Legends of the 3rd Age 0.5.3

This update contains balance changes, detailed unit tooltips/descriptions, visual improvements and bug fixes.

Version 0.5.3 - October 9, 2026

1. GENERAL

• Added new System map: Hero Test, available under Custom Maps, with many options to test hero strength against heroes and monsters of all levels
• All heroes and hordes now display more information when hovering over their Palantir image or hero bar icon
• Updated description of unit upgrade buttons to state the exact values granted by the individual upgrades
• AI now use the fortress building foundations (Edoras, Helm's Deep, Isengard, Minas Tirith)
• Combos can no longer be sent in Slaughter houses

2. BALANCE

• Outside farms, Trees, Mines and Slaughter houses now generate 20 resources per burst (from 18)
• Citadels are now more vulnerable (60% from 20% damage taken) to CRUSH damage (mostly used by cavalry)
• Postern Gate build cost reduced to 100 (from 150)
• Mounted Hero Armor now takes more damage from MAGIC (60% from 50%)
• Treasure Chests dropped from neutral lairs now give between 75 and 125 resources (from 50 min/100 max), or between 113 and 187 resources in 6+ player games
• Oathbreakers speed increased to 72 (from 65) - when all unit speeds were increased, the Oathbreakers were left out
• Balrog speed increased to 60 (from 50) - when all speeds were increased, the Balrog was left out
• Sauron speed increased to 40 (from 32)
• Berserker, Catapult and Ballista can now rank up (up to level 4) and gain bonuses per level
• Weak infantry (orcs, goblins) crush revenge damage (damage when getting crushed by cavalry) reduced to 15 (from 20)
• Ladder/Siegetower-Melee combos now get a +30% armor bonus while combined and units can purchase upgrades if available
• Laborers speed increased to 37 (from 32)

[Gondor]

• Gandalf now uses Mounted Armor when mounted; this means: damage from pikemen (200% from 75%) and archers (100% from 55%) increased, damage from soldiers (50% from 75%) reduced
• Gandalf's base health increased to 1600 (from 1500) to compensate the armor nerf slightly
• Gandalf's Istari Light damage reduced to 900 (from 1000)
• Gandalf's Istari Light damage rebalanced against some heroes (check the new hero test map for a good understanding)
• Gondor Beacon health increased to 2400 (from 2000)
• Faramir Wounding Arrow damage increased to 400 (from 300), bonus against Mumakil added (+250%), and now has a 130% bonus against all troll units
• King of the Dead's Breath of the Dead recharge time increased to 2m30s (from 1m30s)
• King of the Dead Oathbreaker summon no longer summons an Oathbreaker cavalry horde
• King of the Dead's Totem of the Dead damage type changed to MAGIC (from URUK), Max Shots reduced to 100 (from 1000 - lol), Shots per burst reduced to 2 (from 7)
• Trebuchet health reduced to 360 (from 400), now gains 20 health per level-up to a maximum of 420 on level 4
• Trebuchet speed increased to 32 (from 30)
• Trebuchet hit radius with fire stones decreased to 35 (from 40)
• Trebuchet command point cost increased to 10 (from 5)
• Trebuchet scatter (= inaccuracy) radius reduced to 35 maximum (from 50) - assuming the target stands still, trebuchets will now always hit their target
• Fire stone unit upgrade time reduced to 15s (from 20s)
• Now requires 4 trebuchets to level up Workshop to level 2 (from 3)
• Gondor Knight damage type changed to CRUSH (from SLASH)

[Isengard]

• Sharku now deccelerates faster when crushing (25% per unit from 15%)
• Saruman's base health increased to 1200 (from 1000)
• Saruman of Many Colors now only grants 200 extra health (from 300)
• Uruks with Forged Blades now have the same attack speed as unupgraded uruks (= this effectively reduces their attack speed when using forged blades to match their regular timing)
• Uruks with heavy armor now more resistant to HERO and HERO_RANGED (50% damage taken from 75%)
• Berserker base health increased to 220 (from 200), now heal passively when out of combat from level 2 onwards
• Siege Ladder experience award reduced to 5 (from 10)
• Battering ram speed increased to 43 (from 32)
• Explosive Mine Speed increased to 45 (from 33)
• Ballista speed increased to 43 (from 32)
• Wildman damage type changed to SLASH (from URUK)
• Ballista base health reduced to 220 (from 240)
• Wildman buildcost reduced to 250 (from 300)

[Mordor]

