Smaug, a fire-breathing dragon, is one of the most iconic creatures in fantasy. He was the greatest dragon of the Third Age and held dominion over the Lonely Mountain, Erebor, after his attack on the dwarven kingdom in T.A. 2770. Smaug is central to the plot of The Hobbit, hoarding the vast treasure of the Lonely Mountain and wreaking havoc on the nearby town of Dale. His immense power and cunning intellect make him a formidable force in Middle-earth, but it is his arrogance that leads to his ultimate downfall.
 |
| Smaug, The Last Great Dragon |
How Did Smaug Claim Erebor?
Smaug first appeared in the Third Age, drawn to the immense wealth amassed by the dwarves of Erebor under King Thrór. In a devastating attack, Smaug laid waste to the Kingdom under the Mountain and the nearby human city of Dale. In the words of The Hobbit:
"Revenge! Revenge! King under the Mountain is dead, and where are his kin that dare seek revenge?"
During the attack, Smaug annihilated Dale, killed most of its inhabitants, and forced the surviving dwarves, including King Thrór, into exile. The area surrounding the mountain became known as the Desolation of Smaug, where nothing grew and the land remained scarred from his fiery wrath.
For nearly two centuries, Smaug lay atop the treasure hoard, guarding it jealously. His presence cast a shadow over the region, and the wealth of the Lonely Mountain became a distant memory to the races of Middle-earth, save for a few who would eventually seek to reclaim it.
Why Did Smaug Attack Lake-town (Esgaroth)?
The events that lead to Smaug's attack on Lake-town are central to the latter half of The Hobbit. In T.A. 2941, a company of dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, attempted to reclaim the Lonely Mountain. With the help of Bilbo Baggins, the company discovered a secret entrance into Smaug's lair. Bilbo, acting as their burglar, stole a cup from Smaug's treasure hoard, angering the dragon.
Smaug, furious at the theft and correctly guessing that the dwarves had been assisted by the men of Lake-town, left the mountain to exact revenge on the town. In a destructive fury, he descended upon Lake-town, burning it with his fiery breath. It was only the intervention of Bard the Bowman, who had learned of Smaug's weakness from a thrush, that brought the dragon down. Bard shot a Black Arrow into Smaug's vulnerable underbelly, killing him and ending his reign of terror.
What are Smaug’s Abilities?
Smaug is an immensely powerful dragon, both physically and intellectually. His abilities include: fire-breathing, as a fire-drake, Smaug's primary weapon is his ability to breathe fire, which he uses to destroy Dale and Lake-town. Flight, his massive wings allow him to fly swiftly, making him a menace not just on land but also in the sky. Smaug's scales act as armor, rendering him nearly impervious to weapons. His underbelly, the most vulnerable part of a dragon, was embedded with gemstones from lying on his treasure hoard for years, further protecting him. Smaug is not just a beast; he is highly intelligent and cunning. His conversation with Bilbo in The Hobbit demonstrates his ability to manipulate and probe for information. He is aware of his power and revels in it, boasting about his invincibility:
“My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!”
Smaug's knowledge of his hoard is so complete that he instantly notices when a single cup is missing.
How Large is Smaug?
Tolkien never gives an exact measurement for Smaug in the books, leaving his size somewhat open to interpretation. Smaug is described as a "red-golden dragon," vast and imposing, able to destroy entire towns and reduce fortresses to rubble. In The Hobbit, Tolkien describes Bilbo’s awe at Smaug’s immense size when the hobbit first encounters him in the treasure-filled halls of Erebor. Smaug is large enough to cover a significant portion of the hoard, and his wings are said to be like an "immeasurable bat."
Various adaptations, such as the Peter Jackson film trilogy, portray Smaug as gargantuan, with estimates suggesting he is around 60 meters long (in the films, he was stated to be "bigger than two jumbo jets"). Regardless of specific dimensions, Smaug's size makes him one of the most imposing creatures in Middle-earth.
