Top 10 Best The Lord of the Rings Characters

The Lord of the Rings is an acclaimed high fantasy novel series. It follows a group of characters who rally the Free Peoples of Middle-earth against Sauron's armies.

Meanwhile, Frodo journeys to destroy the One Ring. The series was later adapted into an equally successful film series.

The Top Ten

Aragorn

Aragorn II, the son of Arathorn II and Gilraen, is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium and one of the main protagonists of The Lord of the Rings. He is a skilled ranger and warrior, and as Isildur's heir, he carried the reforged sword Andúril, which was once the shards of Narsil... read more

After a minute of debating in my brain, I have to give up and say that Aragorn, son of Arathorn, is the best character. Runner-ups include Sam and Gandalf. He's pretty much a perfect character, humble yet brave and strong. He is Isildur's heir. He combines the best aspects of other amazing characters: Sam's humility, the awesomeness of Legolas, and the wisdom of Gandalf.
He also went through the most change and development, from a wild Ranger to the King of Gondor, Isildur's heir. Legolas is a great character, but it baffles me that he is second place. Like, he has barely any character development, besides his relationship with Gimli. I also love Gandalf because of his inspiration towards others and his great quotes, and Sam for his loyalty to his master and his speeches.
Gandalf the Grey

Gandalf the Grey, later known as Gandalf the White, is a fictional character and one of the protagonists in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He is an Istar, a type of Maia sent by the Valar to aid the peoples of Middle-earth against the threat of Sauron during the Third... read more

He always saved the Fellowship and gave his life while fighting the Balrog. Then he came back as powerful as the Balrog itself!
He was also the wisest member of the Fellowship and always knew the right solution to the problem.

Gandalf is the greatest, wisest, strongest, and without a doubt, the most powerful character of all. He killed a Balrog, came back to life even stronger than before, and he is a Maia, which means, if you read the books, you can learn that before Gandalf came in human form, he was more powerful than ever and helped create Earth.
So, Gandalf is without a doubt the best character ever!
Legolas

Legolas is a character in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. He is a Sindarin Elf from the Woodland Realm and one of the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring. Legolas was portrayed by Orlando Bloom in Peter Jackson's live-action film adaptations.

Legolas is and always has been my favorite character. Every time I read the books or watch the movies, I'm reminded why I love his character so much! He's loyal, noble, intelligent, graceful, strong, wise, and skilled in battle, yet he is still flawed. He runs out of arrows (in the books), sometimes doesn't quite understand how precious time can be to others, and can be too bold with his words.
But despite everything, he is still a great character to read about or watch. His relationships with his fellow hunters are priceless! Legolas will always be my favorite!

He is the coolest with his bow and arrow abilities. He's the most versatile fighter and can take out tons of enemies single-handedly, including trolls and oliphaunts. He's also calm no matter what, and very brave as well.
Think about it. He could have just stayed in Mirkwood or Rivendell and eventually left Middle-earth to live forever in paradise if things with Sauron got too bad. But instead, he fought side by side with the free folk at Helm's Deep and again at the Black Gate, even though he was most likely going to die both times.
Samwise Gamgee

Sam is one of the most heroic characters in the entire story, I'd say on par with Aragorn. A hobbit who would have had no problem spending his entire life blissfully unaware of life outside the Shire partakes in a deadly quest simply because of his undying loyalty to Frodo.
It's clear that Sam would do anything for Frodo, absolutely anything. Even after Frodo sends him away, Sam returns and fights a giant spider. That's true bravery. Even when he believed Frodo to be dead, he didn't give up on the quest. He was willing to try and destroy the Ring on his own.
He never gave up, not once. He provided Frodo with hope when Frodo had none. He carried him up Mount Doom despite his own exhaustion. Sam is a true hero through and through and one of the most selfless characters I've ever seen in any media.
Frodo Baggins

Frodo Baggins is a fictional character and the main protagonist of J. R. R. Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings. He was a Hobbit of the Shire during the Third Age and was chosen to be the bearer of the One Ring in the quest to destroy it. Frodo was portrayed by Elijah Wood in Peter Jackson's film adaptations... read more

