The Elves were the first children of Eru Ilúvatar, the Creator of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantastical world of Arda. Beings of radiant beauty and great power, the Elves awoke on Middle-earth thousands of years before Frodo's journey in The Lord of the Rings. While Men were prone to exploring technology, Elves preferred to spend their time basking in their world's natural warmth.
However, the Elves' seemingly relaxed attitude shouldn't be mistaken for complacency. On the contrary, most of the earliest warriors in Middle-earth were Elven (or Half-Elven), leaving an eternal mark on the world given to them and shaping Arda's history.
Updated on October 26th, 2022 by Ajay Aravind: The first season of The Rings of Power gave fans a look at the long history Elves had in Middle Earth's history. Men may have taken over the world by the time of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but Elven contributions can never be forgotten. With the Lord of the Rings now on Netflix, we've updated this list to chronicle the long history of powerful Elves.
15 Celebrimbor Forged The Three Elven Rings of Power
Fans of video games like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor may recognize the name Celebrimbor as the Elf wraith bonded to the Ranger Talion. However, this character has a complex history that was finally explored in The Rings of Power. Celebrimbor was the ruler of Eregion, an Elven kingdom home to the celebrated Elven smiths.
Disguised as Annatar, Sauron tried to trick Celebrimbor into forging the Rings of Power. They ultimately managed to forge the Seven and Nine Rings, respectively designated for the rulers of Dwarves and Men. However, Celebrimbor gave his Elvenkind an edge when he crafted the Three Elven Rings in secret. In The Rings of Power, however, Galadriel convinced him to forge Narya, Nenya, and Vilya.
14 Ingwë's Strength & Wisdom Were Unparalleled
The High King of the Elves and the ruler of all Elvenkind from his seat in Valinor, Ingwë was among the first Elves native to Cuiviénen's shores. He represented the Vanyar when Oromë the Vala called upon the Elves to visit the continent of Aman, a journey from which Ingwë never returned.
Ingwë's strength, beauty, and wisdom were unparalleled, and he lived on the Holy Mountain of Taniquetil. He never received the opportunity to test his combat mettle, but few would survive a clash with one of the oldest beings in existence. Ingwë's niece Indis is the grandmother of Galadriel and the great-great-great grandmother of Elrond, both important figures in The Lord of the Rings.
13 Arwen Is As Brave And Talented As Any Male Character In The Story, If Not More
Arwen is possibly the most underrated character in The Lord of the Rings. She renounced her immortal heritage for Aragorn, proudly stating that hers "is the choice of Lúthien." Arwen's weapon Hadhafang was the personal sword of Idril Celebrindal, the noble Princess of Gondolin and Arwen's paternal great-grandmother.
Hadhafang doesn't exist in Tolkien's work but was created solely for the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Arwen also used Elven magic to flood the Ford of Bruinen, temporarily neutralizing the then-equestrian Ringwraiths. She is as brave and talented as any male character in the story, if not more.
12 Arondir's Universal Empathy Made Him A Fan-Favorite
The Rings of Power introduced a few new characters who haven't appeared in Tolkien's collected works. The Elf named Arondir was one of the most beloved of these additions. A Silvan Elf in the Second Age, Arondir fell in love with a human woman named Bronwyn.
Arondir was assigned to watch over the Southlands and ensure that the humans there would forget their ancestral alliances with Morgoth. Arondir was a gifted warrior whose trials and tribulations only strengthened his resolve and determination.
11 Finrod Staunchly Refuses To Abandon His Duty To Middle-earth
The Rings of Power opens on Finrod Felagund, a Ñoldorin Elf and Galadriel's older brother. She consistently relied on Finrod's sage advice, even when his words didn't automatically make sense to her. Finrod took part in several battles over the course of the First Age, which eventually culminated in Morgoth's utter defeat.
However, Finrod staunchly refused to abandon his duties and continued to search for the missing Sauron. Unfortunately, Finrod met his end when Sauron's minions captured and murdered him. Although Galadriel's character arc revolves around her brother's death in The Rings of Power, the book version of Finrod was safely resurrected in Valinor.
10 Elrond Shaped The Legacy Of Middle-Earth's Third Age
Elrond appeared in the Lord of the Rings trilogy as the Lord of Rivendell, with a flashback sequence revealing his role in the War of the Last Alliance. He played an important part in the battle against Sauron and also bore witness to Isildur's failure to destroy the One Ring.
Elrond continued to guide the people of Middle-earth on a moral and emotional level. He even converted Rivendell into a safe haven for weary travelers and adventurers. Elrond's days of battle were long behind him, but his assistance proved crucial on countless occasions. He helped Thorin on his quest to reclaim Erebor, and he later initiated the formation of the Fellowship of the Ring.
9 Legolas Was One Of The Greatest Elves Of The Third Age
Legolas has more screen time than any other Elf character in The Lord of the Rings, and for good reason. He was unquestionably one of the greatest Elves of the Third Age, demonstrating his incredible combat prowess in numerous battles.
Legolas was the stealthiest member of the Fellowship of the Ring — he could easily avoid being detected by the enemy and his eyesight was probably better than night-vision binoculars. Legolas further illustrated his combat prowess by wielding the Bow of the Galadhrim, an overpowered weapon that allowed him to take down an Oliphaunt.
