Total general advice
There currently is no best gear set in the game. There are two scenarios. One where you need light in mordor landscape or (resource) instances and the rest of lotro. You will need light in the right areas. 10 light equals 10% extra incoming damage and 5% outgoing. So any other stats are invalid till you got enough light for your goal.
Light needed
Pocket item with 20 light + 8 * 10 light on others is 9 gear slot for the current cap (100 shadow). Pocket item, allegiance cloak, allegiance gauntlets and chapter 4 rings easiest to obtain and/or best.
Rest of lotro
No light so it’s all about stats. Essence slots vary alot depending on your role and class. All scaled pieces dont have essence slots, but wont help you in capping secondary stats like mitigations, outgoing healing or finesse. And not every essence is valued the same.
Essences
Example 1: Vitality vs morale (main vs secondary)
You will get more morale from 495 vitality 1980+ vs 1966
Example 2: Agility vs physical mastery (main vs secondary)
295 agility = 2360 PM (0,56 essence) + 295 critical rating (0,11 ) + 1485 evade/parry (0,25) If you needed all stats from agility it would equal 0,92 essences. So even if you would need all of them it’s better to get the specialty essences vs the main stats.
This will vary for every class and role. Morale essences are always worse then vitality, but agility is usually worse (by a lot) then getting other essences for a hunter
Armour pieces general advice
- Doomfold/alliance
- Scaled loot drops
- Shadow armour (with light)
- Rohan scaled (no light)
- Mathom armour
- Specifics slots can also drop from specific skirmishes, not confirmed yet. https://lotrotools.pw/en/lootlist/skirmish100.php
Level 115 purple armour with 1 essences slot are about equal as Level 112 teal with 2 essence slots in pure stats (based on empower/shadow essence main stats)
Head
Helmet of the Doomfold / Alliance Renewed:
Heavy helms are crafted via a Metalsmith using the single use reputation barter recipes. These recipes come from the Conquest of Gorgoroth – each costing 90 silver tokens.
Light and Medium helms are crafted via a Tailor using the single use reputation barter recipes. These recipes come from the Conquest of Gorgoroth – each costing 90 silver tokens.
Shoulder
Shoulders of the Towers / Last Alliance:
Not available, lootbox fallen kings is the best. So go for that or lower pieces
Chest
Chest-plate of the Towers / Last Alliance:
The Last Alliance chest pieces drop from Agarnaith quest “Rescue Rangers”
Towers chest pieces drop from the Talath Urui quest “Pit-Fighter – Day Two”
Leg
Leggings of the Towers / Last Alliance:
The Last Alliance leggings pieces drop from Agarnaith quest “The Climb”
Towers chest pieces drop from the Talath Urui quest “Borangos the Horror”
Hands
Gloves of the Towers / Last Alliance:
Towers/Last Alliance gloves are obtained from an Allegiance reward vendor for 75 tokens
Feet
Boots of the Towers / Last Alliance:
Towers/Last Alliance boots are obtained from an Elf-Smith for 625 Ashes of Gorgoroth
Cloak
Cloak of the Hope of Men / Good Company / Strength of Dwarves / Enduring Grace:
Cloaks are obtained from each of the four Allegiances depending on the types-
Jewelry general advice
- Tower/last alliance – lower stats, but light
- Big battle jewelry (non-set) – no light, but superior stats
- Osgiligath – 712 stat + 3 essence slots at 115
Ear *2
Earring of the Towers / Last Alliance:
Towers/Last Alliance earrings are obtained from Elf-smiths for 475 Ashes of Gorgoroth
Necklace *1
Necklace of the Doomfold / Alliance Renewed:
Necklaces are crafted via a Jeweller using the single use reputation barter recipes. These recipes come from the Conquest of Gorgoroth – each costing 90 silver tokens.
Wrist *2
Bracelets of the Towers / Last Alliance:
Tower/Last Alliance bracelets are obtained from an Elf-Smith for 475 Ashes of Gorgoroth
Ring *2
Rings of the Towers / Last Alliance:
Rings are obtained from each of the four Allegiances depending on the types-
Note: Unlike the capes, replacement rings “Of the Towers / Of the Last Alliance” are available for barter from Allegiance vendors for 75 tokens of service.
Special attention to the Scout/soldier teal and gold sturdy/fate rings from the epic battles. Superior stats and 1 essence slot compared to Mordor loot. Might even be better then the Gold ash ring ignoring the 10 light.
Pocket
Book (Pocket) of the Doomfold / Alliance Renewed:
The Books are crafted via a Scholar using the single use reputation barter recipes. These recipes come from the Conquest of Gorgoroth – each costing 30 silver tokens.he Conquest of Gorgoroth – each costing 30 silver tokens.