What is Smaug's Personality Like?
Smaug's personality is defined by his overwhelming arrogance, greed, and cruelty. He takes immense pride in his perceived invincibility, as demonstrated by his boastful conversation with Bilbo. This arrogance, however, becomes his greatest flaw. His overconfidence leads him to underestimate Bard's ability to slay him. Smaug’s greed is boundless; he treasures the hoard of the Lonely Mountain and views it as an extension of his power.
Yet, Smaug is not mindlessly violent. His intelligence allows him to be manipulative and sly. When conversing with Bilbo, he attempts to sow doubt in the hobbit’s mind about the loyalty of his companions. His cruelty is evident in his delight at destroying Lake-town, burning its citizens and homes without remorse. Smaug is the embodiment of unchecked greed and power.
Is Smaug the Last Great Dragon?
Smaug is referred to as the last "great" dragon of Middle-earth, which suggests that while other dragons may still exist, none match his size or power. Dragons were more common in the First Age, particularly during the Wars of Beleriand, where dragons such as Ancalagon the Black fought. By the Third Age, dragons had mostly faded into legend, and Smaug’s death marks the end of their reign of terror.
Smaug's Raw Power
Smaug is one of the most formidable creatures in Middle-earth. When analyzing his raw power—his sheer strength, magical abilities, and combat prowess—Smaug ranks extraordinarily high, but not without room for critique. On a scale from 1 to 10, Smaug earns a score of 9.0. This rating reflects his almost unparalleled physical might, destructive magical abilities, and terrifying presence in combat scenarios, positioning him among the upper echelons of powerful beings across fantasy universes.
Strength
Smaug’s physical strength is nothing short of immense. As a fully-grown dragon, his body is capable of leveling entire cities, reducing fortresses to ruins, and instilling dread in armies. His assault on the dwarven kingdom of Erebor and the nearby city of Dale serves as a perfect example of his raw physical power. In T.A. 2770, Smaug obliterated both the city and the mountain stronghold in a matter of hours, killing hundreds of dwarves and men alike. His massive size and strength allow him to easily topple stone structures and uproot trees. The only limit to his physical prowess lies in his size, which while colossal, is still dwarfed by the ancient First Age dragons like Ancalagon the Black.
Magical Ability
As a fire-drake, Smaug’s most obvious magical ability is his devastating breath of fire. His flames are described as searing and intense, capable of burning entire cities. The very heat of his breath alone creates an aura of destruction. As he flies, the skies turn red, and everything in his path is incinerated. When Smaug descends on Lake-town (Esgaroth), his fire not only obliterates wooden structures but scorches the waters of the lake itself. This ability places Smaug above many other powerful creatures in Middle-earth in terms of destructive magical force.
In addition to his fiery breath, Smaug possesses other supernatural attributes common to dragons in Tolkien’s legendarium. His voice carries a hypnotic, mesmerizing quality, as evidenced by his conversation with Bilbo. This dragon-spell ability, though subtler than direct firepower, demonstrates Smaug’s cunning and manipulation—able to lull his enemies into a false sense of security or plant seeds of doubt, even in a capable burglar like Bilbo Baggins.
Despite these impressive magical powers, Smaug does not wield a wide variety of magic beyond fire and intimidation. He does not demonstrate the ability to cast spells, manipulate the elements beyond fire, or summon otherworldly forces like some of the most powerful magical beings in Middle-earth.
Combat Prowess
Smaug’s combat prowess is exceptional. While not a skilled warrior in the traditional sense, such as a sword-wielding knight or a magic-casting sorcerer, Smaug’s overwhelming presence in battle makes him a nearly unstoppable force. His combat abilities are multi-faceted, combining his physical power, magical fire-breathing, and the advantage of flight. Smaug’s method of attack is direct and devastating: he can incinerate legions of enemies with a single breath or use his immense size to trample opponents beneath him.
