5 Most Powerful Good & Evil Beings (Third Age of Middle-earth)

Many are the powerful characters in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings! This video explores these powerful figures of both factions. Thank you so much for watching, let me know your lists 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!

Intro: 0:00-1:27
Good Characters: 1:27-7:03
Evil Characters: 7:03-11:38
Outro: 11:38-12:37

#LordoftheRings
#Tolkien
#Lore

Consider donating to our Patreon for the Westernesse Podcast and Discord Server:

Check out our Merch:

Check out our music channel:

Join us on Facebook at:

Join us on Twitter at:

Radagast the Brown - Epic Character History

What Happened to the Blue Wizards? - Epic Character Histories & Middle-earth Explained:

Lord Glorfindel of the Golden Flower - Epic Character History (Updated):

The Witch-king of Angmar - Epic Character History:

How Did Sauron's Plans Change Over the Ages? Middle-earth Explained:

Thank you for your (Valar and Elf tiers) patronage!
Adrian De la Torre
Peter Sheppard
Chris Ortner
Blair Scouten
Sam McBee
Matt Sibbach
Elizabeth Calvert
Ben Gardner
Jonathan Putnam
Mark Kralick
Tobias Göldner
Merten
Ryan Ramsay
John Hume
Jennifer Wood
Condar
Kyle Wetzel
Rhys Jenkins
Adam Petrlik
Khuzan
Brandon Glidden
Anthony Harmon
Diego Perez
Berni McCoy
Daniel Orlandi
John Crowley
Susan Henry
Atlas
Maz Gibs
Ryan Warren
Renato Filipe
Imiel Elenen
Chiara Siasat
Tyler Lund
Hydro Knight
Joshua W
Ádám Kis
Memory Troll
Dale Starbuck
April Green
Corwin Nemeth
Bryar Keyes
Matthew Rivas
Holy
OneErlend
Hjertholm
Metalguy87
Peter DeVault
Van Hardison, PhD
Matthew Jacoby
Margaretann Litawa
Brent Paredes
Maximilian Zim
Molly Sullivan
Matthew Shrubsole
Daniel Burns

The new Men of the West logo & thumbnail overlay was created by Raffe - Twitter: RaffetheRandom

The new Men of the West intro was created by Tyler Lund:


The first song used in this video:

The second song used in this video:
Dark Times by Kevin MacLeod

The last song used in this video is from:

Many related and/or used art come from these artists and sources:
Ted Nasmith:
Jenny Dolfen:
Alan Lee:
John Howe:
Hildebrant brothers:
DonatoArts:
Magali Villeneuve
Wolfanita:
Gerwell:
Mirach Ravaia:
Kaprriss:
EKukanova:
steamey:
Laurelinartistry:
SaMo-art:
kimberly80:
Anke Eissmann:
Ralph Damiani:
Bohemian Weasel:
alystraea:
Mysilvergreen:
Kitt Lapeña / Scarypet:
Jan Rozanski:
Andjela Milosevic:
AlMaNeGrA:
DanPilla
JB Casacop:

[MenoftheWest]

I am currently creating my lists for the First Age, and with some reflection, I believe now I would change out Radagast for Aragorn on this list. I thought about that while creating this video, ultimately landing on Radagast for the powers of wizards, his shapeshifting and so forth, but to be honest, Aragorn's will, bloodline, experience and battle-prowess makes him more powerful than Radagast, at least those are my thoughts on the subject now. It is certainly debatable, and my mind is apt to change on these matters for sure.

[monitor-mindtheover-void]

Its good to see a list like this not based on just physical power of a character, as in Tolkien's works "powerful/mighty" and "physically strong" mean very different things.
Nice video man, as always.

[somecelt]

Aragorn fought off 5 ring wraiths single handedly and was able to confront Sauron with a Palantir. He should be on the list.

[MoonJung]

Gandalf did describe himself as "more dangerous than anything you will ever meet" (unless you're unfortunate enough to meet Sauron), when Gimli said he thought Fangorn was dangerous.
Aragon proclaimed the White Rider--Gandalf--was mightier than the Nine Nazgul. Maybe he was exaggerating since they were overjoyed at Gandalf's return, but there it is.

[nugget_man]

This is a great video! Love to see you bringing us these new and diffrent videos! Thanks for always giving us great content!

[dhgodzilla]

Thank you for keeping this alive & staying true to the original works

[jrousselle]

An excellent video! I fully agree with the characters on each list. Moreover, I agree with the order. Well done (again).

[guilherme]

It's not that I don't like the good guys, but evil beings fascinate me much more.

[rafaelgustavo]

Sauron used some spells/powers like:

a) Volcano Control - Orodruin;
b) Shapeshift - sorcerer, werewolf, vampire, etc;
c) Earthquake - at Minas Morgul;
d) Weather Control - at Emyn Muil in The Two Towers;
e) Dominate Monster - orcs, trolls, wargs, Nazgûl, etc;
f) Mass suggestion - corruption of men in Númenor;
g) antimagic field - at Sammath Naur;
h) Sympathy - to attract Gollum and all evil things to Mordor;
i) Create undead - Nazgûl, Barrow Wight, Specters in Wraith world;
J) Dispel Magic by Morgoth Ingredient;

Etc

These powers were used by Melkor/Morgoth. I don't remember another servant who could do the same.

