While “the time of the Elves” is pretty much over by the start of The Lord of the Rings, the Elves are still some of the most powerful beings in Tolkien‘s colorful universe. They created robust kingdoms, created mighty jewelry with magical powers, and fought malicious evils during their best years in Middle-earth. As the first of the Children of Ilúvatar, they are considered the fairest and wisest of all earthly races.
It is no surprise that fans are captivated by the Elven characters in both the books and on-screen adaptations. Legolas and Arwen are the most well-known of the Elves, thanks to Orlando Bloom and Liv Tyler‘s portrayal in Peter Jackson‘s movies, but they’re only the tip of the iceberg. There are a plethora of other complex, interesting, and well-written Lord of the Rings Elves that deserve recognition. With The Rings of Power Season 2 just around the corner, there’s no time like the present to delve into the world LotR, which is full of well-written Elven characters.
17 Ecthelion
Appears in ‘The Silmarillion’ (1977)
Okay, while there are technically a few different Ecthelions, we’re talking about the Gondolin lord who ruled during the First Age. Considered one of Middle-earth’s greatest heroes, Ecthelion was present during the Fall of Gondolin and was responsible for singlehandedly smiting the Lord of the Balrogs, Gothmog, which also resulted in his own death as they drowned in the Fountain of the King.
While the other Ecthelions ruled as Stewards of Gondor, they were only Men while the original was an Elf Lord. It’s no wonder that future generations in Middle-earth would honor his name. Here’s hoping that The Rings of Power tackles this character down the road… – Michael John Petty
16 Thranduil
Played by Lee Pace
Thranduil ruled over the Woodland Realm during the Third Age and his army was the key to victory in the iconic Battle of the Five Armies. He also happens to be the father of Legolas. In the books, he is a strong leader and an absurdly intimidating warrior who practices isolationism in his kingdom of Mirkwood.
As seen in Peter Jackson’s Middle-Earth saga, the Elvenking is also ruthlessly unhelpful to those in need outside his kingdom, and he comes across as bigoted and selfish at times. It is because of this that he is seen as a flawed father and king. While it is easy to pin him as being a bit evil, he suffered many great losses throughout his life that contributed to his bitter coldness. Despite his melancholy, he is known to get things done to protect his people.
15 Haldir
Played by Craig Parker
Of all the Elves whose roles in the films differ from the books, Haldir is perhaps the worst offender, but the changes make us love the character even more. In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Haldir comes to Aragorn’s (Viggo Mortensen) aid at the Battle of Helm’s Deep. Of course, in Tolkien’s lore, the Elves of Lórien were busy elsewhere dealing with the dark forces of Moria (Legolas was the only Elf at Helm’s Deep in The Two Towers novel), but this was one change Peter Jackson made that we’ll accept.
Unfortunately, though Haldir’s arrival helped turn the tide of the battle, things didn’t end well for the Elf warrior. Killed by a band of Uruk-hai, Haldir dies a hero’s death in the second installment of the infamous film trilogy, dying with honor. In Tolkien’s actual story, however, Haldir’s death is never recorded. Though he did meet with the Fellowship during their travels, he didn’t aid them in battle, and thus lived a long life before the Elves left Middle-earth. – Michael John Petty
14 Finrod
Played by Will Fletcher
As Galadriel’s older brother, Finrod has a pretty wild story. We don’t see much of the Elf noble in the Amazon series, but what we do opens up the potential for more in the future. In Tolkien’s legendarium, Finrod is not only a High Elven Lord and King, but one of the most important bridges between Elves and Men. He died saving a man, Beren, from a werewolf sent by Sauron, and it’s for that reason that he was the first of his kind to be reincarnated in Valinor.
Thus far, The Rings of Power hasn’t explored much of Finrod’s story due to most of it taking place during the First Age, but now that the cat’s out of the bag with Sauron, we can only hope that it will further expand on his legendary undertakings. Will Fletcher did a pretty great job in Season 1, but we know he could do a lot more going further. – Michael John Petty
13 Arwen
Played by Liv Tyler
The Lord of the Rings has some of the best heroes in any fantasy universe, and Arwen remains one of the most captivating and empathic. She is the most well-known female character from the books and movies, thanks to Liv Tyler’s flawless portrayal of the headstrong and passionate daughter of Elrond.
Arwen is described as the “most beautiful of the last generation of High Elves in Middle-earth,” and can summon powerful water spirits. She goes out of her way to always help those in need as well. One of the more important things she does is unite Elf and Man in peace again, like Beren and Lúthien before her. By marrying Aragorn after the War of the Ring, she became Queen of the Reunited Kingdom.
