 (from 3);

--- damage penalty scalar against Ents reduced to 50% (from 40%).

--- damage bonus scalar against Rams and Demolishers increased to 600% (from 500%).

Audio & Graphics Changes

• Optimised various FXs.
• Rogash Summon Cave Troll drum volume increased and drum count increased to 4 (from 2).
• Isengard Flaming Bolts voice volume increased.
• Drogoth Incinerate ability cursor icon changed.

Neutral

• Lesser Wight Lair (Creep) guards bounty value reduced to 25 (from 38).

Inn

• Rohan Peasant:

--- now available for Men of the West.

--- un-upgraded damage reduced to 45 (from 50);

--- upgraded damage reduced to 90 (from 100);

--- Rohan Shields SPECIALIST armour reduced to 20% (from 15%);

--- Heavy Armor SPECIALIST armour reduced to 15% (from 10%);

--- Heavy Armor + Rohan Shields coupled armour remains the same (10%).

--- Rohan Shields PIERCE armour reduced to 60% (from 55%).

• Galahdrim Warrior:

--- now available for Elves.

--- build time increased to 40s (from 35s).

--- now purchases Silverthorn Arrows instead of Fire Arrows.

--- upgraded FLAME damage changed to MAGIC damage.

Men

• Dormitory Expansion:

--- build cost reduced to 250 (from 350);

--- Command Point bonus increased to 50 (from 25);

--- garrisoned units now gain a +20% attack range.

• Marketplace build cost reduced to 600 (from 800).
• Knights of Dol Amroth:

--- Swan-knight Resilience Crush Deceleration bonus increased to 75% (from 50%).

--- base movement speed reverted to 110 (from 100);

--- Delta/Line Formation no longer affects movement speed.

Elves

• Mithlond Sentry:

--- un-upgraded SLASH armour reduced to 140% (from 135%);

--- upgraded SLASH armour reduced to 95% (from 90%).

--- un-upgraded PIERCE armour reduced to 105% (from 100%).

Dwarves

• Hall Expansion:

--- build cost reduced to 250 (from 350);

--- Command Point bonus increased to 50 (from 25);

--- garrisoned units now gain a +20% attack range.

• Battlewagon:

--- acceration time increased to 1.5s (from 1s);

--- turn arc reduced to 12 (from 24);

--- reverse capability removed;

--- crush deceleration reduced to 2 (from 3), which should allow the BW to trample more units;

--- crush revenge damage penalty scalar from Pikemen increased to 10% (from 30%);

--- crush damage now deals half as much damage against Thrall Masters and Rhudaur Spearmen.

Isengard

• Wildmen:

--- un-upgraded SLASH armour increased to 90% (from 95%);

--- upgraded SLASH armour increased to 45% (from 55%).

--- un-upgraded SPECIALIST armour increased to 35% (from 50%);

--- upgraded SPECIALIST armour increased to 20% (from 25%).

• Uruk-hai:

--- un-upgraded SLASH armour increased to 80% (from 85%);

--- un-upgraded POISON armour increased to 60% (from 80%);

--- upgraded POISON armour increased to 30% (from 40%).

• Berserker SPECIALIST armour reduced to 60% (from 50%).
• Clan Steading build time reduced to 30s (from 35s).

Mordor

• Mumakil Haradrim units are now fully invulnerable to all sources of damage.
• Gatewatcher Expansion build cost reduced to 400 (from 600).

Goblins

• Drogoth:

--- Fireflight damage against Heroes (including all flyer units) reduced by 20%.

--- Incinerate damage against Heroes reduced by 20%.

Angmar

• Gundabad Orc:

--- melee base damage reduced to 32 (from 35);

--- damage penalty scalar vs. Wildmen removed.

• Snow Bind now properly prevents enemy Lone Towers and Barricades from firing.
• Troll and Wolf Den:

--- level 2 upgrade cost reduced to 300 (from 450);

--- level 2 upgrade time reduced to 20s (from 30s);

--- level 3 upgrade time reduced to 20s (from 30s).

• Hill:

--- build cost reduced to 500 (from 550);

--- health reduced to 800 (from 900);

--- un-upgraded attack reduced 120 (from 125);

--- upgraded attack reduced 240 (from 250).

• Wolf Rider CRUSH damage increased by 15% against Dwarven Guardians.
• Well of Souls now spawns 1 additional Lesser Wight.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where Faramir's Wounding Arrow was unintentionally accessible while in melee mode.
• Fixed an issue where the Mordor Witch-king's mace melee toggle was unintentionally accessible while in mounted (Fell Beast) mode.
• Fixed an issue where Winter's Wrath snowfield Speed Debuff FX would not render for the full attribute modifier duration.
• Fixed an issue where Mordor Morgomir was awarding a higher bounty value than intended.
• Fixed an issue where the Eagle was awarding a lower bounty value than intended.
• Fortress expansion plots can no longer be auto attacked by certain units.
• Fixed a critical bug where Dwarven Phalanxes would not generate nor award experience points.
• Fixed an issue where Gothmog Fury Hero mode would not enable splash damage.

Maps

• Ost-in-Edhil: Added 2 Warg Lair and Goblins Lairs.
• The Crossroads: Added 2 Goblins Lairs.
• Udun: changed positions of Warg Lairs - now between allies.
• Udun II: Added 2 Goblins Lairs.

Toolips

• Fixed an issue where King Brand used Gloin's hover tooltips.
• Added missing un-upgraded ranged damage tooltip for Wall Towers (Men, Dwarves, and Angmar).
• Fixed a typo with the Deathbringer Deathwish tooltip.
• Fixed a typo with Warg Rider crush tooltip.
• Various other fixes and improvements.