[rafaelgustavo]

Some powers of the Witch-king:

- Silence:

"By Elbereth and Lúthien the Fair, ’ said Frodo with a lasteffort, lifting up his sword, ‘you shall have neither the Ring nor me!’ Then the leader, who was now half across the Ford, stood up menacing in his stirrups, and raised up his hand. Frodo was stricken dumb. He felt his tongue cleave to his mouth, and his heart labouring. His sword broke and fell out of his shaking hand."

Here we already have the use of a spell rarely remembered in the book: in addition to having given a "silence" lv 2, it still made Frodo lose consciousness.

For those who play D&D 5e, we can make a list of some of the Witch King's abilities:

A) Black breath:

"He seemed to be asleep. ‘‘I thought I had fallen into deep water, ’’ he says to me, when I shook him. Very queer he was, and as soon as I had roused him, he got up and ran back here like a hare.’ ‘I am afraid that’s true, ’ said Merry, ‘though I don’t know what I said. I had an ugly dream, which I can’t remember. I went to pieces. I don’t know what came over me.’ ‘I do, ’ said Strider. ‘The Black Breath"

B) An aura of Inexplicable Terror to the point of driving the armies of Gondor and generating a fighting frenzy for the allied forces:

"Some said that it could be seen, like a great black horseman, a dark shadow under the moon. Wherever he came a madness filled our foes, but fear fell on our boldest, so that horse and man gave way and fled."

C) Control of the weather to the point of generating a windstorm and a blizzard:

"Do not mount on this sea-monster! If they have them, let the seamen bring us food and other things that we need, and you may stay here till the Witch-king goes home. For in summer his power wanes; but now his breath is deadly, and his cold arm is long."
(...)
"But Arvedui did not take his counsel. He thanked him, and at parting gave him his ring [the Ring of Barahir], saying: 'This is a ring of worth beyond your reckoning. For its ancientry alone. It has no power, save the esteem in which those hold it who love my house. It will not help you, but if ever you are in need, my kin will ransom it with great store of all that you desire."

And a lightning storm in Minas Morgul:

"And Minas Morgul answered. There was a flare of livid lightnings: forks of blue flame springing up from the tower and from the encircling hills into the sullen clouds."

D) A certain ability of necromancy to imprison evil spirits for the creation of Barrow Wight.

E) Control over fire - to trigger an explosion spell on Grond:

"Then the Black Captain rose in his stirrups and cried aloud in a dreadful voice, speaking in some
forgotten tongue words of power and terror to rend both heart and stone. Thrice he cried. Thrice the great ram boomed. And suddenly upon the last stroke the Gate of Gondor broke. As if stricken by some blasting spell it burst asunder: there was a flash of searing lightning, and the doors tumbled in riven fragments to the ground. "

And create a flame-sword (Azor Ahai):

"Old fool!' he said. 'Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!' And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade."

There is a writing by Tolkien that speaks (in letter 210) of the "Demonics force" that anabolized the witch king, to the point of making him an active weapon in addition to the innate fear he generated in opponents, so much so that he managed to approach a region "on fire" (fire being a weapon against the Nazgûl) in the siege of Minas Tirith.

[MultiCp]

ahhh my favourite channel the best escape after a busy day in this world

[Comicnut]

awesome vid Yoystan great end of a long day. my one critique is I wouldve put one of the hobbits in Radagast's spot, not for magical or physical power, but for mental power/ cleverness

[rafaelgustavo]

I think that Sauron has an ability (by using the Morgoth Ingredient as a prerequisite for his "magic") to nullify the powers of his enemies:

a) Sauron captures Minas Tirith on Tol Sirion: (...) when the power of Ulmo was in that water (...);

b) Sauron tanked and repelled lightning bolts sent by Manwë on the temple of Melkor in Númenor;

c) Samwise Gamgee at Sammath Naur in his great need drew out the phial of Galadriel (with the light of Earendil) but it was pale and cold, because all other powers were here subdued;

d) And Galadriel's power in Lothlorien. Dol Guldur's armies could not conquer the elven realm unless Sauron himself had arrived. Remembering that Lórien is (in my opinion) a "dimension/pocket" where the time (forest, river, the air. Not for people) and space are (by perception) different from the other places of Middle Earth:

"Anyone would think that time did not count there.

And perhaps that was the way of it (...) in that land, maybe, we were in a time that has elsewhere long gone by."

This sets him apart from other Maiar. Sauron must also possess a pluripotency (with the use of Morgoth Element in the matter) to a lesser degree than Melkor/Morgoth.

[mitchellsanders]

Very well put together. I agree almost completely. The only change I'd suggest is Aragorn for Radagast. Radagast did little to move the story forward (and actually allowed himself to be used as a pawn to hinder Gandalf), but Aragorn was the person the West rallied around, the savior of Pelinor fields, and the sole reason Sauron emptied Mordor just as Frodo was approaching Mt. Doom!

[obsidian]

Imo elrond and rivendell where so crucial to the outcomes. He always says the right thing at the right moment. Its no coincidence that gandalf always seeked elrond out when he truly needed help.

[Valdagast]

I think you forget Farmer Maggot. But I suppose he's off the scale.

[fan]

I fine and agreeable video, Yoystan! Do you plan on making a similar list for the First Age? Can't wait to see that one when your able to get around to it.

[TalesoftheRings]

Interesting point of view! Another great video ♥️

[justinanderson]

Considering the parameters of the video (how you define power) I can't say I have an issue with any of this. Well answered my friend, keep up the good work.

[rodi]

Excellent video. If you have the time, would be interesting to see the same video but from the first, second and fourth ages.