What Are SAURON'S Greatest Weaknesses? 🤯 | Lord of the Rings Lore

[@federicaesu8580]

Sauron’ s greatest weakness that eventually lead to his demise was his overconfidence in his ability to deceive others. BTW, I’d like to see a video about Aule and his incredibly poor selection of pupils

[@TheBrokenSword]

💚

[@leogad669]

This is interesting😁🤔, I’ve always thought the opposite: that deception is where he excels, but falls terribly short at more direct confrontations.

[@KyleReese-vt8bo]

Textbook narcissist.

[@jhallam2011]

As usual great video and props on allowing your subscribers to see you. It’s a successful path many other KZbinrs have taken to double or triple their audiences as they connect more directly to their fans.

[@FXGreggan.]

You have a nice voice listening to, well articulated and easy to listen to, would totally listen to a LoTR audiobook by you :)

[@TheBrokenSword]

💚💚💚

[@lisboah]

Let's not forget that, for all his arrogance, for all the setbacks he had throughout the ages, Sauron was ultimately defeated because Eru, the entity that created everything in existence, made Gollum slip and fall into the volcano. Imagine being so powerful and competent that God had to intervene. This is why Sauron is one of my favorite villains.

[@BattlestarZenobia]

Erm, didn’t Gollum slip because of Frodo’s instruction to the ring, not Eru. Eru doesn’t do subtle like that he’s the genocidal maniac who sunk a whole continent for frankly little reason

[@CoolMaster-gr3bp]

@@BattlestarZenobia Sounds like you're a Morgoth apologist.

[@reneedailey1696]

​@@BattlestarZenobiaNot according to Tolkien himself, who said that the author of the story (Not meaning himself, Tolkien) stepped in there.

[@Gamma_249]

can anyone explain to me, if Eru is capable of such small acts, why can't he intervene more often? My understanding was he and the Valar are just too powerful, but then he makes Gollum slip

[@BattlestarZenobia]

@@Gamma_249 that’s kind of my point as well, the only known instance of Eru’s direct intervention are far from subtle and too be honest completely ineffective at dealing with Sauron

[@j0b01231]

If you ever do a what-if? Video, you should do a ‘what if Sauron actually repented?’ Would it be a Melkor-style repentance? Remaining prisoner and plotting his revenge or would the Valar have learned from their previous mercy ? Would he go back to Valinor? Would Numenor fall? What would happen to the men of the east? What would the Noldor who wished to stay in Middle Earth do with their own kingdoms ?

[@TheBrokenSword]

I like that! Nice idea 😁

[@robertcoplin2830]

A segment addressing both Saruman and Sauron, as students of Aule would be interesting. I wonder what Aule thought of his misbehaving students.

[@TheEvertw]

And Fëanor!

[@leogad669]

@@TheEvertwQuestion! ✋ did Fëanor ever study under Aulë? I have heard that before, but from the Silmarillion I got the picture that it was only under Mahtan…

[@TheEvertw]

​@@leogad669 Mahtan was a student of Aulë. A good instructor is not just to impart skill, but also the wisdom to use it (and teach it) wisely.

[@leogad669]

@@TheEvertw I am aware😁. But I asked rather if Fëanor ever studied directly under Aulë, or only under Mahtan (indirectly under Aulë, one could say).

[@lordofthehouseofstormcrows8615]

Sauron is a classic example of obsession and tunnel vision. When your obsession becomes the only thing you see....you become vulnerable to things you've never noticed..

[@lawrencewalston2272]

Spot-on!

[@drshin9893]

You’re trying way too hard little guy. Calm down now

[@KyleReese-vt8bo]

@@drshin9893 Only your manifest insecurity could produce such a statement. Hush.

[@Cat_Woods]

"...highlighting the inherent weakness of his over-confidence and lack of empathy." EXACTLY. That's why I'm never as impressed with the "greatness" of Sauron as some seem to be. Those are colossal weaknesses, constituting the opposite of greatness of character.

