7 Most powerful weapons we’ve seen in The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy brought the massive Tolkien-created world to the screen. With three movies, Jackson depicted the War of the One Ring. Thanks to the films, the LOTR universe is expanding with The Rings of Power series.

The film series began with Frodo and the Fellowship’s journey to Mordor to destroy the Ring. But as their journey proceeded, they faced challenges that Sauron and his loyal servants created in their quest for the Ring. This resulted in the fellowship going different ways and fighting different battles of their own. These fights and battles introduced us to several powerful weapons other than the One Ring.

From magical staves, powerful swords, to handy daggers, here's a list of the 7 most powerful weapons in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Disclaimer: The article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

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7 Most powerful weapons we’ve seen in The Lord of the Rings trilogy

7) Barrow-blades

The barrow-blades were wielded by the Hobbits after Aragorn gave them to protect themselves, a change made in The Lord of the Rings movies, as in the books, it was Tom Bombadil who gave out the blades.

The blades might look small and handy, but do you know how important they were during the Battle of Pelennor? When Merry attacks the Nazgul on his leg, it results in him being powerless for a moment. The barrow blade attack breaks the magic that binds a Nazgul’s mind to its body, which is why when Merry attacks the Nazgul, it almost falls to its knees, and Eowyn gets her chance in slaying the black rider, as it was prophesied.

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6) Hadhafang

This iconic sword is wielded by Arwen in the first The Lord of the Rings movie, where she uses it to fight the Nazgûl at Weatherport. The sword might look like one of the common swords used by the Elves, but do you know there's a long history behind the sword?

Hadhafang has always belonged to Elrond's family, taking it back to his grandmother's time in the First Age. In the trilogy's first film revealed that Hadhafang was wielded by Elrond before Arwen. He fought in the War of the Last Alliance with the sword as depicted at the beginning of the movie. But that’s not all, before Elrond, it belonged to his grandmother, Idril.

The Elven princess was described by Tolkien as a brave and powerful figure from the First Age. Throughout the Ages, Hadhafang is said to have aided Elrond and his family in many battles.

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5) Morgul-knife

The Nazgûls are one of the most evil and powerful servants of Sauron. The screechy voice that announced the black riders’ arrival and sent a wave of terror in the minds of the people was not the only weapon they had.

In the first The Lord of the Rings film, during the attack on Frodo and his companions in Weathertop, Frodo is stabbed with a Morgul blade by a Nazgûl. The magical blade is said to have the power to attack the hearts of its victims and change them into wraiths. He is later saved in Rivendell by Elrond’s healing powers.

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4) Glamdring

One of the key weapons of Gandalf, Glamdring is also known as Foe Hammer and a beater by the Orcs. Before Gandalf, the 6,000-year-old double-edged sword was wielded by Elvish King Turgon of Gondolin, making it an epic weapon.

In The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Gandalf used Glamdring to fight the Balrog in the Mines of Moria and later used it during the battle of the Black Gate.

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3) Grond

The siege engine, resembling a wolf's head, was used by the Orcs in the battle of the Pelennor Fields in the third The Lord of the Rings film. Forged in Mordor, Grond is named after the first Dark Lord and Sauron’s former master, Morgoth’s hammer.

Regarded as one of the largest siege engines is pushed by the rhinoceros-like creatures called the great beasts, and with just four pushes, it breaks through the gates of Minas Tirith. The fire-spewing war machine proved to be one of the greatest weapons of Sauron’s army.

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2) Andúril

Formerly named Narsil, we see the sword first used by Elendil in the War of the Last Alliance in the first The Lord of the Rings film. After his death, Isildur wields it to fight Sauron, but is unsuccessful initially as Sauron breaks the sword. However, it didn't stop Isildur from cutting the ring off Sauron's hand with a broken blade.

In the last film, The Return of the King, Elrond forges the blade and gives it to its real owner, Aragorn, who names it Andúril. With the sword, he raised the army of the dead, which helped them fight the Corsairs. Later, during the battle of the Black Gate, Aragorn uses Andúril to kill the Mouth of Sauron.

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1) Gandalf's staff

Other than the swords and daggers, the magic was the true weapon in the fights and battles. Whether it is the evil power of the ring or Saruman and Gandalf’s staves, these magical elements proved crucial for both sides. The staff is the wizard’s primary tool, and in the film trilogy, we saw how Saruman and Gandalf used their magical powers using the staves.

For instance, in the first film, Gandalf used the staff to destroy the bridge of Khazad-dûm while fighting the Balrog. In the last film, after becoming Gandalf the White, he uses his staff to shoot a wide beam of light against the Nazguls attacking with Faramir and his soldiers, outside Minas Tirith.

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Also Read: 7 Reasons to believe that Elanor Brandyfoot from The Rings of Power is an ancestor of Frodo Baggins