Tolkien's world and Peter Jackson's film adaptations are special because of how realistic everything looks and feels, from magical creatures to towering cities. The same goes for the enchanted weapons depicted throughout the movies. On the outside, they may look deceptively straightforward — swords, bows, flasks, pieces of jewelry, and so on.
And yet, despite their simple appearance, they can devour armies, summon formidable allies, destroy fortress walls, stop ferocious beasts, and possess people. The weapons mentioned in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit have effectively shaped the course of the war between Sauron and the free races of Middle-earth.
Updated on October 26th, 2022 by Ajay Aravind: Weapons aren't meant to be trifled with. Even small blades can leave deep cuts if the user doesn't take proper precautions. Further, people are better off completely avoiding overpowered items like the One Ring, whose mere presence can shatter the mind. That said, some of the strongest weapons in Tolkien's legendarium were crafted during the First and Second Ages.
15 The Bow of the Galadhrim Has Much More To Offer Than Its Sleek Appearance
Legolas receives the Bow of the Galadhrim from Galadriel, right before the Fellowship departs from the realm of Lothlórien in The Fellowship of the Ring. This weapon has much more to offer than its sleek appearance. The bow's length, range, and power are far superior to ordinary bows.
Evidence of the weapon's efficiency can be found in all three The Lord of the Rings films. Legolas singlehandedly kills a Mûmakil, or Oliphaunt, with the Bow of the Galadhrim, earning Gimli's grudging admiration. Similarly, Legolas takes down a Nazgul Fell Beast with a well-placed shot in the novels.
14 The Black Arrow Kills Smaug And Ends His Reign Of Terror
If Legolas has the ultimate bow, then Bard the Bowman from The Hobbit trilogy certainly has the perfect arrow. The Black Arrow is a crucial element in The Battle of the Five Armies — it effectively kills the dragon Smaug and ends his reign of terror over the Dwarven kingdom of Erebor and the city of Laketown.
In the book, two Black Arrows are used to slay this monster, the first to remove a scale from the dragon's underbelly and the second to pierce his heart. In the films, the Black Arrow needs ballista-like machinery to be fired. More importantly, Bard the Bowman couldn't afford to waste any ammunition without endangering himself and his son.
13 The Palantir Of Fëanor Is An Invaluable Albeit Dangerous Source Of Knowledge
Although the Palantir of Fëanor can't be used to inflict permanent physical harm, it is an invaluable and dangerous source of knowledge. The smooth, spherical stone links the minds of two individuals regardless of their position on the continent. Furthermore, the Palantir's users are theoretically capable of exploring each other's thoughts.
If one mind is more powerful, it can seize control of the other, which is what Sauron does when he encounters Pippin peering through the Palantir. Throughout Tolkien's fantasy epic trilogy, this weapon is employed by both heroes and villains in an attempt to turn the tides of battle in their favor.
12 The Light of Eärendil Isn't Technically A Weapon, But It Can Certainly Be Used Like One
Galadriel's most practical gift to a Fellowship member is arguably the Light of Eärendil, a vial filled with the radiance of the Silmaril. Sam uses this weapon while fighting Shelob, successfully blinding the spider. The Light of Eärendil does no harm to those untainted by the Dark Lord's corruption.
As such, it's an extremely advantageous weapon against Orcs and other malicious entities. Frodo relies on the vial to resist the influence of the One Ring, especially when he makes his way through Minas Morgul. The Light of Eärendil isn't technically a weapon, but it comes in handy on numerous occasions.
11 Sting Plays Important Roles In Both The Lord Of The Rings And The Hobbit
Sting was originally forged for some Elvish princeling of yore, but the little blade was lost during the Sack of Gondolin. It reappears in a mound of Troll-collected treasure in The Hobbit, where Bilbo discovers it. Sting has a unique property — it glows bright blue whenever Orcs are Goblins are nearby, allowing the wielder enough time to prepare or escape.
Frodo inherits this weapon from Bilbo and carries it with him to Mordor. Samwise ultimately attacks Shelob with Sting and sends her screaming into the depths of her lair. Sting then returns to the Shire after the War of the Ring.
10 Frodo Suffers The Effects Of The Morgul-Knife For The Rest Of His Life
The Witch-King of Angmar is one of the strongest entities in the story. As such, any weapon he carries would likely be as powerful and treacherous as the wielder himself. The so-called Lord of the Nazgûl unsheathes the Morgul-Knife at Weathertop before stabbing Frodo in the shoulder.
This dark magic in this enchanted dagger pushes Frodo to the brink of death; even Aragorn is unable to halt the curse. Fortunately, Arwen's timely arrival saves Frodo from a truly terrible fate. Although Elrond's proficient healing hands manage to stay the Morgul-knife's power, Frodo would never fully recover from the trauma.
9 Orcrist Is Best Known As Thorin Oakenshield's Personal Sword
Orcrist the Goblin-Cleaver is yet another weapon from Gondolin. It was extensively employed during the First Age, although the details of its ownership have been lost to history. In fact, it was used to "kill hundreds of goblins [...] when the fair Elves of Gondolin hunted them in the hills."
In any case, Orcrist is best known as the Thorin II Oakenshield's personal blade. The Dwarven lord honors the legacy and heritage of this ancient weapon, at least until King Thranduil of Mirkwood forcibly repossesses it. Orcrist was ultimately laid to rest with Thorin's body where it still remains.