[@TheTableOfDurin]

Amazing video, I love the different style of editing you do, keep up the good work, and I gotta say there can't be enough video's about Sauron

[@TheBrokenSword]

Thank you so much! Always nice when someone mentions the editing 😂💚

[@TheTableOfDurin]

@@TheBrokenSword no problem, I know it takes a lot of time and effort to edit a great intriguing video

[@solomonoverhead]

For one Sauron cannot thoroughly act without others/minions.

[@lynnerose7891]

But that’s not a PERSONAL VULNERABILITY OR FLAW. Perhaps a flaw in his planning. Honestly he was TOO CAUTIOUS to act.

[@bt0694]

Aule’s students is something I have thought about a few times while watching previous videos on this channel. Perhaps it had something to do with him being The artist. Most of the artists I’ve known seem to have the outlook that their vision of an idea is the best.

[@damihianimas6983]

I would say his greatest weakness was his underestimating the goodness and strength of his enemies, as you touched on when speaking of the fact that he couldn't fathom the idea that someone would actually choose and make the effort to destroy the ring rather than actually using it against him. If he had simply thought of this, he would have put a significant guard at Mt. Doom to prevent this from happening and would have been successful.

[@KororaPenguin]

Even so, had he given Thráin a second thought after taking his Ring from him and made sure the captive wasn't hiding anything else from him, the Quest of Erebor would have been hopeless--and an orc would have found the Ring.

[@crabbuckets7506]

I'm enjoying seeing your mug in the videos. High quality editing also 👌

[@hornedgod2873]

Aule’s students. I’m intrigued by this connection

[@mossfree]

Hmmm, my master poured his essence into his corruption of the world and weakened himself. Plus, he lost a Silmaril. Binding a good part of your essence into the Ring sounds like a great idea. What could go wrong?

[@lordoftherings999]

The Ring itself! During the events of LOTR, literally destroying the Ring was the only possibility his opponents had to win the war. Without the Ring Sauron would have crushed them at the Morannon. Tolkien has written something about that, adding that Sauron just squandered his power to the Ring like Morgoth did with Earth (Morgoth's Ring), and that both the Dark Lords became bound to their rings like Balrogs (and they too) with their bodies. Plus, Tolkien clearly stated in a letter that Sauron had too hubris and was overconfident (this is also the main reason that led him to lose against the Last Alliance).

[@lopirobinson1991]

Mount Doom would've been gaurded by all manner of dark beasts and soldiers had I been Sauron. Imagine if he was able to convince Smaug (had Smaug not died) to gaurd the Crack of Doom and kept a couple of Nazgul there as well, the Ring would've never been destroyed. I know, the point was he was too confident and that message is on point. You have to ask yourself, "How wise was Sauron if a Hobbit and a mad creature caused the Ring to be destroyed?" In my eyes overconfidence makes you foolish in whole. To his credit however, no one did willingly destroy the Ring, it was a mistake. So he was right about that, no one could willingly destroy it, especially at the epicenter of its power in the Mountain.

[@donc5220]

Even Mt Doom is a weakness since the Ring is bound to it. One of his biggest weaknesses wasnt tunnel vision but just overlooking powerful foes for selffish reasons like when he Wants to kill Aargorn.

[@rafaelgustavo7786]

The One Ring and Hubris.

[@loraelstad8941]

Came here to say this 👍🏻.

[@clintontilden1786]

I want to hear more about Aule and his students. And the other Valar and their students.

[@BMK_Magick_Explorations]

I think as you pointed out a lack of foresight about his plans was one of Sauron's greatest weaknesses. The One Ring was both a brilliant idea for gaining domination, and ensuring that his spirit would live on regardless of a destruction of his physical body. In that respect it's kind of similar to Voldemort's horcruxes in Harry Potter. The downside being this would only work for Sauron so long as the One Ring didn't either come into the hands of someone actually able to turn it's power against him, or wasn't destroyed. In that sense the One Ring was both one of Sauron's most brilliant ideas, and one of the greatest liabilities he ended up creating for himself.

