5 Most Powerful Weapons in Middle-earth

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  • čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
  • There are many powerful and notable weapons in Tolkien’s world, but which are the most powerful? Today, I give my thoughts on the most powerful weapons and the reasons behind choosing them! Thanks for watching, let me know your thoughts and lists of most powerful weapons in the comments below! As always, a great thanks to the online artists whose visual works made this video possible! If you are one of the artists, please let me know and I will post your name and a link to your work in this description!
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Komentáře • 290

  • @melkhiordarkfell4354
    @melkhiordarkfell4354 Před 2 lety +227

    We all know the true most powerful weapon is Sams Frying Pan. It may not kill goblins as good as Glamdring but can Glamdring fry up some sausages, tomatoes and nice crispy bacon?

    • @RaylanGivens123
      @RaylanGivens123 Před 2 lety +20

      +5 Frying Pan of Holy Avenger. And you forgot po-ta-toes

    • @magichands135
      @magichands135 Před 2 lety +8

      Spoken like a true hobbit, Tolkien would be proud.

    • @martystrasinger3801
      @martystrasinger3801 Před 2 lety +9

      An army, and a fellowship, marches on its stomach.

    • @zachhoefs9543
      @zachhoefs9543 Před 2 lety +7

      @@RaylanGivens123 boil em mash em stick em in a stew

    • @arcanetrueblood9790
      @arcanetrueblood9790 Před 2 lety +4

      Nooo... you see anything becomes the ultimate weapon when samwise the brave holds it

  • @seanpoore2428
    @seanpoore2428 Před 2 lety +77

    Legend says tulkas had shining tattoos on his fists, translated from the high speech they read (left and right respectively) "These" and "Hands"

    • @chairmanofthebored6860
      @chairmanofthebored6860 Před 2 lety +2

      Catch em

    • @KyleJordanGaming
      @KyleJordanGaming Před rokem +3

      They also bore a small rune- a vertical line with three equidistant perpendicular lines extending to the right. This seal was placed by none other than Illuvatar himself, a sign that *these hands* had been rated “‘E’ for ‘Everyone’.” And there was weeping and gnashing of teeth, for there were none who wished to catch the hands of Mighty Tulkas, nor did they desire ‘the smoke’.

    • @seanpoore2428
      @seanpoore2428 Před rokem +1

      @@KyleJordanGaming this absolutely made my day!

    • @KyleJordanGaming
      @KyleJordanGaming Před rokem +2

      @@seanpoore2428 Rock on, soul brother. 👍

  • @Artofficial1986
    @Artofficial1986 Před 2 lety +33

    Imagine Frodo succumbed to the blade and became a Nazgul and then the next scene you see the nazgul on their horses riding into the darkneess and just behind them on foot is a tiny lil hobbit/wraith abomination doing his best to keep up.

    • @ryu9687
      @ryu9687 Před rokem +1

      Or he’s riding with a Nazgûl on his horse holding on 😂

    • @alpharius2omegaboogaloo384
      @alpharius2omegaboogaloo384 Před 7 měsíci +1

      “Dude, you are seriously killing our vibe…”

  • @CamoVaqueros
    @CamoVaqueros Před 2 lety +29

    “Because Melkor didn’t wanna catch those hands”
    -Tolkien (I think)

  • @federicaesu8580
    @federicaesu8580 Před 2 lety +73

    I think that Aiglos and Narsil deserve an honourable mention. Together they caused mortal wounds to the second big bad guy Sauron

  • @sturmgold
    @sturmgold Před 2 lety +52

    Anglachel, a horrible yet outstanding sword! It has always been facinating me since the day I first heard of it.

    • @TheSaneHatter
      @TheSaneHatter Před 2 lety

      Anguirel, the personal weapon of Eol the Dark Elf: I always wondered what became of it.

    • @danielriley7380
      @danielriley7380 Před 2 lety

      Anglachel and Anguirel were almost certainly the inspiration behind Stormbringer and Mournblade in the Elric of Melnibone Saga,right down to Stormbringer coming alive as it took Elric’s own life.
      I saw what you did there Michael Moorcock. 👀

  • @dtice69
    @dtice69 Před 2 lety +22

    Nice to see Turin getting some love on a list. He was always my favorite Tolkien character because he was written so tragically, but so perfectly in that regard. He deserved better but didn't get better and that's what makes him such a compelling character in my opinion. And the sword essentially becomes a part of him (physically and mentally) after he accidentally slays Beleg. Perhaps there were more powerful weapons overall but nothing pushed a character passed their limits more than Gurthang did for Turin, both for good and evil.

    • @anyone9689
      @anyone9689 Před 2 lety

      hi in one of his expanded tales books , its been a while but i recall reading that the spirits of turin and nienor were bathed in some fountain of eternal flame and thereby transformed into gods .

    • @stephenbarrett8861
      @stephenbarrett8861 Před 2 lety +1

      Turin kills Morgoth at Dagor Dagorath.

