Does Talion Become a Ringwraith?
Talion does become a Ringwraith, also known as a Nazgûl, at the end of the game, after he puts on Isildur’s ring and eventually succumbs to its corruption. This transformation occurs decades after the events of the game, where Talion, as a Ringwraith, joins Sauron’s forces and hunts Frodo and the One Ring.
Understanding Talion’s Journey
To understand Talion’s transformation into a Ringwraith, it’s essential to explore his journey and the events that lead to this point.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
- What happens to Talion at the end of Shadow of War? Talion finally dies a true death, through which his spirit is freed, and he moves on to the afterlife, after the destruction of the One Ring by Frodo Baggins and the destruction of Sauron.
- Does Talion show up in Lord of the Rings? Talion is not a canon character in Lord of the Rings lore, despite his fascinating backstory, and is a vital part of the Middle-earth games.
- Is Talion a Numenorean? Talion is a Ranger of the North without the powerful blood of Numenor running through his veins.
Talion and Celebrimbor
- Who is Celebrimbor? Celebrimbor is one of the main protagonists of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War, and he shares the same body with Talion.
- Is Celebrimbor a Ringwraith? Celebrimbor is an elf who originally helped Sauron forge the Rings of Power, but he is not a Ringwraith.
- Why did Celebrimbor betray Talion? Celebrimbor ends his bond with Talion and possesses Eltariel to use her to defeat Sauron, as he intends to overthrow Sauron rather than destroy him.
Talion’s Powers and Abilities
- Is Talion more powerful than Sauron? While Talion has a strong will, it’s unclear if he could defeat Sauron in combat, as Tolkien didn’t write in absolutes.
- Could Talion dominate Sauron? Talion’s strong will might be enough to put him over the top if he took on Sauron alongside Celebrimbor.
- What is the max Talion level in Shadow of War? The maximum level for players in Middle-earth: Shadow of War is 80, after an update raised the level cap from 60.
The Nazgûl and Sauron
- Who are the nine riders? The Nazgûl, also known as the Nine Riders or Black Riders, are Sauron’s most terrible servants in Middle-earth.
- How does Isildur become a Nazgul? Isildur is revived by Sauron with one of the nine rings and then tortured until his spirit is broken, and he becomes a Nazgûl.
- How many rings did Celebrimbor make? Celebrimbor forged the Three Rings alone in Eregion, which were moulded by Sauron’s craft and bound to the One Ring.
Talion’s Story and Character
- Is Talion based on Boromir? The game’s protagonist, Talion, was inspired by Boromir, from The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
- Is Talion good or bad? Talion is considered the villain of Shadow of War, as he eventually succumbs to the corruption of Isildur’s ring and becomes a Ringwraith.
- Will Talion become canon? Talion cannot be canonized, as Tolkien is no longer alive, and only he or Christopher Tolkien could make such a decision, making Talion a non-canon character in the Lord of the Rings universe.