# The Lord of the Rings Online Update 49 Release Notes

- Product: The Lord of the Rings Online (https://whatsnew.fyi/product/the-lord-of-the-rings-online)
- Vendor: Standing Stone Games
- Date: 2026-07-22
- Original notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/212500/view/693141584174121203
- Permalink: https://whatsnew.fyi/product/the-lord-of-the-rings-online/releases/2026-07-22-update-49-release-notes

What's New is an index, not a publisher: every entry below links to the vendor's own release notes, which are the authoritative source. Entries are labelled where they are hand-curated sample data, pre-releases, or drawn from a secondary source such as a developer blog.

Reuse: the summaries, labels and curation here are © What's New. Quote freely with attribution and a link back; wholesale republication of the corpus is not permitted — terms: https://whatsnew.fyi/terms. The vendors' own release notes remain their publishers'.

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- **added** — Angmarim Sorceress Monster Play class is now available for purchase in the LOTRO Store
- **changed** — Glory and Infamy earning formula updated to reduce kill value for players organized in raids in the Ettenmoors
- **changed** — Artifact capture mechanics redesigned with drop-and-recover system allowing manual drops via unique skill or automatic drops on death
- **changed** — Artifact reset cooldown changed from 30 minutes to 2-minute timer when dropped, after which artifact returns to last location
- **added** — Artifact bearer gains immunity to movement modifying effects and stealth while carrying aligned artifact
- **added** — Escalating damage effect applied to artifact bearer carrying enemy artifact, becoming more lethal every 90 seconds
- **changed** — Relic capture moved from Rottenroot and Gwaelug to The Delving of Frór with new visages of Sauron and Gil-gâlad
- **added** — Relic control grants movement speed, damage output, Commendation earnings, and Glory or Infamy bonuses, doubled when controlling both relics
- **added** — Tower defenders can now deploy three ballista variants at Tírith Rhaw and Lugazag including traditional ballista, explosive blast ballista, and sticky substance ballista
- **changed** — Distance restriction between defensive siege units reduced to 12 meters allowing more ballista deployment
- **added** — Attackers can choose from two battering ram variants with new ram dealing more damage but being more easily destroyed
- **added** — New entrances and exits added to the Delving of Frór enabling rapid travel across Ettenmoors
- **changed** — Delving bosses return with new abilities and renewed strength, no longer prevented from entering by outpost control
- **added** — Enemies in Delving of Frór provide powerful potions and salves for Players and Monster Players
- **added** — Free Peoples can recover rare ore in Delving of Frór to forge equipment designed for Ettenmoors combat
- **added** — Four new quests available from War-tyrant at Gramsfoot and Captain-General at Glân Vraig to fight Gaergoth and enemy forces
- **added** — New dyes available from Filbert Fig, Myrtle Mint, and Rowan Raspberry in exchange for Figments of Splendour
- **changed** — Adventurer's and Traveller's Steel-bound Lootbox cosmetics refreshed with new items including Azog's Sword, tattered clothing, cloaks, cosmetic pets, housing decorations, and dyes

##### **Update 49 Release Notes**

Here are the Release Notes for Update 49: In Good Company, released on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

_As Mizadi's forces march across Harad to restore order, warriors and wanderers alike find rare moments to reflect, celebrate, and share laughter among old friends and trusted companions. Yet within the iron walls of Carn Dûm, the masters of Angmar muster fresh armies and forge new plans for war. Beneath the Ettenmoors, an Ancient Evil stirs anew, reclaiming the forgotten depths as new champions flock to its banner. With each passing day, the enemy's strength grows, threatening to drive back the Free Folk and carry the conflict far beyond the Ettenmoors. Will you answer the clarion call and take up arms in the coming struggle, or seek refuge in the fading peace of home and hearth while you still can?_

##### **Of Special Note:**

##### **The Angmarim Sorceress has arrived!**

The Angmarim Sorceress is our exciting new Monster Play class! The Angmarim Sorceress is available for purchase in the LOTRO Store, and purchase is required for access. VIPs get 30% off all Angmarim Sorceress bundles through August 5!

##### **Ettenmoors Updates and Enhancements!**

Update 49 brings big changes to your PvMP experience:

- **Earning Infamy and Glory has been updated:** We have made a change to the formula used to determine the amount of Glory and Infamy earned while in larger groups of players in the Ettenmoors. This will reduce the value of a kill while players and monster players are organized in raids.​

- **Artifact Capture has been enhanced:**

**NOTE: Artifacts will become available with our next game update. See Known Issues for more information.**

The battle for control of the Crown of Mordírith and Gift of the Carrock capture is shifting. While the core objective remains the same, players can now seize the opposing artifact from Ost Ringdyr of Dar-gâzag and deliver it to your keep or recover your own Artifact from the enemy keep.

- Artifacts now have a drop-and-recover mechanic, allowing players and monster players to manually drop their artifacts by using a unique skill granted upon pickup, or drop the artifact immediately on death.

- The 30-minute reset cooldown has been removed and replaced with a 2-minute timer when the artifact is dropped. After two minutes the artifact returns to its last location.​

- Carrying an artifact is safe while holding your aligned artifact, but dangerous when carrying the enemy artifact. An escalating damage effect becomes more lethal to the Artifact bearer every 90 seconds and without support, could force them to drop the Artifact too soon.

- Carrying an artifact makes the bearer immune to movement modifying effects and the ability to enter stealth.​

- **Relic Capture: **Relics are moving to The Delving of Frór. The visage of Sauron at Rottenroot, and the visage of Gil-gâlad at Gwaelug. Claiming a relic grants a modest boost to your movement speed, damage output, Commendation earnings, and your Glory or Infamy gains. Controlling both relics simultaneously doubles the potency of these buffs.

- **Siege Warfare Updates**​: At the towers of Tírith Rhaw and Lugazag, the siege has begun. Defenders now have three options for the ballista they can deploy to defend a tower; the traditional ballista, a new ballista that launches explosive blasts, and a third that launches a sticky substance to coat the ground and slow enemies. In addition to these new ballistae, defenders can deploy more of these defensive siege units, as the distance restriction between them is reduced to 12 meters.​

- Attackers facing a fully reinforced gate at a tower can now choose from two variants of battering ram, and they can deploy as many rams as they desire. The new battering ram deals more damage but is more easily destroyed.​

- **Rediscover the Delving of Frór: **Find new entrances into and out of the Delving, allowing for rapid travel across the Ettenmoors for those who don't fear the den

_[Truncated at 4000 characters — full notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/212500/view/693141584174121203]_