How many in Battle of 5 Armies?

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Originally Posted by Morthoron

Please supply a reference to the Elves of Mirkwood being frail. These same Elves followed Oropher and Thranduil into the War of the Last Alliance, and then later fought along with Celeborn's Lothlorien forces in the War of the Ring. By Tolkien's description, they seem well-equipped and fierce at the Battle of Five Armies. I would say the Dwarves were at a definite disadvantage in the open, and there are references to the fact they are much more dangerous in the close environment of their subterranean realms (where the bulk of the Dwarf and Orc War was fought).

I didn't take the word frail from any of Tolkien's writings and it's merit here is debatable. Maybe they weren't particularly frail, no. Compared to the dwarves however I think they were at a disadvantage man-to-man. It is true that the Greenwood elves fought in the last alliance and they were said to be brave and fierce in battle. But they were also said to be poorly equipped, especially in armoury, and rather ill-disiplined at that. I believe most of their warriors perished in that war, and that this could have been avoidable had they known more about war and arrived better prepared.

In contrast the dwarves were considered toughest in battle of all the speaking people, and unrivalled in the crafting of metals. Perhaps the Noldor of old could give them a match but Thranduil's lot were not even close to their level in physical prowess and craftmanship. But like I said earlier, Thranduil's attitude suggests their numerical advantage would have brought them victory despite all of this.
And yes, Thranduil does state that the dwarves made a tactical mistake at the beginnig of the battle due to their inexperience with this terrain.