The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 has offered up its own explanation for why Men became Ringwraiths while the Dwarves did not. Just as in Tolkien canon, Sauron gave Seven Rings of Power to the Dwarves in the Prime Video series and plans to distribute the Nine for Men in coming episodes. This should lead to the corruption of these lords and kings, ultimately resulting in their becoming the Ringwraiths familiar from Lord of the Rings. Of course, canon dictates that this is not the same fate suffered by the Dwarves—so why not?

While author J.R.R. Tolkien had his own explanation for why Men and not Dwarves became invisible spirits endlessly carrying out Sauron’s bidding, Rings of Power has presented another possible answer. It all comes down to how the Rings were crafted and the materials used. Earlier in Rings of Power season 2, Celebrimbor made the Seven for the Dwarves using mithril from their mines, and this was an effective source of power. However, the mithril ran out before making the Nine for Men. So, Sauron provided Celebrimbor with a different substance to use.

Sauron Puts His Own Blood Into The Nine In The Rings Of Power Season 2

Sauron’s Blood Creates A More Intimate Connection

After trying and failing to secure more mithril from Khazad-dûm in Rings of Power season 2, Sauron mysteriously supplies Celebrimbor with a vial of the ore refined to a powder. However, none of this is as it seems. The Dark Lord had actually handed the Lord of Eregion a vial of his own blood and used his magic to manipulate what Celebrimbor perceived to be true. In Rings of Power season 2, episode 7, Celebrimbor is seen crafting the Nine using the mithril substitute, which is sure to significantly impact how these Rings connect to Sauron’s power.

In Rings of Power‘s version of lore, mithril comes from the light of the Silmarils and, therefore, the light of the Two Trees of Valinor. Though Sauron corrupted the Seven Rings, they are still rooted in something good and pure. The Nine Rings for Men are now an entirely different story. They are of Sauron’s blood—crafted from his own black evil. The Dark Lord will surely have a much stronger level of control over their wearers, so it makes sense that they would eventually slip into complete darkness themselves, thus bringing Ringwraiths.

Why Only The Nine Become Ringwraiths In Tolkien’s Lord Of The Rings Lore

Rings Of Power’s Answer Doesn’t Quite Fit With Canon

Rings of Power‘s version of why the Nine Men became Ringwraiths differs from Tolkien’s explanation. In Lord of the Rings lore, the Seven and Nine were crafted similarly since Celebrimbor had intended all of them to be used by the Elves. After stealing them from Eregion, Sauron chose to give them to Dwarves and Men, but both Middle-earth races handled the Rings’ evil differently. Dwarves are naturally far more resistant to the Rings of Power. Their greed was turned up to 100 percent, but they never fell entirely under Sauron’s influence. Men, on the other hand, are far more corruptible.

Nazgul is the Black Speech word for Ringwraith.

Sauron’s Blood Trick Neatly Sets Up The One Ring

Rings Of Power May Have Teased How Sauron Will Make His Ring

Image via Prime Video

Though not strictly canon, Sauron’s blood trick is an interesting twist for Rings of Power. The Dark Lord explained that Celebrimbor himself had taught him that all creation requires great sacrifice, and it was through this lesson that he realized his own blood could work as a substitute for mithril. This line seems to set up the creation of Middle-earth’s darkest weapon since The Lord of the Rings dictates that Sauron poured his power into his One Ring, thus tethering himself to it entirely. Rings of Power seems to be making this process far more literal.

After becoming the Nazgul, the Nine Men became tethered to Sauron, just as Sauron became tethered to his One Ring.

If Sauron uses his own black blood to create the Nine Rings of Power and his own One Ring, it further reinforces the idea that this substance has something to do with the Ringwraith’s transformation. After becoming the Nazgul, the Nine Men became tethered to Sauron, just as Sauron became tethered to his One Ring. When the Dark Lord was separated from his great weapon, his power faltered, and he temporarily lost form. When this happened, his Nazgul lost the ability to take form as well, only reappearing when Sauron again gained power. Rings of Power‘s blood twist is an interesting way of explaining precisely why.