The Greatest Weapon

[Elessar_elfstone]

What is your choice for the greatest weapon in Arda?

1)Name: Glamdring
Wielded by: Turon
Gandalf

2)Name: Anduril
Wielded by: Aragorn

3)Name: Orcrist
Wielded by: Thorin Oakenshield

4)Name: Phial of Galadriel

5)Name: Sting
Wielded by: Frodo

I got all these information on weapons in this great site
Lord of The Rings Fanatics Site (http://www.lordotrings.com/tourtot/itemchange.asp )

[Comic Book Guy]

Turin did not wield Glamdring, he wielded the black sword, Mormegil while he was Turamber, the master of doom. Which I believe is the best weapon in Arda, except maybe Grond.

[Wayfarer]

Huh.

Let's try... Tulkas' left fist... wait, make that his right... or was he ambidextrous?

heck, let's just say a body blow from the youngest fo the valar, shall we?

[afro-elf]

excluding body parts

what about the ONE ring

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Comic Book Guy
Turin did not wield Glamdring, he wielded the black sword, Mormegil while he was Turamber, the master of doom. Which I believe is the best weapon in Arda, except maybe Grond. I think Elessar_elfstone made a typo and meant Turgon weilded Glandring, not Turin.

Umm, Comic Book Guy, I think the sword that Turin weilded was Anglachel which was later named Gurthang after it was reforged in Nargothrond. I believe the name Mormegil was a name given to Turin by the Elves of Nargothrond. It was Sindarin, meaning "black sword" and was inspired by Gurthang.

How about Beleg's bow for a cool weapon?

[Elessar_elfstone]

what about the ONE ring


I believe that the ONE Ring is not a weapon on it's own because it does not do any damage to your foe.

It does grant you invisibility but I think it is an illusion technique and not offensive. And according to the lore, the ONE Ring binds all the other Rings together so it's main purpose is helping Sauron to gather the power of all the Rings.

And the ONE Ring kept Sauron's power going too.

[Ñólendil]

Yet it also enhanced it.

[Kirinki54]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
I think Elessar_elfstone made a typo and meant Turgon weilded Glandring, not Turin. ...

How about Beleg's bow for a cool weapon?

Was not Glamdring Gandalf´s sword? Did it first belong to Turgon?

I was just about to suggest Beleg´s bow, Belthronding!

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Kirinki54


Was not Glamdring Gandalf´s sword? Did it first belong to Turgon?

I was just about to suggest Beleg´s bow, Belthronding! Glandring was Gandalf's sword. It was found in the Troll hoard in the Hobbit. It was originally forged in Gondolin, and was the sword of Turgon.

[olorin7]

the one ring was considered a weapon. it gave power to a person according to their nature and stature

[afro-elf]

what about dragon's breath


or maybe samwise's hard head :)

[Xivigg]

what about Morgoth Iron Crown ??
with the 3 silmarili ???

[Comic Book Guy]

Umm, Comic Book Guy, I think the sword that Turin weilded was Anglachel which was later named Gurthang after it was reforged in Nargothrond. I believe the name Mormegil was a name given to Turin by the Elves of Nargothrond. It was Sindarin, meaning "black sword" and was inspired by Gurthang.


D'oh :mad:

[Ñólendil]

I didn't know Glamdring was Turgon's sword! Cool!

[Kirinki54]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
Glandring was Gandalf's sword. It was found in the Troll hoard in the Hobbit. It was originally forged in Gondolin, and was the sword of Turgon.

I just had a quick peek at The Encyclopedia of Arda, and the sword does have a fascinating story.

I wonder if if actually made Gandalf better in dealing with the Balrog (compared to another sword)?

[Selwythe]

The greatest weapon is Mormakil, and all the Anglachel and Gurthang and whatever. I mean...

"BLACK SWORD OF NARGOTHROND"

That strikes as much fear in me as the Flying Moose of Nargothrond.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Kirinki54


I just had a quick peek at The Encyclopedia of Arda, and the sword does have a fascinating story.

I wonder if if actually made Gandalf better in dealing with the Balrog (compared to another sword)? I don't no if it enhanced Gandalf in any way, but I think it had properties that allowed it to glow when enemies were around, like sting did. I think glandring was the mate of Orcrist. They all seemed to have these special properties.

[Tessar]

well I have always just LOVED the name "Orcrist"

[olorin7]

gnadalfs sword did glow like frodo's. i don't know if it did when any enemy was around though. i'm pretty sure they only gave off a light when orcs were around, not for any other creatures.

