Why Sauron Wants Mithril | Tolkien Explained

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#mithril #sauron #lordoftherings

[@NerdoftheRings]

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[@spiraling69]

Another awesome vid! I wish it was longer!!!

[@nowthenzen]

I have assumed Sauron coveted Mithril the same way Morgoth coveted Tinúviel when she went to rescue Beren

[@vr6prodigy]

I usually get mad at sponsored content, and I'm still not enthused, but at least what you're sharing is for us nerds. I get so tired of seeing raid, raycon, and ag1. All the channels I watch, none of them ever have anything to do with the sponsor content they feature. This is at least proper to the topic. I saw lots of lotr pieces in there.

[@hydroknight01]

Displate are using AI-generated images now. And so dies any respect I may have had for their products. No thank you.

[@CaveTrollStudios]

Do you plan to buy the barad dur set

[@melkhiordarkfell4354]

Probably helps that taking all the mithril stopped anyone else running around with a suit of mithril mail.

[@TheKirky]

Lol

[@NerdoftheRings]

Or a giant mithril mech. Like a Trojan Oliphaunt. 😂

[@TheKirky]

@@NerdoftheRings wonder why sauron never wore any mithril himself? Given that it’s the strongest material in middle earth?

[@LikeWhyTF]

Whoaaaa…. You just created Aragorn Stark

[@colinbaldwin313]

That's a great theory. Sauron may have hoarded mithril just to keep it out of the hands of his foes.

[@paulbrickler]

I like the 'because he's a smith, and it's a cool metal' theory.

[@meganofsherwood3665]

Yes! Like, even Sauron can't fully get rid of that innate artistic ability or desire for the highest quality materials 😂

[@Jason-re4dw]

I guess everyone needs a hobby... And when you're an all powerful dark lord why settle for second best!

[@Clayne151]

He probably had a ton of unfinished projects lying around in barad dur, like any tinkerer would 😅

[@Rebelrocker69]

I think that the answer is two fold. One: He wished to deny it from his enemies, whether for making weapons, armor, enchanted items, or just beautiful objects. Two: After he had vanquished all of the free peoples of Middle Earth, he planned to use it to construct armor, weapons, and other enchanted items for himself in a future war against the Valar themselves. Foolish, I know. But his hubris was, I think, sufficient to that task. But I have no doubt he would have failed.

[@LOVEMUFFIN_official]

Did he not use his stockpiles of Mithril to build the foundation of Barad Dur?

[@Crafty_Spirit]

​@@LOVEMUFFIN_official that does not add up with the timeline

[@LOVEMUFFIN_official]

@@Crafty_Spirit That’s what I am thinking, but I am sure that I heard it somewhere. The viewers of this channel are likely to frequent the same Tolkien knowledge bases as me, so I was wondering if someone else had heard the same thing.

[@Crafty_Spirit]

@@LOVEMUFFIN_official I mean Khazad-Dûm was built an age before Barad-Dûr and I'm quite sure that the kings of Khazad-Dûm did not offer any Mithril to Sauron, so Sauron had only access once the Dwarves were ousted from Moria, which happened another age later

[@abrahamrios1196]

Exactly my thought- he was a paranoid plotting being and still with mind for the future with Melkor. It is possible that one of two things could come there- Sauron building tribute to his old master or to wage war against him and his like.

[@TheNinjaDC]

There are only 2 kinds of beings. 1: Those who want mythril. 2: Those who have not heard of Mythril.

[@matthewronson5218]

Mithril

[@goldenhate6649]

@@matthewronson5218 technically both are right, but in this context, mithril is more correct

[@danguee1]

@@matthewronson5218 Tolkien used both spellings

[@thevalarauka101]

@@danguee1 as I recall he only used mithril, whereas mythril appears sometimes in later fantasy works

[@kirbyculp3449]

There are two kinds of people in Middle Earth my friend, those who have mithral and those who dig...

[@samuelvine]

My belief is that Sauron made his own version of Ithildin with Mithril. When Frodo and Co. first meet Glorifindel on the desperate route to the Ford of Bruinen, the Elf tells Aragorn that "evil things" were *written* on the hilt of the Morgul dagger "though maybe your eyes cannot see them". What do we have here? A metalic substance that we already know can create invisible writing... and not just writing by itself but the ability to write a spell onto another substance.... The door to Moria used Ithildin which was magically keyed in to the protection and opening spells of that door. The Morgul dagger also has an invisible writing that communicated spell work into the dagger itself though it was invisible to all except possibly to those with power in the Unseen Realm (or at least invisible to all who we are told looked at the dagger's hilt with the exception being the only person there with power in the Unseen as well). I'm guessing that Sauron, or the Witch King (or both), managed to create a form similar to Ithildin but instead of mirroring starlight and moonlight, it mirrored the Wraith world, something the Nazgul could easily read since it would have a presence in the Unseen as well, which is where the senses of the Nazgul were at their strongest. Anyways, that's my headcannon lol :)

[@Ronen..]

I absolutely love this take. Great thought!

[@samuelvine]

@@Ronen..

[@jamescarter8693]

Yea I dig this thought also to mirror the shadows and use its power in spell form bad ass

[@Biblebasher89]

Fantastic take!

