History Heartwarming / MiddleEarthShadowOfWar

* [[spoiler:[[EverybodyLives None of the good guys die]], with the possible exception of hired mercs. After some very dark stuff we've seen in this game, the DLC's outright good ending is a breath of fresh air.]]

** If you shame enough orcs, you'll eventually be ambushed by one called "the Bitter", who angrily states he will not let you shame any more of his brothers. This comes off equal parts heartwarming and awesome, especially if the orc speaking is one you've previously shamed or encountered.

** Under normal circumstances there is no way for an orc you have personally resurrected to turn against you. No matter how badly you beat them or even if you kill them before bringing them back they can't betray you. At first this would seem to imply that they no longer possess any free will, however there is one circumstance where they will break from your control; if you start hurting their blood brother in front of them. Undead orcs also possess the unbreakable trait, meaning that once this happens you can't rebrand them. Somehow an Orcish zombie can still has [[ThePowerOfFriendship enough of a soul]] to fight off the super powered necromancer animating him.

** Although, this system will almost inevitably result in several [[TearJerker Tear Jerkers]], if you become fond of a certain orc and they die helping you.
** Even worse, it's mentioned that branded orcs can perform a FaceHeelTurn and defect back into Sauron's army. Today's loyal lieutenant may be tomorrow's nemesis.

*** Even better, [[spoiler: it is now possible for Orcs under your control to [[ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated Return from being cut down]] as well.]]
*** Occasionally a captain will shout your name or a complimentary title such as 'Bright One' or 'Talion' and appear behind you with holding a mook at knifepoint. They actually are giving you a gift (either a jewel or intel) as a sign of loyalty.
*** On a rare occasion, a Captain who died under your command will return from the dead and ''not'' betray you, saying it's a good thing they really like you because they're remaining loyal.

** Even better, [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration if you Brand a vengeful Blood Brother]], [[HeroicWillpower he is almost certain to betray you and be really pissed off that you forced him to work for his friend's murderer]]. Sorrow overcomes magic, no matter how powerful.
** Blood Brother Defense is a trigger where the absent blood brother shows up as reinforcement and blindside Talion, by this point Talion is a feared unkillable threat thanks to the first game and Orcs are usually laid back about casualties but that is the one thing they won't back down from.

** The Enchanted, who adores anything related to elven culture [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOn1Y0NsJpU becomes infatuated with Eltariel the second he sees her]]. He gives up all previous allegiances to serve the elf assassin as her bodyguard. And he's not like other orcs. When around Eltariel, he's polite, civilized, and dedicated entirely to make her happy. Just being near his mistress is enough to make him happy. (Sharp eyes will notice he wears an iron tiara in the style of Galadriel.)

* Branded Orcs are more than just mindless slaves; they can actually form bonds of loyalty and friendship with Talion and provide [[BigDamnHeroes some timely back-up]]. Exemplified in the gameplay trailer when Talion gets ambushed by an enemy, only for a ReverseMole sniper to save his life (with Talion complimenting him with a "nice shot") and during the climatic battle with Seregost's overlord, he's saved again by an Orc beastmaster, who's later rewarded as the newest Overlord for his help.

* [[spoiler:Ratbag]] named his bodyguard after Talion, and is pretty happy to see him again. So despite being an Orc and ButtMonkey, he still cared about the Ranger.

* Uruk Captains can have the trait [[BashBrothers Blood Brothers]]. This tag is not just a slot occupier: Branding an Uruk during a mission and then letting his Blood Brother die will cause him to break free of your control then and there, forcing two brothers to fight each other in the gladiator pits will cause both of them to defect and walk away, and if you encounter an Uruk whose blood brother you killed, his introduction cutscene will have him [[YouKilledMyFather state that he's coming after you specifically to avenge him.]]

-->"I don't say this often, but I'm real proud of you lot. You kill pinkskins good. Keep it up!"

* Idril's bio confirms that her relationship with Baranor is romantic in nature. She may have lost her dad, but she still has him.

** Yet another is an instructional book on carpentry. Talion wistfully remembers that as a boy, he was fascinated by carpentry. Celebrimbor warmly replies that he would have liked to have seen Talion the craftsman.

** [[spoiler: If you consider the game canon enough to the films, try to watch the ending of ''Return Of The King'' without being overwhelmed by the warm feeling in your heart. Not only is Middle-earth saved, Talion's sacrifices were finally repaid to him. Seeing the Nazgúl finally die manages to become a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming.]]

*** Sometimes orcs will mount rescue missions of their own accord to save kidnapped followers. Saving they're own, even when not directly ordered is certainly nice for a race that is typically AlwaysChaoticEvil.

** Blood Brother Defense is a trigger where the absent blood brother shows up as reinforcement and blindside Talion, by this point Talion is a feared unkillable threat thanks to the first game and Orcs are usually laid back about casualty but that is the one thing they won't back down from.

* The mission "Damaged" makes you rescue a few uruks captains you branded [[spoiler: after Brûz backstabbed you and took the fort for himself.]] Rescuing your orcs is heartwarming already [[spoiler: but if you used the Nemesis-Forge in Shadow of Mordor, one of the captains you save turns out to be your follower.]]

** It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, but A FreezeFrameBonus in the GoldenEnding shows Talion with his human features again as opposed to the jagged metal face mask of the Nazgûl, suggesting [[DyingAsYourself he was free of Sauron's darkness with the One Ring's destruction in the last moments of his life]].

* After a fierce battle in defense of the oasis base of the Vanishing Sons, Serka lets out an enthusiastic cry of victory. Baranor, tired and concerned for their future with the oasis raided and many of their men dead questions Serka's enthusiasm. In response Serka gives this surprisingly sincere speech.
--> '''Serka''' You're right, there is no end to it.This isn't the first time I've lost everything. They don't call me the Unkillable because I don't lose. It's because I never stop fighting.If I did that would be the end of me.
** Following this the two bond over how utterly insane their lives have become, and walk off together to conquer Shindrum.