[Wayfarer]

I believe that Orcrist, Glamdring, and Sting were from gondolin. Although i can't remember where I heard/Read that.

[Comic Book Guy]

I believe that Orcrist, Glamdring, and Sting were from gondolin. Although i can't remember where I heard/Read that.

It says that in the Hobbit, when Elrond is telling the lore of the swords and the 'Goblin Wars' of the first age.

[Wayfarer]

Really?

[Comic Book Guy]

Its in the Chapter "A short rest", it doesn't go into much detail though. All it tells is that they all came from Gondolin and they all earned a bad reputation among Orcs and Trolls. Turgon owned Glamdring and the word "Orcrist" meant "Orc Cleaver".

[Bacchus]

Elrond actually identifies only Glamdring and Orcrist. Later on, under the Misties, Bilbo notes that the as yet unnamed Sting glows when in proximity to goblins, and from this surmises that it too is an Elvish blade.

As far as whether the swords glowed in the presence of orcs only, or all enemies, the evidence is equivocal. I seem to recall Sting glowing during the encounter with the spiders in Mirkwood, but I'm not sure.

Orcrist was placed over Thorin's tomb, and was said to protect Erebor from being surprised by foes.

I don't recall if Sting glowed in Gollum's presence, or Shelobs.

[Elvellon]

I would say the One Ring was the greatest weapon of all too. I believe that, most likely, the One Ring could be used (among other things) to help Sauron to force his will upon his army (by increasing his natural power) so that he could increase their willingness to fight and to focus their hatred on Sauron’s enemies.

[Ace]

Orcrist, Glamdring, and Sting did only glow for Orcs. The Great Goblin says they were forged during the Goblin Wars and were specifically made to slay Orcs.

"If the choice be mine, I say, we march!"

[Kirinki54]

The GREATEST weapon was probably Sauron´s Grond... ;)

[Thorondor]

Hold on...Sting glows bright red at Weathertop, but perhaps this was a change in Frodo's sight since he was wearing the ring at the time.

I also have always thought that Turin's black sword was the most potent weapon. It's the only one that seems to have a power, indeed a mind of it's own. The other weapons seem like props or objects, but that sword is a character, like the one ring (which I don't consider a weapon, as such)

[Sister Golden Hair]

Didn't the Orcs call Glandring and Orcrist Beater and Biter? I always laughed when I read that.

Wasn't Anglachel sentient to a degree? Was it Eol who made it like that?

[Kirinki54]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
Wasn't Anglachel sentient to a degree? Was it Eol who made it like that?

When Thingol gave the sword to Beleg, Melian said: "There is malice in this sword. The dark heart of the smith still dwells in it. It will not love the hand it serves; neither will it abide with you long." And what happens? When Beleg is using Achlangel to free Túrin, it slips and pricks Túrin whereupon he in turn seizes the sword and kills Beleg. An illfated sword if there was one!

[Pailan]

I would cast my vote for Grond of the First Age.

"Called the Hammer of the Underworld, Morgoth's mighty mace with which he slew Fingolfin before the doors of Angband."

Now that's a mighty weapon. Much more of a personal weapon than Sauron's battering ram of the same name.


Pailan

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Kirinki54


When Thingol gave the sword to Beleg, Melian said: "There is malice in this sword. The dark heart of the smith still dwells in it. It will not love the hand it serves; neither will it abide with you long." And what happens? When Beleg is using Achlangel to free Túrin, it slips and pricks Túrin whereupon he in turn seizes the sword and kills Beleg. An illfated sword if there was one! Makes you wonder why Beleg would not chose another after learning that.

[Wayfarer]

Because, foul spirited though it might be, it was still an awsome weapon. It's the middle earth equivilent to the 'cursed blade' that all mmorpg's seem to have... outrageously powerful, but dangerous to wield.

After all, Anglachel could 'cleave earth-wrought metal like bitter' (loose paraphrase). That goes for armor (pretty nice) , weapons (slice thier sword in half with a parry) and other interesting things.

Heck, _I_ want a sword like that.

[Kirinki54]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
Makes you wonder why Beleg would not chose another after learning that.

It is not seldom seen that persons seem to walk straight into trouble, it is as though they operated on some other sort of logic or had foreknowledge of their destiny and no matter how bitter they cannot go against it. Especially in the Sil!

[turambar]

How long do orcs live? It seems surprising that third age orcs would remember weapons forged in the first age. Refering to Orcrist and Glamdring.