[@Mrilter92]

Many times we see that Mithril is the preferred material used for magically enhanced items. So a theory that either it is a material easier and/or more potent in "binding" magical properties to an item would then make a lot of sense. Since Sauron is a legendary dark sorcerer and smith then it would only make sense that he desired this material greatly and wanted to get his hands on as much as possible, no matter what he would be using it for.

[@brianreddeman951]

Secretly, Sauron was getting tired of being the evil guy, really wanted to something different. Was going to open mithrilware shop and sell custom cutlery and cooking ware.

[@LAVATORR]

Sauron really wanted a mall kiosk so he could sell the finest iPhone cases in southern Illinois.

[@goldenhate6649]

@@LAVATORR Wait, there's enough people in southern Illinois for a mall to exist?

[@LAVATORR]

@@goldenhate6649 Why do you think he was breeding all those orcs?

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

@@LAVATORR Because he needed slave labour to make all the I-Phones?

[@elektro096]

My theory is he wanted a tiara and pendant to go with the One Ring.

[@jamescaldwell2357]

He'd be very pretty.

[@markuhler2664]

He wanted to be the prettiest princess of all the lands

[@Eowyn3Pride]

Oh! A crown or armor that displayed all the Rings of Power, like Morgoth did with the Silmarils!🍻😁👍

[@socrabe]

Gotta bind them in darkness with style

[@musclethestrong1522]

Mithril is a girl’s best friend

[@awesomehpt8938]

Who wouldn’t want some nice shiny bling bling that protects you from harm?

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Like a finger from a blade, maybe?

[@sauron5666]

​Thats is not how it worked in books. Elendil and Gil-Galad Slayed Sauron in combat

[@lakehayden]

Yeah it's the one weak spot of my wardrobe, no decent mithril armour

[@myriadmediamusings]

Sauron has been alive for so long and seen so much, I’m sure nothing really excites him anymore. I don’t blame him for seeking more thrill through Mythril.

[@valritz1489]

Sounds like a 60's slogan for some sort of highly carcinogenic wonder material. "Now, from your friends at Hollin Consumer Products, MITHRIL! For the girls, write a diary that can only be read under the light of the moon! For the boys, a real life sword and shield!* *Hollin Consumer Products does not recommend bladed weapons be given to hobbit-children under the age of 30."

[@stainlesssteelfox1]

I am clearly the Great Eye, since i see what you did there.

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

Mythril = My thrill.

[@joseg.384]

Badum Tsss! 🥁

[@pendragon2012]

I always kind of thought it was the subtle hint from Tolkien that at heart despite his pretensions Sauron is another greedy Smaug--obsessed with power and riches. As Gandalf says, "There is such a thing as malice and revenge" and whether Sauron needs it or not, he sure would rather he controlled it than any of his enemies.

[@goldenhate6649]

I have always view Sauron as an intelligent fool. His absolute fascination with plots, backstabbing, and spying is his biggest weakness. He knows everything, but is completely unable to really use it to its fullest. He was on a hoard of mithril, but never made armor from it, which would have straight up made him immortal. He wouldn't have needed any of the alliances, no one on middle earth could have killed him, no army would be strong enough. But he was blind to this in his ambition for power and control of people and knowledge.

[@pendragon2012]

@@goldenhate6649 Knowledge but no wisdom, you might say.

[@magecraft2]

Halfway through this video I got a weird image of Sauron ScrougeMcDucking it into a huge pile of Mithril :)

[@chablaugbzan8853]

🤓☝️

[@claybyers2589]

I love the idea that Sauron was using Mithril to entice he southern and eastern peoples in gaining their alliance. Also, the visual of Sauron creating his own new set of armor out of Mithril certainly makes sense given his history and skill as a smith.

[@NewAge374]

Perhaps he would have wanted to create even better Rings of Power, after having recollected the Dwarven and Elven Rings. Although there is hardly any mention of history outside Middle Earth, Arda has more lands inhabited by Men, Elves and Dwarves that would be useful to conquer. Sauron might have needed to conquer the ¨dying lands¨ before making his move on the Valar in Valinor across the Sea

[@АлександрДараган-з8ц]

Two potential goals of hoarding mithril spring to mind: 1. Denial of this precious resource to the potential enemies 2. Construction of aircraft/ airships. Mithril is manufacturable, lightweight, strong and resistant to corrosion. By the time of the War of the Ring Mordor became an industrialized hellhole (who knows what technologies they already possessed), so I wouldn't be too much surprised if Sauron could have come up with an idea of establishing an air force in addition to flying Nazgul (fell beasts could be outfitted with mithril armor too, and to a great effect, I suppose).

[@AschaVovina]

IIRC in an older version of the Legendarium, Sauron helped the Numenorians develop airships and armoured steamships. So if any of that was remotely still canon, mithril could be used to craft a new armada for Mordor. And with Saruman’s own inventions like bombs, what was left of the Free Peoples would be left in ruination.

[@stormstrider1990]

Whatever Sauron's plans were for that Mithril, his stockpile is gone now. Buried under the ruins of Barad Dur.