    • @kauetadaieski3131
      @kauetadaieski3131 Před 2 lety

      No, the sword is part of Its maker, who had a dark heart, so the blade is not very kind to Its wielders.

    • @dtice69
      @dtice69 Před 2 lety +1

      @@kauetadaieski3131 right. It ends up betraying all of its users at some point in time. However, in the interim, those users were still able to slay many evil things with it. Whether the sword wanted that or not is up for debate, but it happened. Ergo, it helped Turin to do good just as much as it betrayed him to evil.

    • @gib59er56
      @gib59er56 Před rokem

      I am with you man. Turin reminds me of a young me. In that I was a very violent , angry young man. I didn`t have a sword as cool as Gurthang though! Tolkien has never written a character quite like Turin Turimbar in any age. The closest would be his father, Hurin Thalion. And Hurin took Fingolfin for his lord and the two had a great bond even though Hurin was a man and his fate was a mortals, though both died by Morgoths hands and words at the end. Fingolfin is the most badass elf to have ever lived. Most people seem to dislike Turin, but fail to understand what made him so complicated and harsh in nature. I love the way he is with Sador Labidal, or Hop a foot. Sador teaches him wisdom and loves the boy, while his mother scorns him. One of the best lines I have ever read come from Sador( or a Norse saga) "A man who flies from his fear might find he has just taken a shortcut to meet it".

  • @rafaelgustavo7786
    @rafaelgustavo7786 Před 2 lety +31

    I believe that only artifacts imbued with some essence/"magic" cause the destruction of beings endowed with Fana (the Ainur). Sauron was able to withstand the lightning/bolts that struck the Númenóreans:
    "But the Temple itself was unshaken, and Sauron stood there upon the pinnacle and defied the lightning and was unharmed."
    Not only that, but the lightning could destroy certain structures of Númenor (having split the Temple dedicated to Melkor in half) as powerful as the stone of Orthanc or the Walls of Minas Tirith. However, upon being mistaken for the Downfall of Númenor, Sauron reassumes a hideous form - imbued with the element/ingredient Morgoth - and attacks Gil Galad and Elendil on Mount Doom. Detail that the enemy crosses Barad-Dur to the volcano crossing around 20 miles from the distance of the 2 locations, breaking the blockade of the armies of the Last Alliance and facing Gil Galad, Elendil, Cirdan, Elrond and Isildur - The first 2 equipped with weapons enchanted (Aeglos and Narsil) with "spells for the destruction of Mordor" similar to Merry's enchanted sword that breaks the Witch-king's "Invulnerability" so that Eowyn could deliver the fatal blow.
    The Balrog in Moria also (seems to me) has this invulnerability spell, its Fana seems to have a "tolerance" against many forms of destruction. There is, in the 1st book, a moment when the "roofs of a mountain" (from Bálin's tomb) fall on top of him (the weight of a mountain would destroy a totality of forms, objects and bodies), but the monster simply seems to "ignore "this brutal damage. Also, there is the famous fall of the Balrog with Gandalf into the Abyss of the bridge of Moria (intro of the 2nd film shows this), both fell from an unimaginable height at terminal velocity (in my view) and withstood the impact.
    There is a very interesting passage in which Gandalf, the white, seems to confirm this fortitude/difference between the bodies of living beings X Ainur X the new "body" of resurrected Gandalf:
    "Indeed my friends, none of you have any weapon that could hurt me."
    This passage also reminded me of an occasion comparing common weapons versus enchanted weapons. Boromir's attack (using the best that the craftsmen of Gondor could offer) using his sword against the skin of the Troll that tries to invade the Chamber of Mazarbul causes his sword to break against the hardened skin of the monster:
    "Boromir leaped forward and hewed at the arm with all his might; but his sword rang, glanced aside, and fell from his shaken hand. The blade was notched. Suddenly, and to his own surprise, Frodo felt a hot wrath blaze up in his heart. ‘The Shire!’ he cried, and springing
    beside Boromir, he stooped, and stabbed with Sting at the hideous foot. There was a bellow, and the foot jerked back, nearly wrenching Sting from Frodo’s arm. Black drops dripped from the blade and smoked on the floor."
    I believe that one of Tolkien's "mythological" inspirations is the characteristic of Grendel's mother who seemed to be protected against the common weapons used by the heroes when facing, being wounded only with rare/magical weapons:
    non-aliencreatures.fandom .com/wiki/Grendel's_Mother
    "Although neither Grendel not his mother could be harmed by conventional weapons, Beowulf used an ancient sword believed to have been forged by giants and managed to decapitate his opponent."

    • @warpdriveby
      @warpdriveby Před 2 lety

      Awesome post! It's wonderful that you brought up Beowulf and his sword! I wrote a paper back in 2002 connecting mythological and historic descriptions of carolingian/Viking age swords with known and reconstructed Patten welding methods. For a number of reasons, their extensive and successful trade networks possibly most of all, they were able to create high strength steels and steel-high Si-iron laminates it took the rest of Europe another 500 years to learn to produce!