8 Glorfindel Was Reincarnated As An Emissary For The Valar
https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Glorfindel
Glorfindel By: Magali Villeneuve
Glorfindel was born twice in Middle-earth. In his first incarnation, he battled orcs and Balrogs to save his beloved House of the Golden Flower in Gondolin from going up in flames. Although Glorfindel didn't survive, Mandos allowed him to reincarnate to spread the voice of the Valar throughout the Second Age of Middle-earth.
Glorfindel was involved in the first fall of Sauron, the inciting event for The Lord of the Rings. He displayed several feats of strength that included intense battles with the Nazgûl during the War of the Ring. Glorfindel the Emissary was less of a warrior and more of a messenger, but his influence was significant.
7 Gil-galad Went Toe-To-Toe With The Dark Lord Of Mordor
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According to Isildur, Gil-galad perished by "the heat of Sauron's hand, which was black and yet burned like fire." However, his accomplishments were praiseworthy because there weren't many characters capable of holding their own against the Dark Lord of Mordor.
More importantly, Gil-galad was among three Elves who rejected Sauron when he disguised himself as Annatar. Gil-galad became the ruler of his people following his father and brother's deaths, and he was the last High King of the Ñoldor. The powerful elf also formed the Last Alliance Between Elves and Men to stop Sauron and eventually gained mastery over Vilya, the Elven Ring of Air.
6 Fëanor Crafted The Iconic Silmarils From The Combined Light Of The Two Trees
Fëanor's talents extended from blacksmithing to strategic combat, making him one of the strongest characters in The Lord of the Rings. He constructed the iconic Silmarils by capturing the ineffable light from Laurelin and Telperion, the Two Trees of the Valar. This level of craftsmanship has never been replicated on Middle-earth or beyond.
Sadly, Fëanor chose the path of vengeance after his father Finwë was murdered by Melkor before the latter became the first Dark Lord Morgoth. Fëanor chased after the villain in order to restore his pride and reclaim the Silmarils. He helped usher in the calamitous First Age of Middle-earth, while the Silmarils became artifacts of legend.
5 Galadriel Was The Strongest Of All The Elves That Remained In Middle-Earth
In The Lord of the Rings period, Galadriel was known as "the mightiest and fairest of all the Elves that remained in Middle-earth," a recognition that was completely deserved. In her later years, Galadriel compensated for her youthful arrogance by offering her wisdom and aid freely and unconditionally.
Galadriel was instrumental in keeping the fight against Sauron alive after her brother died in battle with the Dark Lord. Galadriel wielded Nenya, the Elven Ring of Water. Her spirit was almost quenched by the end of the Second Age, and she retired to become the Lady of Lórien. Galadriel eventually left Middle-earth for the continent of Aman at the beginning of the Fourth Age.
4 Ecthelion Defeated The Overpowered Lord Of The Balrogs, Gothmog
The noble Ecthelion was one of the most powerful Elves to grace Middle-earth. A musician and singer, he regularly charmed the Elven city of Gondolin with his artistic talents. Morgoth's invasion of King Turgon's Hidden City forced Ecthelion to take up arms and fight for his people.
Clad in shimmering crystalline armor, Ecthelion sent out war cries with his overwhelming voice. He met his doom against the seemingly invincible Gothmog, but not before he drowned the Lord of the Balrogs in the Fountain of the King. This feat earned him the title Ecthelion of the Fountain.
3 Eärendil Took Down Ancalagon The Black And Ensured Morgoth's Ultimate Defeat
Eärendil the Mariner was the deciding factor in the War of Wrath that broke the Morgoth's hold over Middle-earth forever. Morgoth's ill-gotten empire was turned into dust and his armies were scattered until Sauron took his place as the new Dark Lord.
Eärendil battled and defeated Ancalagon the Black, one of the largest dragons in Lord of the Rings history. He continues to circumambulate the sky on his flying ship Vingilótë, shedding his glorious light upon Middle-earth. Eärendil left his twin sons, Elrond and Elros, to carry on his legacy and watch over the races of Elves and Men.
2 Lúthien Shamed Sauron And Danced Morgoth Into A Stupor
Lúthien Tinúviel, born of a Maia and an Elf, radiated incalculable power from every pore of her being. She was called "the most beautiful of all the Children of Ilúvatar," not just because of her visual appearance but also because of her remarkable triumph over evil. Lúthien, with help from Oromë's hound Huan, shamed Sauron and forced him to flee from her presence.
Lúthien subsequently danced Morgoth into a stupor, allowing her love Adan Beren access to the villain's Iron Crown and its Silmarils. If these feats weren't impressive enough, Lúthien reversed the Gift of Men granted by Ilúvatar to restore Beren's life. It was the first and only time a Man was resurrected in the entire history of the Lord of the Rings world.
1 Fingolfin Injured Morgoth No Less Than Seven Times In A Single Battle
Fingolfin traveled to Middle-earth with his half-brother Fëanor as an obligation to his family. Over the next few centuries, he led his forces to victory in several battles against Morgoth during the War of the Jewels. However, the Battle of Sudden Flame destroyed the already fraying relationship between the Elves and Men. As a result, Fingolfin sprung into action.
Fingolfin furiously charged all the way to the Gates of Angband and demanded that Morgoth come out and fight him. The Dark Lord was terrified but accepted the challenge so as not to appear weak before his minions. Fingolfin's death is one of the saddest events of the First Age, but he managed to inflict a permanent injury on Morgoth before perishing from his wounds.