Drauglin, the Beastmaster news - Edain Mod for Battle for Middle-earth II: Rise of the Witch King

After having presented only few updates about Angmar in the last months, we will use the chance to give the community some insight into the ideas and backstories of our self-developed Angmar heroes. Many fans have wished for more information about them for a while now, and we will try to present you a brief origin story for every one of them. As stated in the update concerning Zaphragor, Tolkien's writing offers only rare material about the Witch-king's realm. In order to create a satisfying ingame faction, we had to fill these gaps with our own ideas. Nonetheless, we have tried to base our ideas and interpretations on known elements of the canon.

Angmar is made up of many individual facets, which are dominated by the Vassal factions. There are the Barrow-wights, the fallen Dunedain of Carn Dûm, the insidious Sorcerers, as well as Orcs, Hillmen of Rhudaur and vicious wolves.

Though not just regular beasts: Exactly as his lord and master Sauron, the Witch-king tried to breed Werewolves in his realm, a mightier kind of wolf possessed by dark spirits. At the same time, the first Sorcerer of Angmar, Gulzar, had his own plans and managed to enslave a fallen Beorning from Wilderland. Through torture and the dark arts of Morgul magic, he twisted this poor creature to allow him to shift into a wolf instead of a bear, granting Angmar a packleader infused by human intellect. As great a success as this experiment, the Witch-king deemed the creation of further unnecessary after he had succeeded in creating his own werewolves, who were even more powerful. Thus, Gulzar's corrupted skinchanger will remain the only one of his kind:

Drauglin was created by dark magic in the catacombs deep under the city of Carn Dûm. The sorcerers of Angmar enslaved and tortured a Beorning, transforming him into a servant bound to their call. While many vassals of the Witch-king follow him out of ambition, fear or a desire for revenge, Drauglin is a slave without a will of his own.

While not as powerful as a Werewolf, the Witch-king soon recognized the advantages of the skinchanger: He was not simply a dangerous and bloodthirsty beast, but also capable of controlling the wolves of Angmar. Their instincts led them to see in Drauglin an alpha wolf, but his human intelligence makes im an even more cunning hunter.

The Witch-king saw in Gulzar's creation a mighty weapon and often sends him along Angmar's borders to spy on his enemies or lead raids on important targets. Drauglin is the threatening shadow in the darkness whose instincts and ingenuity no enemy can escape. Armed with knives, claws and the agility of a wolf, Drauglin will soon be feared by the free peoples of Middle-Earth. A life for the hunt, a soul for the Witch-king!

-Level 1: Skinchanger - The Beastmaster is a skinchanger, who can morph into a wolf, getting faster and more agile, but having less armor. Regenerates hitpoints by attacking enemy units. Uncovers nearby camouflaged units. Every time Drauglin transforms into a wolf he gains experience

-Level 1: Beastmaster - Drauglin tames the most ferocious beasts of Angmar with ease. He is followed by two wolves, who will attack any nearby enemy

-Level 3: Master of the Hunt - The Beastmaster can feel the weaknesses of his enemies and can track their trail. For 30 seconds a chosen enemy unit or building gets revealed and gives the Beastmaster and his wolves +50% damage and +20% armor if they are nearby

-Level 5: Blade Step - Drauglin leaps at an enemy and stabs them with his blades. If he hits the enemy in the back, it deals an additional 100% damage. Hit heroes are stunned for 2 seconds. Can also be used against buildings

-Level 10: Razor Crescents - Drauglin throws some razor sharp crescent blades out in a circle surrounding him, dealing damage to surrounding units as the blades fly away from and back to Drauglin.


Drauglin is the Scout Hero of Angmar, who is good at revealing invisible enemies and slaying neutral creatures. At late game, Drauglin is also good at disturbing enemy heroes and dealing them great damage. He is agile and nimble, but has exactly as other Scout Heroes not much health points


The design of Drauglin is already known from version 3.81, there have only been some subtle changes. We wanted to use this opportunity to present the whole Beastmaster, including his backstory and the changes at his abilities.

We hope you enjoy hunting and killing your pray with Drauglin!


Your Edain-Team