13 Fatal Counter

In-Game Description: Well-timed Counters instantly kill enemy grunts (but not Captains and Beasts)

Skill Type: Combat

Strategy: Take out dozens of enemies at once.

Tips: This ability can be selected once the Perfect Counter skill has been unlocked. Upon activating the skill, perfectly-timed counters will instantly discard Grunt Orcs.

12 Ground Finisher

In-Game Description: This skill will decrease the amount of time it takes Talion to perform Ground Executions during combat to any Orcs who have been knocked over.

Strategy: Ground Finisher is one of the 33 core abilities to choose from in Middle Earth: Shadow of War.

Tips: This skill can help the player quickly take out fallen enemies in the middle of a battle.

11 Adamant

In-Game Description: The Adamant skill will give the player a second opportunity to land a Last Chance counter if they’re beaten down by another Orc Captain or unexpectedly caught by an Assassin.

Strategy: Last Chance

Tips: Talion can earn the Ranger Ability Last Chance Finisher, which allows the player to instantly kill the enemy that knocked him down.

10 Execution

In-Game Description: When aimed at a specific target, activating this ability will cause Talion to brutally kill the enemy.

Strategy: The Execution skill is useful for quickly eliminating an orc or inflicting heavy damage to Captains and Warchiefs.

Tips: Using the Grim Resolve skill with this will ensure the player is consistently fueled with enough Might.

9 Wraith Execution

In-Game Description: The Wraith Execution skill is one of the Brutal Aggression Upgrades that will give the player the chance to chain additional executions to multiple enemies making it easier to quickly clear out an area.

Tips: With each additional enemy, it will consume Focus.

8 Wraith Chain

In-Game Description: It will allow the player to target an additional enemy during a stealth kill with each additional target consuming Focus.

Skill Type: Predator

Strategy: This Predator skill is best utilized when focusing on a stealth build for the Ranger.

Tips: Makes things much easier when quietly taking out a collection of orcs.

7 Elven Agility

In-Game Description: The Elven Agility skill will give the player a burst of speed when leaping over objects, landing, or climbing.

Strategy: Movement in Middle Earth is one of the core mechanics in Shadow Of War. Equipping this skill early on will shave travelling times in half.

Tips: Useful when traveling across each area from having to escape an area overwhelmed by enemies.

6 Detonate

In-Game Description: This skill will allow the player to Shadow Strike into a firepit which will then detonate and light anyone unfortunate enough to be set on fire.

Skill Type: Ranged

Strategy: This will give Talion a chance to quickly take out a handful of enemies.

5 Bird of Prey

In-Game Description: Equipping the Bird of Prey ability will give the player the option to aim their bow while soaring through the skies of Middle Earth.

Strategy: This ability will also be able to turn around quickly during bird of prey.

Tips: The Bow in Shadow Of War is arguably just as crucial to the player’s survival as the Hammer or any other piece of gear is, especially when taking on an army of enemies or quickly taking out a handful of archers.

4 Shadow Strike

In-Game Description: Shadow Strike will grant the player the capability to teleport towards an enemy while aiming their bow and instantly stun them.

Strategy: Hitting an enemy with Shadow Strike will make enmies more vulnurable to an attack.

Tips: It will cost Talion two Elf-shots with each use and is also a great way to get around town quickly.

3 Elven Light

In-Game Description: Using the Elven Light skill will unleash a powerful blast stunning and temporarily blinding all nearby enemies

Skill Type: Wraith

Strategy: More often than not, Talion will find himself surrounded by a seemingly endless amount of ugly orcs. This skill with give the player a chance to attack or flee the scene and recover.

More often than not, Talion will find himself surrounded by a seemingly endless amount of ugly orcs.

2 Consume

In-Game Description: When the player’s might is full, it will allow Talion to quickly drain a nearby enemy during combat to regain health.

Strategy: Pairing this with the Chain of Souls upgrade to drain additional enemies is also recommended.

1 Treasure hunter

In-Game Description: With this Wraith ability unlocked, rather than having to hold down the action button to collect all of the loot, the player can just walk across the corpses surrounding the area and will automatically collect the new items from each defeated enemy.

Strategy: Following a battle with dozens of Orcs, chances are that there will be lots of nearby gear to collect. Utilizing this skill gives Talion more time to conquer the nearest Fortress.

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