    • @kauetadaieski3131
      @kauetadaieski3131 Před 2 lety

      Fallen Maias can be hurt anyway, specially by powerful weapons made by their makers who had "high dexterity".

    • @jessehardin4113
      @jessehardin4113 Před 2 lety +1

      @@warpdriveby what's the name of the book?

    • @warpdriveby
      @warpdriveby Před 2 lety +2

      @@jessehardin4113 I should have put it differently lol! I wrote a dissertation not a paperback book, mea culpa. It's title is something like"On the methods of gathering, smelting, and forging iron and steel during the Carolingian period in Scandinavia." It should still be available from the University of Wisconsin press or their online system. It's 20 years old now but the research and conclusions/speculation I set down should still hold up.

  • @cameronbarbour3418
    @cameronbarbour3418 Před 2 lety +28

    Thank you for always making such interesting videos. Your the reason why I first got into LOTR and why I still love it so much.

  • @hudsonball4702
    @hudsonball4702 Před 2 lety +10

    I was hoping that Gurthang would be #1. I was not disappointed.

  • @oguzhanenescetin5702
    @oguzhanenescetin5702 Před 2 lety +68

    I dont know if we can call this “weapon” but Luthien’s sleeping magic is no doubt so powerfull that this magic was responsible for aflicting fatigue to Sauron as well as putting Melkor to sleep; most powerfull vala and arguably most powerfull maia

  • @socialaccount0000
    @socialaccount0000 Před 2 lety +11

    I think an interesting what if would be "What if The Nazgul/The Witch King weren't consumed by the flood?". Imagine if the Nazgul constantly persued our heroes throughout the fellowship of the ring, they wouldn't be able to get into Rivendell but I assume they could ambush our heroes in say, the mines of moria.
    And speaking of the Morgul knife, imagine if the witch king stabbed Durin's Bane with the Morgul knife. A wraith Balrog? My god..

    • @istari0
      @istari0 Před 2 lety +4

      Personally, I doubt the Morgul knife would have that effect on any of the Ainur.

    • @socialaccount0000
      @socialaccount0000 Před 2 lety

      @@istari0 Yeah but... it'd be cool wouldn't it

  • @frankbarnwell____
    @frankbarnwell____ Před 2 lety +12

    How
    About ranking "extra powers". Such as Smaug's breath, Saruman's voice, Elrond's foresight and possible surgical skills.

  • @BJETNT
    @BJETNT Před 2 lety +2

    Hearing you talk slang about Tolkos's hands was great and a perfect opening sir! Your very good a this and I am sure you are better then I ever could be on the subject! I don't need to be because we all have you. Awesome video as always!!

  • @lisboah
    @lisboah Před 2 lety +16

    Fun fact. The battering ram that destroyed the gates of Minas Tirith was also named Grond. It appears Sauron still respected his master enough to name one of his finest weapons after Morgoth's weapon.

    • @houseofthegoldenflower3534
      @houseofthegoldenflower3534 Před 2 lety +5

      It was made in the image of The Wolf of Angband, Carcharoth

    • @melkhiordarkfell4354
      @melkhiordarkfell4354 Před 2 lety +3

      @suburbanelf's Channel I always liked to imagine it was the exact Warhammer Grond that broke the gates, too big for any current wielder so it was used as an ornate ram in s cradle like in the movie, crewed by Mordor Trolls.

    • @istari0
      @istari0 Před 2 lety +5

      @suburbanelf's Channel I doubt that the host of the Valar just left Morgoth's weapon just lying around after he was captured.

  • @rangerofthenorth1970
    @rangerofthenorth1970 Před 2 lety +6

    Very interesting video indeed, I really liked the list and I dont think that I would change or add anything, well done! Great video as always!

  • @eacalvert
    @eacalvert Před 2 lety +4

    This was wonderful and even included 1 I didn't know! This is why I love your channel you actually do the research!!!!

  • @theheightsboy100
    @theheightsboy100 Před 2 lety +5

    Great video! Hard to argue with your assessment of these weapons and why they are the most powerful. Although I will say that I do believe Anduriel does belong somewhere in the top 5 as the original blade Narsil was forged by Telchar, the greatest of dwarven smiths and we know that, “in the shaping and tempering of steel, there were no better smiths than the dwarves.”

  • @chrisrudolph3309
    @chrisrudolph3309 Před 2 lety +2

    My personal favorite is Sting, even though it is more of a dagger. It must have slew many since we don’t know it’s entire history, plus it glows when orcs or goblins are near. One more thing that I like about sting is the fact Sam was able to fend off the giant spider Shelob while saving Frodo from her clutches.

  • @randybarner6483
    @randybarner6483 Před 2 lety +4

    Gandalf(To wear a sword instead of a walking stick) Tolkien really knew how to keep his most noted weapons under mystique protocols. Sting has also intrigued me. It aided the hobbits in killing Shelob the Demon Spider.

