So, you’re diving into Lord of the Rings Online and thinking, “What class should I pick if I want to go solo?” LOTRO currently has 12 classes to choose from, that’s a lot of options, and while every class can technically solo content, some are way easier to manage on your own than others. Having spent a good chunk of time exploring Middle-earth solo, I’ve got some insights on what classes work best when you’re not relying on a fellowship to back you up.
Let’s break down the classes, rank them from easiest to hardest for solo play, and I’ll throw in some tips on which specialization tree you should lean into to make your solo journey smoother.
The following information is based on my personal experience, and your results may vary depending on your playstyle and goals. This list is meant to guide you as you start your solo journey, but it’s not set in stone—your preferences may lead you down a different path. Keep in mind that the game evolves with balance patches and updates, which may cause one class to become stronger or weaker over time.
1. Hunter – The Sniper King
Honestly, if you’re looking for an easy ride, Hunter is your best friend. High damage? Check. Long-range attacks? Check. The ability to destroy mobs before they can even touch you? Oh yeah. Hunters are pure DPS machines, and with their insane mobility (fast travel is a life-saver), they’re pretty much the kings of solo play. Whether you’re taking down orcs in Mordor or hunting wargs in Eregion, the Hunter’s all about hitting hard and fast.
What to spec? Go for Bowmaster if you want to burn through enemies with high damage output. If you like to stay mobile, Huntsman can work too, but Bowmaster is where the real power is.
Why it’s easy: You’re fighting from a distance. Most enemies won’t even get close before you drop them.
Check out our guide to the Hunter >>>
2. Beorning – The Unstoppable Bear
If you’re someone who likes to take a few hits and keep going, then the Beorning is perfect for soloing. These guys can switch between human and bear form, which lets them tank and heal themselves. That’s a pretty big deal when you’re out there solo, facing waves of enemies. They don’t dish out the same kind of raw damage as Hunters, but their survivability makes them easy mode when things get tough.
What to spec? Go with The Hide. It’s focused on defense and healing, meaning you’ll stay alive longer in those tougher solo encounters.
Why it’s easy: You can tank and heal. Pretty much nothing short of a Balrog will be able to bring you down.
Learn more about the Beorning in our guide >>>
3. Rune-keeper – Master of Lightning and Heals
The Rune-keeper is super flexible. You’ve got powerful DPS when you need to fry some orcs with lightning, and you can switch it up to heal yourself mid-fight if things start going sideways. They can feel a bit squishy early on, but once you get the hang of cycling your abilities and using heals, you’ll breeze through most content.
What to spec? Stick to the Solitary Thuder aka Lightning (Yellow) tree if you want to melt enemies fast while being mobile or go with Cleansing Flame aka Fire (Red) for a more traditional caster style of play. You can always swap to healing with Benediction of Peace (Blue) for tougher fights.
Why it’s easy: High damage and heals in one class? That’s basically solo player heaven.
Visit our Rune-keeper guide for more information >>>
4. Lore-master – Pets Are Your Best Friends
If you’re the type who likes to control the battlefield and use pets to do your dirty work, Lore-masters are a blast to solo with. They’re a bit trickier because you’ll be managing debuffs, crowd control, and your pet all at once, but if you’ve got the multitasking down, you’ll be unstoppable. And hey, pets are great at taking hits for you.
What to spec? If you like playing alongside pets, go for Keeper of Animals (Blue). For a dps focused build with limited access pets, then Master of Nature’s Fury (Red) is your go-to for damage.
Why it’s easy: Pets make life a lot easier, and you’ve got plenty of tricks up your sleeve to keep things under control.
Become a master of nature with our Lore-master guide >>>
5. Warden – The Gambit King
Here’s where things get interesting. Wardens are a blast to solo with, but there’s a catch: their Gambit system takes some serious getting used to. You’ll be chaining skills together to make up unique combos for damage, healing, and defense. Once you nail down that rhythm, though, Wardens are beasts in solo content. Their versatility lets them do a bit of everything, damage, tanking, and even healing themselves.
What to spec? Go for Recklessness if you want to focus on melee DPS which specializes in dealing significant melee damage to a single target, making them great for boss fights. Assailment is for range and lets you kite enemies and deal damage from a safe distance while keeping yourself alive.
Why it’s moderate: It’s all about that Gambit system. If you can handle the complexity, Wardens are amazing, but there’s definitely a learning curve.
Learn about the Warden in our guide >>>
6. Captain – The Buff Master
Captains are the classic support class, but they’re surprisingly solid solo. Sure, they don’t hit as hard as Hunters or Champions, but they can heal themselves and buff their own stats, which gives them staying power in fights. They’re not the fastest at taking down enemies, but they can survive almost anything thrown their way.
What to spec? Leader of Men lets you tank and heal yourself, making it easier to solo through tough areas.