12 Legolas
Played by Orlando Bloom
With his long, icy blonde hair and ever-equipped memorable weapon in the fantasy movies, the Bow of the Galadhrim, Orlando Bloom’s portrayal of Legolas changed pop culture in the early 2000s. Both children and adults admired his powerful eyesight and hearing that enabled him to hit any target after joining the Fellowship.
As the Prince of Mirkwood, Legolas was blessed with many talents. He is a master archer, a horse whisperer, a silent hunter, and he could even sleep while walking – which allowed him to travel “45 leagues in less than 4 days.” His friendship with the grumpy Dwarf, Gimli, is also one of the most endearing in the Tolkien universe. Their relationship beats long-held prejudices and Legolas even lets the Dwarf into the sacred Undying Lands.
11 Celeborn
Played by Marton Csokas
Celeborn is known as one of the most intelligent Elves from Lord of the Rings, and he is an especially benevolent ruler. He is also Galadriel’s supportive husband, always seen by her side. The two powerful characters rule Lothórien together, though Celeborn understandably takes a back seat to the powerful Galadriel most of the time.
His depiction of a loving and supportive husband in Jackson’s films is incredibly important. The Lord of the Rings is filled with powerful women who rule kingdoms and women’s opinions that hold just as much weight as their male counterparts. While Celeborn is mighty on his own, his greatest feat might just be partnering with Galadriel, as the two are undeniably better as a unit.
10 Elrond
Played by Hugo Weaving and Robert Aramayo
Half-Elf and half-Man, Elrond’s telepathy is incredibly powerful and his presence in the world of Middle-earth changed numerous things for the better. Elrond founded the Elven town of Rivendell, ruled it fairly, and shaped the legacy of Middle-earth’s Third Age. He is, without doubt, the most reliable Elf in The Lord of the Rings.
He played a significant role in the first war with Sauron, and as soon as the One Ring was found, he called for the Council of Elrond to encourage beings from around Middle-earth to figure out a solution together. Fans have also grown to be more appreciative of the character thanks to a young Elrond’s depiction in Rings of Power, where his relationship with Galadriel is explored with much more depth than in the film trilogy.
9 Gil-galad
Played by Benjamin Walker
There aren’t many characters in The Lord of the Rings that are capable of facing off with the Dark Lord of Mordor, but Gil-galad is one of them. He was also the last High King of the Ñoldor and held “the highest authority among the Elves.” Gil-galad’s importance cannot be overstated, as he was very well-respected, and he also formed the kingdom of Lindon, which became the longest-lasting Elven kingdom.
He makes a very brief appearance next to Elrond during the battle of Sauron at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring. A young Gil-galad is a major character in Rings of Power, and a complex one, too. His dilemma about the use of Mithril to preserve the fading strength of the Elves makes his motivations and storyline especially intriguing.
8 Celebrimbor
Played by Charles Edwards
Of all the important Elves introduced in The Rings of Power, none are more crucial to the plot as Celebrimbor. The Ñoldorin prince was one of the last descendants of Fëanor (more on him later), and was the ruler of Eregion during the Second Age. Celebrimbor was also directly responsible for the creation of the famed Rings of Power (most notably the three Elven rings, Nenya, Vilya, and Narya) and was deceived by Sauron posing as Annatar (“Lord of Gifts”) into creating the other magical rings as well.
In Tolkien’s legendarium, Celebrimbor made the Elfstone for Galadriel, whom he secretly loved, though The Rings of Power has yet to explore that part of the story. Still, Charles Edwards is a solid Elfsmith, one who has a lot of potential as Amazon’s Lord of the Rings prequel series continues. – Michael John Petty
7 Finwë
Appears in ‘The Silmarillion’ (1977)
As the first King of Noldor, Finwë holds an indelible place in Elven history, and of Middle-earth as a whole. Although he is likely unfamiliar to those who have never read the books, Finwë is responsible for shaping the destiny of Ñoldor Elves with his unwavering leadership and dedication to preserving Elven culture. In fact, Finwë is remembered for the way he led his people to Valinor.
Aside from being a steadfast figure for his people, Finwë is also the father to two more important characters in LotR, Fëanor – the best craftsman among the Elves – and Fingolfin, the first High King of the Ñoldor. His unyielding commitment to the Elves and to his family despite the challenges he faced makes him a fondly remembered and well-written character. – Hannah Saab
6 Eärendil
Appears in ‘The Silmarillion’ (1977)
Technically a half-Elf, and a descendant of Beren and Lúthien (more on her later), Eärendil is an important figure in the Middle-earth chronology who first sailed to Valinor at the end of the First Age. This half-Elf legend was also responsible for slaying none other than Ancalagon the Black, the greatest of Morgoth’s vile dragons. His family line would eventually connect to none other than Aragorn.
