<em>The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power</em> holds nothing back in the way of epic fantasy battles, so there is naturally a lot of great armor to admire. The Prime Video series is entering its third season in November 2026, and this is when the real meat of the War of the Elves and Sauron should begin. It’s a dark time in Middle-earth’s history, as Sauron’s forces make their way through Eriador to devastating effect. On the bright side, this means Rings of Power season 3 should really turn up the volume in the way of on-screen combat and violence.
Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy did a great job of establishing a visual aesthetic for Middle-earth, and Rings of Power has kept that going. The Elves in particular have a distinctive style—sleek, elegant, and simply lovely. From day to day, the Elves of Prime Video’s prequel series wear elaborate gowns and robes. During battle, however, their elegance is reflected in the almost liquid movement of their metal or wooden armor.
There’s certainly an overarching theme here—even the ugliness of Middle-earth is somehow beautiful. Still, each set of armor in Rings of Power is deeply individual. Some unique touches reflect that character’s personality and even provide teases regarding their own lore. Suffice it to say, the costume department did a spectacular job.
Arondir’s Ent-Inspired Armor
The armor Arondir wore in Rings of Power season 1 was technically part of a uniform, so he wasn’t the only one decorated in this way. Still, the look is certainly striking. As a Silvan Elf, it makes sense that Arondir would have a nature-themed design. The whole suit feels like something that could have grown onto the character of its own accord. This effect is further emphasized by the leaf-crowned face that looks out from Arondir’s breastplate.
The face on Arondir’s armor appears to be carved from wood, and while this might not be effective against sharp metal weapons, it further contributes to the idea that this Elf is under the protection of an ancient Ent. These are the mysterious tree shepherds of The Lord of the Rings, tasked with protecting the forests. Arondir isn’t just a warrior but a guard, so the guardian on his armor makes perfect sense.
Halbrand’s ‘Hero’ Armor
When he and Galadriel set out from Numenor to defend the Southlands, Halbrand looked every bit the hero. He borrowed some armor from the island city, which favors fishscale-like designs layered across the breastplate and pauldrons. It’s simple enough, but on a figure like Halbrand, it comes across as ruggedly royal. The vibe is very similar to what we saw from Aragorn in Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Of course, this was all purposely misleading. Rings of Power season 1 revealed that Halbrand wasn’t really an exiled king waiting for his time to shine but the Dark Lord Sauron himself. The fact that the character struck such a figure in that trustworthy armor made the whole thing all the more shocking. The ‘Halbrand’ armor made a return in Rings of Power season 2 when Sauron transformed into this form to tempt Galadriel. Still, he couldn’t resist making himself a bit shinier and more refined than he had been in the true moment.
Sauron’s Armor Reimagined
We have yet to see Sauron officially become the armor-clad villain we know from The Lord of the Rings in Prime Video’s The Rings of Power. However, the show has provided us with a look at what this version of the character did or will look like. Much like what we saw in Jackson’s films, Sauron’s armor is covered in sharp, jagged spikes. The villain wears a cloak and is crowned with a helmet that completely conceals his face. It’s pretty frightening and immediately recognizable, though there are some differences.
Sauron’s armor in The Rings of Power is just a bit more slender and sexy than what we saw in The Lord of the Rings. The look isn’t about being bulky or imposing but rather, Sauron is made to appear delicately powerful. There is clear vanity here, which makes sense considering the sort of villain Sauron is in Prime Video’s prequel series. We’ve yet to really get up close and personal with this version of the character, but so far, that armor is pretty spectacular.
Galadriel’s Warrior Queen Armor
While in Numenor, it seems that Galadriel has some armor made for her that she can wear into Southlands, and whoever crafted it was obviously inspired. This armor is lovely and feminine but not in a way stylized for women typically seen in movies or TV shows. The ribs and ripples in her breastplate accentuate Galadriel’s form without being needlessly sexy or impractical. She looks like the lovely badass she always should be.
The most notable feature of Galadriel’s armor in Rings of Power is the star on her chest. The golden eight-pointed star symbolizes Galadriel’s royal lineage while connecting her to Valinor’s Light, Two Trees, and Silmarils’ beautiful glow. It’s Eärendil’s Star whose light Galadriel will one day capture in a vial to gift Frodo Baggins during his harrowing journey against Dark Lord and his One Ring.
Elrond’s Battle-Time Armor
Elrond wore some pretty great armor and outfits in Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, but Rings of Power suggests he was even more stylish as a young elf. There hasn’t been anything quite as striking as his battle armor seen in season two. The style remains consistent from gorget to gauntlets laced with branches and vines reminiscent of Valinor’s Two Trees.
A similar star appears on Elrond’s armor as seen on Galadriel’s which makes sense since Eärendil is Elrond’s father.
The wing detailing on Elrond’s pauldrons and helmet stands out remarkably well—etched feathers fan out from his face around his shoulders giving an impression he’s about to take flight. This lovely detail pays homage to Elrond’s mother Elwing who can transform into a giant white seabird—legendary for keeping Silmaril safe from falling into wrong hands.
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