[@MrChickennugget360]

personally, I think that much of Barad Dur was built with Mithril. A very strong and super lightweight metal would be useful for load bearing, as well at high levels as sheeting. My guess is it had strong magic enchanted stone at the base levels, with steel higher up and Mithrel at the very top. other than that, he would be inclined to hoard it in great quantities, as hoarding is a common theme in wicked and corrupted individuals.

[@LordSiravant]

@@MrChickennugget360 Not really possible because the timelines don't match up.

[@davidroetman3168]

Hoarding mithril denies its use to Sauron's enemies.

[@NerdoftheRings]

This is a great answer, imo. It's often overlooked, but the fact his enemies can't use it against him is a great point.

[@jkdbuck7670]

Yes. Exactly.

[@johnsaporta4633]

Bingo.

[@MagicScientist]

This is especially true considering that Frodo's mithril coat arguably saved the quest when it saved Frodo from the cave troll in Moria.

[@LifeFX856]

something I absolutely love about this channel is that I get to learn facts about Middle earth that I had not learned of before watching this channel! I didn't even know that Sauron wanted mithril! Subscribe to this LOTR fan everyone!

[@justinweber4977]

Clearly Sauron was constructing a giant robot body in which to lodge his all-seeing eye.

[@JohnSmith-ls3um]

How was Nenya made? A long, time-consuming, and expensive process called Nenya business.

[@TheSuperappelflap]

lmao

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

Get out!

[@1000Pigs]

Sauron is using it to cast some wicked miniatures for table top games. He plays a lot of D&D...

[@D.Rivera-bh6xc]

Sauron is always seeking what is not his..perhaps he wanted to squeeze a place for himself back beyond the sea. Also your rendition of Gandalf and Gollum are excellent! Love Love Love this channel.

[@gh-ik3jp]

Sauron gathered it so that the elves couldn't use it to save the elf tree. That's what the dark lord Jeff Bezos has shown us.

[@riyriaexplained]

This comment made me laugh, then made me sad, lol

[@redomer91]

Very brave to actually engage with Rings of Power.

[@c.antoniojohnson7114]

Jeff Bezos Is really Morgoth Baugilr.....

[@TimThaKingSSOF]

This really seems most likely. Or if he had it all, they wouldn’t have it. Thats simple enough reason and it’s petty

[@gail_blue]

Nah, he was swimming in it, like Scrooge McDuck.

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

or Peter Griffin.

[@justonsvoid]

It is in office stationary supplies, that he cast paper clips staples and thumb tacks. For whomever controls the world also controls its overbearing bureaucracy!

[@rcrawford42]

Sauron's Red Swingline would have to be made of mithril to be able to use mithril staples.

[@Richard_Nickerson]

"It's the strongest, most valuable metal in existence" "BuT wHy WoUlD hE wAnT iT¿?"

[@Come_0n_TARS]

Okay, but he's maiar like Gandalf, who never coveted or desired mithril. He's a being above humans and elves who should not have earthly material desires. So your comment ignores the context

[@Richard_Nickerson]

@@Come_0n_TARS Not all humans covet the same thing, not all Valar do either. Why should Maiar? Just because they're both Maiar means they value the same things? I think literally everything about both of them dictates otherwise, so I fail to see a point. Sauron also isn't limited the same way the Istari are by being in their human bodies BTW. It's not a 1:1 comparison. What was your point?

[@Richard_Nickerson]

@@Come_0n_TARS >Sauron's making a massive army to take over the world for him to rule. >Míthril makes the best weapons and armor, therefore Sauron wants it. >All of the children of Ilúvatar covet this thing, so being the one with the most places you above them in their own eyes. In this sense, Sauron wouldn't covet it himself per se. The fact that others do has value to him. >Sauron has a clear history of liking pretty & ornate things. He was a student of Aulë. Why wouldn't he be interested in the best metal possible? So... have I failed to think of context? Really? What was your point?

[@seneca983]

@@Richard_Nickerson It might not be a surprise that Sauron might want it but it's still a valid question to ask what precisely he's planning to do with it.

[@Richard_Nickerson]

@@seneca983 Is it? It's used to make armor, weapons, and magical jewelry. All things he has an obvious need/want of.

[@jasperallaert7874]

Hey Matt, I would love to see you do a video on what if Boromir took the ring!

[@nichtimchor]

Takes ring -> killed by Orcs -> ring now with Sauron

[@Pieces93]

@@nichtimchorI don’t think it would be that simple, more like takes ring, goes invisible, kills orc’s, loses his mind to ring and is then picked up by one or many of the wraiths soon after.

[@JohnPeacekeeper]

You know, in hindsight, it's ironic that Gimli proclaims Bilbo/Frodo's Mithril Shirt to be a kingly gift, when the Three Hairs of Galadriel he would receive may very well be even more valuable than even the Arkenstone.

[@martinxvidxb]

Gimli probably meant "kingly" as it was given by king Thorin and it was really worthy even for the king. Strands of Galadriel's hair was a gift to him at about "beyond speech" level.

[@KuK137]

LOLwhat? Something she had thousands of and constantly discarded daily being "valuable" at all? That's one of the dumbest things you could have written here, next time you will say Elrond's toenail clippings were more valuable than Narya eh?