Why it’s moderate: You’ll take longer to kill stuff, but you’ll survive just about anything.
Check out our guide to the Captain >>>
7. Brawler – Punch First, Ask Questions Later
The Brawler is all about getting up close and personal, dishing out fast punches and combos. They don’t have the defensive tools of a Beorning or Captain, so you’ll have to focus on fast, aggressive combat to survive. If you like the idea of building up “Mettle” to unleash big hits, this might be your solo class.
What to spec? The Fulcrum is best for soloing. It’s all about dealing heavy damage while using your crowd control abilities to keep enemies off-balance.
Why it’s moderate: You’ve got to hit fast and hard before the enemy overwhelms you, but if you manage your “Mettle,” you’ll do just fine.
Learn about the Brawler class in our guide >>>
8. Mariner – Balance Is Key
Mariners are a hybrid class with a unique rhythm-based combat system that focuses on “Balance.” You need to keep a steady flow of attacks and defenses to maximize your potential, which can be tricky to master. But once you get that timing down, Mariners are mobile, versatile, and deal solid damage.
What to spec? The Rover is where you’ll want to be. It’s all about staying agile, moving fast, and making the most of your balance between offense and defense.
Why it’s moderate: If you can master the balance system, you’ll love this class, but it’s not as straightforward as some others.
Check out the Mariner class guide >>>
9. Champion – The AoE Destroyer
If you like charging into groups of enemies and smashing everything in sight, the Champion is the class for you. They’re great for soloing because of their AoE damage, which lets them handle multiple enemies at once. Just be aware that Champions are more of a glass cannon than other melee classes, so you’ve got to be smart about when to pop your defensive abilities.
What to spec? The Martial Champion for soloing. It gives you the tools to hit hard and stay alive long enough to finish off your enemies. If your feeling ambitious the Berserker (single-target) or Deadly Storm (AOE) may also be your style.
Why it’s moderate: They hit hard but can be squishy, so timing is everything when it comes to staying alive.
Learn about the Champion class in our guide >>>
10. Guardian – The Tanky Tactician
If you’re the kind of player who doesn’t mind taking the scenic route while leveling, the Guardian might just be the class for you. Guardians are the quintessential tank class in LOTRO, with tons of defensive abilities and the ability to take a serious beating. They may not clear mobs as fast as the DPS-heavy classes, but where they really stand out is in their survivability. Soloing as a Guardian means you can stand toe-to-toe with tougher enemies and chip away at them over time without worrying too much about your health bar.
Guardians are all about patience and strategy. You won’t be mowing down groups of enemies like a Champion, but you’ll outlast anything that comes your way. This makes them perfect for players who enjoy a slower, more thoughtful approach to combat.
What to spec? If you’re soloing, I’d recommend going with The Keen Blade tree. It offers a nice balance between dealing damage and staying alive. You still have that tanky feel, but your attacks hit harder, making it a bit more efficient for leveling. You could also consider The Fighter of Shadow if you really want to focus on being an unbreakable wall, but Keen Blade will get you through quests faster while still being durable.
Why It’s Moderate: Guardians don’t dish out massive DPS like some other classes, but their tankiness makes them nearly impossible to kill. If you’re okay with taking your time and grinding through tougher fights, the Guardian is a satisfying solo experience.
Explore all the Guardian has to offer in our guide >>>
11. Minstrel – The Surprise DPS
Minstrels are typically thought of as healers, but don’t sleep on their DPS capabilities. In solo play, they can crank out some serious damage with their War-speech spec. Plus, if things go south, you can always drop back into healing mode. They’re a bit fragile, though, so you’ve got to keep your distance and manage your cooldowns.
What to spec? Definitely go War-speech. It turns you into a damage-dealing machine while keeping some of your healing potential in your back pocket.
Why it’s hard: You’ll need to carefully manage your positioning and casting times, and if enemies close the gap, things can get dicey.
Learn about the Minstrel in our guide >>>
12. Burglar – The Stealth Assassin
And finally, we’ve got the Burglar. Now, I’ll be straight with you, Burgs can be tough to solo with. They rely on stealth and positioning to do big damage, and they don’t have the survivability of other classes. But if you love the thrill of sneaking up on enemies and taking them out before they know what hit them, Burglars can be insanely fun.
What to spec? Quiet Knife is your best bet for soloing. Focus on stealth attacks and bursting down enemies before they have a chance to react.
Why it’s hard: You’ve got to stay hidden and time your attacks perfectly. One wrong move, and you’ll be struggling to stay alive.
Check out our Burglar guide >>>
Final Notes
Every class in LOTRO can solo once you learn them, but some just make life a whole lot easier. And remember, no matter which class you pick, the most important thing is to have fun exploring Middle-earth at your own pace.