As powerful as Galadriel, Fëanor, and many other Elves worthy of a mention are, the title of most powerful Elf goes to Fingolfin, the High King of the Ñoldor. Fingolfin achieved many impressive feats, but one stands out and places him as the most powerful of them all: his legendary duel with
Besides the main protagonists, the Hobbits, everyone else is extremely powerful, particularly the Elves. All of the Elves that fans meet in the Lord of the Rings series are powerful and wise people. However, Galadriel may be the most powerful and wise Elf in Middle Earth, at least in the Third Age.
Eru Ilúvatar is the creator of Middle-earth and all its inhabitants. He possesses infinite power and is responsible for the destiny of all beings in the world. In conclusion, Middle-earth is home to a wide variety of powerful and magical beings, each with their own unique abilities and strengths.
After his re-embodiment, Manwë had given Glorfindel powers nearly equal to the Maiar, to help him in his mission in Middle-earth. He was considered one of the most powerful Elves from Rivendell, given by his powerful and almost "angelic" presence, which had made the Black Riders flee many times.
Originally Answered: Were the Nazgûls afraid of Glorfindel? Whenever he came upon them, they fled. Yes, they preferred to face the river brought on by Elrond and the enchantments cast by Gandolf than to face Glorfindel, one against them all.
While Legolas seems to be quite a skilled warrior, he's nothing compared to Glorfindel. Thousands of years before the events of the Lord of the Rings, Glorfindel fought in the War of Wrath and died in battle against a Balrog, one of the most powerful creatures in Middle Earth. The Balrog died along with Glorfindel.
Eru is introduced in The Silmarillion as the supreme being of the universe, creator of all existence, including the world, Arda, and its central continent, Middle-earth. In Tolkien's invented Elvish language Quenya, Eru means "The One", or "He that is Alone" and Ilúvatar signifies "Allfather".
14 Tom Bombadil, The Joyful
He is a joyful soul, and this hides an immense well of power. No earthly strife seems to trouble him, and he is immune to the power of the Ring. Such propensity aligns Tom with the Valar or perhaps something greater, and Gandalf would never be able to overpower him.
Daughter of Elrond and granddaughter of Galadriel, Arwen was called the “Evenstar” and was accounted as the most beautiful of the final generation of elves.
Galadriel is one of the wisest and perceptive of all the Elves. In the Second Age, she is one of the only people who is not fooled by Sauron, and it is her idea to hide the Rings of Power from Sauron.
Within the story, he is depicted as a powerful Elf-lord who could withstand the Nazgûl, wraith-like servants of Sauron, and holds his own against some of them single-handedly. Glorfindel and a version of the story of the Fall of Gondolin appear in The Silmarillion, posthumously published in 1977.
Though neither is someone you'd wish to annoy, Galadriel is generally considered more powerful than Elrond in Lord of the Rings. Not only is she older than her Rivendell counterpart, but Galadriel witnessed the light from Valinor's Two Trees, giving her a mystic quality.
Rings of Power: Who wears the three elven rings? We can expect Vilya to be worn by Elrond, Narya to be worn by Círdan (the Elven lord of Mithlond, who hasn't been introduced yet), and Nenya to be worn by Galadriel.
Edit: to clarify, Galadriel wins without the need for weapons. I thought it was obvious in how I said she can stand up to Sauron. My point is, she doesn't need a weapon to defeat Legolas. That's how much she outclasses him.
Ents are arguably the strongest race in terms of physical power. They are said to be able to bend steel and stone as if it is paper, and their attack on Isengard in The Two Towers shows them to be an unstoppable force.
Morgoth Was Originally More Powerful Than Sauron
When he couldn't accomplish that, he began to war against the other Valar and rule over Middle-earth with his fires and evil creations. With this turn to darkness, Melkor became known as Morgoth. While at war, Morgoth lured many beings to his cause.
Tolkien wrote that of all his characters, Faramir was the most like him: Tolkien had fought in the First World War and had similarly had a vision of darkness.
Throughout the years, Sauron has taken on many roles and gone by many names. He is the eponymous Lord of the Rings, the Dark Lord, but his other names have included Mairon, Annatar, Artano, Aulendil, Gorthaur, and Zigûr. He's also identified as the Necromancer in The Hobbit.
5 Saruman The White
He was originally the chief of the wizards as well as the White Council that was formed to fight against Sauron. He was more powerful than Gandalf at these stages, but his study of dark magic turned him to support Sauron.
He will fight in the Last Battle against the Valar and their allies, but will ultimately be slain by Túrin Turambar, the Man he cursed. By finally defeating Morgoth, Túrin will avenge not only himself, but all members of the race of Men.
This doesn't make Thranduil any more powerful than the other two, even though he has a higher title. In fact, Galadriel is probably the most powerful elf in Middle Earth in the Third Age, but she chooses to put that power to the life and vibrancy of her forest, rather than to establish her right to rule.
Theoretically, absolutely. Anyone who had returned, elevated in spiritual power, from a battle with a Balrog could have crushed even the chief of the Nazgul, and the Witch-King feared Glorfindel (as evinced by his reaction to the other's arrival ); however, it is a battle Glorfindel would not have pursued.
It depends on when you compare them, as Glorfindel was more powerful when he came back whereas Galadriel had waned at that point. In her youth however, she was one of the greatest Eldar just under Feanor and Luthien.