The 10 Best Swords in Middle-earth, Ranked by Power

J. R. R. Tolkien’s Legendarium is one of the most beloved and detailed secondary worlds in the entirety of the fantasy genre. Drawing deeply from real history, mythology, and his Catholic faith, Tolkien created a sprawling mythos that detailed the creation of the world of Arda and the numerous factions, both good and evil, that would call it home. The most famous parts of the legendarium, The Lord of the Rings, became so influential that nearly every modern fantasy series has been inspired by it one way or another.

As befits a world full of magic and legendary heroes, Tolkien created quite a few awesome swords for Middle-earth’s greatest warriors. Each one had an epic story attached to it, and in the right hands, their power was used to smite the forces of evil. These are the most powerful swords in Middle-earth, ranked by their might and impact.

10

Herugrim

Image via New Line Cinema

For five hundred years, the Kings of Rohan wielded Herugrim when they rode to war. This ancient blade was carried in a golden scabbard set with green gemstones, and though it is centuries old, it has not yet lost its edge. During the Third War, the blade was wielded by King Théodin when he led his people in the defence of Helm’s Deep and later rode to aid Gondor in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Compared to other swords, Herugrim doesn’t seem like much, since it has no magical enchantments. However, what the sword lacks in magic, it makes up for in symbolism. The fact that this ancient blade has endured and aided two lines of kings is a testament to the enduring power of humans, who always manage to hold their own in a world of elves, orcs, and other mystical creatures.

9

Aranrúth

Art via Elena Kukanova

As the Teleri elves made their way to Valinor, Elwë led a group that opted to remain in Middle-earth and became King Eru Thingol of the kingdom of Doriath. His weapon of choice was Aranrúth, a sword whose name translated to “King’s Ire.” Following Thingol’s death at the hands of dwarves, and Doriath’s destruction during the Second Kinslaying of the Elves, the sword was inherited by Thingol’s descendants and eventually became the blade of the Kings and Queens of Númenor.

Aranrúth is not as well described as other blades, nor do we get to learn of its great deeds. However, the fact that it was an inheritance through the noble lines of elves and men means that it has seen many battles. Sadly, it was lost with Ar-Pharazôn when he was trapped in the Caves of the Forgotten during his attempt to sail to Valinor. However, he is destined to return during the Dagor Dagorath, or last battle, so the blade may return as well.

8

Anguirel

Art by Elena Kukanova

Eöl the Dark Elf was one of the greatest elven smiths of the First Age, and was known for crafting weapons and armor from black metal. From a meteorite, he forged two black blades named Anguriel and Anglachel. Anguriel became his personal sword until it was taken by his son, Maeglin, and later lost during the Fall of Gondolin.

Anguriel was never seen in battle, but given that Eöl kept it for himself, he clearly prized it above other swords he had made. Both it and its twin were said to be able to cut through iron and steel with ease, and the fact that it came from a meteorite gives the blade a rareness factor. Thus, we will have to look towards Anglachel to imagine what deeds Anguriel could have done had its fate gone differently.

7

Sting

Image via New Line Cinema

In the First Age of Middle-earth, the hidden elven city of Gondolin waged war against the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, and forged magic weapons to combat his legions of orcs. After the city was destroyed, these weapons were scattered throughout the world. One dagger eventually found its way into the hands of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, who named it Sting, and later bequeathed it to his heir, Frodo.

Sting is introduced as a nameless blade, allowing the audience to see its legend forged as they follow its wielders into increasingly greater peril. As a Gondolin-forged blade, it also had the power to glow when orcs were near, making it difficult for the forces of evil to sneak up on its wielder. Its greatest feat, however, came when it was wielded by Samwise Gamgee to wound the spider demon Shelob when she tried to devour Frodo.

6

Orcrist

Image via Warner Bros.

Known as the Goblin-cleaver, Orcrist was another blade forged by the Gondolindrim and earned its name during the Goblin Wars. It was lost during the Fall of Gondolin and, somehow, came into the possession of a trio of trolls named Tom, Bert, and William Huggins. After they were turned to stone by the wizard Gandalf, Orcrist was claimed by the dwarven hero Thorin Oakenshield, and got to taste goblin blood again when he and his companions encountered them in the Misty Mountains.

Orcrist’s legend was so great that goblins could recognize it on sight, and to them, it was known as Biter. Like Sting, it glowed when orcs and goblins were close at hand. Following Thorin’s death after the Battle of the Five Armies, Orcrist was buried alongside him, and whenever the forces of evil marched upon the kingdom of Erebor, the tomb of the king would glow and alert them to prepare for war.