[@breakdancelessonsamsterdam9367]

in a way Sauron was not wrong, with out the ring he would not have survived (as anything but a spirit) when his body was killed (two times). also nobody was really strong enough to destroy the ring after all, when frodo claimed it in mount doom and the nasgull would reach him the outcome would be different ( you can say it was destroyed by luck or eru ilúvatar)

[@hayman21]

Love Sauron content! 🔥

[@paulbrickler]

Part of the reason that Sauron lacked the foresight of other Maia, even Saruman, is that he had joined in the music of Melkor so early in Illuvatar's theme, and was so consumed by it, that he paid little heed to the overall composition as a whole.

[@andscifi]

Sauron couldn't imagine anyone willingly destroying the ring. Part of that was a lack of understanding of other people and the assumption they all wanted power and some of it was understanding the ring. The second is important because in the end he was right. The strength of men failed when they tried to destroy it, and in the end Frodo didn't destroy the ring willingly either. But even if he was right, had he just left a few guards he probably would have won.

[@RazorBlade747]

Aule's students sounds like a cool video!

[@jacobgriffiths3405]

Great video! I think it’s purely his arrogance. It’s been the downfall of many evil character including outside Tolkien’s universe. However, I like to think, before Frodo claimed the ring, and Sauron emptied his lands, he did so out of fear. If he really thought Aragorn had the ring, why wouldn’t he let it corrupt him? Just like his arrogance think it would. Or did he truly believe Aragorn could resist the ring and use it against Sauron? I think fear set in way before he was aware of Frodo. Yet again another great video and would definitely love to see that video if Aule’s pupils!

[@kennygpokerstrategy4917]

Great vid!!

[@TheBrokenSword]

Thanks 😁

[@IanHeins]

Nice work dude thanks

[@JohnAmidon-c6r]

Aule's Students! Interesting entry, thank you! I 👍👍

[@loraelstad8941]

I can’t believe I hadn’t put it together that there was a pattern of failure in Aüle’s students. Would love to delve into that. Was it something in his methods or was he just unlucky in who his students happened to be. After all, in Harry Potter, there were plenty of gifted teachers who taught Tom Riddle. I doubt it was their fault he became Voldemort.

[@TASO2112]

Aule's Students AND The Complete History of the Palantiri, please!

[@farahahmed8201]

Hello, how is that movie that you were making going? Is the first filming session done?

[@veggieman_sa]

Question: after the destruction of the one ring, what effect did that have on the other rings of power? Are the 3 for example still able to be used? A video on this would be cool

[@DougVanDorn]

I believe that Sauron's greatest weakness was his inability to see things from any perspective other than his own greed for power. He saw the desire for power as the only important thing, and could not imagine that any other thinking being existed for any other reason than acquiring power and vanquishing others with it. So, it was literally impossible, up until his very last moments, for Sauron to believe that anyone would destroy the One Ring on purpose. He was so certain that the lust for power was so strong in all thinking creatures that the ring was entirely incapable of being destroyed, that it would enhance the power lust in anyone who claimed at as their own in such a way as to prevent its destruction. And Sauron was *almost* right. But again, I think his weakness was the belief that the ring would protect itself from destruction, no matter what. He didn't take into account the possibility of a clumsy former hobbit *accidentally* destroying it, even though that creature had claimed it as his own centuries prior and Sauron ought to have been at least a .*little* informed as to the nature of the Gollum who claimed it. Again, that was due to Sauron's tunnel vision, he couldn't imagine a scenario in which someone claimed the ring but never used it to challenge him for control of Middle Earth. The fact that it had not been used made Sauron believe it was still lost and unclaimed, even though he should have known better. Again, because his estimation of even a corrupted hobbit made him believe that anyone who claimed the ring would inevitably be overwhelmed by power lust. Which comes back to the same weakness and inability to understand others, eh?

[@stellamaggard3669]

Great episode ❤❤❤

[@Furb8652011]

Gosh your eyes are gorgeous!!!! Love your input as well! 💯❤️

[@jonharper8963]

I heard it was Tiramisu. Couldn’t get enough of it. One banquet he ate so much he was sick for days…

[@ghostdreamer7272]

His weakness is the origin of his fall… he was driven for efficient order. He became so focused in it he began to justify trying to dominate other life forms in order to more efficiently, well, order, and eliminate disharmony. It was probably originally rooted in compassion, but that Hyperfocus led to him losing compassion and even creating greater disharmony. By trying to see everything like a machine, and make things into a well oiled machine, he underestimated outliers and the messy humanity of individuals… such as the Hobbits, and Gollum.