    • @str8Ball1n
      @str8Ball1n Před 2 lety

      An interesting weapon indeed, though I think we have Shelob herself to thank for the severity of damage it inflicted upon her. She drove herself into it with all her force, ouch! As best I can tell, we don't quite know her fate, perhaps she still lurks in those spooky tunnels...

  • @VoiceoftheRings
    @VoiceoftheRings Před 2 lety +1

    Awesome Video My friend! I love the Picture of Replicas you used for the thumbnail. I almost own all of those hehe. I really enjoyed the awesome Lore of the 5 strongest! Nice! The Axe is AWESOME!!! 5 Balrogs!!!

  • @TheCradM
    @TheCradM Před 2 lety +1

    I liked the video at “Melkor would never wanna catch those hands” 😂😂

  • @orrointhewise87
    @orrointhewise87 Před 2 lety +13

    "Your fingers would remember their strength better, if they grasped your sword."
    It's absolutely fascinating how weapons in the hands of certain individuals and heros take on a life and being of their own. Daresay they even rival the loyalty of dogs and friends. I personally have no skill or craft to ever wield such weapons. My weapons would b more like Sarumans; words can b just as strong as swords ;)
    But shout out to Gandalfs staff, if I had to wield something it would b the white wizards staff

  • @MrMonty456
    @MrMonty456 Před 2 lety +1

    Fantastic and informative. Thank you for the Great video!

  • @BigBWolf90
    @BigBWolf90 Před 2 lety +5

    "Many who live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be so eager to deal out death and judgment." -Gandalf

  • @martystrasinger3801
    @martystrasinger3801 Před 2 lety +4

    Pretty sure that the spear of Gil-Galad and the sword of Elendil are the only weapons to kill a Maiar such as Sauron. Yeah, I know the dagger of Wormtongue finished off Saruman; not the same thing.

    • @HerrRoehrich
      @HerrRoehrich Před 2 lety +1

      Technically, they didn't "kill" Sauron, they just brought him down, and Narsil cutting off the Ring banished him - but he obviously survived to rise again later.

  • @Diditallforthexp
    @Diditallforthexp Před 2 lety +1

    Melkster - "Tonight I, the Dark Lord Melkor wields the Scrimtillamus, a blade forged of ten thousand Elven screams; it's merest touch causes the annihilation of souls and it births dragons out of the air."
    Tulkas - "RASSLE!"

  • @ghostdreamer7272
    @ghostdreamer7272 Před 2 lety +5

    The sword of Elendil must also be powerful to be able to pierce Sauron’s armor and hand.and the spear of Gil-galad.

  • @eumaies
    @eumaies Před 2 lety

    I love that you didn't cave and mention the third age weapons everyone already knows about.

  • @Epic_Kingdom
    @Epic_Kingdom Před 2 lety +1

    Great video Yoystan

  • @jeremyleonjonas7657
    @jeremyleonjonas7657 Před 2 lety +1

    A idea for a similar video, in which I certainly am very interested: a video of the most powerful magics in the Legendarium would be highly interesting.

  • @onaughto
    @onaughto Před 2 lety +1

    Great video. Your lore-mastery is impressive.

  • @patrickT4482
    @patrickT4482 Před 2 lety

    Bill The Pony's hoof! He stepped on a butterfly after leaving the Fellowship and via a metaphysical ripple effect brought down Sauron. Unsung hero, him.

  • @ajsmusic711
    @ajsmusic711 Před 2 lety +1

    Wonderful video Yoystan , keep the amazing content up :)

  • @dancronin826
    @dancronin826 Před 2 lety

    Thank you for all you do, I always learn something new, or see Middle Earth in a new way, keep up the amazing work

  • @tominiowa2513
    @tominiowa2513 Před 2 lety +7

    Any reference for the Nazgûl making the Morgul Blade, or could it have been forged by Sauron?

    • @MenoftheWest
      @MenoftheWest  Před 2 lety +7

      That is a great question! It certainly could have been Sauron who taught the Witch-king morgul-sorcery.

  • @Huskytabby
    @Huskytabby Před 2 lety +1

    Can't wait for the what-if video for what if Gandalf never fell at the Bridge of Khazad-dum and continued with the fellowship to Lothlorien and on forward?

  • @creightonleerose582
    @creightonleerose582 Před 2 lety

    "Harry-The-Hunter" sitting in purgatory's lobby from the movie "Beetlejuice" aint got nuthin on Elf-Boy @ 33 seconds!
    -Looks like the Amazonian HEAD-SHRINKERS got a hold that kat?!...;)
    GREAT vids & artwork M.O.T.W!

  • @charleskuss8428
    @charleskuss8428 Před 2 lety

    Fantastic channel man! Found it a few weeks ago and have been binging. Keep it up!

  • @appa609
    @appa609 Před 2 lety +1

    Vingilot, which Earendil used to slay Ancalagon, who drive back the host of the valar, laid waste to all Beleriand and smote the peaks of Thangorodrim in his ruin.