5

Anglachel/Gurthang

Image via Ted Nasmith/HarperCollins

Eöl bestowed his second meteorite blade, Anglachel, as a gift to King Thingol in exchange for permission to live in his kingdom. Thingol gave it to the archer Beleg to use in his quest to find the human hero Túrin Turanbar, but, in a moment of confusion, Túrin would end up slaying Beleg with the blade, causing Anglachel’s edges to dull. Túrin reforged the blade in Nargothrond and named it Gurthang, “Iron of Death,” and would carry the sword for the rest of his days.

Gurthang did amazing feats, such as slaying the father of dragons, Glaurung, but it never forgot the death of Beleg, or Brandir, who was slain by Túrin in a fit of rage. It was said that some of Eöl’s malice remained in the blade, imbuing it with a conscience that delighted in battle. When Túrin, driven to despair, asked Gurthang to take his life, the blade was more than happy to oblige, and shattered after the deed was done.

4

Narsil/Andúril

Forged by the great dwarf smith Telcar of the First Age, Narsil passed through the noble houses of Númenor and survived its destruction to be wielded by King Elendil of Gondor and Arnor. During the War of the Last Alliance, Elendil wielded Narsil in his legendary duel with High King Gil-galad against the Dark Lord Sauron, where the blade was shattered when Sauron slammed Elendil upon it. Elendil’s son, Isildur, used the broken blade to cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand, and during the War of the Ring, the blade was reforged into Andúril and wielded by Isildur’s descendant, Aragorn.

The fact that Narsil was able to help bring down Sauron’s physical form is an impressive feat in and of itself, but things become more interesting once it’s reforged. Elven smiths caused Andúril to shine with the light of the sun and the moon, and it was sharp enough to cleave through armor. Its greatest power, however, was its ability to inspire hope in those who beheld it, especially as Aragorn led the free people of Middle-earth to fight the forces of darkness.

3

Glamdring

Image via New Lines Cinema

Orcrist was forged alongside another sword, Glamdring, the Foe-hammer. It was wielded by King Turgon of Gondolin until it found its way into the troll cave after the city’s fall. It was then claimed by the wizard Gandalf and wielded by him both during the quest for Erebor and the War of the Ring.

Goblins called Glamdring Beater for its part in the Goblin Wars, and it too would glow blue when they were nearby. Once in Gandalf’s hands, Glamdring was used to slay several foes, including the Great Goblins of the Misty Mountains and Durin’s Bane, the Balrog who drove the dwarves out of Khazad-dûm. Killing scores of orcs and goblins is already an impressive feat, but given that Glamdring also slew a fallen Maiar, it’s fair to say it has outclassed its mate.

2

Ringil

Art by John Howe

Forged by the Ñoldor elves of the First Age, Ringil was a bale-blue blade that was said to inflict those it wounded with a deathly chill. It was carried by Fingolfin when he followed his brother, High King Fëanor, to Middle-earth to seek vengeance on Morgoth. Fingolfin would become High King after his brother’s death, and, driven to despair by the Battle of Sudden Flames, Fingolfin rode to the gates of Angband and wielded Ringil as he challenged the Dark Lord to single combat.

Though Fingolfin was ultimately killed, he and Ringil left their mark on Middle-earth’s first Dark Lord. The High King was able to wound Morgoth seven times before getting pinned under his foot, and the wounds were so deep that they filled the pits left in the earth by Morgoth’s hammer, Grond, with his black blood. Ringil’s final wound left Morgoth with a permanent limp, forever cementing the blade’s legacy as one of Middle-earth’s greatest weapons.

1

Celeg Aithorn

Art by Jenny-Dolfe

Long before the races of elves, men, and dwarves awoke in Middle-earth, the angelic Valar fought against the forces of Morgoth, their fallen kin, to ensure he did not corrupt the world before the younger races could emerge. Morgoth’s brother, Manwë, ruled as king of the Valar, and slew scores of Morgoth’s servants with his falchion Celeg Aithorn. At the closing of the First Age, Manwë gifted the sword to his herald, Eönwë, who led the armies of Valinor against Morgoth in the War of Wrath that finally brought low the Dark Lord.

Celeg Aithorn is, in essence, the weapon of a god. Manwë could make it loose lightning so powerful it could kill Balrogs, and, in some of Tolkien’s writing, it is even said to one day cleave the world. We’re never told if Eönwë could bring out its full power, but since he is described as the greatest swordsman in Arda, and the War of Wrath destroyed Beleriand, it’s fair to say that the herald of Manwë achieved legendary feats of his own with this mythical blade.