LOTRO Legendarium: MOP’s guide to unlocking Lord of the Rings Online content in 2025

While Lord of the Rings Online is a tremendous MMORPG that I would recommend to anyone in a heartbeat, I won’t deny that its business model is confusing and even obtuse. With many players coming to check out LOTRO for the first time in 2025, the question that needs answering is, “What do I need to buy to open up all of this game for me?”

To help with that question, I’ve put together a clear, straight-forward guide to the cost of content and features in LOTRO (but not niceties, like cosmetics and other in-game store frivolities). This guide approaches the game from a complete newcomer’s standpoint and will walk you through the necessities to accessing all of what this Middle-earth MMO has to offer.

Starting out fresh free-to-play

Let’s begin with some really good news: LOTRO sports one of the more generous free-to-play models on the market, which was made even better by some changes a couple years ago. A brand-new player has access to all of the zones and quests through level 95, which includes the first five expansions (through Helm’s Deep). As LOTRO is meant to be played linearly through these expansions, that’s hundreds and hundreds of hours of free entertainment right there.

As a free player, you technically could keep exploring the world past level 95, go through most of the epic storyline, and even level up to the current level cap of 150 — just not using any of the zone quests or expansion storylines. I suppose you could also use missions, skirmishes, and dungeons to level to the cap. I mean, I wouldn’t recommend grinding your way to the top like this, but it’s an option.

There are some feature limitations to a F2P account that need to be aired here: You can have only two characters per server, you are limited in chat, you can’t freely use the auction house, you can’t mail currency, you don’t get rested XP, and you have limited inventory space, in addition to some other minor annoyances. The typical strategy that free players employ is to subscribe for a single month to earn “premium” status, which removes some of these limitations for good, opens up swift travel, gives you three more character slots, and puts 500 LOTRO Points in your wallet to spend.

Let’s talk for a quick moment about races and classes. All races are free to all accounts save for River Hobbits and Stout Axe Dwarves, both of which must be purchased separately to play. Likewise, all classes are free except the Mariner and Brawler (unless you buy an edition on the website — not the in-game store — of their respective expansions that include the class).

Speaking of the in-game store, LOTRO Points can be used to lift limitations and expand features (such as storage space, outfits slots, mount speed, and so on). All expansions save for the first six months of the most recent one can be purchased in the store as well. You can earn free LOTRO Points by accomplishing deeds, which gives you a free path to earning content and features.

Subscribing, however, is winning

Standing Stone Games really wants you to subscribe, however, and I would recommend it as well if you are going to play this MMO for any good length of time. There are tons of great benefits that you get from a sub, including a monthly LOTRO Points stipend (500 every month), no item wear costs, a device that lets you access your vault/shared storage/wardrobe/auction house from almost anywhere, rested XP, swift travel at stable masters, a weekly “gold” Hobbit present, access to premium housing, and access to any special legendary servers.

Subscribing also includes the benefit of unlocking all questing regions that aren’t tied specifically to an expansion. Additionally, subscribers (VIP members) get the Mordor and Minas Morgul expansions included in their membership, and then have to buy expansions after that. So non-sub players have to buy the last five expansions if they want to play them, but subscribers have to purchase only the last three – in other words, you can get to level 95 for free and then to 130 with just a subscription.

At level 130, you’ll want to finally consider buying expansions. Unfortunately, in LOTRO, expansions have to be purchased piecemeal, either through the website (about $40 apiece for the cheapest tier) or the in-game store with LOTRO Points (and if you’ve been subbing for a few months while you level, you will have a little stockpile of Points stipend already). Right now, those three expansions are Fate of Gundabad, Corsairs of Umbar, and Legacy of Morgoth. It can be pricey, but keep an eye on weekly sales. Every so often, SSG runs some really great deals, especially around the anniversary in April, Black Friday, and Christmas, when you can pick up expansions and other content for vastly reduced prices.

Here’s the TLDR summary of my advice:

• Start playing for free and don’t feel rushed to spend any money. See if the game is for you!
• Subscribe at least for one month to get some nice unlocks and benefits. Consider staying subscribed as long as you’re playing. Save up LOTRO Point stipends and points from deed accomplishments for expansion purchases and other needed unlocks.
• If you’re subscribed, you won’t have to start buying expansions until level 130 aka Fate of Gundabad. If you’re not subscribed, you will need to start buying expansions at level 95 aka Mordor.

Hope that helps – I’ve got a few more guides for you from the last few years, too!