For all of you saying "Frodo is a wimp," "a coward," "he did nothing," and so on, think about it. Can you even imagine what it would have been like to keep the ring for a year? Sam was tempted after less than a day, so stop saying he would've been a better ring-bearer.
There's a reason that Frodo of all people was entrusted with it. The whole point is that he was this little hobbit who had to go through such an enormous ordeal. If you missed that, then you missed the greatest point of this masterful trilogy! Don't make flippant comments about the main character of a story that you love so much. Think about it first.

Frodo is the obvious protagonist but also the most flawed character in the story. Frodo starts as the embodiment of purity and is able to carry the ring without many temptations. As the trilogy progresses, however, Frodo becomes obsessed with the ring and breaks his relationship with Sam. Frodo's underlying character trait is his innate caring for all creatures. He cares for and sympathizes with Gollum as they make their way to Mordor. Though some can't see past Frodo's corruption through the ring at the end of the story, he is ultimately able to rehabilitate from his previous obsession and goes off with Bilbo, who also struggled with the same burden.
Gimli son of Glóin

Gimli is the best character because he's stocky, short, and stubborn. Also, he's a badass and tried to destroy the ring with his axe when everyone told him he couldn't. He did it anyway.
Lastly, he has an awesome beard, hands down that makes him tons better than a hairy-footed hobbit who can barely control himself from putting on that ring.

Gimli is what every Dwarf should strive to be. Dwarves are focused on wealth and luxuries, but Gimli is able to get past such weaknesses and fight for honor and the betterment of Middle-Earth.
He gets past years of racial prejudice against elves by becoming best friends with Legolas. He is a caring, sweet, and honorable friend and warrior.
Gollum (Sméagol)

Gollum is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He was introduced in the 1937 children's fantasy novel The Hobbit and became an important supporting character in its sequel, The Lord of the Rings. In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, he is portrayed... read more

Gollum is the best. The way J.R. Tolkien used him is genius. His multiple personalities, his twisted background, and his ultimate struggle between the ring and Frodo make him compelling. Gollum portrays the reality of human nature. We are greedy and strangled creatures in need. He is one of the most real characters in both the book and movies.
I also like Gollum because of his Smeagol side. Honestly, even though his eating habits are gross, I can't help but feel bad for this character. I would befriend Smeagol in a heartbeat. He is such a confused little guy. He has good intentions, but eventually, his greed gets the best of him.
Even though I like Legolas and Gimli very much - Gimli is hilarious, and Legolas is super cool - Gollum just surpasses them all. It always makes me so sad watching him fall into Mount Doom. I feel sad. All in all, Gollum's character is so perfect, so round, that I picked him as my favorite character in the whole Lord of the Rings series.
Sauron

Sauron is the title character and main antagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Originally a servant of the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, Sauron rose to power after Morgoth's defeat. He forged the One Ring to dominate Middle-earth but was defeated when the Ring was cut from his finger.... read more

What makes Sauron a compelling villain is that we don't know a lot about him, and he never really directly appears. However, we always see his influence. He was very smart in planning the downfall of his enemies, and there are many points in the story where Sauron could have won. He knew that no one would ever willingly destroy the ring because it would corrupt the ring bearer, making them unwilling to get rid of it.
He had a much larger army than his enemies, and it was so big that eventually his superior numbers would overwhelm his enemies, no matter how long it took. Aragorn winning battles was just prolonging their inevitable defeat. Sauron declared war on Middle-Earth even without the ring. He was not afraid of his enemies and would not stop until he had permanently defeated and completely destroyed them.
He was a real threat to all of Middle-Earth. That's an important part. He's a real threat. He can and will destroy his enemies unless the ring is somehow destroyed, which should be impossible. Tolkien could have made Saruman the main villain or even the Witch-King of Angmar. Both of these guys are incredibly powerful, command vast armies, and rule over lands. But he didn't. He made Sauron the main villain.
I also think Sauron is the main character of the story. Yes, Frodo is our main protagonist, and Sauron is the main antagonist, but the main character is the one we focus on the most, and we focus on Sauron. He creates all the conflict and evil in the story, either directly or indirectly. He corrupted nine kings of men into the Nazgul, his deadliest servants. He also corrupted Saruman into evil and caused Isengard to go to war with Rohan. He created the One Ring, which is the central point of conflict in the story.... read more
Peregrin "Pippin" Took