  • @Thomas.Wright
    @Thomas.Wright Před 2 lety +3

    Okay, you just know someone is going to do a meme of Morgoth getting smacked by Tulkas at the Oscars.

  • @TommasoStradaMusic
    @TommasoStradaMusic Před 2 lety

    Amazing video and great research! Anduril and Gurthang are on the top of the list for me!

  • @rosenjake
    @rosenjake Před 2 lety

    I know I'm late to this video, my personal headcanon about the Morgul-knife is that there was no poison on or in it in a traditional sense, it simply activated the inherent Melkor/Morgoth element in the being it hurt. Since the Melkor/Morgoth element is found in everything in Middle-Earth it would make sense that the knife's 'poison' couldn't be fully healed (only contained to a degree) and why Frodo had to go to Aman.

  • @thesixstistari5604
    @thesixstistari5604 Před 2 lety

    Mostly agree with your list, these 5 definitely deserve to be called the most powerful of all, there is only one thing I feel different about, and that's tuors axe. While slaying 5 Balrogs is a incredible achievement, I still feel like wounding the dark lord is a bit more impressive, tho that's just my opinion. My ranking would therefore be:
    5. Morgul Blade
    4. Tuor's Axe
    3. Ringil
    2. Grond
    1. Anglachel/Gurthang

  • @markwinburn3443
    @markwinburn3443 Před 2 lety

    Daggers of Westernesse! Would love to see a detailed video on the Daggers of Westernesse. I was always intrigued by these blades, especially Merry's dagger. Made to in the 1st age with powers to take down the witch king, lost for thousands of years and finally found its mark in the hand of a hobbit!

  • @adrienrick
    @adrienrick Před 2 lety

    Grond: a hammer so powerful it had a battering ram named after it. Also highlights the inability of evil to create something truly new, seems fitting!

  • @marionbaggins
    @marionbaggins Před 2 lety +1

    Man, there are so many swords to choose from...How hard was it, to get down to five?!!!
    Thanks Mellon for Ranking your favorite Weapons, Until when Eru Ilúvatar intervened...Marion Baggins Out!!!

  • @user-iz1xj7mh5z
    @user-iz1xj7mh5z Před 6 měsíci

    I believe the deeds of Narsil/Andúril deem it worthy of this list. Narsil defeated Sauron. Anduril was used as a credential for Aragorn throughout LOTR. That credential in the movie allows Aragorn to convince the oath breakers to join him and destroy the Corsairs.

  • @elijahcooper791
    @elijahcooper791 Před 2 lety +2

    Can you do a theory video on what if Frodo died in Rivendell before they could heal him

  • @wawaweweb1811
    @wawaweweb1811 Před rokem

    I wouldn't have included the Morgul knife. The impression I got is that the blade used on Frodo was 'a' Morgul knife, as in more than one existed. This makes sense as it was a one and done sort of weapon. After the tip broke off in the victim, it was pretty much just a piece of metal.

  • @ConorCarlisle
    @ConorCarlisle Před 2 lety +1

    I've always wanted to hear your thoughts on who you think is the more interesting villain: Morgoth or Sauron. I know in terms of sheer power and impact on Arda Morgoth blows Sauron out of the water but I personally think Sauron is just a more interesting character. What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic in a video.

  • @gandalf8216
    @gandalf8216 Před 2 lety

    Dramborleg did probably not *kill* five balrogs, but merely destroyed their forms sending their spirits back to Morgoth. Similar to how fire and Anduril both could destroy the forms of the Nazgûl and send them back to their master, it makes sense in a Tolkien way that the Lord of the Rings trilogy seems to echo the events and powers of previous Ages. Now, I don't have Lost Tales II at hand but I think I remember the word that was used was "fell" and not "destroyed".

  • @user-uq7io2os3r
    @user-uq7io2os3r Před 2 lety

    Yet another great video many thx for that 👍

  • @Toronto6ix
    @Toronto6ix Před 2 lety

    Thank you for your wisdom my friend 🙏 love your videos

  • @jackthehumanofficial
    @jackthehumanofficial Před 2 lety +1

    “MELKOR NEVER WANTED TO CATCH THOSE HANDS” 😂😂😂😂😩😩

  • @lukaslambs5780
    @lukaslambs5780 Před 2 lety

    Gimli’s dangerous speed over short distances should be on this list

  • @liborrajm2916
    @liborrajm2916 Před 2 lety

    Hmm... a bow would be nice here.. perhaps Belthronding? Also, sort of hoped for a longer list that would re-define what a 'weapon' is.. for example, I always viewed One Ring as a weapon, and so can be a wizard's staff, despite having no blade or tip.

  • @theslugboiii5969
    @theslugboiii5969 Před 2 lety

    Glad that Ringil made the list. Fingolfin is the GOAT

  • @kristyweaver1123
    @kristyweaver1123 Před 2 lety

    Hey Men of the West love what you are doing keep it up and my favourite weapon is probably the black sword of Turin.

