Sauron never becomes bound to Middle Earth like Melkor or the Balrogs during the first age because Sauron kept shifting shape, Sauron takes more different forms than any other being in the legendarium. Thus he did not become bound to a single form like Melkor and the Balrogs.

Is Saruman stronger than a Balrog?

Saurman before being corrupted by Sauron words should have been able to defeat one of the lesser Balrogs. After Corruption however there would have been no chance whatsoever, as his spirit was already weakened by the malevolence of Melkor / Morgoth / Sauron.

Did Saruman wake up the Balrog?

In "The Lord of the Rings" books, Saruman did not summon the Balrog directly. He did, however, play a role in the creature's awakening and subsequent escape from the depths of Moria.

Are Balrogs equal to Sauron?

It's worth noting that Sauron wasn't a Balrog. His appearance was dark and wreathed in fire, but he wasn't physically the same as a Balrog. On a surface level, it's a bit of a plot hole. After all, Sauron and the Balrogs were both Maiar, and they both served Morgoth's evils during the First Age.

Why didn't Saruman become a Balrog?

Even if Sauron had joined Morgoth from the very beginning, it's still highly unlikely he would ever become a Balrog. Unlike the seven Maiar who bound themselves to Morgoth, Sauron was never a spirit of fire. Balrogs take the form that they do (a scary, fiery demon with whips) because it's in their nature.

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Is Sauron more powerful than Balrog?

Secondly, Balrogs were the epitome of malice and power while Sauron only ever won one of three fights he ever had. Sauron was the great deceiver. His power lies in planning, subterfuge, manipulation, and corruption.

Is the Balrog stronger than Smaug?

Gandalf's main reason for supporting Thorin's quest in The Hobbit was to eliminate the threat of the dragon Smaug, who would be a powerful ally for Sauron. Despite popular belief, the Balrog known as Durin's Bane was more powerful than Smaug in Middle-earth, being a literal, primordial demon.

Was Sauron afraid of the Balrog?

Sauron does not fear Durin's Bane because essentially they had been allies back “in the olden days". Both Balrogs (all balrogs) and Sauron chose to serve Melkor/Morgoth.

How many Balrogs did Morgoth create?

The Balrogs, or Valaraukar (singular Valarauko, Quenya for "Demon of power"), were three to seven Maiar seduced and corrupted by Morgoth into his service, turning into dreadful Úmaiar and scourges of fire cloaked in shadow.

Who is stronger, Gandalf or Balrog?

Although both the Balrog and Smaug are creatures of fire, and Gandalf is able to match them thanks to the power of his fire ring, defeating the Balrog takes far more spiritual prowess, which is why Gandalf is able to essentially 'level up' and comes back as Gandalf the White, whereas defeating such an immense physical ...

Why was Legolas so afraid of the Balrog?

The fear of Elves is more spiritual, so the demonic creatures of shadow and flame are unsurprisingly horrifying to them. Legolas doesn't appear to have any hesitation in his actions throughout the films, but it's clear that his blood runs cold when a Balrog appears in the Mines of Moria.

Did Gandalf know he had to fight the Balrog?

In the book, however, he didn't know that the Balrog was there. However, this raises another problem. How did Gandalf not know the Balrog was there? It seems like Gandalf, Saruman or someone on the White Council would have been slightly suspicious after something evil brought a whole Dwarven society to ruin.

When did Gandalf realize Saruman was evil?

However, when Gandalf traveled to Isengard to seek his aid, he learned that his old friend had given in to the evil influence of the Dark Lord Sauron. From that point onward, Saruman became the secondary antagonist of the story, threatening Middle-earth just as his master did.

Who is stronger Saruman or Galadriel?

Galadriel is one of the most powerful elves. Galadriel's brother engaged in a contest of power with Sauron and was not beaten by much. Sauron is certainly more powerful then Saruman. After thousands of more years of life, Galadriel would probably have become more powerful.

Could Sauron dominate a Balrog?

But it is doubtful that Sauron (without the One Ring) could have commanded the Balrog to say attack Lorien or fight against Minas Tirith. The main powers of a Balrog are not against armies of lesser enemies, or in breaking castle walls, but rather against other powerful opponents like Wizards or Elf-lords.

Why is Gandalf weaker than Saruman?

Saruman was a higher-ranked wizard and the leader of the White Council, while Gandalf was primarily seen as a wise warrior and counselor to Frodo. Gandalf became stronger as the White Wizard and the leader of the wizards, ultimately besting Saruman in combat due to his loyalty and growth in power and authority.

Was Smaug created by Morgoth?

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That title falls to Ancalagon the Black, the largest dragon ever to have existed in Middle-earth. He was bred by Morgoth during the First Age to fight for the Dark Lord during his campaign of terror.

Did any Balrogs serve Sauron?

No, Balrogs do not serve Sauron. Similar to Sauron, Balrogs are Maiar, powerful spiritual beings second only to the Valar themselves. They were corrupted by Melkor's evil before the first age and were made into Valaraukar (Demons of Power). They very strength and wills were bound to Melkor.

Why does Galadriel turn dark?

Thus, Galadriel's dark form in Jackson's The Lord of the Rings personified what would have occurred had the Lady of Lothlorien given in to temptation and taken the One Ring for herself. She would have succumbed to evil because the Ring was indomitable, even with her power.

Why was Sauron afraid of Galadriel?

In his notes, Tolkien remarks that Sauron saw Galadriel as his equal. Add that to the fact that she's untrusting of Sauron (yes, even when he's in his Annatar guise) and an unwavering, single-minded force, and it's more likely than not that Sauron feared Galadriel — or the potential she held to upend his plans.

Who woke the Balrog in Moria?

The Balrog killed Durin VI, the Dwarf-King of Khazad-dûm, whereafter it was called Durin's Bane by the Dwarves. Avarice, principally for mithril, drove the dwarves to go too deep and awaken the Balrog.

Who did Sauron fear the most?

Sauron's deepest fear was that Aragorn would use the Ring against him. With its powers of domination, Aragorn could comfortably take over the entirety of Sauron's dark army. Though this would eventually corrupt Aragorn, it would allow him to destroy Sauron and take his place.

Could Galadriel have defeated the Balrog?

7 Durin's Bane - The Balrog

Throughout Tolkien's works, two characters, Gandalf and Glorfindel, faced off against a Balrog, and though they won, the battle cost them their lives. Though Galadriel herself never (as far as we know) went face to face with a Balrog, she would likely have met her match if she did.

Who can defeat a Balrog?

Using his magic, Saruman forced them to take the path through Moria, and given no alternative, the Fellowship entered the mines. There, they encountered the Durin's Bane, and Gandalf unveiled his power to defeat the Balrog and preserve the quest.

Why doesn't Gandalf fight Smaug?

First off, it simply wasn't his job and doing so would have bordered on breaking the mandate of the Istari. He -- along with the other wizards -- was sent from Valinor to oppose Sauron by stirring up resistance amongst the free peoples of Middle-earth.