You've got to love Pippin! He's cute and funny, but super brave. The development of his character over the trilogy is so good. He has the best character development among all members of the Fellowship.
He's the very embodiment of Tolkien's quote, "It is not the strength of the body, but the strength of the spirit." I honestly love reading and watching The Two Towers and Return of the King only because Pippin has such a huge part in them. The scenes when he bonds with Faramir and later tries to save him always choke me up. Overall, Pippin is love, Pippin is life. And hands down, Billy Boyd did a brilliant job. I couldn't have come up with a better casting.
Boromir

Boromir is epic. He may seem corrupted, but in the end, he fights his temptation for the ring and basically saves Merry and Pippin, selflessly giving his life to protect them as best he can. As he fearlessly battled many Uruk-hai, he was shot in the chest. He stumbled to his knees. Once recovered from shock, he got up and kept swinging.
Shoom! Another arrow - this time to the heart! Once again on his knees, he looked up and saw the hobbits. With a reason to keep battling, he continued to slay Uruk-hai. Suddenly, he was on his knees yet again, impaled by another arrow. Now, with three arrows in his torso, he finally gave up. But he still lived for about three minutes! As he lay there dying, he inspired Aragorn to fight. Without Boromir, the fellowship might have failed.

The Newcomers

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Elwing
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Arien (Maia of the Sun)

The Contenders

Saruman the White

Saruman the White is a fictional character and a major antagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. He was originally the head of the Istari order but becomes corrupted by his desire for power and control. In the film adaptations directed by Peter Jackson, Saruman was portrayed... read more

Saruman is everything that could've gone wrong with Gandalf. Saruman took the easy way out of conflict and decided to join with Sauron. He manipulated Wormtongue to his will, betraying his own people and village.
He plotted against Middle-Earth from the beginning and hunted down Gandalf and the Fellowship in order to keep power. He was blinded by his desire for power and failed to predict the obvious fact that Sauron would deceive him and use the power Saruman helped Sauron get against him. Despite his evilness, he is a well-rounded character, and it was a tragedy that Wormtongue killed him before he was able to help the Fellowship take over Mordor.
Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck

I think that Merry is one of the best characters in The Lord of the Rings, but is sadly unpopular. He is incredibly clever and cares very much for all of his friends. All of his actions go unnoticed, and in the movies, he wasn't even the one to kill the Witch King of Angmar.
Anyone who read Return of the King would know that he actually killed the Lord of the Nazgul and saved Eowyn, although she was the one that killed the Fellbeast. Personally, I think that Merry is just the most underrated character in the series, although I love all of the others to death. I just think that maybe he deserves a bit more credit.

Level-headed, wise, and brave, Merry displays all the best traits of a wonderful friend and advocate. He is often overlooked due to his small stature, yet his dedication and courage never falter.
Despite not leaving the Shire prior to the Fellowship, his worldview is that of someone well-traveled. His ability to take in and act on the enormity of Frodo's mission is critical to its success. Merry was the key to getting out of the Shire in the absence of Gandalf. He would be perfectly happy without being one of the most highly ranked characters.
Éowyn of Rohan

Nothing new from what everyone else said. Still, I AM NO MAN. She is one of the best characters since she kills the Witch King, disobeys her uncle, saves her uncle's army, and refuses to give up, even though no one wants her to fight. She proves them all wrong - she can fight. And well.
Just a few questions. How did Tauriel get onto this list? She was created for a movie, not by J.R.R. Tolkien, and that movie sucked! Her relationship with Fili is ridiculous - she falls in love with him at first sight? They don't lead up on that relationship - it's just like she sees him, and bam! She's in love.

