Weapons play an important role in combating the foes of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. From the woodland bear to the terrible troll, weapons are instrumental in driving back the forces that seek to defeat you! 

Like armour and other equipment, weapons can be acquired in several ways in game: 

• Loot drops on defeated foes
• Quest rewards from NPCs
• Weapons crafted by players
• Weapons found in chests
• Purchases made using the auction house

It's important to compare your current weapons against a new weapon you’re considering wielding. You can do this by inspecting the item, and looking at the side-by-side comparison of the two weapons. But how can you tell if the abilities of the new weapon are better than your current one? Understanding weapon properties is the best way to help you make decisions on weapon choices. 

Weapon Types 

Weapons come in many shapes and sizes, including daggers, greatswords, clubs, axes, and much more! No matter what style of weapon, all weapons are classified into three types, which are: 

• One-handed – These weapons can be wielded in one hand. Through traits or class features, you can even wield two one-handed weapons at the same time to increase your damage output against your enemies!
• Two-handed – These weapons require two hands, and yield greater damage than one handed weapons, but typically swing at a slower pace.
• Ranged – These weapons require ammunition, and allow you to strike your foes from a distance. 

Each weapon type provides a different combat experience, and some classes perform better with certain styles. A character with high Might would be well suited to wielding a two-handed weapon, as Might improves the amount of damage dealt from melee attacks. A character with high Agility would be better suited to using ranged weapons, as Agility increases the effectiveness of ranged attacks. There’s more to weapons than merely what type they are; there are other important elements of weapons that can also impact the outcome of combat. 

Damage and Damage Types 

To defeat foes, you need to deal enough damage to reduce their morale until they are vanquished. The more damage you can deal, the more effective you will be against your enemies. By inspecting weapons, you can see the amount and kind of damage dealt by the weapon. Most weapons deal what is called “common” damage. There are rare creatures in Middle-earth that can only be affected by special damage types, such as Fire damage, Light damage, Westernesse damage, and so on. You can see the damage type listed next to the damage amount on the weapon. 

Speed 

The speed of a weapon indicates how quickly your character can swing the weapon in combat. The higher the speed, the more quickly your character is able to deliver attacks using the weapon, but speed alone will not help you best your enemies. 

When inspecting weapons, it is important to look at the DPS score of the weapon. DPS is “Damage Per Second,” a measure of how much damage your character is able to do to targets each second. This is measured by both the speed of the weapon and the amount of damage dealt by the weapon. 

Other Weapon Properties 

Remember that weapons will need to be repaired as they take wear and tear from combat or defeats. Your weapon’s durability score determines how much item damage it can take before it needs to be repaired. You can repair your weapons by visiting a vendor and paying a fee to have them restored to their full durability once more. 

Weapons can also provide bonuses to your character abilities, such as increased Vitality, Agility, Morale, and more! Inspect the weapon to see what benefits it provides. 

Customizing Weapons 

Many users enjoy giving weapons a more personalized feel. You can customize weapon abilities, and even names, through several fun in-game systems, like Crafting or the Legendary Item system in the Mines of Moria™ expansion!