[@DanBeech-ht7sw]

I've never seen any evidence at all that Sauron displayed a love for efficient order. Everything is just destruction and ruin. If he wanted efficiency and order he wouldn't use orcs who are anarchic in outlook and display no harmony even within their own ranks. One has only to observe the forced march from Emin Muil to fangorn, or the savage disagreement in minas morgul to see that. Any leader or ruler wants servants who buy into their values. In my opinion, orcs reflect the values of their master No, like morgoth, he just wanted power for its own sake

[@BookofGates]

I think with Aule, it's a reflection of his act to create independent life, the Dwarf Lords. This trait, is repeated by Sauron and Saruman who sought to create new forms of life-Orcs and Uruk Kai independent of the designs of Illuvatar. We also see the desire to use middle earth to gain mastery through heavy industry, metal work, deforestation etc. The servants of Aule do not see the inherent good in Eru's creation in and of itself, seeking to add to or change in a way that was never meant to be.

[@hodgrix]

I would agree that Sauron lacked foresight in the crucial senses that you mentioned but also had tremendous foresight in his strategic planning and patience. A stupid genius lol

[@stitch3163]

Here’s an interesting thought experiment for you… what would Sam have done if Gollum had not “intervened” and bit the ring off of Frodo’s hand and inadvertently cast himself and the ring into the lava pit?

[@johnthompson6472]

Agreed, just like Voldemort’s horcruxes, he didn’t personally retain enough of his power.

[@KororaPenguin]

I wonder if Sauron made the Nazgûl as his own version of the Balrogs: Fell servants that cause fear wherever they go.

[@JumpingTomato]

I've said it before, and I will say it again: Sauron was just a misunderstood guy. All he wanted was order. But over time he grew convincef order was only possible if he ruled all. The real evil was Melkor. He wanted to make everyone's life miserable, out of spite. In the end, it became a necessity to destroy Sauron. Thank the gods for Sam!

[@DanBeech-ht7sw]

Where did he display this love for order?

[@KatarzynaMatylla]

The students of Aule... Yea, 2 isn't much but it's weird that it happened twice. And never to any other Vala. Probably it's just Tolkien disliking craft and progress and all that. But my headcanon is that after so much bullying by Melkor, and generally being the shyest Vala, Aule messed up the "being supportive to your Maiar" part and, like every insecure parent, his praise for them was underlined with fear and he didn't set boundaries well enough. And it led Mairon and whatever-was-Saruman-called to grow too proud. I love Aule (my favorite Vala, along with Nienna), he's just not great at raising his Maiar.

[@CormacM96A]

Can you do a “what if Gollum survived at the end”

[@TheEvertw]

One additional weakness, and I believe his biggest weakness, was in thinking / believing that the Valar and Eluvatar would leave him be. That is a form of arrogance, but also a fatal misunderstanding of the love the Valar and Eluvatar have for Middle-Earth. Because if there is one theme that dominates the work of Tolkien, it is the work of Providence. Evil may prosper for a time, but it will always be destroyed through the combined efforts of brave men & women, and Providence. All modern dictators make this mistake. And one day, their misdeeds will catch up with them. As it did for Hitler (who shot himself in desperation), Mussolini (shot by his former subjects), Stalin (who died in his own piss because his minions were too scared to help him), Ghadaffi (tortured to death in a gully by his former subjects), Hussain (hanged by his formed subjects), etc, etc, and as it will soon do for Putin.

[@marciofelipejustino2563]

Sauron fez essa bagunça sendo um maiar inferior a um valar imagina se ele fosse um valar.

[@stephenhill6003]

Aule and his students - yes please

[@ras79r]

Sauron’s greatest weakness was his lack of foresight combined with overconfidence, this in of itself led to his first mistake, to make the one ring, of which he could and was disposed, leading to frantic acts of his and his troops, which led him to shafted up the back door at mount d****

[@RustyTreeMan]

Slightly off topic, but destroying the ring should really only weaken Sauron since he still had a physical form. I have never got the idea that if you destroy the ring you destroy him but again most of him is part of his physical form not in the ring? Making the ring in the first place would then seem to be his greatest weakness if destroying the ring will destroy Sauron. It seems too easy in theory, but Sauron therefore becomes vulnerable.

