𝙈𝘼𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙈𝙄𝙉𝘿 𝙁𝙐𝙉𝙉𝙀𝙇𝙄𝙉𝙂 - 𝘼 𝙎𝙏𝙍𝘼𝙏𝙀𝙂𝙔 𝙂𝙐𝙄𝘿𝙀

The Mastermind “Funneler”

By Empress Jhazala | May 22, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Funneling is a strategic approach that is highly recommended no matter the amount you spend on the game, but is 100% mandatory for Free-to-Play (F2P) players. It involves carefully selecting a few Commanders & optimizing Equipment Pieces and channeling all your resources into them. Instead of having a myriad of Commanders with low Respect levels and mediocre 1-star gear, it's far more effective to focus on 2 strong Commanders and acquiring their unique weapons. By focusing your efforts on a select group of formidable Commanders, you can unleash their full potential and attain superior results.

I understand that decision can be challenging, especially for newcomers to the game. Trust me when I say that I’ve spent hours upon hours upon hours on this one topic/decision. However, it's crucial to keep in mind that each Commander possesses their own set of unique strengths and I firmly believe that every Commander is viable and capable of excelling in their own way. When properly built and strategically utilized on the battlefield(choosing your targets wisely), they will prove their worth without fail. So select your absolute favorites, while keeping only a few key considerations in mind.

Commander Couture: Funnel to Victory

When choosing Commanders, it’s essential to select ones that complement each other and have different strengths. For a very basic example, many players follow the tried-and-true strategy of pairing a high-damage mitigation Commander with a high-damage output Commander. This approach not only works wonders for early-game tile-taking but also proves effective in PvP battles. 

But much more importantly, arguably the thing that should be influencing most of your decision, is your gear. More specifically, your gear effects, followed by the number of times you’re able to refine them. Gear selection for your main Commanders holds paramount importance, influencing approximately 90% of your decision-making process. Your gear, encompassing its effects and the number of refinements, becomes the defining factor in this regard. Certain Commanders with certain effects just go together like peanut butter and jelly. Mastering the art of synergy between their abilities and gear effects can greatly enhance your effectiveness on the battlefield. 

Consider the following guidelines to navigate the intricate realm of gear selection for your main Commanders:

 1. Understand Gear Effects: Familiarize yourself with the different gear effects available in the game. These effects can range from increasing attack damage, reducing enemy defense, enhancing healing capabilities, to boosting overall troop stats. Each gear effect serves a specific purpose, so it’s crucial to grasp their significance and potential impact on your Commander’s performance. 

 2. Analyze Commander Abilities: Take a close look at the abilities of your main Commanders. Identify their strengths, weaknesses, and preferred playstyle. For example, if you have a Commander with powerful area-of-effect attacks, gear effects that amplify damage output or provide crowd control can be highly advantageous. Match gear effects that complement your Commander’s abilities to maximize their potential. 

 3. Consider Refinement: Refining your gear is essential to unlock its full potential. The number of times you refine your gear determines the level of effectiveness it provides. Refinement enhances gear effects, granting additional bonuses and stat boosts. Prioritize refining gear that synergizes well with your Commanders’ abilities to gain a significant advantage on the battlefield. 

 4. Research Gear Sets: Gear sets are combinations of gear pieces that offer additional bonuses when equipped together. Investigate the available gear sets and their corresponding set effects. Sometimes, a specific gear set can significantly enhance a Commander’s performance by granting unique abilities or powerful stat boosts. Experiment with different gear sets to find the optimal combination for your Commanders. 

 5. Plan Your Strategy: Create a strategic approach based on your gear choices. Determine the role of each Commander on your team and gear them accordingly. For instance, if you have a tank Commander, focus on gear effects that boost their defensive capabilities and sustainability. Alternatively, if you have a support Commander, prioritize gear effects that enhance healing or provide utility to your team. 

 6. Regularly Assess and Adjust, but Don’t be Hasty: As you progress in the game, continuously evaluate the effectiveness of your gear choices. Keep an eye out for new gear releases, updates, or balance changes that might impact the optimal gear configuration. But don’t be so quick to toss something out. Ask around. Get info. Wait. Ask around again. If possible, reallocate it in a way that you can get it back just in case. Make sure you know how the new worn out/Hammer system works. I have a detailed guide on that as well if needed. Just don’t be like a lot of us beta players who threw away God tiered weapon effects because we didn’t know what we were doing. There’s enough experienced players around now to prevent that from happening to any new players. 

Only adapt your gear selection if it’ll keep you ahead of the competition, not set you back. Remember, finding the perfect gear combination for your main Commanders is an ongoing process. Stay informed, experiment, and adapt to ensure your Commanders are equipped with the best gear effects available. With careful consideration and a well-thought-out strategy, you’ll unleash the full potential of your Commanders on the battlefield.

To make well-informed gear choices, visit the illustrious Military Academy and explore the 'Master Armory' in the 'Arms Vault' forum on the 3rd floor of Ungoliant Tower. This comprehensive collection showcases every available piece of equipment, thoughtfully organized with in-game screenshots, most importantly, showing the maximum potential of every single piece of equipments available special effect. The 'Master Armory' provides valuable insights and assists in narrowing down your selection, helping you better understand the range of gear options.