8 Glamdring Has Killed Thousands Of Orcs Over The Course Of Its Glamorous Career
Glamdring, also known as Biter and the Foe-Hammer, belonged to King Turgon of Gondolin. Tolkien describes this weapon as "a white and gold sword in a ruel-bone (ivory) sheath." Glamdring remains just as impressive thousands of years after its creation, particularly when brandished by Gandalf.
This mystic sword helps the Grey Wizard defeat the overpowered Balrog of Morgoth on the highest peak of Zirakzigil. Like Sting, the Foe-Hammer also glows blue in the presence of enemies, but Gandalf doesn't really rely on this feature. The mighty Glamdring has probably killed tens of thousands of Orcs over the course of its glamorous career.
7 Aeglos Is High King Gil-Galad's Fearsome Glaive
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Gil-Galad, the High King of the Ñoldor, plays a significant role in Amazon's The Rings of Power. He wields a glaive, a weapon that looks like a cross between a sword and a lance. Known as Aeglos, Gil-Galad's fearsome blade loosely translates to "sharp ice" in Sindarin Elvish.
The books don't discuss this weapon in detail, but Peter Jackson's trilogy described Aeglos as a spear-like implement around 9 feet long. The movie creators also engraved a brief inscription on Aeglos, paying homage to Gil-Galad's regal pride and overwhelming strength.
6 Andúril Signifies Aragorn's Royal Heritage And Ensures His Destiny
The legendary sword of Elendil, Narsil is cloven in two during his duel with Sauron. Isildur avenges his father's death by slicing the One Ring off Sauron's charred hand with a broken shard of this sword. The shards of Narsil are preserved in Rivendell for three thousand years, until the Elves reforge it into Andúril, the Flame of the West.
As Aragorn's official sword, Andúril symbolizes his heritage and transforms him into the King he was destined to become. The King of the Dead and his ghostly armies agree to enter the battlefield only after he reveals Andúril. Aragorn decimates countless opponents with the Flame of the West, including armored trolls.
5 *Gandalf The White's Wizard Staff Brims With Incomprehensible Power
Gandalf the Grey lost his Wizard staff in Khazad-dûm and his life atop Celebdil. However, he receives a brand-new staff following his resurrection — a ceramic-white weapon brimming with incomprehensible power. Gandalf the White channels his innate magic through this restored weapon, as shown when he battles the Witch-King of Angmar on Minas Tirith.
This staff generates brilliant bursts of light, dispels Saruman's curse on Théoden, and telekinetically wrests control of Gimli's axe, Legolas' bow, and Aragorn's sword. Moreover, Gandalf's white staff is significantly stronger than Saruman's black staff.
4 Grond, The Hammer Of The Underworld, Could Arguably Generate Fire
Despite his descent into darkness, Morgoth is unquestionably the strongest being to ever walk on Arda. Like any battle-hardened warrior, he relies on forged weapons during combat. Morgoth wields a warhammer called Grond, or the "Hammer of the Underworld."
Very little is mentioned about this cataclysmic weapon, although Morgoth's duel with Fingolfin sheds some light on its properties. According to the Silmarillion, "Grond rent a mighty pit in the earth, whence smoke and fire darted," suggesting that it could produce fire. Further, "the battering-ram used against the Gate of Minas Tirith [in The Lord of the Rings] was named after" Grond.
3 Ringil Managed To Injure The Dark Lord Morgoth, An Impressive Accomplishment
Ringil was the only weapon in Middle-earth capable of going toe-to-toe with Morgoth and Grond. It supposedly "glittered like ice," reflecting every photon of starlight from its mirrored surface. Fingolfin's majestic sword could not save him from death, as "Morgoth set his left foot upon [the Elven King's] neck, and the weight of it was like a fallen hill."
Fingolfin didn't die in vain, however. He spent the last bit of his strength and "hewed the foot with Ringil" before expiring from his wounds. Ringil disappeared from the story after this point and has never been seen or heard of since.
2 The One Ring Is By Far The Most Formidable Weapon In Middle-Earth
The One Ring is by far the most formidable weapon in Middle-earth, at least until its destruction in the fires of Mount Doom. This plain piece of jewelry contains enough power to level mountains, as it bears the spiritual essence of Sauron himself.
In fact, the Dark Lord's fate is inextricably bound to this golden weapon — Sauron perishes along with the One Ring, never again to haunt Middle-earth. Average individuals cannot wear this ring without suffering a range of deleterious effects, but at least it makes them invisible to the naked eye. Despite its fundamental role in the story, the One Ring remains as mysterious as ever.
1 Gurthang Is Responsible For Some Of The Greatest Achievements During The First Age
The Dark Elf Eöl used a sword called Anglachel, which "was forged anew [...] by the cunning smiths of Nargothrond." This reforged blade, named Gurthang, was subsequently used by Túrin Turambar. Due to the blade's ebony hue, its wielder "became known as Mormegil, the Black Sword."
Túrin and Gurthang are responsible for some of the greatest achievements during Middle-earth's first age, including the slaying of Glaurung, "the Father of Dragons." Unfortunately, Túrin later kills himself with Gurthang. There is a prophecy that marks the second coming of Túrin Turambar, when he will use the Black Sword to end Morgoth's reign of terror forever.