A small dark figure that none had observed sprang out of the shadows and gave a hoarse shout: Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu! An axe swung and swept back. Two orcs fell headless. The rest fled.
–J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Two Towers".
Summary
A true master of arms, the Champion excels in close-quartered combat. The feverish swinging of the Champion's blades strike fear into the heart of even the foulest Orc and the most wicked of men. The Champion relies on their fervent dedication to the eradication of The Witch King's forces to fuel their attacks, enabling them to cut down several enemies at once, should they need. While the Champion's survivability through heavy armour proficiency is valuable in a pinch, Champions are at their best when adjoining their blades to snuff out their enemies with haste.
The Champion will be the class of choice for players who enjoy fast-paced combat with multiple options available at any moment. Champions can use various weapon styles, allowing them to reap the benefits of a wide arsenal. With their active play-style, Champions can consistently inflict large amounts of damage in both single-target and multi-target scenarios. Their style of combat is based on the concept that a good offense is the best defense.
Champion Pros & Cons
(+) Strengths
(-) Weaknesses
+ Cause large amounts of damage quickly
- Fervour stance removes ability to block, parry, or evade attacks
+ Ability to use various weapon styles (1H and 2H)
- Hard to pull a creature out of a crowd before you gain the Shoot skill
+ Strongest melee area-of-effect attacks
- Very limited self-healing
+ Fervour stance provides unparalleled power regeneration in combat
Skills & Combat
Champions have a Fervour meter above their Auto-attack button. You must successfully execute certain skills to increase your Fervour. As your Fervour meter fills, you unlock your more powerful skills.
Use Champion skills (such as Swift Strike) to increase your Fervour, then hit with a powerful skill that requires the expenditure of Fervour points (Savage Strikes). You can toggle Fervour on, but be careful when there are many foes around since Fervour lowers your defensive abilities. Other skills that increase Fervour are Wild Attack and Battle Frenzy, and, of course, you can toggle on Fervour. Use Wild Attack more often than Swift Strike because it uses a lot less power.
As for the attack skills, you have single-foe and area-of-effect attacks that assail up to five (more with traits) foes in a certain radius.
The Shoot skill (which requires use of a ranged weapon) helps when you want to bring a foe to you, but it doesn't do much damage.
Your Champion traits will dramatically increase your damage output. If you thought you were a fine combat artist before, wait until you are able to slot in some of these powerhouse traits. Class traits such as Swift to Anger, Vicious Strikes, and Deadly Strikes will boost your already superb damage. Eye of the Storm is another useful trait and comes in handy on your area-of-effect skills. Heavy Shield-Use, which you receive in your Champion Level 30 quest, is essential if you plan on doing any sort of tanking. Heavy shields offer the best defense in the game and coupled with your ability to wear heavy armour, will protect you against all kinds of damage.
Class Quests
With some downed orcs and a few narrow escapes under your belt, a young Champion will be ready to set out on his first class quest at Level 15. Congratulations! Although more difficult than a standard quest, your first class quest will offer great rewards. Throughout your adventures you will be able to do additional class quests to grow into the true champion that you were meant to be.
Your travels will now take you to Ust Guruth, the last hold of civilization as you journey eastwards toward the Trollshaws. A band of Orcs has come to the ruins of Ost Cyrn, and Eriador needs a champion to dispatch the leader and protect the border of Bree-land.
Another set of class quests becomes available at Level 45; by completing these quests, you gain access to a weapon and a piece of armour or a trinket custom-made for Champions. Speaking to your class trainer at Level 45 will start you on the path for these quests. When you complete each of these, you will then receive the quest "A Lesson from Gimli," which rewards you with the Legendary Champion Trait: Controlled Burn.
Burglar
Captain
Champion
Guardian
Hunter
Lore-master
Minstrel