Eowyn was literally one of the first strong female characters in modern fantasy. She is a daring heroine who fought against society's prevailing notion that women must stay at home while their husbands go to war, and she slayed the Witch-king of Angmar.
If you think about it, if it weren't for her (and Merry, of course), the whole war might not have been won. The Witch-king probably would have destroyed Minas Tirith and then proceeded to get the Ring from Frodo.
Eowyn... IS NO MAN!
Galadriel of Lothlórien

Galadriel is a character created by J.R.R. Tolkien who appears in his Middle-earth legendarium, including The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. She is one of the greatest of the Eldar, renowned for her beauty, wisdom, and power, and is the bearer of Nenya, one of the three Elven rings of power... read more

She is an amazing character. Not only is she very beautiful, she is also wise, calm, and strong. She gives Frodo advice that makes his task possible.
She even has the strength to resist the temptation of the Ring of Power. Despite her being in the show for a short period, she is my favorite character and one of my favorite characters in any show.

Galadriel plays such a pivotal role within The Lord of the Rings. She's totally awesome! As one of the oldest characters, she has been a major player longer than any other character and is the epitome of elven supremacy. She symbolizes the theme of hope, being the 'Lady of Light' whose ever-present (even in absence) guidance gives all the characters such a massive advantage.
Love you, Galadriel!
Faramir

Can't believe he's not in the top ten. Faramir is one of the most inspirational characters in the series for me. Not because he's some fantastical race or brilliant fighter or special hero, but because for the most part he's just a normal guy.
And he knows it. He succeeds in his own right, forges his own path on his own merits, and somehow manages to pull it off. He shows that even if you're not born to change the world, you still have a part to play and can do it well. And he's just so humble about it, too - not trying to glory in his own achievements, but merely seeing them as contributions to a greater cause.

Faramir is one of the most admirable characters in the series. His devotion to defending Gondor is amazing, especially considering that he's not naturally inclined toward violence. The way he rises above his father's influence and lets Frodo and Sam go is truly inspirational. While I love Aragorn, Sam, and other similar characters, Faramir is much more relatable. Most people aren't the heroes of big stories.
Faramir is like ordinary people in that, when he finds himself in the middle of one of these stories, he doesn't glory in it or make it about himself. Instead, he simply does what he can from the sidelines to the best of his abilities.
Also, David Wenham's portrayal of him in the movies was awesome.
Bilbo Baggins

Bilbo Baggins is the title character and protagonist of J. R. R. Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit, as well as a supporting character in The Lord of the Rings. He was the first Hobbit to become widely known outside the Shire and was one of the few to travel to the Undying Lands across the ocean. In film... read more

Bilbo has one of the purest hearts out of all the characters we meet in Middle Earth. Yes, he ends up being strongly influenced by the ring over time, but his character and love for his friends and family never faltered.
He is selfless and brave, and one of his greatest strengths is appreciating the magic of home.

I see how Bilbo is better than Frodo. Though Bilbo is also mean to Gandalf, he and Frodo both fell to the ring and were mean to Sam and Gandalf. But still, Bilbo did kill more orcs and spiders than Frodo. Frodo doesn't officially kill any orc on screen.
Elrond Half-elven

Elrond's character is very static. Elrond began as an elf who valued honor and desired to destroy evil by throwing the ring into Mt. Doom, and he ended as an elf who valued honor and desired to destroy evil by throwing the ring into Mt. Doom. The most significant change he goes through in the story is the conflict between his daughter, Aragorn, and himself in the debate of Arwen giving her eternal youth to Aragorn.
With all this said, Elrond is just a great character who offers little to deepen the plot, but is a character that furthers the plot and gives slightly more detail into other characters. I just like Elrond because he was at the beginning when Isildur refused to throw the ring into Mt. Doom and because he carries so much lore with him.
The Witch-King of Angmar

This guy doesn't really get the credit he deserves. Remember how Aragorn is royalty, but he's been living as a ranger? That's because of the Witch-king. And remember how Gondor hasn't had a king for the past few centuries? The Witch-king did that too.

