Elves and Ringwraiths

[Boromir88]

I would give Elrond more credit then that. I know Galadriel, Glorfindel, Gildor, and Cirdan probably all out-rank him, power-wise, or wisdom-wise, but after them I would put Elrond. He also used Vilya to summon the flood.

Your normal elf soldier wouldn't put up too much of a fight against a Wraith. You have to admire Frodo's courage, for stabbing at the wraith, but he didn't put up much of a fight besides stabbing at his feet. But, that was more then the other hobbits, who threw themself to the ground, or in Sam's case shrunk beside Frodo and wimpered. (Don't worry Sam your time will come).

[Mithalwen]

Actually I think Elrond is unlikely to be outranked by anyone by anyone but Galadriel if push came to shove - I think that he is a bit of a special case as Peredhil. Glorfindel is shown as a deputy of Elrond. In HoME, I believe, that there is a is a feeling that the crafts of warrior and healer were incompatible. It is my instinct that Elrond may have renounced warfare after the Last Alliance or that in order to protect Imladris withg Vilya he had to remain there. In either case it seems that once Glorfindel had returned he became the military leader of the forces of Rivendell.

Elrond may not have been born in Valinor but look at his ancestry - and it seems power is passed through blood in Middle Earth. He was Gil Galad's heir, child of Earendil and Elwing, grandson of Tuor and Idril, Great grandson of Luthien and Beren and Turgon and Huor.... as herald of Gil-galad he would have been in the thick of it when Sauron was cast -down, it was his craft that swept the Nazgul away .... a match for most of the Nazgul in my book.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Did the original point suggest that being enslaved by Sauron was desirable?

[Boromir88]

Mith, Gildor might be pushing it, he is from the house of Finrod, and one of the Exiles. However, you bring up good points about Elrond's lineage.

But I would still put Glorfindel above Elrond for the fact that he slew a balrog, something I'm not sure Elrond could do.

[Frodo Baggins]

Thank you Mith, I totally Forgot about Elrond being related to Melian.

[drigel]

Since the primary weapon of Nazgul was undeath and fear I would submit that, other than the nasty weapondry that they wielded, there would be nothing any elf would be afraid of. But, saying that, I dont think any being (Istari included) had the capability to destroy the Nazgul spirit utterly, given that Sauron was still active, and the ring was still in existance.

[Neithan]

Now, it is generally assumed that on a normal day elves are more powerful than men.

Although Elves do seem to be born with some skills that other races don't have, most of their greatness follows naturally from being immortal. They live longer and so they have more time to learn and practice skills. So if a Man had enough natural skill to compensate for his lack of experience he could still defeat the Elf.

To an average elf (which I would classify even below Legolas who I think is above-average) then ya the Wraiths would beat them.

How do you define an "average Elf". There are different kinds of Elves all distinctly different, so there can not be an average that applies to all of them.

As to whether who would win out of Elves and Men, I'd say it's an individual thing.

I agree

As for the Ringwraiths they seldom fought anyone directly if they could help it (with the occasional exeption of the Witch King). They preferred to achieve their ends by stealth and deception, sometimes getting others to do their work for them (Bill Ferny). They would not directly attack the Inn at Bree even though few of its inhabitants were likely to stand and fight. They use their powers to strike fear into others and whenever possible they debilitate their enemies and strike when they are defenseless (Dark Breath, Morgul Blade). They are of the darkness and they use it against others, and they hate the light. Glorfindel who had seen the light of the trees, was as much a wielder of light as they were of darkness and so they feared him.