[@Higley1234]

​@@KuK137 there's no guarantee that bodily functions of elves are completely the same as humans. There could be several arkenstones, but there's only one Galadriel. You should try to be more considerate.

[@anaussie213]

@@KuK137no one cept elves can get their hands on them though, so yes they are rare.

[@VidsnStuff]

​@martinxvidxb Even more so, when you realize that Galadriel turned away Feanor, her uncle, from having a few locks of her hair for being a creepy weirdo in the Silmarillion lmao. Meanwhile, Gimli was sweet about it, and Galadriel wasn't coming back to Middle-Earth. So him asking for one lock and getting THREE locks was an amazing gesture of goodwill!

[@toncek9981]

We all saw the movies - clearly, the mithril was needed for the Black gate hinges... Seriously though, Sauron redistributing mithril amongst his vassals might have been quite important. His hoard was basically the largest source of the metal, so he could almost fully control its distribution... That's actually similar to how we imagine some of the bronze age societies, with chieftains controlling the production of bronze objects and redistributing/giving them to their vassals and allies to buy their loyalty. But then again, the idea of his personal army of unstoppable black Numenoreans clad in mithril probably sounded pretty nice to him as well...

[@moguera]

I think Sauron was pursuing the most devious use of all for mithril…integrating it into consumer electronics…and then grossly overcharging for them.

[@Mrguypersonmandudebro]

Also, metal can be reforged and re-used. That mithril could be used in countless weapons through the ages to fight Saurons orcs. Sauron has an eternity of rule as far as he’s concerned. So if he didn’t horde all the mithril as fast as possible he would be dumb.

[@jessemillan1385]

Mithril is basically Middle Earth's version of Vibranium.

[@NerdoftheRings]

Sauron wanted a shield like Cap, confirmed. 😄

[@innocentBystander19]

Correction: vibranium is Marvels version of mithril

[@ironfist7789]

Get this man a ring!

[@istari0]

I think the first reason is simply to deny use of it to his enemies. Beyond that, I'm sure he wanted to do other things with it but I suspect the problem was that, other than himself, he may not have had craftsmen skilled enough to work with it. The Dwarves were known for their great skills in such things and Celebrimbor is regarded as being 2nd only to Fëanor in his skill as a craftsman. Beyond that, I don't see how he could have been planning to create another ring to replace the One Ring. He poured most of his innate power into the One Ring so he didn't have enough to create another such Ring.

[@Enerdhil]

I think you're right about Sauron's servants not being good at forging weapons. Tolkien never writes about the skill of Orcs, Easterlings, or Southron in weapons manufacturing. Although perhaps some of the Nazgul were good at it.

[@Enerdhil]

The thought of Sauron being able to make another One Ring To Rule Them All is as funny as Saruman thinking he could make a Ring of Power.😂

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Yeah, I wonder why Sauron would want a material that is very durable, strong, and easy to work with? Truly a mystery.

[@craigdankovich7607]

You good bro?

[@Enerdhil]

The mystery is what exactly did Sauron do with all that Mithril. He's not a dragon, so he didn't just pile it up and sleep on it. Matt's question is what do we think he did with it? What say you?

[@TheLyricalCleric]

I would imagine that mithril is an oddity for middle earth simply BECAUSE it does not tarnish. Everything of Arda is tainted by Morgoth and his desire for destruction rather than creation. Although Sauron is his lieutenant, he isn’t of a similar mind-Sauron wants order and originally was a Maia of Aulë the smith. So in addition to wanting the metal for forging powerful objects, perhaps Sauron is curious about why Morgoth’s marring of Arda doesn’t affect mithril. Perhaps there IS a true order to be found in Arda, and Sauron was simply too corrupted to help find it.

[@MrARock001]

Lost in the destruction of Barad-dûr was the vast storeholds of mithril rings, each forged by the Dark Lord's own evil craft, and one each for every man, elf, and dwarf in Middle Earth. Each would enhance the wearer's capabilities, but also ensnare them to Sauron's will. A cult of ring-wearers to be unleashed, spread by the allure and might of the wearers, that they might triumph over and subjugate any who refused to don one. Let it be hoped that no excavations of the ruins of that dark fortress ever unearth that treasure.

[@NotSeregnar]

I always imagined mithril was an important component in the construction of Barad-dûr, given the structure's impossible size and strength. It's like a suit of armor for his army and industry.

[@trendloe]

What if sauron wanted to make new rings to ensnare the dwarves? They woke the Balrog because they dug too deeply searching for the mithril, it had some sort of hold over dwarves already, and Galadriels ring was made with mithril.

[@_emory]

You look truly satisfied putting up that middle earth displate, it’s amazing how small things like a genuine smile can shine so bright

[@donaldwatson7698]

Considering scarcity, and that the amount of mithril needed to make one sword for the Nine would probably equal or surpass that of a mithril vest for a dwarf child, It would seem a waste to only construct a few weapons. But a more common weapon given a bladed edge of mithril that retains its bite would likely be nearly as dangerous, and far more could be made with far less mithril consumed in the process.