Despite his immense power, Smaug’s combat skills do show a vulnerability. His overconfidence in his invincibility—believing that no weapon could pierce his nearly impenetrable scales—leads to a fatal weakness. A single missing scale on his underbelly becomes the key to his defeat, as Bard the Bowman exploits this vulnerability with a Black Arrow. This blind spot, both literal and metaphorical, reduces Smaug’s combat rating slightly from a perfect score. If not for this weakness, Smaug would have been practically untouchable in battle, solidifying his position as one of the most formidable combatants across all fantasy universes.
Smaug's Tactical Ability
When considering Smaug's tactical ability, it is evident that his strategic thinking and planning capabilities, while effective in certain contexts, are not his strongest attributes. On a scale from 1 to 10, Smaug’s tactical ability earns a rating of 6.5. Though he demonstrates cunning and resourcefulness in isolated scenarios, his overconfidence and limited adaptability ultimately diminish his overall tactical potential when compared to other beings across the vast array of fantasy universes.
Strategic Mind
Smaug’s strategic mind is primarily shaped by his arrogance and cunning. He is far from a mindless brute; his intelligence is highlighted in his interactions with Bilbo Baggins, where he demonstrates a shrewd ability to engage in psychological warfare. Smaug attempts to manipulate Bilbo by playing on his insecurities and planting seeds of doubt about the loyalty of the dwarves. This suggests a mind capable of strategy, at least on a personal level, as he tries to extract information from Bilbo and throw him off balance.
However, Smaug’s strategic thinking is reactive rather than proactive. While he effectively lures Bilbo into conversation, deducing the hobbit's presence and motives, he does not demonstrate the kind of long-term planning seen in other high-tier tacticians. Smaug’s approach is straightforward: when provoked, he reacts with overwhelming force, relying on his raw power to win battles rather than intricate strategies. His primary failing lies in his inability to anticipate threats fully, as evidenced by his disregard for the vulnerabilities in his own armor. His decision to attack Lake-town without much forethought beyond simple revenge also highlights his impulsiveness and lack of long-term foresight.
Resourcefulness
In terms of resourcefulness, Smaug is limited. His method of defense—covering his soft underbelly with gold and gems to reinforce his natural armor—is an ingenious use of the resources available to him, demonstrating his ability to adapt and fortify his weaknesses. This tactic shows that he understands the importance of protecting his vulnerabilities, even if he ultimately overlooks a key flaw in his defenses.
However, beyond this specific example, Smaug's resourcefulness appears somewhat one-dimensional. He does not exhibit much creativity in using his environment or available assets beyond his immediate physical power. For instance, when Lake-town attacks him, Smaug relies purely on brute strength and fiery destruction rather than thinking of alternative methods to dismantle his enemies or draw them into a more advantageous position.
Resource Arsenal
Smaug’s resource arsenal is fairly limited in terms of external tools or allies. He does not command armies or use strategic assets beyond his own considerable abilities. Unlike other tactical masterminds who utilize information, alliances, or unique skills to tip the scales in their favor, Smaug’s entire resource arsenal is focused on his personal power and his hoard of gold. He has no alliances, nor does he manipulate external resources to his advantage, relying solely on fear and force to maintain control over his domain.
In Middle-earth, this works to some extent, as the threat of his immense power is sufficient to deter most challengers. However, this lack of external resources limits his overall tactical flexibility. Smaug's tactical value comes primarily from himself, with no significant use of strategic assets like alliances or auxiliary resources to draw upon in conflicts. In a broader, multiversal context, where characters are often defined by their ability to leverage both personal power and external resources, Smaug falls short in comparison.
Smaug's Influence
Smaug commands considerable influence within the realm of Middle-earth. His ability to exert control, instill fear, and manipulate others with his presence and reputation is undeniable. However, when evaluating Smaug’s influence across all fantasy universes, his standing becomes more nuanced. On a scale from 1 to 10, Smaug’s influence earns a 7.5. While his impact in Middle-earth is significant, he does not engage in the kind of broad-scale manipulation or influence wielded by masters of influence across the fantasy genre. His influence stems primarily from fear, his inherent reputation as a dragon, and his ability to command respect (or terror) rather than subtle manipulation or political savvy.