[Comic Book Guy]

Turambar it is a debated subject about lifespans of Orcs, they are corruptions of Elves so some people assume they live forever, but that could also mean their souls would go to the Halls of Mandos when they did die.

As for the names and knowledge of the swords, I just assume word gets round and stories are told between orcs. I don't think the Goblins of the Misty Mountains where in the first age wars though.

[Xivigg]

i don't think anyone can tell how long an orc can live cause in my though no orc ever die of old age

Orc are breed to fight if not agains't an ennemies then agains't themself

[Oliver Thornton]

:)
I suspect if Bilbo Baggins had the three elven rings he could have defeated Smaug himself except the fact that he knew not of them.

[Ñólendil]

If I haven't said it yet (I have a terrible memory for most thing), welcome!

I don't know about Bilbo. I don't think the Elven Rings could be used for combat.

[byrde123]

The greatest weapon? At the start and at the last.....the greatest weapon against the "unnamed foe" was love, friendship, and loyalty. Yes, all the weapons at their disposal helped along the way. But the greatest weapon they had was the love and friendship between Samwise and Frodo and the love between Frodo and Bilbo. Bilbo stumbled upon the ring. Frodo took the ring because Bilbo asked him to. As much as Bilbo came to 'love' (need) the ring.....he gave it up to Frodo. He loved Frodo more. Sam goes with Frodo out of friendship and loyalty. Sticks with him to the end........Holding hands on the mountain....waiting for death to come.....but they finished the task.....loyalty. Say what you will......love, friendship, loyalty gets my vote.

[Pailan]

Originally posted by byrde123
Say what you will......love, friendship, loyalty gets my vote.

Goodness is not enough with out action. And action requires tools or weapons. Frodo and Sam may not have had the Fellowship with them into Mordor- But they would have ultimately failed without Gandalf's staff, Aragon's and Boromir's sword, Gimli's axe, Legolas' bow, the blades from the Barrow Downs, and lest I forget Bilbo's Sting.

Pailan

[Kirinki54]

Originally posted by byrde123
The greatest weapon? At the start and at the last.....the greatest weapon against the "unnamed foe" was love, friendship, and loyalty.

I like the gist of your post. But these things are not weapons. If you try to control them and wield like weapons, they turn into their opposite.

[byrde123]

Posting to Palian and Kirink54

I quote Elrond speaking to Frodo:
"And I will choose you companions to go with you...The number must be few, since your hope is in speed and secrecy. Had I a host of Elves in armour of the Elder Days (supposedly with weapons, numerous), it would avail little, save to arouse the power of Mordor."

But if you need a physical weapon, one that could be wielded then my vote is for the Sword-that-was-Broken. Aragorn's sword. Boromir speaks at The Council of Elrond saying:
"Then in Gondor we must trust to such weapons as we have. Mayhap the Sword-that-was-Broken may still stem the tide---if the hand that wields it has inherited not an heirloom only, but the sinews of the Kings of Men."

I will stand by love, faith and loyalty. But if I would need to hold something then I would first choose Anduril, Flame of the West.

[Ñólendil]

Speaking of which, I know a guy who can make a real nasty weapon out of a can of beans, if you give him enough time.

[bombcar]

Don't the orcs in the tower (minas morgul) talk about Old Times, which seems to refer to the times before the third age. (dunno.)

:confused:

[Ñólendil]

They refer to the 'Great Siege' I think, which is probably the Siege of Barad-dûr, which occured before the end of the Second Age.

[Kirinki54]

Originally posted by byrde123
Posting to Palian and Kirink54
I will stand by love, faith and loyalty. But if I would need to hold something then I would first choose Anduril, Flame of the West.

Like I said, who wouldn´t choose that - given the choice. :)

BTW does anyone knows anything about the use of spears in Tolkien´s world? It appears that Gil-galad had Aiglos as his foremost weapon but that is all I know.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Kirinki54


Like I said, who wouldn´t choose that - given the choice. :)

BTW does anyone knows anything about the use of spears in Tolkien´s world? It appears that Gil-galad had Aiglos as his foremost weapon but that is all I know. There is a part in the Sil in the Nirnaeth, where Tolkien describes the Gondolindrim I believe, as having spears like a forest.

[Kirinki54]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
There is a part in the Sil in the Nirnaeth, where Tolkien describes the Gondolindrim I believe, as having spears like a forest.

I looked it up. Yes, you are right.
"For unsummoned and unlooked for Turgon had opened the leaguer of Gondolin, and was come with an army ten thousand strong, with bright mail and long swords and spears like a forest."
Pretty powerful language there! And spears were obviously in much use. I wonder if this changed into the Third Age? In the LotR spears play a very little role IIRC.