Speaking of, Eärendil was also the father of Elrond and Elros (the first King of Númenor), making him vital to not only the history of Middle-earth, but Sauron’s eventual defeat. Through both of his sons, his decendants, Aragorn and Arwen, would become the King and Queen of Gondor, one Man and one Elf. Though Eärendil doesn’t appear in The Rings of Power, a statue honoring him can be seen in Armenelos, the capital of Númenor. – Michael John Petty
5 Galadriel
Played by Cate Blanchett and Morfydd Clark
A massively popular Lord of the Rings Elf (even more now thanks to The Rings of Power), Galadriel is the Lady of the woods of Lothlórien, and is known for surpassing “nearly all others in beauty, knowledge, and power.” She played a pivotal role in many council formations and wars and wielded Nenya, the Ring of Water, which possessed radiance that matched the stars.
Galadriel was arrogant and rebellious in her younger years, but she later founded and ruled the kingdom of Lothlórien. She grew to be one of the most powerful Elves in Tolkien’s universe thanks to the wisdom she gained throughout her long life. She was the only one who was able to perceive Sauron’s deceitfulness when he began to manifest into a different form, which is a moment that has already been depicted on the hit show.
4 Fingolfin
Appears in ‘The Silmarillion’ (1977)
Known for his great courage and valor, Fingolfin is remembered for the unique honor of being the first High King of the Ñoldor in Beleriand. Fingolfin is also notable for his unmatched combat skills, cementing him as one of the strongest warriors of the First Age. In a duel against Morgoth, Fingolfin achieves the impossible by inflicting seven wounds upon the Dark Lord, which is a feat only the most powerful can accomplish.
He’s the mightiest, most intelligent, and most resilient among Finwë’s sons, and his legendary exploits make him especially endearing among fans. Fingolfin is not one to back down from a fight, even when the odds are stacked against him. It would be interesting to think about how his strength could translate on the small or big screen, which LotR fans are undoubtedly hoping to see. – Hannah Saab
3 Lúthien
Appears in ‘The Silmarillion’ (1977)
Lúthien is never portrayed in Peter Jackson’s movies, to great shame. The Elven woman shines with immense power and beauty; Lúthien is the most beautiful of all the Children of Ilúvatar. It is also said in the great stories of the Elder Days that her bloodline will never perish.
The powerful Elven woman gets many things done throughout her life. She manages to reverse the Gift of Men granted by Ilúvatar. Lúthien is also the first and only being to resurrect a Man – her husband, Beren. She once enchanted Morgoth into a coma so that they could steal a Silmaril. Finally, Lúthien is even able to brilliantly shame Sauron into hiding, a feat that no one else can claim. – Michael John Petty
2 Glorfindel
Appears in ‘The Silmarillion’ (1977) and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ (1954)
Glorfindel is among the mightiest of Elves to have ever lived, with “hair of shining gold, a face fair and fearless, and his hand set with strength.” He was once the lord of the House of the Golden Flower until he died in the First Age. No one can kill Glorfindel just once – he was brought back from the dead and re-embodied as Valar with even greater power.
While the original Glorfindel is praised for being a noble lord, he is best known for his battle with a powerful creature called a Balrog. In the legendary story, he defeats a Balrog all on his own. And while this is what ultimately leads to his first death, bringing down a Balrog is a pretty cool way to go out.
1 Fëanor
Appears in ‘The Silmarillion’ (1977)
One of the most complex Elves in Lord of the Rings, Fëanor’s importance in Tolkien’s universe surpasses many. He was a master blacksmith and battle strategist, he was born with a piece of his mother’s spirit inside him, and – most importantly – he crafted the Silmarils, which are the most precious gems in all of Arda. He created them from the Two Trees of Valinor with a level of craftsmanship that was never replicated again.
While the Elf walked the line of genius, he was also incredibly selfish and prideful. He was very skilled and understood things flawlessly, but this did not translate into his relationships with his fellow Elves. He was a terrible brother and brought significant turmoil to his people with the Oath of Fëanor, but these contradictions only make his character even more compelling. Of course, it’s worth noting that Fëanor set most of the events of LotR in motion – without his acumen, the epic tapestry that unfolds across Middle-earth could have gone very differently.