Persuasion
Smaug’s persuasion is best showcased in his conversation with Bilbo Baggins during The Hobbit. His ability to engage in psychological warfare is impressive, as he attempts to manipulate Bilbo into revealing information about his companions and their mission. Smaug employs a combination of flattery, intimidation, and subtle coercion, planting seeds of doubt in Bilbo’s mind regarding Thorin’s loyalty and intentions. This interaction demonstrates Smaug’s understanding of manipulation at a personal level.
However, Smaug’s ability to influence others through dialogue or charisma is limited. While he successfully unnerves Bilbo, his approach to persuasion lacks the finesse and complexity seen in characters who excel at weaving intricate webs of manipulation. Smaug’s persuasion is more direct, relying on his overwhelming presence and fearsome reputation rather than cunning or sophisticated rhetoric.
Reverence
Smaug’s reverence is where his influence truly shines. As the last great fire-drake of Middle-earth, Smaug commands a level of awe and fear that few characters can match. His very name strikes terror into the hearts of the peoples of Middle-earth. The Dwarves of Erebor, the people of Dale, and even the men of Lake-town view Smaug with a mixture of dread and respect. For over 170 years, Smaug rules over the Lonely Mountain and its treasure hoard, unchallenged by any mortal force. His destruction of Dale and his conquest of Erebor cement his place as a legendary figure, with his mere presence shaping the political and economic landscape of the region.
Smaug’s reverence goes beyond just fear. The magnitude of his power and his sheer invulnerability grant him a status of almost mythical proportions. Even Gandalf is wary of the threat Smaug poses, fearing that, if left unchecked, he could become an ally of Sauron.
Willpower
Smaug’s willpower is an intriguing aspect of his influence. As a dragon, Smaug is driven by insatiable greed and an overwhelming desire to hoard wealth. This greed is almost a defining trait, making Smaug incredibly difficult to manipulate or control by external forces. His obsession with gold and treasure, while a source of power, also makes him somewhat predictable. He is resistant to external persuasion or manipulation, as seen when Bilbo attempts to outwit him by praising his beauty and strength. Smaug is too self-assured and arrogant to be easily swayed by others, indicating a strong sense of self-agency and willpower.
However, Smaug’s overwhelming greed can also be seen as a weakness in this regard. His desire for gold and his attachment to his hoard leave him vulnerable to exploitation, as Bilbo’s discovery of his weakness—combined with Smaug’s reactionary rage—ultimately leads to his downfall. In terms of resisting external influences, Smaug is formidable, but his singular focus on treasure blinds him to certain vulnerabilities.
Smaug's Resilience
Smaug exhibits remarkable resilience across multiple aspects. His ability to withstand both physical and magical threats is formidable, as is his capacity to endure over centuries as an almost unchallenged ruler of the Lonely Mountain. On a scale of 1 to 10, Smaug’s resilience earns an 8.0, placing him near the upper echelon of characters across all fantasy universes, though not quite at the absolute pinnacle. This score is derived from Smaug’s physical toughness, his ability to resist magical effects, and his extraordinary longevity, tempered only by the specific vulnerability that led to his downfall.
Physical Resistance
Smaug’s physical resistance is one of his most prominent features. His massive, red-golden scales form an almost impenetrable armor, making him nearly immune to conventional weapons. In The Hobbit, when Bard and the men of Lake-town attempt to bring him down with arrows, they find their efforts futile as their weapons bounce harmlessly off his hardened scales. However, Smaug is not entirely invulnerable. His critical weakness, a small bare patch in his underbelly, ultimately proves to be his undoing when Bard the Bowman strikes him in this vulnerable spot with a Black Arrow. Though this specific weakness lowers his score slightly, Smaug’s overall physical resilience remains extremely high due to the extraordinary protection offered by his scales and his sheer size and strength.
