LOTRO Races and Classes Overview
The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) offers a wide variety of playable races and classes, each with unique abilities, starting zones, and roles in combat. Whether you're drawn to the strength of Dwarves or the agility of Elves, this guide will help you choose the best combination for your journey through Middle-earth.
New to LOTRO? Start with our Beginner’s Guide to LOTRO to learn how the game works before choosing your race and class.
Still unsure? Reach out and we’ll help you pick the perfect character.
Races of The Lord of the Rings Online
| Race | Release Date | Available Classes | Starting Areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beorning | November 5 2014 | Beorning | Mead-hollow |
| Dwarf | April 24 2007 | Brawler, Captain, Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Lore-Master, Minstrel, Runekeeper, Warden | Silver Deep / Ered Luin |
| Elf | April 24 2007 | Brawler, Burglar, Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Lore-Master, Minstrel, Runekeeper, Warden | Edhelion / Ered Luin |
| High Elf | July 31 2017 | Brawler, Burglar, Captain, Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Lore-Master, Mariner, Minstrel, Runekeeper, Warden | Rivendell / Celondim |
| Hobbit | April 24 2007 | Brawler, Burglar, Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Lore-Master, Minstrel, Warden | Green Hill Country / Archet / Little Delving |
| Race of Man | April 24 2007 | Brawler, Burglar, Captain, Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Lore-Master, Mariner, Minstrel, Runekeeper, Warden | Archet |
| River Hobbit | August 29 2023 | Brawler, Burglar, Captain, Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Lore-Master, Mariner, Minstrel, Runekeeper, Warden | Lyndleby / Mossward |
| Stout-Axe | October 29 2019 | Brawler, Burglar, Captain, Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Mariner, Minstrel, Runekeeper, Warden | Barad-dur / Ered Luin |
Race-Class Restrictions
Note: Some races are restricted to specific classes due to lore or gameplay balance. For example, Beornings can only play the Beorning class, while the newly added River Hobbits have access to nearly all classes introduced so far.
Classes of The Lord of the Rings Online
| Class | Role | Difficulty | Available Races |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beorning | Healer / Tank / Damage | Advanced | Beorning |
| Brawler | Tank / Damage | Advanced | Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Race of Man, River Hobbit, Stout-Axe |
| Burglar | Support / Damage | Moderate | Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Race of Man, River Hobbit, Stout-Axe |
| Captain | Tank / Support / Healer | Moderate | Dwarf, High Elf, Race of Man, River Hobbit, Stout-Axe |
| Champion | Damage / Tank | Basic | Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Race of Man, River Hobbit, Stout-Axe |
| Guardian | Tank / Damage | Basic | Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Race of Man, River Hobbit, Stout-Axe |
| Hunter | Damage | Basic | Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Race of Man, River Hobbit, Stout-Axe |
| Lore-Master | Support / Damage | Advanced | Elf, High Elf, Race of Man, River Hobbit |
| Mariner | Support / Damage | Advanced | High Elf, Race of Man, River Hobbit, Stout-Axe |
| Minstrel | Healer / Damage | Moderate | Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Race of Man, River Hobbit, Stout-Axe |
| Runekeeper | Healer / Damage | Moderate | Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Race of Man, River Hobbit, Stout-Axe |
| Warden | Damage / Tank | Advanced | Dwarf, Elf, High Elf, Hobbit, Race of Man, River Hobbit, Stout-Axe |
Choosing Your First Class
Tip: If you're unsure which class suits your playstyle, try creating multiple characters to test different roles. LOTRO allows free character slots, so you can explore tanking, healing, or damage-dealing without commitment.