[@sandmanlives3]

I think the act of taking it from his enemies, or potential enemies, is answer enough. That, and his smithing skill, I find to be the best answer.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

So he can make a chainmail glove?? To protect his fingers against a sharp knife?? Maybe? I dunno. Just spitballing...🔪 ✋️ 💍

[@Mr_King96]

I think Sauron would have tried to force other powerful beings like Saruman into making more rings (or other artefacts) of power! He spent much of his might in the making of the One Ring - this power seems to be finite (since it takes him longer to regenerate his body). Maybe he would have used those rings to regain some of his former abilities (like shape-shifting, and so on). Or imagine Sauron capturing the enchanting properties of Saruman's voice in an artefact, so that he could wield it like a weapon!

[@GenuinelyCurious120]

I've always wanted to make a mail shirt out of sterling silver. I think pure silver would be too soft and deform while your bending the links into place as you add them.

[@Zombietom40]

Absolutely loved this video on Mithril and what Sauron may or may not have forged with it,AND the buttery smooth seguey from metals of middle to the displate information had me giggling. Well done sir!

[@Crafty_Spirit]

Sauron wanted to form a gigantic, reflecting formation that would read "Saur0n rulez!!" from above to mock Eru. Rumours have it he stole that idea from late Numenorean kings

[@ExaltedDuck]

I think it's clear and obvious what Sauron was doing with it... having it all cast into coinage to fill Barad-dur so that when he finally got his one ring back and remanifested physically, he could swim through it like Scrooge McDuck in the Money Bin.

[@LoneTiger]

In the manga: _"I Got a New Skill Every Time I Was Exiled, and After 100 Different Worlds, I Was Unmatched"_ the purest and highest quality Mithril, comes from the undigested stomach contents of giant silver-eating rock-worms, in other words, worm poop. 😹

[@Enerdhil]

😆🤣😂 So much better than The Rings of Power version of the creation of Mithril! 😁👍

[@LifeFX856]

I love your Gandalf voice!

[@t6c756]

I think the answer is "Yes." Sauron wanted it for personal armor as well as a component of other planned magical artifacts due to its properties. In the real world, most of the USA's silver horde was repurposed from mere money into devices used to make nuclear weapons due to it becoming a usable superconductor when reasonably chilled. It is the most reflective as well as most electrically and heat conductive of all elements. Also, it is considered a psychic enhancer. Mithril might be a superior form of silver with all the same properties and more. So, Sauron (Tolkien may have known something about the properties of silver), might have been making protective armor that also enhanced his 'magical' powers, and also planned other devices utilizing Mithril's properties.

[@TheJediRyguy]

Maybe you can help me understand something that I always found a little confusing. In the 2nd Age, Sauron forges the Ring of Power, the elves sense his betrayal, and beseech the Numenorians for help. Sauron is defeated, and brought back to Numenor, which is later destroyed by the Valar. And, I believe, Saurons physical form was destroyed? How was all of this possible when he still retains possession of the ring, and how did he retain possession of the Ring after the fall of Numenor and him fleeing back to Mordor? I would appreciate suggestions on things to watch and or read, that would help me clear this up in my brain a little bit. Thanks so much for all your hard and diligent work on the EXCELLENT content you have on your channel!

[@VidsnStuff]

In the Silmarillion book, you will find an account of Numenor and its sinking below the waves in a section called: Akallabêth. After Numenor sinks, Sauron's body drowned but his immortal and reduced spirit literally carried the Ring with it on the wind as he flew back to Barad-Dur. I'm guessing his spirit still held enough power to be able to do that as long as he "wielded" the One Ring and its large store of his own power, since it made him stronger. Also the One Ring is capable of penetrating into the Unseen world as Sauron and his power has a presence in both the physical and the Unseen world.

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

@@VidsnStuff That's surprisingly magic-magic for Tolkein.

[@kendakgifbancuher2047]

I believe he left the ring at Mordor before going to Numenor

[@motorsport2342]

I like to think that whilst Grond may have been mostly made with black steel, Sauron would've found a way to infuse mithril into it's creation, so as to give it somewhat magical properties of protection

[@cbsboyer]

Like others have said, one of the primary reasons could well be just to deny his enemies access to mithril. It's an incredibly versatile material, both exceptionally workable and durable, and a conduit for magic as well. What a master smith and extraordinarily powerful magic user could do with it could well completely upend the fundamental paradigm of warfare and conquest in Middle Earth. Another way to put it - Sauron could have been in the midst of his own special project and wanted to keep the primary material out of the hands of his enemies. You can't have a Manhattan Project without uranium, after all.

[@Onemadfiddler]

"Sauron is a Smith, second only to Aule himself" *Feanor has angrily entered the chat*

[@sensyseth]

Video idea: official book vs movie series. Go through scene by scene comparing liberties Peter Jackson took against the professor’s writings and your thoughts on it. Maybe even commenting on how certain things could change movie lore vs book lore OR how a scene could have been done differently with NOTR ‘expertise.’

[@markuhler2664]

My guess is that he would use it to forge weapons and armor with which he would take on the Valor themselves. Because I just don't see Middle Earth filling the emptiness inside him.

