What's a Minstrel?

Minstrels are known for their exceptional healing abilities, but are also capable of dealing respectable damage. Their core combat plays out via special Ballads, which is a system introduced with 2011's Rise of Isengard expansion.

All playable Free People races may choose the Minstrel as their class.

Combat Overview

In LOTRO, each class has its own set of skills. When these skills are used in a sequence (e.g Skill A, then B, followed by C) it's called a skill rotation. The bread and butter of all Minstrel skill rotations are Ballads, Anthems, and Codas. However, Compositions also play an important role in Minstrel skills.

That's a lot of information all at once, so let's break it down to something more bite-sized.

Compositions

It helps to think of Minstrel Compositions as combat stances; only one Composition can be active at any given moment. When a Composition skill is toggled "on," it has an effect on various Minstrel skills. There are three Composition types:

Melody is the default Composition for Minstrels. When no other Composition is active, a Minstrel defaults to Melody. It specializes in healing, self-buffing and group support.

War-speech is for Minstrels who desire to play more offensively. As expected, it excels greatly in damage dealing, damage buffing and self-preservation. This particular Composition is great for solo play.

Harmony is considered the most difficult Composition to master, as it focuses on self and group buffs, resource management and group healing.

Ballads

There are three Minstrel Ballads: Minor, Major and Perfect. When a Minstrel uses a Ballad, it applies a set of minor buffs to themselves (when using War-speech) and sometimes others (when using Melody or Harmony).

Only three buffs can be in effect at once, however it can be any combination of the three Ballad buffs. Additionally, when three Ballad buffs have been reached and a new one is played, the oldest of the three is replaced by the newest Ballad buff.

Anthems

Many of the strongest Minstrel buffs are applied through Anthems. Before using any Anthem, a Minstrel must use three Ballads. As an exception to this rule, Cry of the Chorus is a powerful Minstrel skill, able to instantly add three Ballads to a Minstrel's line-up, resulting in immediate Anthem and Coda availability. Use it wisely!

Codas

A Coda is the Minstrel's "Cash Out" ability, and will change depending on which Composition is activate.

 

With no Composition, Minstrels can use the Coda of Vigour.

 

The Harmony Composition is coupled with Coda of Resonance

 

War-speech transforms the skill into Coda of Fury.

 

A Minstrel must have three active Ballad buffs to use a Coda, and the resulting use will reset all Ballads and Anthems. It all sounds complicated in text, but in practice using Ballads, modifying them with an Anthem and then exploding foes with a Coda is exquisitely simple.

In fact, here's a handy visual guide to ease the learning process:

 

War-speech Skills

 

Out of all three Compositions, newbie Minstrels will spend most of their time with War-speech, primarily because of the usefulness of the following skills:

Echoes of Battle / Timeless Echoes of Battle

A great opening skill, Echoes of Battle becomes even better once a Minstrel can enact their War-speech Composition. This is best used as an opening skill because Echoes of Battle (and its War-speech enhanced cousin, Timeless Echoes of Battle) reduces an enemy's resistance to many other Minstrel skills, such as Ballads and Piercing Cry, in addition to causing damage-over-time

Piercing Cry

When coupled with War-speech, Piercing Cry becomes an incredibly powerful damage skill for the Minstrel. While Piercing Cry has a cooldown timer, it should be used as frequently as possible, as the skill isn't of a "save for emergency" variety.

Call of Orome

This skill can only be used while using War-speech. Like Timeless Echoes of Battle, it's a great opening volley, but also works well when accidentally grabbing an extra enemy during a fight because of its Area-of-Effect nature.

Be aware that Call of Orome can and will hit foes near the intended target.

 

 

If you're unfamiliar with Traits, see Traits & Deeds 101 for an overview of how to acquire and equip them.

Virtues

When possible, use higher-level Virtues, but in an ideal world the following Virtues are great for most situations:

Empathy – Extra Armour, Fate and Resistance Rating is good mojo for any Minstrel.

Honesty – Additional Armour and Fate stacks well with Empathy, plus extra Power makes it easier to use skills more frequently.