  • @beatleblev
    @beatleblev Před 2 lety

    1. Ringil wounded Morgoth eight times. Seven slashes plus whatever Fingolfin did to Morgoth's foot that made his fana limp for the rest of his physical existence. Slashing Morgoth's Achilles tendon would have been a nice parting gift from the King of the Noldor in exchange for being crushed. I also like to think Rochallor got a few hooves in before being yeeted back to Mandos.
    2. Props to the axes. I think Ecthelion wielded an axe in the Fall of Gondolin and Hurin used one to slay seventy trolls. 70 trolls and who knows how many orcs.
    3. Anglachel and Anguriel were probably made of the alloy Galvorn, discovered by Eol. I think the main metal to be alloyed was meteoric iron. I think both he and his son were probably outfited in Galvorn mail as well. I've also always wondered about his poisoned javelin. No one from any of Gondolin's Seven Gates bothered to frisk the Dark Elf? Where does one hide a javelin? Was it a telescoping javelin like Lady Jay from GI Joe? Enquiring minds want to know.
    4. According to the first Middle Earth Role Playing Game from Iron Crown Enterprises the list would be:
    1. Grond (+25 gargantuan Valorian iron maul) (in the RPG the other Valar have similarly powered weapons)
    2. Anguriel (+10 galvorn bastard/war sword) (Eol, of course makes the best one for himself)
    3. Anglachel/Gurthang (+9 galvorn bastard/war sword)
    4. Sword of Feanor (ICE named it Ancaruin) (+9 jeweled greatsword)
    5. Ringil (+9 mithril bastard/war sword)
    6. Beleg's Bow (+9 yew elven greatbow)
    7. Aranruth (the sword of Thingol) (+8 dwarven steel broadsword)
    8. Angrist (the dagger that freed a Silmaril) (+7 dwarven steel dagger)
    For reference, Narsil is (+6 dwarven steel broadsword) and is then reforged as Anduril (+5 dwarven steel broadsword) Note that all of these weapons have been converted to D&D/Pathfinder stats for familiarity for those who might be interested.
    Loved the video! Cheers!

  • @valjean76
    @valjean76 Před 2 lety

    Hmmm. One little known weapon Tolkien wrote about that maybe should be reconsidered for this list.
    Sauron's ring is mentioned only briefly in the Silmarillion but it seems like it was pretty powerful.

  • @rafaelgustavo7786
    @rafaelgustavo7786 Před 2 lety +3

    I see a lot of questions about: why doesn't Sauron forge another ring of power? Or why Yavanna doesn't create other trees like Laurelin and Telperion. Or how a particular object and its effects could be replicated in a copy/reproduction - which is what Talion and Celebrimbor did by forging their own ring of power in the game Shadow of War.
    It's possible the crafted objects are raised to the statures of artifacts. Like holy relics by the way they are portrayed in the books. In Tolkien's works, this objects (the one ring, the Silmarills, Sting, Andúril etc) are given the value and significance much like a great artwork or magnum opus of the tradition of revering craftsmanship and skilled work.
    Trying to Replicate the creation or effect of the analyzed object would be the equivalent of asking Da Vinci to make another Monalisa. It's impossible. I think that there are two "philosophical" influence for Tolkien in this matter: "Art Nouveau" and "Art and craft movement":
    "A man at work, making something which he feels will exist because he is working at it and wills it, is exercising the energies of his mind and soul as well as of his body. Memory and imagination help him as he works.” William Morris (Morris, Useful Work Vs. Useless Toil)
    And:
    "Arts and Crafts was a movement that was, at its heart, about integrity. It was about respect for skill in craft as a concept and for the people who possessed these skills, and had worked their entire lives to attain them. It was about the materials themselves and how skilled craftsmen used these materials to create something worthwhile, lasting, useful and beautiful. It was about retaining a certain order in the natural world by respecting where these materials came from and the manner in which they were obtained. To understand the Arts and Crafts Movement and what its adherents were trying to accomplish, we must direct our focus to the socio-political and environmental atmosphere surrounding the Victorian Era in England. The Arts and Crafts Movement responded to what wealthy, higher born members of society thought and felt about the mass production of highly decorative, ornate clutter and meaningless, cheap pieces of what they considered to be faux finer.
    In my opinion, following the logic of "sublime objects theory": try to replicate or imitate the characteristic or power of a certain artifact that seems to contain a piece of the feeling/soul (would follow the logic of the Full Metal Alchemist Equivalent Exchange) of its creator is to fall into the industrial aspect that Tolkien so criticized.
    Seems to me to fall into the "sameness" or the withdrawal of what makes a relic something special and unique.

    • @paulwagner688
      @paulwagner688 Před 2 lety

      Indeed, Yavanna states this explicitly after the Death of the Trees: "There are some things I can create only once", which is why she THINKS the Light from the Silmarils would heal the Trees.

    • @istari0
      @istari0 Před 2 lety +1

      Sauron put so much of his own power into creating the One Ring that he simply didn't have the power to create another.