Magical Resistance
While not explicitly discussed in Tolkien’s works, Smaug’s magical resistance can be inferred from his interactions with magical forces and characters. Dragons in Middle-earth are generally described as beings imbued with supernatural power, and Smaug is no exception. He possesses the ability to see through Bilbo’s invisibility cloak to some degree, indicating that he is not entirely susceptible to magical effects or illusions. His keen senses and intelligence also suggest a natural resilience to enchantments or mind-altering magic.
However, Smaug is not portrayed as actively engaging in magical battles, nor does he exhibit specific resistance to powerful magical forces like those wielded by beings such as Gandalf or Sauron. While his natural defenses likely provide some protection against magic, he lacks the explicit magical fortitude seen in some other high-fantasy creatures.
Longevity
Smaug’s longevity is perhaps his most impressive facet of resilience. As a dragon, Smaug has an extraordinarily long lifespan, ruling the Lonely Mountain and its surrounding lands unchallenged for over 170 years after his conquest of Erebor in T.A. 2770. Dragons in Tolkien’s works are known to live for millennia, and Smaug’s longevity is no exception. He remains a dominant force in Middle-earth until his death in T.A. 2941.
Beyond mere survival, Smaug’s longevity is marked by his ability to maintain power and control over his domain without significant challenge for nearly two centuries. His long life, coupled with his intelligence and greed, ensures that he remains a potent threat throughout his reign. His ability to endure without aging, growing weaker, or facing significant existential threats places him in the upper tier of long-lived fantasy characters.
Smaug's Versatility
Smaug demonstrates a broad range of abilities, but his focus on destruction and greed limits his versatility when considered across the broader spectrum of fantasy characters. On a scale of 1 to 10, Smaug’s versatility scores a 5.0, marking him as somewhat adaptable but far from the most flexible of beings in terms of powers and skills. Smaug excels in specific areas—such as flight, fire-breathing, and physical dominance—but his lack of magical diversity, combined with his singular purpose, curtails his versatility rating compared to other fantasy characters who possess a wider range of skills or adaptive abilities.
Adaptability
Smaug’s adaptability is limited primarily by his nature as a dragon. He is a creature of habit, comfortable in his environment of hoarded wealth within the Lonely Mountain. For over 170 years, Smaug remained in the same location, ruling from a position of power and never needing to change his circumstances. While this does reflect his success in maintaining dominance, it also speaks to a lack of adaptive flexibility. Smaug does not demonstrate any significant capacity to adjust to new environments or different scenarios. His physical abilities—flight, fire-breathing, and armored scales—serve him well in combat situations, but beyond that, Smaug does not show a wide range of tactical or environmental adaptability.
Moreover, when confronted with unexpected events, such as the intrusion of Bilbo Baggins into his lair, Smaug reacts aggressively and violently rather than strategically. This highlights his inclination to rely on brute strength and overwhelming force rather than versatility in problem-solving.
Luck
Smaug’s luck is not explicitly noted in The Hobbit or other Tolkien works, but elements of his life suggest that he has benefited from favorable circumstances in many ways. His successful takeover of the Lonely Mountain and the accumulation of its vast wealth were the result of his brutal power and timing. His ability to rule unchallenged for so long could be viewed as partly due to luck, in that no serious challenger appeared for centuries. Furthermore, the fact that Bilbo, by sheer chance, managed to discover his single weak spot—and that Bard, informed by the thrush, managed to exploit it—demonstrates that Smaug’s ultimate downfall was partly the result of unlucky circumstances.
