Uruk-hai


 * For other uses of Uruk-hai see also: Uruk-hai (disambiguation)

"This is no rabble of mindless Orcs; these are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick, and their shields broad."

- Gimli at Helm's Deep, to Theoden

The Uruk-hai (Black Speech: "orc-folk", implying a higher level of intelligence, like "Olog-hai") are an advanced breed of orcs that appeared during the Third Age.

Beginnings and Uses
They were bred, but not started, by Saruman at Isengard, once the wizard was on Sauron's side, and once he sparked war against Rohan.

The first Uruks were brought up by Sauron, and they were used in war against Ithilien before the Great Years.

As Gandalf tells Elrond at Rivendell, Uruk-hai are goblin-men mixed with regular Orcs.

Description
Uruks breathed harshly and deeply, and were enormously strong, tense creatures, top-heavy juggernauts with massive chest, neck, shoulder, and jaw development. They snarled and grimaced constantly, as they were in constant pain and their only relief lay in violence. Their gait was like walking uphill on narrow poles, probably because as soon as they were spawned they were locked into heavy plate armor, so there was a perceived sense of crushing weight and momentum to their stride. They had difficulty turning quickly. They probably had limited formal training, just basic drill work, but they were lethal, instinctive fighters, much more dangerous than [common] Orcs. They used their falchions and spiked shields pretty much interchangeably, smashing and bashing. Their defenses were power blocks - no finesse, no deflections, just brutal chops that could bounce an attacking weapon back the way it came. Sometimes they didn't even bother to defend themselves; they just relied on their armor and moved straight into the attack. They would hammer and chop, and occasionally flip their swords around and use the back-spike to pinion an enemy, or gut them with the prongs on their shields.

Notable Uruks in the Books
Ugluk

Shagrat, an Uruk of Cirith Ungol

Mauhur

Lugdush