[Ñólendil]

Most cultures who fought with weapons appear to use spears. Orcs, Men, Dwarves, Elves. They are mentioned as often as they are seen, I suppose.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Inoldonil
Most cultures who fought with weapons appear to use spears. Orcs, Men, Dwarves, Elves. They are mentioned as often as they are seen, I suppose. It does seem though, that only certian weapons were used consistantly thoughout the ages, bows and swords. Spears and perhaps such things as small knives were only a preference at certian times. You really don't hear mention of spears much in the First Age, aside from the example I stated, but the Nirneath was such a horrific war, and probabily anticipated to be so by the Eldar, that they used every weapon known to them in that instance.

[olorin7]

i could be wrong, but didn't the rohirrim use spears? i think that they were mentioned a couple of times to have them.

[Wayfarer]

Spears were used by just about everybody.
Swords were usde by everybody but dwarves.
Axes were used by everybody but elves.
As far as I can tell, everybody used knives and bows.

So really... weapons were pretty evenly spread around. It was just the configuration that was different.

[Ñólendil]

Axes were used by Elves, and swords by Dwarves, oddly enough. Axes were the chief weapons of the Grey-elves in Beleriand, and Dwarves could use Elf-sized swords (as Thorin did Orcrist). Swords are mentioned in the first Dwarven song of The Hobbit, and also in Gimli's song in Mória: There hammer on the anvil smote,
there chisel clove
and graver wrote,
there forged was blade
and bound was hilt,
the delver mined,
the mason built.

There beryl, pearl and opal pale,
and metal wrought like fishes' mail,
there buckler, corslet, axe and sword,
and shining spears were laid in hoard.

[Wayfarer]

true enough. ;)

[Ringil]

Here's a list of hand-held "named" weapons, along with a translation of the weapon's name, if I know it, and the most significant wielder(s). First are the swords, then other types of weapons. Can anyone add any other named weapons? I'm not interested in rings and such, just true hand-held battle weapons.

Anglachel/Gurthang - (Iron of Death) Túrin
Anguirel - Eöl
Aranrúth - (King's Ire) Thingol/Kings of Numenor
Glamdring - (Foe Hammer) King of Gondolin/Gandalf
Gúthwinë - (Battle Friend?) Éomer
Herugrim - Théoden
Narsil/Andúril - (Red and White Flame/Flame of the West) - Elendil/Aragorn
Orcrist - (Goblin Cleaver) Thorin
Ringil - (Cold Star/Cold Spark?) Fingolfin
Sting - knife Bilbo/Frodo

Aeglos/Aiglos - (Snow Point/Icicle) spear Gil-galad
Angrist - (Iron Cleaver) knife Curufin/Beren
Belthronding - bow Beleg
Dramborleg - (Thudder-Sharp) axe Tuor
Grond - ("Hammer of the Underworld") mace Morgoth

[Tar-Elendil]

it states thorin's sword being the mate of glamdring and them being found in the same troll hole as sting. this clearly shows that there is a very good chance of them originating in the same place?

[MasterMothra]

i cast my vote for grond, it felled one of the greatest elves in middle earth.
the next would be gurthang.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Tar-Elendil
it states thorin's sword being the mate of glamdring and them being found in the same troll hole as sting. this clearly shows that there is a very good chance of them originating in the same place? Did they not originate in Gondolin?

[Elf Girl]

I say the bow Legolas got in Lorien.

[Wulažg]

As an Angband fanatic, I know a ton about the Tolkien weapons. Okay, Aglachel was forged by èol in Gondolin from meteoric iron. It is a cool weapon. Glamdrig, Orcrist, and Sting WERE made in Gondolin for the Goblin wars as it says in the Hobbit when they found them from the trolls. My personal favorites however are:

Ringil, which smote seven fearsom blows on Morgoth himself by Fingolfin

Zarcuthra, the biggest sword on Middle Earth, made by Celebrimbor

Aeglos, the frost spear of Gilgalad

Arundil, previously called Narsil, which chopped off Sauron's hand

Beat those!

[Wulažg]

Oh yeah I forgot about Angrist which chopped through the Crown of Morgoth.:rolleyes:

[Elf Girl]

Hi, Wulažg. Welcome to Entmoot.

[Aragorn_iz_cool]

Glamdring. It must have been a great sword indeed for gandalf to chose it above all other swords he had acsess too.