[@tonyusa5509]

Melkor was always obsessed with finding new material and artifacts. Probably Sauron was collecting Mithril waiting for his master's return. Also Sauron was acting like a Team that buys players, not only to reinforce itself, but at the same time weakening the opponents.

[@Cruton2025]

I'm just not sure Sauron could make armor or weapons from mithril. Much like how the elven rope burns Gollum, or the Silmarils burned Morgoth, I think any weapon or armor Sauron forged from the pure and beautiful mithril would burn the corrupt and evil. So even if he made them, neither he nor his servants would be able to wield them.

[@Enerdhil]

Interesting take.😁👍 The Silmarili were blessed/hallowed by Varda. Mithril is just metal, so unless there is a ridiculous supernatural event that created Mithril (that is TRoP), it is not likely it has special powers to reject evil.

[@wereoctopus]

My headcanon relates to Morgoth's Ring. Morgoth may have dispersed his corrupt influence into *all* the matter in Arda, but it seems to be more concentrated in certain substances, e.g. gold. If mithril is *not* one of those substances, Sauron might have hoarded it to force the free peoples to use gold instead, thus slowly drawing them under Morgoth's sway (and by extension, Sauron's). Obviously mithril is much scarcer than gold; it's not like everyone would have mithril earrings and tooth fillings but for Sauron. But if hoarding mithril means just one more human king has a *gold* crown instead of a mithril one, that's a win for Sauron.

[@JayashinaParthiban]

Artworks are so Beautiful!

[@vampuricknight1]

There are probably several reasons... The most obvious 2 to me would be... 1. To allow him to construct weapons and armor (likely for himself) made of mithril. 2. To deny mithril weapons and armor being made that could oppose both himself and his armies. I think it incredibly unlikely he was using it simply to barter for soldiers when deceit, sedition, and gold/silver could have accomplished that. Even had a leader not wished to aid Sauron we are told repeatedly that men are often weak and easily manipulated. I doubt Sauron would ever need to part with so precious a metal to achieve so simple a goal (especially for him). There may have been other uses for the metal that we don't know, something only a great power like a Maiar could do, like get enough Mithril to infuse their body and make them more or less indestructible... or perhaps it was part of the reason Sauron was able to obtain a physical form in the first place and a large quantity of mithril was required to bind his non-corporeal form to a vessel (which is part of the reason it took him so long to physically manifest in the world after his first defeat. We just don't know, but it is these speculation that still make middle earth feel alive as a universe... as there are just many quests we will never have a definitive answer too.

[@StarsAndDreamz]

I always wondered if Mithril was something completely untouched by Melkor, so Sauron wanted to collect it to keep anyone from thinking anything could be untouched by evil.

[@jensonvincent500]

Personally I think he was trying to use Mithril to bring back Melkor from the void. What more evil act could Sauron possibly do then that.

[@liamhiggins3787]

That transition to the sponsor was seamless 😅

[@NerdoftheRings]

I was hoping someone might comment on it. 😂

[@MrDysturbed]

Kind of a terrifying idea would be armoring a dragon in it to be his own mount in the final battles to come. Maybe it was to be a replacement scale for Smaug. Who knows.

[@jeffpotts6187]

Imagine an entire tower made of Mithril, like Barad-Dur, except stronger and able to extend Sauron's will anywhere over Middle Earth. One should also wonder why the Balrog was hiding under a Mithril mine.

[@bricken10]

Im thinking that much like how his master, Morgoth, infused the entirety of Arda with his essence in particular gold, therefore making his own "ring" with the creation of the world. Sauron wanted to fashion a new "ring". One far more powerful, and not so easily lost or destroyed.

[@jasper265]

I like the idea that Sauron was working on some big plot to increase his power. There being another plan that was a work in progress helps make it feel more like an actual world and less like just a setting for the story.

[@kiloSMACK]

Late to the party. BUT bear with me, as it’s all just fun theorizing. Galadriel’s ring was made of Mithril and it allowed her create and preserve Lothlorien. What if Sauron was collecting Mithril to try to create/sustain a new physical form for himself? What if the “second being of Sauron’s order donning such protection” referenced is just Sauron sustained in physical form by the magical attributes of Mithril?🤷‍♂️

[@mousommaji1642]

is there any specific weapons in middle earth, forged from mithril? we have so many named artifacts of legends, none mentions about use of mithril

[@Sardonac]

I like the idea that he is fascinated by it, since it speaks to a deeper psychology. Sauron could never go back to the undying lands. In Mithril, he had an item which was as close as anything in Middle Earth could be to permanence and eternity. So at a basic level, it makes sense why he would like it at a psychological level. Beyond that, I think he would wonder what it could be transformed into. Like how in the show there's a few comments made about the power of allows, I wonder whether Sauron would see in Mithril and extraordinary power for alchemy.

[@NoobSaibot-b6o]

first it's a little ring, then it's a coat of mail. pretty soon you're hoarding mithril just to feel normal.

[@Uwern1]

A squad of mithril covered olog-hai would be devastating.