Shaved Knuckle in the Hole
Smaug’s shaved knuckle in the hole—or secret advantage—is his combination of extreme physical prowess and his keen intellect. While many dragons rely solely on brute strength, Smaug’s ability to engage in cunning dialogue and psychological manipulation, as seen in his conversation with Bilbo, highlights his potential to outwit opponents. He successfully intimidates Bilbo by planting seeds of doubt about Thorin’s intentions, and his boastfulness serves a dual purpose: to inspire awe and fear while revealing very little useful information to his enemies.
Smaug’s arrogance is both a strength and a weakness, but his intellect gives him a hidden edge over less intelligent opponents. He can deduce that Bilbo is working with others, and he immediately suspects the involvement of the Men of Lake-town. While this doesn’t prevent his downfall, it shows that Smaug possesses a strategic edge that goes beyond his raw power.
However, Smaug’s “hidden advantage” is not deeply layered. His arrogance can be seen as a form of hubris that ultimately leads to his death. While he does possess cunning and manipulative tendencies, these are not enough to compensate for his singular focus on hoarding treasure and destroying those who challenge him.
Smaug's Alignment
Smaug best fits the Neutral Evil alignment. His motivations are rooted in pure self-interest and an insatiable greed, making him a character who is evil without being particularly chaotic or lawful. He isn’t driven by any external cause or belief system, but by his own desire for power, wealth, and dominance.
Smaug is a dragon, specifically a fire-breathing drake, one of the last great dragons of Middle-earth. He has no specific factional allegiance but operates as a singular, highly dangerous force of destruction and greed. Unlike many beings in Middle-earth who align with larger causes (such as Sauron or Morgoth), Smaug serves only himself, taking over Erebor to hoard its treasure and destroying any who dare challenge him.
Smaug’s evil is best described as neutral because his actions are not motivated by law or chaos but by a singular desire for domination and accumulation of wealth. He attacks Dale and Erebor not out of a desire to spread chaos or challenge authority, but because he covets their riches. His primary concern is preserving his hoard and maintaining power over Erebor. There is no higher agenda at play; Smaug’s evil is personal and self-contained.
While Gandalf feared that Smaug might ally with Sauron, this was based on the danger Smaug represented, not because Smaug had any interest in such an alliance. Smaug does not show loyalty or service to anyone but himself. His evil is self-contained, driven by personal desires rather than larger causes or chaotic ambitions. His self-centered nature makes him a dangerous force, but not one who would seek to upend order for the sake of it.
Smaug’s Neutral Evil alignment stems from his single-minded pursuit of wealth and power. He is ruthless, intelligent, and manipulative, acting only in his own self-interest. While destructive, his violence is not chaotic but deliberate and calculated, aimed at furthering his own ends. This makes Smaug one of Middle-earth’s most dangerous and coldly evil creatures, whose actions are always driven by greed and self-preservation. Pride and Prophecy keeps an updated character alignment matrix across all planes of existence.
Smaug's Trophy Case
PPET Rankings
| Season | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2 (2024-2025) | TBD (of 204) |
Overall Conclusion on Smaug and Position Across Planes of Existence
Smaug’s final rating of 7.2 places him in a solidly above-average tier of power across fantasy universes, but not among the absolute top-tier characters. This rating reflects the nuanced balance between his overwhelming raw power and the limitations of his versatility, influence, and tactical ability as they apply across various fantasy systems.
Smaug's rating reflects his immense strength and near-invulnerability as a fire-breathing dragon, as well as his cunning intelligence. However, dragons in Tolkien's universe, especially Smaug, are limited by certain factors that prevent them from reaching the highest tier of power. While Smaug is a dominant force in his realm and terrifying to most, he does not demonstrate the world-shaping or godlike power exhibited by top-tier beings across other fantasy settings. For instance, beings like Sauron or Morgoth operate on a scale that manipulates entire nations or even existence itself, while Smaug’s influence remains largely isolated to his lair and treasure hoard.