[@AdamHubby99]

Aule's students!

[@TarMody]

The root cause of all of Sauron's weakness is his weakening of wisdom and diminishing foresight due to his corruption in power (a dominant theme in Tolkien mythology). This weakness emerges as a negative factor that makes him make mistakes or prevents him from doing the right things. The function of the One Ring is to focus the spiritual power that exists in Sauron's potential towards dominating the wills of incarnate beings, which is the purpose for which the One Ring was made. Spiritual power potential is constant. By focusing the power, effectiveness in certain features is improved, while other features are weakened. This weakness led to his downfall.

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

Ultimately his greatest weakness was his adamant belief that everyone would act the same way he did and had the same motivations. It was utterly incomprehensible for him to contemplate virtue over vice.

[@lawrencewalston2272]

Sauron's greatest weakness was his shortsighted foolishness. Never make an enemy of those you wish to subjugate because they'll very likely turn on you. Sadly, contemporary "leaders" fail, even now, to learn this very important lesson.

[@nathanielhellerstein5871]

Frodo used the Ring to curse Gollum into falling into the Cracks of Doom if Gollum took the Ring from Frodo by force; so Frodo's will to resist the Ring was weakening. When his will cracked, and he claimed the Ring, then Gollum attacked, heedless of curse. Gollum won, and the curse took hold. So Gollum's fall was no accident.

[@futuresonex]

But Sauron wasn't actually wrong when he believed that no one could overcome the corrosive effects of the One Ring and willingly destroy it. His incredible will power took him all the way to the Sammath Nauer, to the very Cracks of Doom, but in the end Frodo was not strong enough to overcome the corrosive effects of the Ring. He chose not to destroy it and claimed it for his own, as literally anyone else would have in his place. It makes me wonder what Gandalf's original plan was. How was he going to force Frodo to destroy the Ring without breaking his mind forever?

[@stephenturner2793]

Aule's students please.

[@EricGasz69420]

Sauron’s greatest weakness was definitely human form Shelob from Shadow of War. Great video keep it up and an Aule student video would be great! Maybe also Melkor’s other attempts to sway other Ainur to darkness! Thank you for the vids!

[@BrianEthridge-wg6ko]

I will see you next guarding. Mount Doom was probably the biggest mistake and I can think of

[@djb9267]

I have a totally unrelated question, that I would like to ask. If Sauron taught Celebrimbor how to create rings, then why are the three elven rings not under Sauron's influence?

[@KostasTsilipakos]

Because he created without Sauron knowing. Celembrimbor created the rings when Sauron was away

[@djb9267]

@@KostasTsilipakos so celebrimbor already possessed the skills necessary to create rings, on his own?

[@colinbielat8558]

The three were under saurons influence as they used the knowledge sauron gave the elves to create them. However sauron personally did not have a direct hand in their creation, it was indirect. And because the one ring was designed to govern and control the wearers of the great rings of power which were created with the lore and knowledge he gave. What is important to note is that the elves never wore or used the three when sauron had the one ring as they immediately perceived saurons' influence once he put on the one ring and they stopped wearing the three.

[@burntorangehorn]

​@djb9267 Err, no. 1. Celebrimbor learned from Sauron how to make cool rings. 2. Sauron stepped out for a bit. 3. While Sauron was mucking about with some other business, Celebrimbor used his learned skill to make three cool rings. 4. Sauron returned to the forge, but Celebrimbor didn't tell him he'd made the three rings.

[@fred20097]

I've always thought Sauron to be the dumbest villian in the universe for putting so much of his power in something so small and easily lost - until i saw Amazon's excellent Rings of P. Now it all makes sense.

[@DanBeech-ht7sw]

I heard that Sauron had a major weakness for chocolate Hobnobs

[@KurtSprings808]

Aule's Students

[@aliciamartin2024]

This could also be true of the world today! Who, now, would weld the power of the ring?

