The Rings of Power season 2 sees Sauron manipulating Celebrimbor into making Nine Rings for Men, and viewers might be wondering where these are during The Lord of the Rings. Apart from the One Ring, there are 19 Rings of Power in total — though few of them actually appear in The Lord of the Rings. Galadriel and Elrond each possess one of the Three, but the Dwarves’ Seven Rings are mostly gone before Frodo’s story unfolds. And while the Nine do still exist in the Third Age, they aren’t visible throughout its main story.

This may leave fans wondering where the rings for Men are, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s books provide a somewhat confusing answer. These Rings of Power are used by Sauron to corrupt the Men they’re given to, all of whom turn into Ringwraiths, or Nazgûl, by the time The Fellowship of the Ring begins. The Nazgûl do Sauron’s bidding, but it’s unclear whether they continue to hold the Nine into the Third Age. At some point, it seems that Sauron possesses them instead.

The Nine Rings Are Either With The Ringwraiths Or With Sauron During The Lord Of The Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien Makes Both Claims

The Nine Rings of Power for Men are either with Sauron or the Ringwraiths during The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien’s writings point more heavily towards the former, with The Fellowship of the Ring and Unfinished Tales stating multiple times that Sauron collected the Nine sometime in the Third Age (via Tolkien Gateway). This indicates that they’re in his possession during The Lord of the Rings, though it’s hard to say for certain. As LOTR doesn’t follow Sauron as closely as The Rings of Power, we never actually see him depicted with the rings; we’re just told he has them.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether Sauron or the Nazgûl hold the Nine, as Sauron has control over the Ringwraiths during The Lord of the Rings.

And Gandalf makes a statement that contradicts this during the Council of Elrond in The Fellowship of the Ring. He says, “The Nine the Nazgûl keep,” which suggests that the Nazgûl still have their Rings of Power at some point during the Third Age. It’s possible Sauron retrieves them later, rendering both statements true. But ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether Sauron or the Nazgûl hold the Nine, as Sauron has control over the Ringwraiths during The Lord of the Rings.

What Happens To The Nine Rings After Sauron’s Defeat In Return Of The King?

They’re Either Destroyed Or Powerless

It’s not totally clear what happens to the Nine after Frodo destroys the One Ring in The Return of the King. However, we can probably assume they’re destroyed — or that they no longer work. The Three remain, but they lose their power after the One Ring is destroyed. Of course, the Seven and the Nine are more closely linked to Sauron, so they may have perished with him. The Nazgûl also die following Sauron’s defeat, so it’s not hard to believe their Rings of Power met similar fates. Even if they didn’t, they’re likely powerless after The Lord of the Rings.