Early Game
This is the start of the game and also the hardest stage. Isengard will send his Uruks to your side fast. Don't play too defensively but instead play aggressively--get the Isengard economy!
Starting build orders and starting routes aren't the same on each map. I'll explain the early game for Fords of Isen. If you master this one then quickmatch isn't a real problem.
In Maps & Replays I explained the early game for quickmatch maps.
Mordor can use two starting build orders vs Isengard on Fords. The most used one is pit + Gollum, taking the mills with Gollum and sending both orcs through the middle. The other one is starting with pit + furnace and taking one mill with an orc and sending one orc to his side. You will probably see Uruks coming through the middle fast as Isengard can use 2 furn pit.
If you start with pit + Gollum and you see Uruks coming through the middle fast then you can send one orc back to your base and one to his side or you can split up your orcs and take both mills on his side. If you split up your orcs then you won't have orcs to defend your pit and you lose it. But you can take both mills on his side and defend them easily with two orcs and Eye.
If you get one orc back to your base you will be able to defend your pit and mills. If he goes for your pit then make more laborers at your first mill and send them to your pit to repair it. Cast Eye if he attacks your pit and uses Chant; an orc from your pit should be ready now and helping to kill the Uruks at your pit. If Isengard uses pit furn mill or pit + two mills then you won't see Uruks very fast, so you don't have to get one orc back to your base, just get a mill down with two orcs + Eye.
When you start with pit furn, take one mill with an orc and send the other starting orc through the middle. Take your second mill with a laborer and get the orc to your base to defend your pit. Again, make more laborers and send a few to repair your pit. Take the mills on his side now with your orc. (When you use this build order, get slaughter house after your second pit and fill your base with slaughter houses, when you have cash for a troll cage, delete the furnace and make a troll cage instead).
Note: When playing from host spot do not make the mill closest to Isengards base if you see a tower at this spot!! The tower will kill everything in front of your mill so orcs can't kill Uruks who attack the mill. Just go with your orc to the top and make the top mill.
If there's no tower or the tower is on an other spot, then just make the mill. When playing from off host spot you can/must take both mills on the host side.
You can put up a tower to defend you pit, but it really gives you a very weak economy and Isengard will just ignore your pit and get your mill, leaving you with almost nothing.
When Isengard doesn't use 2 furn pit (which you can know from the place where orcs and Uruks meet each other--with 2 furn pit, Isengard's Uruks will meet your orcs at the river or just at your side, or use guard mode with your Orcs on his mill and see if the Orcs run faster) then just go with your 2 orcs to his side and take a mill down with or without Eye.
Playing Mordor vs Isengard from random (wallcheck to see if he's FoD!) can be very hard as Isengard can take the risk and use 2 furn pit. But you can also take a risk and start with furn pit. If you start with furn pit and it is a Mordor mirror then I think it will work too but I didn't test it yet, just get Gollum after your two mills in a mirror if you start with furn pit. But of course you can also start with pit + Gollum when playing a random mirror.
You should have money now for a new pit, make a second pit and then follow the
build orders of the strategy you will use.
Note: get a third pit if you want; it really makes a difference. When you use the Harad strat, never get a third one.
Keep putting pressure on Isengard's base and mills. If you see no towers in his base you can try to take a furn down. If you have Gollum use him very aggressively! When you have lots of orcs go creep a Warg Lair fast to get some cash. If you see or think that Isengard will zerk rush your base then put up all towers.
