While Blade of Galadriel is linear and skippable, Desolation is a hidden gem. You play as Baranor, a human who can’t dominate orcs. Instead, you rely on gadgets, mercenaries, and a strict permadeath-lite system. It turns Shadow of War into a tense, fast-paced roguelite. If you own the Definitive Edition, do not skip this.
Included in the box (or download) are two major story expansions. Here is how they hold up: Middle Earth Shadow of War Definitive Edition-C...
This DLC is more of the same Shadow of War gameplay, but from the perspective of the Elf assassin. The highlight here is the lore. You fight Nazgûl, you witness the fall of Minas Ithil again, and the ending ties directly into the canonical lore of the Ringwraiths. Verdict: Great for lore nerds. While Blade of Galadriel is linear and skippable,
This is the fan-favorite DLC. You play as Baranor, a normal human man. No ring, no wraith, no resurrection. If you die, it is permanent (for that run). You get a grappling hook, a glider, and Mercenary recruits. It feels like Middle-earth meets Just Cause. It is short, explosive, and arguably better paced than the main campaign. Verdict: Essential. It turns Shadow of War into a tense, fast-paced roguelite