[@aurorajones8481]

2:50 Platinum exudes these qualities. Its not AS hard as tempered steel but almost. It kinda is our version of Mithril. It never tarnishes, you can do all sorts of things including polish it to a glass like finish. Now that i say all this it really is. I dunno about weight, that might be a variable. Not sure how much a chain mail platinum suit would weigh vs a chain mail mithril suit. Someone should try it!

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

Might be hard but it's not strong. Better off with bronze armour, or better yet, aluminum-bronze.

[@Disgruntled_Grunt]

If anyone was most _in need_ of mithril, it was Sauron. He coulda used it to make a really strong glove to keep his fingies attached. On a more serious note, he probably could have used it to either bribe corrupt kings/stewards of whatever nations weren't already under his control, or used it to forge some artifact (ring or otherwise) even harder to destroy than the One Ring. Practical uses aside, he probably would have wanted to just play around with it, like any craftsman would with a novel material.

[@pabloantoniomendozamartine6046]

The real question is, what happened to all the Mithril that Sauron had accumulated? Was it destroyed along with Barad-dûr? Was it recovered by the dwarves? Or was part of it recovered by Sauron's former followers?

[@Enerdhil]

Great question!. 😁👍 I guess it depends on what you think he did with all that Mithril. If he hoarded it, it would have been buried in the collapse of Barad-dür, if he used it to make weapons, then the Mithril would wherever the weapons were.🤔

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

The chemist Suze Kundu describes mithril as a metal, a pure chemical element with "a range of amazing chemical and physical properties" not matched by any real metal, and many applications. Of those that approach it, titanium is light (has low density) and strong, but it is not malleable (able to be beaten into shape) like mithril. In Kundu's view the nearest material would be a stainless steel alloy of iron with enough nano-scale carbon to make it hard.

[@lordmon555]

I think the mithril being used in Grond has more merit than you think. Not being used in the actual big ram part makes sense youd want a really heavy metal for the ram so black steel being heavy and strong makes sense but mithril being used everywhere else in the ram makes sense. Potentially even the the rope/cable holding the weight of grond itself

[@NerdoftheRings]

What do YOU think Sauron wanted with Mithril?

[@djashovel]

Perhaps he want to make his own version of Thor's hammer😅

[@djashovel]

Maybe the metal could increase his magical power Like being a magical Like if he made a new suit of armor Maybe his power could increase 10 or 20 times Which would make him the strongest of his race. Now think what would happen if he got his ring Getting even more power, but also the ring getting more enhanced With even more metrical power

[@sergio_botero]

Unbreakable Barad-dûr foundations

[@Enerdhil]

My theory is that the wolf head of Grond is made of Mithril.😁👍

[@Fredrik12038]

A lovevly yet terrifying though is that the One Ring was crafted not only from Saurons malices, but also of incredible amounts of Mithril. Hence making it indestructible by anything but the very fires of orodruin.

[@nigeldepledge3790]

Sauron probably wanted mithril to make a necklace or something suitable for holding a Silmaril. While one of them is bound to the brow of Ëarendil, and another is in the deeps of the Ocean (the realm of Ulmo, whom Sauron dare not cross), the third was cast into a fiery chasm. Perhaps Sauron has found a way to trace the location of the third Silmaril, and he desires it as a remembrance of Morgoth.

[@alejandromolina7270]

Maybe he found a way to bind Mithril to his Ring making it so that it can never be destroyed. Even dropping it into Mt Doom wouldn't destroy it. Or maybe he just wants to stare at it because he likes how it shined.

[@danburns4265]

A second ruling ring: his first had poured into it all his own innate Maiarin power, leaving him a slowly recovering husk without it. A second ring, designed to draw out some of the spent force and will and spirit that Morgoth had put into the land to initiate its descent into corruption, and trap it in the ring, allowing Sauron to essentially ‘borrow’ the power of his master or act as a conduit for it so sustain and empower him. Middle Earth was Morgoth’s ring, maybe with Sauron’s second ruling ring it would make a metaphorical chain of power between himself and his master. I dunno I just came up with this in the last five seconds of this video…

[@Gatz3D]

Maybe he desired to forge new rings, using the original rings of power as a catalyst so that he could truly control any of the wearers of the rings

[@populer208]

I think Tolkien left it vague in case he needed it later. Maybe Sauron was crafting a great weapon to be welded in the final battle? But that battle didn't happen, Sauron remained just the eye upon the tower the whole novel.

[@VidsnStuff]

In the movies its a Flaming Eye, in the books Sauron controls and oversees his army. He can perceive what his orcs see through their eyes as well. But the orcs can sense Sauron's malevolent presence in their mind when he dominates them against their will, therefore his symbol is an eye. Not his actual eye, but his presence is like one cause he can see you anytime, and you can't hide. He'll know something is wrong right away.

[@randymarshislorde]

Id say its multiple reasons like you hinted towards. For one, he probably wanted to make some armor or weapons with it. Then also Id imagine he didnt want any of his enemies to have it. But then I have two more ideas (one is very biased because I came up with something similar for a story years ago): 1.) He may want to make new rings of power or potentially enhance the ones he already has. 2.) Its possible that it has some unique alchemic/chemical properties, so maybe he wants to try making some kind of unique elixir, potion, or even a chemical weapon with it. All in all I'd say that his general thoughts on the matter were "im not sure if this will be useful for me, but I definitely don't want anyone else to have it."

