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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Khisanth the Ancient" data-source="post: 7696617" data-attributes="member: 11368">Who knows? Tolkien changed his mind on this, and it's not entirely clear what was 'final'.In the earliest versions, Balrogs were a 'created race' made by Morgoth [as were the Orcs]; quite numerous - a thousand showed up at one First Age battle - and, while terrifying, quite mortal (dozens died at the Fall of Gondolin).When Tolkien decided Morgoth shouldn't have the ability to create life, the Orcs became corrupted elves and the Balrogs became fallen Maiar.At one point in the 50s, Tolkien decided on '3 or at most 7' Balrogs total, but this was never incorporated into any of the 'Silmarillion' texts, so was it his final decision? Who knows?Sauron is less powerful without the ring, but he has a physical form at the time of LOTR in the books (though not in the movies).Gollum was tortured by/in front of him, and he refers to Sauron having nine fingers.Furthermore, Tolkien's Letter 246:I agree, Sauron is the only 'epic' being in Middle-Earth at the time of LOTR.I'd argue that Galadriel is higher level than Glorfindel. She and Feanor are "the greatest of the Eldar of Valinor".</blockquote>