Mission: An Interested Party

Complete the 'An Interested Party' mission in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Infiltrate a Uruk stronghold and assassinate your target using stealth and combat.

The mission "An Interested Party" in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor tasks players with infiltrating a Uruk stronghold to assassinate a specific target. This mission is crucial for advancing the main story in Act I and offers a prime opportunity to practice stealth and combat mechanics against higher-ranking Uruks.

An Interested Party Walkthrough

This mission begins after a cutscene where Talion learns of a specific Uruk captain who has been causing trouble and needs to be eliminated. Your objective is to infiltrate the Uruk stronghold and assassinate this captain. The stronghold is heavily guarded, so careful planning and execution are key to success.

Infiltration Strategies

There are several ways to approach the stronghold:

• Stealthy Approach: Utilize the shadows and verticality of the environment to sneak past patrols. Climbing to higher vantage points can give you a better overview of enemy positions and patrol routes. Use your Wraith abilities, such as the Wraith Stalk, to remain unseen.
• Direct Assault: While riskier, a direct assault can be effective if you are confident in your combat skills. Draw out smaller groups of Uruks and engage them away from larger concentrations of enemies.
• Using the Environment: Look for opportunities to use explosive barrels or other environmental hazards to your advantage. Attracting attention to one area can create an opening elsewhere.

Locating the Target

Once inside the stronghold, you'll need to locate the target captain. You can do this by:

• Interrogating Uruks: Find lower-ranking Uruks and use your Wraith abilities to interrogate them. This will reveal the location of the target captain on your minimap. Be aware that interrogating Uruks can alert nearby guards.
• Observing the Environment: The target captain will often be in a more prominent location, such as a central courtyard or a fortified building. Pay attention to the Uruks' behavior; they may be gathered around their captain.

The Assassination

When you locate the target captain, you'll likely find them surrounded by their personal guard. Depending on the captain's strengths and weaknesses (which you can learn about by observing them or interrogating their subordinates), you may need to:

• Engage the Guards First: If the captain has strong defenses or is particularly dangerous, it might be wise to eliminate their guards before engaging the captain directly.
• Use Stealth Takedowns: If possible, use stealth takedowns on the guards to thin their numbers before initiating combat with the captain.
• Exploit Weaknesses: If the captain has a known weakness (e.g., fear of fire, vulnerability to ranged attacks), use it to your advantage.

Combat Tips

During combat with the captain, remember to:

• Dodge and Parry: Master the dodge and parry mechanics to avoid incoming attacks and create openings for your own.
• Use Wraith Abilities: Your Wraith abilities, such as the Wraith Blast or the ability to slow time, can be invaluable in combat.
• Focus on the Target: While dealing with guards is important, keep your primary focus on the captain to end the fight as quickly as possible.

Upon successfully assassinating the target captain, you will complete the mission and receive your rewards. This mission serves as a significant step in Talion's quest for vengeance and introduces you to the dynamic nature of the Nemesis system.