[@morgs5118]

Perhaps he was making a new suit of mithril armour, one that would be impervious to all weapons so he couldn't be defeated again (once he gained the One Ring once more and could walk whereever in Middle-Earth) in hand-to-hand combat.

[@cheshiresphinx4925]

A mythril battering ram would be uniquely pointless, given that one of mythril's most notable properties is it's lightness. As for why Sauron coveted it, I tend to agree that it was his history as a smith - with the caveat that he had burned away most of his creativity in greed, pride, and malice, and, like a lot of burned-out creative types, was desperately hoping that better materials and better tools would make up the lack. He was spiritually incapable of finding the real solution that real burned-out creative types find, which is to step back, reevaluate your attitude towards your work, find ways to reconnect with your passions, and find things in your life other than your work to energize you. If Sauron had been capable of reevaluating his life, he would have stopped being Sauron literal ages ago.

[@frstflvr7327]

My theory is that Sauron wants to corrupt Mithril into something dark and evil. Something akin to an alloy. This new type of metal will then be used to craft armor and weapons for his more elite soldiers like trolls, oliphants, worg riders and so on. Perhaps even used to make siege weapons or used to fortify mordors defenses.

[@qalnor]

he wanted to build a prosthetic finger to replace his missing finger

[@eongrobler]

Great video Matt. Would be interesting to see Rings of Power season 2's take on this question.

[@graywolf7237]

since black steel is never given an explicit makeup, and sauron being one of the best smiths, in my mind its possible that, with the magic he possessed, he he recreated the chemical makeup/reforged mithril into black steel

[@VidsnStuff]

He never had enough for his sick Warhammer 40k minis. Always needed more mithril to make more miniatures.

[@johnsaporta4633]

(reading the comments) I think it is not to fortify Sauron but to weaken the defensive capabilities of everyone else. Sauron is motivated by power, and his goal is dominion over Middle Earth. He also knows fear and fear exists in his soul.

[@bishop6218]

"Based on the declaration about a small sized mithril chain shirt's worth, along with stock fluctuation of Longbottom Leaves, you will determine the market value of an acre of Shire real estate at the end of the Third Age. You have four hours."

[@danielbegg543]

Experimentation: Elves and orcs, eagles and fell beasts. Sauron and Morgoth both sought to despoil and ruin that which is pure. Mithril, even only on the face of it, is a suitably heroic and pure substance. If there was one passage or sentence noting that the Lord tried, or IS trying to bend it to suit his vile designs, I would not be surprised. Dark mithril? Tarnished mithril?

[@LordSiravant]

As it's been a long time since I read the books, I always wondered why the Orcs of Moria didn't seem to send Sauron mithril in tribute, and was thus unaware that that's exactly what they did. As for what he would do with it, I think the answer is all of the above. He would covet it for its monetary value (as small bits of it would be more valuable than ten times its weight in gold), and thus promise these small bits as part of his payment for the Easterling lords and Haradrim chieftains. As both a smith and a conqueror, Sauron would also want to use it to forge new armor and weapons for himself, and perhaps for his mightiest servants, as well as defensive measures for his fortresses and perhaps even as magical artifacts to further his own power. It all really depends on how much of it he had. Was it vast stores of mithril that could fill an entire hall? Was the amount small enough to fit in a single chest? As always, Tolkien preferred to be vague about such things.

[@adamh.2791]

I think he not only wanted to deny as much to his enemies, but to probably create pieces of armor that would not allow the ring to be cut from his hand by a normal weapon, or even a powerful/magical one. After all, that is how he lost his power. If he could somehow create a piece of armor that protected the ring from being separated from him, that would make him nigh unbeatable on the battlefield. Also, he can use it to barter and buy allegiances, even though I believe the vast majority he would want to keep for his own custom suit of armor. He was, after all, a smith, and a very good one with only Owle being slightly better as that is who trained him. Either way, I think he had big plans for its use.

[@blakehawkes9597]

I'm probably wrong but I view sauron as someone who like Morgoth felt they were owed dominion over all things, even if he did not have a plan for it, I feel he most likely felt it was owed to him regardless of the use or outcomes

[@carlosrsolrac]

Seems highly likely your first proposal is accurate in that Sauron was attempting to create Mithril armor for his physical form. Else if not armor perhaps an entirely enchanted suit of armor he could move with or in telepathically. Great video NotR

[@cwilkey6498]

I think he wanted mithril to build a lightsaber. LOL

[@Enerdhil]

Yes. In a failed attempt to recreate Fëanor's Silmarili, Sauron invented the lightsaber.😂 Works for me.

[@tavdy79]

I don't think we should be too quick to dismiss the possibility of mithril being used to make the head of Grond. Steel is an alloy of iron, carbon, and one or more other elements like chromium, nickel, tungsten, cobalt, copper, or manganese. We have no idea what the properties of mithril-steel might be, but given the size of Grond and the rarity of mithril, it's entirely possible that a sizeable chunk of Middle Earth's supply of mithril went into Grond's manufacture if that's what was used.