• Nazgul now deccelerates faster when crushing (25% per unit from 20%)
• Mounted Nazgul's armor against MAGIC type damage increased (75% damage taken from 100%)
• Fellbeast HP per level gain reduced to 50, adds a total of 450 health in total (from 850 total)
• Mouth of Sauron's Cursed Ground moved to level 10, radius increased slightly
• Call the Horde power point cost increased to 5 (from 4)
• Orc Warriors damage against Uruk-Hai reduced to 9 per blow (from 10)
• Orc Warriors damage against cavalry reduced to 6 per blow (from 7)
• Black Orc Warriors now require level 3 Orc pit
• Black Orc Warriors now require more experience to level up and grant more experience when killed (were in WEAK category, now they are in NORMAL category)
• Black Orc Warrior more vulnerable against CRUSH (cavalry + trample) damage (120% from 100%)
• Haradrim Archer health reduced to 60 (from 120), base damage reduced to 30 (from 40)
• Haradrim Archers now have a random range for reload times (between 2s and 2.5s per shot)
• Haradrim Archers now require level 3 Haradrim Palace
• Witch-king's armor reduced considerably (now uses the same armor set as Boromir)
• Witch-king's Morgul Sorcery damage type changed to MAGIC (from URUK), Max Shots reduced to 100 (from 1000 - lol), Shots per burst reduced to 2 (from 7)
• Reduced Siege tower experience award to 10 (from 30)
• Siege tower build time reduced to 30s (from 45s)
• Battering ram speed increased to 43 (from 32)
• Catapult Speed increased to 32 (from 16), base health decreased to 280 (from 300), command point cost increased to 10 (from 5)
• Catapult scatter (= inaccuracy) radius reduced to 30 maximum (from 48) - assuming the target stands still, catapults will now always hit their target
• Catapult Human Heads now trigger terror emotion upon landing, not while flying
• Black Orcs and Pikemen can now be combined
• Haradrim Summon now spawns a Mumakil with Haradrim on top, other than that spell remains unchanged
• Mordor Attack Troll now requires level 3 troll cage
• Mordor Attack Troll now uses his correct weapon and damage template (= more damage), previously used the same as Mountain Troll previously)
• Mordor Pikeman porcupine damage reduced to 70 (from 100)

[Moria]

• Durin's Bane is now more resistant to magic, but also more vulnerable against most other damage types (was using the same armor template as the summoned Balrog, no more!)
• Durin's Bane health increased to 4000 (from 3500)
• Moria sentry tower targets can now be controlled
• Gollum's powers restructured: Gollum the Bad moved to level 3, Smeagol the Good moved to level 6, Wish for the Precious moved to level 10
• Gollum base damage reduced back down to 10 (from 15), level up damage and health bonuses reduced significantly
• Gollum's Wish for the Precious now provides +300% damage (from +200%), +100% armor (from +50%), +50% attack speed (from +25%) - this sounds big, but given his base values it's just a decent buff
• Gollum build cost reduced to 150 (from 250)
• Goblins damage against structures reduced to 4 per blow (from 6)
• Goblins speed increased to 60 (from 55), crush revenge damage reduced to 15 (from 30) - same as Orc warriors
• Goblin Archer bow damage increased to 12 (from 11)
• Half-troll build cost reduced to 500 (from 600)
• Spiderling kill experience award increased to 3 (from 1)
• Warg base damage decreased to 30 (from 35), damage type changed to URUK (from SLASH)
• Barrow Wight speed increased to 50 (from 40)
• Cave Trolls will now trigger a small crush attack like all other trolls when running over infantry
• Banner upgrade unit build time reduced to 10s (from 15s)
• Abandoned Mine and Deepforge now both cost 350 (from 325/375)

[Rohan]

• Rohan Elven Warriors with Swords crush revenge damage (pikeman damage) reduced to 60 (from 100), now weaker than other pikemen
• Legolas now gets +15% speed when in knife fighter mode
• Gamling's Bow projectiles can no longer be evaded/dodged by units
• Rohirrim crush damage increased to 50 (from 40)
• Eomer build cost increased to 1400 (from 1200)
• Increased Rohirrim attack times slightly (~1.3s per attack from 1.5s)

[Elves]

• Lorien Warriors now have higher crush revenge (30 from 10)

3. VISUAL

• Most arrows and fire arrows are now 3d models in-world rather than streak draws (= 2D images oriented to camera) - this is nothing new, this was BFME Beta stuff, now re-enabled
• Added arrow and sword damage FX
• Arrows now use a proper Arrow impact FX - again, old BfME Beta stuff, re-enabled
• Elven Wood and Tained Land now use their original beta house color models - feedback is appreciated in terms of gameplay/visibility impact
• On top of emitting the usual Elven Wood/Taint color ping, Elven Wood and Tainted Land now show house color on the spawned object model
• Elven Wood and Tainted Land now emit their first color ping almost immediately after placement (online multiplayer only)
• Added custom texture variations for Landroval and Gwaihir (thanks Val from BFME2)
• Gondor Trebuchet now uses its proper flaming rock model
• Mordor Orc warriors button image and portrait updated
• Elrond's Forged Blade effect is now always hidden
• King of the Dead's Breath of the Dead FX visually overhauled; should now also better indicate the area affected
• Goblin archer animation set updated, fire arrows are now properly included

4. MAPS

[Fords of Isen II]

• Removed/replaced rocks with bad geometry

5. BUGFIXES

• Fixed Orc and Uruk banners to attack properly
• Fixed Elrond always drawing and aiming 2 arrows at once
• Fixed Warg Rider rotation when attacking; now no longer turn for attacking
• Catapult human heads no longer make allied units afraid
• Moria Outpost keep now has an exit button again (removed accidentally in a previous update)