Smaug’s strength as a fire-breathing dragon is undeniable. His physical might, combined with his ability to incinerate armies and raze cities, is an overwhelming asset. His scales are almost impervious to harm, and he was able to withstand many assaults without injury. However, his vulnerabilities are critical: his underbelly, which was his ultimate undoing, and his reliance on brute strength, as opposed to magical or diverse abilities. While Smaug is a force of destruction, his power is more straightforward and concentrated on his destructive capabilities rather than nuanced magical abilities or versatility in combat scenarios.
Smaug’s tactical ability, while present in his cunning and manipulative dialogue with Bilbo, is not his primary strength. He relies more on fear and power than on complex strategies. His actions are driven by simple motivations—hoard, guard, destroy. While effective, this limits his rating, as he lacks the multifaceted tactical brilliance of other fantasy characters who can manipulate multiple layers of a conflict, adapting to broader strategies. Similarly, Smaug’s influence is limited by his isolation. Though feared, he doesn’t inspire loyalty, lead armies, or play political games. His influence is more territorial and based on intimidation rather than widespread manipulation or charisma.
Dragons in Tolkien’s universe, particularly Smaug, are somewhat limited in versatility. Smaug is not a shapeshifter, nor does he possess the magical variety seen in many high-powered fantasy characters. His abilities are primarily brute force-based, and he lacks the adaptability seen in top-tier characters. Smaug’s one major advantage—his almost impenetrable armor—is specific but limited, as his death by Bard demonstrates. Smaug’s reliance on his physical form and destructive capabilities, while impressive, places a ceiling on his versatility across diverse situations, compared to characters with a wider array of skills or magical powers.
When comparing Smaug with Ancalagon, it’s essential to consider the differences between the First and Third Ages, as well as the biases introduced by the mythological nature of the earlier legends. Ancalagon was described as the largest and most powerful of the dragons, but much of his reputation stems from mythic battles during the First Age, where events were larger-than-life and potentially exaggerated through oral tradition. In contrast, Smaug, a dragon of the Third Age, has a more direct and nuanced depiction, allowing for a clearer assessment of his abilities. While Ancalagon is larger and arguably more powerful in physical terms, Smaug is ranked higher because his intelligence and influence are more clearly demonstrated, and he plays a critical role in Third Age events. Moreover, the mythological framing of First Age creatures often makes them appear more grandiose than the characters of the Third Age.
Another important consideration is the role of dragons in Middle-earth, which differs from many other fantasy universes. Dragons are usually created or influenced by greater beings, such as Morgoth. They don’t act as free agents of chaos or order, and they lack the political machinations or the broad influence that many high-tier characters wield. Smaug, while immensely powerful, is ultimately a solitary figure who exerts control over a relatively small region. He doesn’t command armies or participate in complex power structures like many top-tier characters across fantasy worlds.
There is also a significant difference between the power levels exhibited in the First and Third Ages of Middle-earth. The Third Age, where Smaug exists, is often seen as a “diminished” time, where the great powers of the earlier ages have faded. Characters like Morgoth and Ancalagon existed during the peak of Middle-earth’s mythic power, while Smaug, though still terrifying, is a lesser force in a time of relative decline. This disparity impacts our rankings, as the context in which Smaug exists is one where fewer grand, apocalyptic beings roam the land, making him stand out more in comparison to his contemporaries but less so when considered against the backdrop of the First Age.
Ultimately, Smaug’s rating of 7.2 reflects his significant yet limited power in the grander scope of fantasy characters. While he is undoubtedly one of the most powerful beings in Middle-earth during the Third Age, his straightforward reliance on brute strength, firepower, and cunning—without significant magical abilities, tactical genius, or far-reaching influence—keeps him from the highest tier of fantasy characters. Comparing him to a figure like Ancalagon shows the challenges of ranking mythological figures versus more grounded ones, but Smaug’s solid position reflects his direct and formidable role as a dragon of the Third Age. Pride and Prophecy keeps an updated power ranking across all planes of existence. This will only be sortable on desktop viewing. The below table shows a summary within the same plane of existence of this article.