[@beerasaurus]

Reese's Pieces he loves them and is such a sucker them you can convince him to follow you around anywhere you want him to....wait that's ET

[@lordcline217]

Aule's students

[@markallen2984]

"Alvin" rings? What about the Theodore rings? Or the Simon rings?

[@billyjones9907]

I wonder if by having the one ring only control humans, if sauron could have kept more of his power in himself, not the ring.

[@someidiot1984]

Thats why voldemort made many different pieces of his soul.

[@chrysm6842]

Could you please let me know what are your thoughts about this what if scenario : What if Sauron won the war?

[@random22026]

🍎🍎Aule's Students, please🍏🍏

[@drewcase4140]

Aule's Students!

[@kaiserchief9319]

Sauron' s vulnerability is his hubris. It is the vulnerability of all of us walking this planet.

[@nathanielhellerstein5871]

My head-canon is that Sauron forged the One Ring from dragon's gold.

[@jacobshore5115]

Aulë’s students should be discussed!

[@TheMasonK]

Aule’s students please!

[@bradgillette3325]

Aules students, please. Thanks for the content.

[@CoachLouise]

Sauron's Greatest weakness... multi-tasking 😂

[@lacswe]

Hype!

[@lopirobinson1991]

I don't see how Sauron thought making the world a blackened, resource devoured place would be good. Burning everything to build his war machine? Using up all the rivers to power things? Seems to me Sauron would've destroyed the world instead of "Making it better for all."

[@shiroamakusa8075]

His biggest weakness is that the absolute authority in his world decided he needed to lose, so he never stood a chance no matter what he did. That's both Eru Iluvatar and Tolkien himself BTW. Yeah, sorry, but once you put an almighty god in your setting who's not completely hands-off, you basically rob everyone below that god of all agency and all of their actions of any and all meaning.

[@towarzysztatar7961]

Greatest mistake of Sauron was not building the gate at the entrance to Orodruin.

[@wolfen8622]

But wasn’t the ring so powerful _because_ he put so „much“ of himself in it?… that was the eventual price he had to pay to forge the one ring. The more of yourself you put into something, the „stronger“ that thing becomes.

[@jestervanhalen7743]

..confidence

[@jonathonfrazier6622]

His inability to comprehend the ambitions of those aligned with the Good.

[@irishrebel1798]

His weakness was his poor decisions

[@fizguerra24]

AULE'S STUDENTS! 🤟

[@hshdudhshduduxubes1162]

i imagined you as long haired and with glasses 😂

[@TheBrokenSword]

Not quite 😂😂

[@redsledgeblu5234]

His single greatest weakness was foolishly believing men to be weak. He had one hell of a superiority complex, much like elves imo

[@frankfreda8570]

Aule's students please

[@burkebarnett2334]

Aule's Students ❤

[@lordming7761]

Power

[@teebird0531]

Oh there you are! I listen to you every night…very handsome and I love your voice!!

[@waveman1836]

Aule's Students.

[@upschutt4842]

How could the Ring be used against Sauron?

[@coffeegator6033]

Assuming all 5 wizards would fail. He was almost right.

[@burntorangehorn]

Is it weird that just destroying the ring defeated Sauron? He was nearly unstoppable before it, so you'd think he'd be nearly unstoppable after it.

[@schmittyvonbaun8418]

I'm assuming it's because he put so much of himself into the ring

[@johnthompson6472]

@@schmittyvonbaun8418 and the key point is, that the ring was still in existence, albeit not in his direct control. So his power existed, but he couldn’t ‘use it’ 😊

[@leogad669]

I may be mistaken, but to me Sauron didn’t seem unstoppable at all before the ring, or even with the ring🤔. As far as I’ve read he seems to be getting beaten up in almost every fight he partakes in, particularly when he personally engages. Only when he takes to trickery and deception he truly achieves impressive feats… I’m I missing something?

[@jackkennedy70]

Aules Students, a visual arts video only

[@TJDious]

Sauron's greatest weakness was his inability to perceive the minds of others in a way to see tear not all thought as he did. It led him to misjudge what his enemies would strive to do with the ring and led him to his destruction.