[Wulažg]

Well, it might just be because he already had Narya and wanted a weapon that was already associated with fire, as opposed to Orcrist which is more frost related(at least in Angband)

[azalea]

It's surprising that he didn't already have one since he'd been in ME so long already. Maybe it was an exceptionally exquisite sword, or maybe he was just ready for a change.:)

[Varda Oiolosseo]

The best weapon has got to be the Bow and Arrow!!!

[Ñólendil]

Welcome Varda. Interesting choice of name, "Varda 'from-Mount-Everwhite'". Why did you choose it?

[Finrod Felagund]

Originally posted by Thorondor
Hold on...Sting glows bright red at Weathertop, but perhaps this was a change in Frodo's sight since he was wearing the ring at the time.

Frodo didn't have sting at weathertop. Bilbo gave it to him later.


How about Morgoth's Grond for a weapon.
Sauron's Grond wasn't really a combat weapon but a seige weapon.
Anduril, also and interesting story. Forged as Narsil in the first age by Telchar, the same dwarf who forged Angrist, the knife that Beren used to cut the silmaril from Morgoth's crown.

Another good weapon, Angrist could cut iron...

[elendili]

I believe that the ONE Ring is not a weapon on it's own because it does not do any damage to your foe.

How come in the film when Sauron appears on the battlefield the ring is powerful enough to swipe away 2 groups of elves and men? That sounds like a cool weapon to me especially coz it makes you invisible.

[Radagast The Brown]

but Sauron wasn't invisible when he had it.

maybe it gave Sauron so much power because the ring had almost all Sauron's powers, so he could use the ring better.

[elendili]

Maybe if you learn to master the ring you can harness its power to kill things and you are only invisible if you choose to be?

[Radagast The Brown]

Maybe, and maybe not. I don't think so... but...

[Mordomin]

Originally posted by Wulažg
As an Angband fanatic, I know a ton about the Tolkien weapons. Okay, Aglachel was forged by èol in Gondolin from meteoric iron. Anglachel was not made in Gondolin, it was made in Nan Elmoth.
Originally posted by Wulažg
Arundil, previously called Narsil, which chopped off Sauron's hand. Beat those! Isildur didn't cut off Sauron's hand with the shards of Narsil, only the Ring finger.

I know I'm going to regret asking this but...is 'Angband' some sort of RPG or message board or something (besides the evil land in Tolkien's writings, I mean)?

[Eldanuumea]

Originally posted by elendili


How come in the film when Sauron appears on the battlefield the ring is powerful enough to swipe away 2 groups of elves and men? That sounds like a cool weapon to me especially coz it makes you invisible.

That scene is only in the PJ film, not in the text.

[elendili]

That scene is only in the PJ film, not in the text.

Okay I'm getting the film and book confuzzled again damn it :mad:

But the Ring is still really powerful and you could control all the other rings so all the other kindreds

Anyway I fancy Legolas's bow and quiver especially with the arrows of Lothlorien

[Eldanuumea]

Originally posted by elendili


Okay I'm getting the film and book confuzzled again damn it :mad:

But the Ring is still really powerful and you could control all the other rings so all the other kindreds

Anyway I fancy Legolas's bow and quiver especially with the arrows of Lothlorien

Hey, it's very easy to do! Since I had not read them before the film, I often catch myself remembering a film scene as if it were in the text!
Bows and arrows are definitely cool.....low tech, high skill.:cool:

[Radagast The Brown]

I guess the ring didn't have such a power, but it did gave Sauron lots of powers and skills becuase he got in to this ring almost all his power.

[elendili]

Too many rings and powers in that Radagast!

What actual powers did the rings of the Nazgul give to them coz you seem to know a lot of ringlore

[Jador]

Originally posted by Wayfarer
[B]Because, foul spirited though it might be, it was still an awsome weapon. It's the middle earth equivilent to the 'cursed blade' that all mmorpg's seem to have... outrageously powerful, but dangerous to wield.

After all, Anglachel could 'cleave earth-wrought metal like bitter' (loose paraphrase). That goes for armor (pretty nice) , weapons (slice thier sword in half with a parry) and other interesting things.

Other interesting thing's like the fact that It killed everyone who was touched by it.(Including Glaurung.)That is tops for me...

[Radagast The Brown]

originally posted by elendili
Too many rings and powers in that Radagast!

What actual powers did the rings of the Nazgul give to them coz you seem to know a lot of ringloreNot really... I don't know it well, actually. :rolleyes:

ask someone else. I just prefer the Sil on LOTR.