In The Lord of the Rings - Duel for Middle-earth, two players face off to determine the fate of Middle-earth. One player embodies the Fellowship of the Ring, seeking to protect the free peoples and destroy the One Ring, while the other plays as Sauron, attempting to capture Frodo and Sam and overwhelm Middle-earth with his evil hordes.
A game plays over 3 successive chapters that unfold similarly. On your turn, strengthen your Skills, hoard your treasure, stretch your presence across Middle-earth, rally Races to your cause, or advance the Quest of the Ring.
There are 3 ways to win the game:
- If Frodo and Sam reach Mount Doom and destroy the One Ring, or if the Nazgûl catch Frodo and Sam, they seize the One Ring the respective team immediately wins the game!
- If you are present in all 7 regions, you dominate Middle-earth and immediately win the game.
- If you gather 6 differen symbols on your Green cards, you rally the support of the Races of Middle-earth and immediately win the game.