    • @istari0
      @istari0 Před 2 lety

      @@paulwagner688 Fëanor said the same thing about the Silmarils.

    • @paulwagner688
      @paulwagner688 Před 2 lety

      @@istari0 Yes indeed, but Yavanna said it first.

  • @rmsg7504
    @rmsg7504 Před 2 lety

    Awesome video thank you!!!!

  • @Halbared
    @Halbared Před 2 lety

    Great idea, I'm making my predictions before I watch, as I watch of course the living weapon of Tulkas is mentioned. :D

    • @Halbared
      @Halbared Před 2 lety

      Nice choice on the Morgul blade, I would have placed that as a lower power weapon but a powerful literary weapon, you arguing has made me rethink it slightly. The sounded argument being the ability to deny the will of Eru. I'm going to have to ponder on that. I had forgotten the name of Fingolfin's sword but I knew it was coming. :D Grond is something that would make the llist but as you say, we know little, and how much was the innate power of Morgorth and how much was the hammer, but still to be wield by a former Valar must still make it pretty awesome. Dramborleg was a nice surprise. The black blade...earned it's spot.

  • @mister3976
    @mister3976 Před 2 lety

    I liked the acorn that you throw to turn people into stone :P

  • @lynneglendenning947
    @lynneglendenning947 Před 2 lety

    Yes, I was stabbed by Glamdring right beneath my right energy sector. Refer to Luthien if you have anything to add. Feonor basically hid away the twin to Anglachel. At least I kept Feonor's Oath as Celegorn. William is on the lookout for me and calls me Celegorm. Celerie gave me away.

  • @ThatLilLady
    @ThatLilLady Před 2 lety

    "Melkor never wanted to catch those hands" and I OOOPPP 🤣🤣🤣 I see no caps and I drank all the tea. Don't NO ONE wanna catch them Tulkas hands.

  • @brendonmartin246
    @brendonmartin246 Před 2 lety

    The Fall of Gurthang 🌠 #1 absolutely!

  • @shadowofchaos8932
    @shadowofchaos8932 Před 2 lety +1

    Durin the Great's battleaxe. Aeglos, Spear of Gil-Galad and the Bow of Beleg.

  • @josemonzon9741
    @josemonzon9741 Před 2 lety

    My boy Huan should have an honorable mention

  • @josephwarra5043
    @josephwarra5043 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Tactical Nukes comes to mind.

  • @zachgarrett152
    @zachgarrett152 Před rokem

    Melkor never wanted to catch those hands LMAO

  • @kaidorade1317
    @kaidorade1317 Před 2 lety +2

    The most powerful weapon would be the Sam’s we’ve met along the way!

  • @vikingodin1986
    @vikingodin1986 Před 2 lety

    Love your channel top tier 👌

  • @nugget_man5142
    @nugget_man5142 Před 2 lety

    I love hearing your laughs in this video they are great

  • @BJETNT
    @BJETNT Před 2 lety

    Hey Yoyston I had a conversation with a guy and he said what if Radigast got the ring??? We would love to see what if video from you. I think that would be an awesome topic and I would love to see how your opinion would differ if it did from my opinion on what would happen. I said the guy that runs men of the West as the expert but this is my opinion and I told him I would not take credit for mentioning it but I can't remember the guy's name. I hope he'll comment if he sees this. Your channel is one of the best ones to listen to the easiest to listen to and the most well researched and probably my favorite one. I like a few of the others like the broken sword and nerd of the rings but yours is still number one. So if you have the time one of these days do a what if video on radagast if he got the ring?? I think that would get plenty of likes and comments on your channel. Anyway thank you for all the great videos and I hope you read this

  • @calebyoung6355
    @calebyoung6355 Před 2 lety

    Considering that Anglachel/Gurthang and Anguirel were twin blades I believe they had many of the same powers and abilities. Since Maeglin stole Anguirel from his father, Eol, and took it with him to Gondolin I find it highly likely that during The Fall of Gondolin Maeglin used Anguirel during his fight with Tuor who was using Dramborleg. That would be an epic fight.
    Another thing to consider. Angrist, the knife of Curufin that was stolen by Beren and used to cut a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown. Was it a half-mate of sorts to Anglachel and Anguirel? Curufin received the dagger from Telchar who was the creator of Angrist. But considering that Angrist literally means "iron cleaver", has similar traits and name meanings to the two swords, and the fact that Eol was known for his friendship with the Dwarves would it be too much to speculate that Eol brought some Galvorn on one of his trips to Nogrod and helped Telchar forge Angrist. Similar to how Annatar/Sauron helped Celebrimbor forge the Rings. Eol didn't like anybody, but if he were to like one person who was alive at the time I think it would be Telchar because of their mutual love of smithing.

  • @teaguetozier7006
    @teaguetozier7006 Před 2 lety

    So glad Gurthang is in first place. 😁 It’s my personal favorite.

