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. There are a plethora of other complex, interesting, and well-written Lord of the Rings Elves that deserve recognition. As fans continue the long wait for The Rings of Power Season 2 (which is expected to premiere in 2024), there's no time like the present to delve into the world LotR, which is full of well-written Elven characters.

Rings-of-power-poster
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
TV-14

Epic drama set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth.

Release Date
September 1, 2022
Cast
Morfydd Clark , Benjamin Walker , Nazanin Boniadi , Peter Mullan , Lenny Henry , Robert Aramayo , Cynthia Addai-Robinson , Ismael Cruz Cordova , Joseph Mawle , Ema Horvath , Markella Kavenagh , Owain Arthur
Main Genre
Fantasy
Seasons
2

Watch on Amazon Prime

12 Thranduil

Played by Lee Pace

Thranduil in the snow.

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.

11 Arwen

Played by Liv Tyler

Arwen in The Lord of the Rings, played by Live 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.

10 Legolas

Played by Orlando Bloom

Legolas staring into camera.

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.

9 ​​​​Celeborn

Played by Marton Csokas

Celeborn with Galadriel in Lothlorien.

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.

8 Elrond

Played by Hugo Weaving and Robert Aramayo

Elrond handing over a sword during the Council of Elrond.

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.

7 Gil-galad

Played by Benjamin Walker

Gil-galad in Rings of Power-1

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.

6 Finwë

Appears in 'The Silmarillion' (1977)

rings-of-power-valinor-ship-episode-1
Image via Amazon Studios

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

5 Galadriel

Played by Cate Blanchett and Morfydd Clark

Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Image via Prime Video

A massively popular Lord of the Rings Elf (even more now thanks to 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)

rings-of-power-morgoth

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)

Luthien & Beren Lord of the Rings by Alan Lee
Original cover art for Beren & Luthien by Alan Lee

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.

2 Glorfindel

Appears in 'The Silmarillion' (1977)

Valinor in Rings of Power

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)

Feanor's hammer on display in the Rings of Power.
Image via Amazon Studios

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.

NEXT: The Best Quotes From 'The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy, Ranked