Middle-earth: Shadow of War’s season pass has four expansions for $40

• The proud Outlaw tribe arise within Mordor introducing new missions, Epic and Legendary Orcs, tribal showdowns and intense battles, brought to life through the Nemesis System.
• New Outlaw tribe fortress with Overlord throne room, monuments and outposts.
• Players can hunt down Legendary Outlaw tribe Orcs for a new Legendary gear set with additional upgrade challenges.
• The Outlaw tribe is home to the most rebellious warriors in Orc society, outcasts who have a deep contempt of all those who would rule them, be they foreign invaders or Lords of Mordor (whether Dark or Bright).
• Available December 2017.

Blade of Galadriel Story Expansion

• Play as Eltariel, an elite assassin known as the Blade of Galadriel, and go head-to-head with the newest addition to the ranks of the Nazgûl.
• Wield Eltariel’s dual Elven blades and harness the Light of Galadriel with a host of deadly new combat abilities, skills and gear.
• Encounter memorable new Nemesis characters, such as Flint and Tinder and the Slayer of the Dead, while battling the Nazgûl and learning more mysteries of their past.
• Gain eight unique Legendary Orcs who can return to join your forces in the main story campaign with new abilities added to the Nemesis System.
• Unlockable Eltariel character skin for the main story campaign.
• Available February 2018.

Desolation of Mordor Story Expansion

• Play as Baranor, the Captain of Minas Ithil and survivor of the city’s demise, in a new story expansion where players will command the forces of Man against a new Orc threat to the East.
• Unite with Torvin, the Dwarven Hunter, to craft powerful new combat gear, including the shield, gauntlet, chain and glider.
• Hire mercenaries to create a human army and conquer the all new desert region of Lithlad.
• Fight to survive in Mordor as a human without the power of a Ring or a wraith to cheat death in a new rogue-like campaign mode.
• Unlockable Baranor character skin for the main story campaign.
• Available May 2018.

It’s worth noting that the two tribe add-ons really do seem to represent more of the base game. Shadow of War has seven tribes in it; these expansions push it up to nine. It’s the story DLC that seems like the true variation on what’s already in the game.

Separately, none of this comes particularly cheap. The two tribe add-ons and Blade of Galadriel are all $15 each. Desolation of Mordor is $20. That comes to $65 for all of the announced DLC.

However, there’s a well-tread cost-cutting technique. WB is offering a $40 expansion pass, which represents a $25 savings over buying the DLC a la carte. (The Gold Edition of Shadow of War also comes with this, as it retails for $100 instead of the usual $60.) Keeping Mordor safe is an expensive undertaking no matter which way you hack it.