  • @tomnewton4003
    @tomnewton4003 Před 2 lety

    I'm glad that Grond and the weapons of the great cousins of the house of Hador got placed in here right next to each other
    Makes me feel happy

  • @adrian_veidt
    @adrian_veidt Před 2 lety

    "Tulkas' fists are so op. Please nerf" - Melkor

  • @sweeperboy
    @sweeperboy Před 2 lety

    It's interesting that the Real Life inspiration for Anglachel / Gurthang (as well as other nefarious enchanted swords in Fantasy literature, including notably Stormbringer from Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melnibone series) was "Tyrfing" in Norse mythology (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrfing) which also had a similar bloodthirsty evil nature.

  • @starkilr101
    @starkilr101 Před 2 lety

    Narsil is my favorite. Even broken, it has a reputation and looks great

  • @nexesses1548
    @nexesses1548 Před 2 lety

    I agree with number 1, I think after that you can do some shuffling or make arguments for others

  • @markstott6689
    @markstott6689 Před 2 lety

    I immediately said Gurthang before the video started. Places 2-5 however drew a blank. Number 2 I'd never even heard of.

  • @Endme264
    @Endme264 Před měsícem

    I am suprised that you didnt list the one ring here, id argue its a more powerful weapon of evil than grond, also an honerable mention i think should be the great battering ram grond as well, its passage in the books is pretty chilling and it murked the great gate of minas tirith.

  • @livewyr7227
    @livewyr7227 Před 2 lety

    They chuckle after the hands pun
    Omg lol

  • @brandonluker3660
    @brandonluker3660 Před 2 lety +1

    Mae govannen Yoystan. Was the battering ram named Grond the same one that was used by Melkor? Thank you for another great video as always. Namárië

    • @MenoftheWest
      @MenoftheWest  Před 2 lety +3

      Hey Brandon, thanks for the kind words! The battering ram was forged and named in reference to Morgoth’s war hammer, but in itself it was not the war hammer (I thought that would be awesome too though).

  • @williamtweed6377
    @williamtweed6377 Před 2 lety

    A quick couple of questions, in the first age the elves hunted down nearly wiped out all of the Petty Dwarves, why did they & what did they do with the corpses? I hope they didn't eat them.

  • @mousommaji1642
    @mousommaji1642 Před 2 lety +1

    please make a video on anglachel/gurthang

  • @Halbared
    @Halbared Před 2 lety

    The music is reminiscent of The Princess Bride.

  • @slicerneons3300
    @slicerneons3300 Před 2 lety +1

    That Yo Momma Jokes did not make the list shows Middle Earth is a much more polite society than we are.
    We have a great deal to learn from then.

  • @humanafterallTF2
    @humanafterallTF2 Před 2 lety

    As a Finnish tolkien fan, my fave story to this day is Silmarilion. Maybe Turin and Gurthang amongst other things make it so for me. Turin is obvious nod to Kalevalas Kullervo. Both are cursed and are slain by their talking swords.

  • @deathstroke2697
    @deathstroke2697 Před 2 lety +2

    My favorite is Turin's sword.

  • @mypeeps1965
    @mypeeps1965 Před 2 lety

    I agree with #1 choice and I also believe that Aluvitar had a hand in its making.

  • @Taiko206
    @Taiko206 Před 2 lety

    I wonder if Michael Moorcock based Stormbringer on Gurthang but made it a far more powerful version. they certainly share the tendency to be eager to slay anything , friend and foe alike, that gets too close to them Also of note is of course that in the end Elric of Melniboné also died by his sword just as Turin did.

  • @archangel2174
    @archangel2174 Před 2 lety

    Anglachil, the black blade
    Narsil, the blade of Elendil
    The Morgol Blade of the Witch King
    The Whip of Gothmog
    The Staff of Gandalf

  • @nowhereman3988
    @nowhereman3988 Před 2 lety +1

    Since you said the weapons of the Valar didn't qualify, I was sure Grond wouldn't be on the list.

    • @MenoftheWest
      @MenoftheWest  Před 2 lety +2

      With the exception of Melkor/Morgoth. My meaning with that was that we don’t really know any of the other weapons they used besides his.

    • @nowhereman3988
      @nowhereman3988 Před 2 lety +1

      @@MenoftheWest Thanks for responding! What about Anguirel? I know it lacks the feats of Anglachel/Gurthanc, but isn't it supposed to be its equal? Again, thanks for being so interactive with your commenters.

  • @balls2jawls
    @balls2jawls Před 2 lety

    Great video

  • @jayt9608
    @jayt9608 Před 2 lety +5

    I would say that not all weapons look like weapons, but a list of my favorite weapons would include:
    1) The Black Arrow of Bard
    2) The Barrow Blade
    3) The Witch-King's Sword
    4) The Phial of Galadriel
    5) The Horn of Rohan
    6) The Ruling Ring
    7) Grond the Battering Ram
    8) Gurthang
    9) The Cloak of Luthien

  • @natedorney7032
    @natedorney7032 Před 2 lety

    Gurthang's twin was carried by Eol The Dark Elf if memory serves me correctly