Additionally, professionals within the community generously offer build assistance there, so don't hesitate to seek their guidance. For a more personalized and in-depth experience/breakdown of your Commanders, you can become a premium member by subscribing to the server. This grants you access to professionals who can help you completely rebuild your lineup, taking into account factors like available equipment, Commander respect levels, and various other undisclosed factors.

The Lord of the Funnel: Rise to Respect 10

Let's dive into the thrilling world of funneling Respect items, where the stakes are even higher! 

Funneling Respect items use the same concept, but I want to stress how much more important it is. Unlocking a Commander's unique weapon by reaching R10 is no easy task. It's a wild challenge and if you don’t stay focused it could keep you on the edge of your seat for five seasons, just to level up a Tier 1 (T1) Commander. So pay attention because this is the most important part(of possibly any guide I ever write for this game). 

R10 isn’t even close to a Commander’s level cap. A Commander can reach R25 at their maximum level and having an extra 20 skill points thrown into their skill tree is FAR & AWAY more valuable than having a fully maxed out piece of exquisite equipment. 

Additionally, it's not uncommon for players to have played five seasons or more and still not acquired a Tier 3 (T3) Commander from the Mathom Peddler. So if you’d like one as early as possible in your RTW Campaigning, funneling respect becomes an absolute necessity. 

As a testament to staying “funnely” focused, using my first alt account as an example, when I created that account(knowing better that time around), choosing to purchase only the season pass and periodic Mathom pack and by funneling most, not even all, of my resources into Sauron's respect items, I was able to fully unlock him within the first month of the season(And that was before they changed the invitation letter system, when it was all or nothing. And I got nothing when attempting this. Now, you could potentially receive 1/3 or even 2/3 of an invitation making it much much easier/faster to attain). This was accomplished by exchanging other Respect items for vouchers, which allowed me to purchase Sauron's Respect items from the Mathom Peddler during periodic appearances. So, achieving this feat is not impossible(but could you imagine how much stronger I could’ve gotten a Tier 2 (T2) Commander with all of those vouchers?). 

The beginning of a season, especially your very first one, offers an abundance of gems and equipment. Sadly, it’s probably the most generous time you will ever see this game developing corporation ever be. So seize this opportunity and don't squander it. Continue funneling Respect until you obtain your desired T3 Commander, and don't stop until they reach at least Rank 5. At that point, you can shift your focus to funneling and investing in the gear you plan to equip them with. Once you're satisfied with their gear, resume raising their respect level to 10 and beyond.

The F2p Funnel: From Zero to Sauron, A Tier 2 Tango, and How to Avoid Claps from T1 & 2’s - The Epic Conclusion to 

‘The Funnel Chronicles’

As a F2P player, attempting to acquire a T3 Commander may not be the most realistic goal. While getting a T3 Commander may seem appealing, these Commanders require a tremendous(ridiculous & criminal) amount of time, money, and effort to level up(and I’m not even talking about leveling up their Unique weapon yet. Stay tuned for my next guide on “How to Spot a Millionaire”). Moreover, if they are not properly built, they can often get clapped by T1 & 2 Commanders(which would sting bad). The beauty of this game though lies in the fact that T1 & 2’s have that ability, depending on who’s at the helm of that (hopefully) iPhone(cause ew gross if it’s an android)(😷😂🤣). 

So, just because you have the ability to obtain a T3 Commander much quicker using my aforementioned method, doesn't mean you have to. 

(Gandalf the Grey and Aragorn looked WAY cooler than their succeeding forms anyway lol)

However, if you’re absolutely set on having a T3 Commander as a F2p player, a viable approach is to funnel resources towards your Tier 3 Commander while simultaneously working on a T1 Commander in the meantime. Though, it's essential to resist the urge to invest in any T2 Commanders using this strategy. Following that method, is how I managed to acquire Sauron within the first month, alongside raising a T1 Yusraa to Respect Level 10 by the end of her first season.

Alternatively, if you have a love for T2 Commanders, you could probably employ the same strategy to level them up very rapidly. Although I haven’t personally tried this method myself YET, I don’t see why you couldn’t choose two T2 Commanders, forget about any T1 or 3’s entirely and become(previously mentioned clapper) an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

Closing Funne-… Thoughts

Ultimately, the key to success, no matter what tier level your goal Commander is, is maintaining focus. This is where many players often stumble. It's easy to get distracted when you receive a new Commander invitation or acquire a shiny new weapon. However it is crucial not to lose sight of your goals. Stick with your chosen Commanders through thick and thin, embracing the mentality of "going down with the ship," so to speak lol.. Or maybe "WAKANDA FOREVER" would be a better term to embody this level of dedication and loyalty. But no matter, just remember, funneling your resources and respect, making strategic choices, and staying focused on your selected Commanders will pave the way for a more rewarding journey. So embrace the art of funneling and make the most of your time in Middle-earth.

P.S. …Funnel

UNGOLIANT TOWER

If you liked this report, I have many more ground-breaking funnels posted in UNGOLIANT TOWER, a free Community Discord Server for Rise to Funnel. And if you would like to stay up to date on any of my newly released funnels, ‘Funnel’ the UNGOLIANT TOWER ANNOUNCEMENT channel and click the link to funnel.