APPEARANCE

Balrogs generally take the form of tall, menacing beings roughly humanoid in shape, though seeming to consist of or be surrounded by shadow and flame. They used both a flaming sword, and a fiery whip; they were constantly burning, and their weapons appeared molten. Gothmog, the Lord of Balrogs in the First Age, uses a black ax as well. In our game Balrogs have wings. Balrogs seem to encapsulate and project power and terror, perhaps meant to be a dark shadow of the majesty that the Valar radiate with "streaming fiery manes". Additionally, they are able to alter their body structures on occasion, as in the battle between Durin's Bane and Gandalf, when the Balrog fell into a body of water he shifted himself into something slimy.

POWERS & ABILITIES

Balrogs are exceptionally powerful creatures. Only seven Balrogs were required to drive away Ungoliant, a large monster powerful enough to devour the fruits of Telperion, which produced the light of billions of stars.

A single Balrog, who became known as Durin's Bane, managed to drive the Dwarves of Moria from their ancient and supremely fortified nation-state, which was at the time the greatest kingdom of Dwarves that had ever been. It also contended with Gandalf, and shattered the side of a mountain with physical might alone. The Balrogs were considerably bodily agile, such that their passing is once described as a “tempest of fire”.

Gothmog fought against and overcame Fëanor, an elf who was powerful enough to control the light of the two trees. He also spread chaos through the city of Gondolin, filled with elves of similar, though far lower, caliber. It was even thought to be at least somewhat comparable to Sauron during the first age.