Idealism – More Fate and Resistance Rating here, but also extra Will, which raise the damage of many Minstrel skills.

Loyalty – Extra Vitality, Power and Armour value make for increased survivability and less dead Minstrels.

Innocence – Add to survivability with increased Physical Mitigation, Resistance Rating and Tactical Mitigation.

Class Trait Lines

Each class has three available "Trait Lines" that allow them to specialize in a particular style of play. These Class Traits aren't immediately available; they require certain Deeds or Quests to be fulfilled.

In this segment, we'll give a basic breakdown of each Minstrel Class Trait line along with a table detailing the name, description, minimum level required and Deed/Quest requirement.

The Warrior-skald

Minstrels at lower levels will find The Warrior-skald line as their best choice for solo play, given its synergy with War-speech. However, depending on fellowship makeup, a Minstrel may also want to take advantage of this Trait Line's ability to utilize either burst or sustained DPS.

Bonuses when equipping The Warrior-skald Traits are as follows:

2 Equipped:
   +1% Tactical Damage Bonus to Minor Ballad Buffs

3 Equipped:
   -[Level x 20] Target Resist Rating (Ballads)
   -30s Cooldown of Cry of the Valar
   -30s Cooldown of Cry of the Wizards

4 Equipped:
   +25% War-speech Ballad Damage
   +2% Tactical Damage Bonus to Minor Ballad Buffs
   +10% increase to Coda of Fury damage
   Anthem of War persists throughout combat in War-speech or until a Coda is used

 

 
Watcher of Resolve

Minstrels who desire to become one of the most potent healers in LOTRO will want to invest in unlocking the Watcher of Resolve Trait line, which features a blend of powerful and efficient healing options.

Bonuses when equipping Watcher of Resolve Traits are as follows:

2 Equipped:
   +5% Outgoing Healing Effect Modifier

3 Equipped:
   +10% Chord of Salvation Healing
   +1% Outgoing Healing Bonus to Major Ballad Buffs

4 Equipped:
   Anthem of Compassion now persists through Combat or until a Coda is used
   +10% Outgoing Healing Effect Modifier
   +2% Outgoing Healing Bonus to Major Ballad Buffs

 

 
The Protector of Song

Something of an all-around Trait Set, The Protector of Song is for the Minstrel interested in providing some damage, buffs and group healing.

Bonuses when equipping The Protector of Song Traits are as follows:

2 Equipped:
   -20s Call to Greatness Cooldown

3 Equipped:
   -5s to Anthem Cooldowns
   -1% Power Reduction Bonus to Perfect Ballad Buffs

4 Equipped:
   Anthem of the Third Age - Harmony now persists through combat or until a Coda is used
   -5s to Anthem Cooldowns
   +5s to Anthem Durations
   -2% Power Reduction Bonus from Perfect Ballad Buffs

 

 

 

For Minstrels, the three most important stats to keep in mind when considering new equipment are Vitality, Will and Fate.

Vitality increases your maximum Morale (Health), Out-of-Combat Morale Regeneration and Resistances to Wound, Disease and Poison effects. It also reduces incoming damage from non-weapon sources like Fire, Frost, Lightning, Acid and Shadow.

Will increases your maximum Power pool (Energy), Out-of-Combat Power Regeneration and how much you resist Fear effects, including cowering from Dread, a nasty effect of dying in combat and/or encountering powerful enemies. It also contributes to increases in Outgoing Healing Rating and Tactical Offence Rating, making offensive and healing Skills more potent.

Fate increases In-Combat Power Regeneration and In-Combat Morale Regeneration, allowing you to stay in battles longer. It also increases the chance and magnitude of Critical hits on Tactical skills (healing and damage spells).

 

 

Many a newbie Minstrel will find success in using War-speech, focusing on unlocking The Warrior-skald traits and prioritizing the above equipment. As you reach the higher levels (30s and beyond) there are many "In Case of Emergency" and utility skills to learn how to use as well, but no matter the level, Ballads, Anthems and Codas are the core of playing a Minstrel.