There is no denying the incredible power of the Balrog, especially the one we see do battle with Gandalf. Originally the same kind of being as Gandalf and the Wizards, the Balrogs of Middle Earth were corrupted long ago (much like the Orcs) and turned into the creatures shrouded in darkness that we see in the movie. But his power is enough to ultimately defeat Sauron and the evil hordes of Mordor. But for a being like Sam who wants nothing except the good of others, it’s impossible for him to be tempted.Īgain, he’s not powerful in the way these other characters are powerful. The Ring itself seems to play on people’s longings and wants. Why is Sam so resistant to the Ring? The simple answer is that he has no longings. Tolkien himself highlights Sam’s almost supernatural resistance to the Ring, and cites him as the true hero of the story. Samwise might be little more than a pawn in the grand scheme of things, but he has one significant power that perhaps every other character in the land of Middle Earth lacks – he has total resistance to the Ring. Rather, more powerful beings usually choose to act through lesser beings, much like how things work in our world. #9 Samwise GamgeeĪlthough not likely to win a sparring match with any of the other characters on this match, physical or magical power is not the only or even main way that things are done on Middle Earth. Elrond also has gifts of telepathy and foresight, making him a strategic ally for the free peoples of Middle Earth. His feats include leading armies of free people, driving off the Ringwraiths using a magical flood, and healing a wound caused by a Morgul blade thought to be incurable. How, then, do the main players of the three books stack up against one another, side by side? #10 ElrondĮlrond was one of the most powerful elves of the Third Age. Of course, the world of Tolkien is expansive, filled with beings throughout its history that would topple any character on this list.īut for the sake of most of the action seen in the series, these beings were not involved. But how do the different beings rank in regards to power?įor the really hardcore LOTR fans out there, you may be a little unhappy that this list focuses entirely on the cast of characters found primarily in the LOTR trilogy, not so much those present in the Silmarillion.

The One Ring is also called “The Ring of Power”, after all. Power is important in The Lord of the Rings.

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