The king of the Nazgul. He has cool weapons like a mace and a sword that can turn into fire. He is the best. Eowyn is stupid. The Witch-king would have killed her if that ugly hobbit Merry did not exist!

Epic! His sword can turn to fire and break a wizard's staff. He even rides a winged steed. I think he is the best character in the movie and the book.
Treebeard the Ent

In the movies, when I heard the song and saw them march on Isengard, I was brought to tears. Tolkien was trying to show the evils of technology with the ents, and he said that he hated allegory.
Anyways, if there were one creature in LOTR that I would like in real life, it would be the ents.

Confession: when I was a kid, I made my username "entgirl" on most platforms and games.
I LOVE ents! Treebeard especially. He is a bit slow, but he is so loyal and has a deep love for his fellow ents. I have always been fascinated by the forests and trees of Middle Earth, though, so maybe I'm a bit biased.
Arwen Evenstar

Ugh, I'm sorry to say, but all the reasons people vote for Arwen is because she sacrificed herself (well, her immortal life) for Aragorn. Willing to die for love is a bad idea. In the movies, she at least helped Frodo, but in the books, she just lies there, waiting and blah.
Compared with Eowyn, well, you get what I mean.

I am surprised she is not higher on the list. Y'all are crazy. She's got to be in the top ten.
I mean, really, people? Do you not see how she gives up EVERYTHING to be with Aragorn?! She is definitely one of my favorites.
Tom Bombadil

Bombadil is an amazing character, and even in the book, he was not revealed completely. Further research shows that Tolkien considered him something like "God's little brother," actually more powerful than anyone, including Sauron.
However, he cares little about anyone and is not motivated to do anything at all about evil in the world.

I absolutely adore Tom Bombadil! He is so powerful and could probably rule Middle Earth if he wanted to, but he desires no such power and lives a simple and beautiful life in the forest instead. He could have taken the ring from Frodo so easily. He actually held it in his hand, but he just gave it back to Frodo without flinching. Not even Sam was able to do that.
Tom Bombadil is the physical embodiment of everything Lord of the Rings is about.
Balrog of Morgoth

Many people get the misconception that Gandalf is triumphant over the Balrog, but what many don't know is Gandalf dies shortly after from mortal wounds.
Thus, though the Balrog's death was portrayed as showing Gandalf as more powerful, he is not. Also, the Balrog is so strong that no mortal can kill it.
I mean, come on, there are only seven immortal beings or Maiar. So if Gandalf can be third, the Balrog should not be 20th.

It's a badass demon of the ancient world and is the coolest-looking thing, more so than any other in all three films. It wields a huge flaming sword and whip. Also, it kills Gandalf - well, sort of.
It would have been awesome to see it rampage at the Battle of Helm's Deep or something. By far, my favorite character, even though its time on screen or in the book was short-lived.
Théoden King of Rohan

Theoden is an underrated character in my opinion. He is one of my favorites, and here's why: Theoden is one of the most real characters in the entirety of the books and films (up there with Sam and Boromir). He is portrayed as a benevolent king who knows what is best for his people. He will do what he can to help them but is willing to make the hard choices and will not be every subject's best friend.
When it comes to the hardest decisions and choices a king would ever have to make, he does it with confidence, and can inspire his people onwards. His portrayal as an obviously good and inspiring king who does what is best for his people, and not what the people always want, is why he is one of the best and most real characters in LOTR.
Éomer of Rohan

He is a true knight and loyal to his people and his king. You can clearly see that he is born in the purple. A noble man, handsome, and of course, kick-ass!

In the book, he was really amazing. A true leader. A true king. A very honest person.

He killed two Oliphants with a single throw of a spear. Even Legolas couldn't do that!
Nazgûl (Ringwraiths)