| ! | Non-canon alert The subject of this article originates from non-canonical sources. To learn about what is considered "canon", see LOTR:Canon. |
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"War Troll" is the term used to describe the large and powerful trolls that formed part of Azog's Dol Guldur army in Peter Jackson's film The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
History[]
These trolls are used primarily in Azog's army, directed to come out as soon as Azog called for his "war beasts". They inflict great damage upon the allied lines of Elves and Dwarves in the valley of Erebor during the Battle of Five Armies. When Orc regiments make their way to the ruins of Dale, some of these trolls join them, climbing over the walls or smashing them down to gain access. One of these trolls is even given a stone headpiece to act as a battering ram against the walls of Dale. Towards the climax of the battle, a band of smaller trolls with clubs rally against Dáin Ironfoot's forces but are stopped by Thorin and Company’s arrival from the gates of Erebor and are soon fought off by the renewed Dwarven advance. Many of the larger trolls are still fighting on when the Bats of Gundabad arrive. But once the Eagles arrive the tide turns, and the remaining trolls either flee into the Were-worm tunnels, or are eventually taken down by the combined allied forces. It is unknown if any survived up to the War of the Ring.
Description[]
War Trolls armed with clubs
Most of these trolls were very large compared to other breeds of Troll. Standing at about 25 -30 ft tall (or about 8 -10 meters tall). They had several skin tones varying from tan, to grey, to even albino. During battle they were given a variety of crude orc-like weapons including spiked wooden clubs and steel maces, as well as scythed blades that would be strapped to their arms. Being as large as they were, some were used as siege weapons against the walls of Dale. Acting as living catapults or battering rams. A smaller variant of these trolls also existed, and they were very much the same in terms of appearance as their larger relatives, the only difference was that they were very few in number and the only weapon they were seen using was a smaller spiked club. They stood at about 9-12 ft tall (or around 3-4 meters tall) and were seen at the Gates of Erebor preparing to finish off the forces of Dáin.
Notable individuals[]
"Stumpy"[]
Bofur controlling "Stumpy"
The least fortunate of these trolls was dubbed "Stumpy" by the producers. It was albino, truncated at the limbs (chained flails replaced his arms, while wrecking ball-like maces were in place of his legs) and was born blind and eyeless. The troll had chains fixed from his eye sockets to a chair on his back that was controlled by an Orc driver. In the Extended Edition of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, this large albino troll is seen smashing through both Elf and Dwarven lines, until it is hijacked by Bofur, and manipulated to fight against trolls and Orcs (unwittingly) on the way to Ravenhill, where it is ultimately killed by Legolas.
Gandalf's adversary[]
Gandalf faces a troll
In a scene from the Extended Edition of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, a grey, slightly deformed War Troll is seen wrecking havoc on the forces of Lake-town fighting in the ruined streets of Dale. After smashing his way through a group of Lake-men, the troll sets his sights on Gandalf the Grey, who attempts to strike the beast down with magic. However, his staff (originally belonging to Radagast the Brown) is not working properly and thus no magical attacks can be performed. The wizard tries in vain, many more times in order to create some sort of magic, all while the troll is trying to kill him. Nearby, Alfrid Lickspittle is hiding out in a trebuchet net on the back of a dead troll. During his attempt to flee, a gold coin is accidentally dropped on the firing mechanism of the trebuchet, which launches Alfrid. Before the troll can finish Gandalf off, Alfrid is launched directly into the throat of the troll, which asphyxiates and kills it as well as Alfrid.
Behind the scenes[]
In the concept art book The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Chronicles: Art & Design, it is shown that larger trolls were originally meant to have large horns and be covered with sharp spines. An unused troll concept was the "Caber Troll", a horned troll intended to throw giant cabers (logs/trees) adorned with spikes and hammers into the allied army lines.
Translations[]
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Danish | Olog-haier fra Dol Guldur |
References[]
Weta Workshop.com : https://www.wetanz.com/shop/figures/war-troll-and-helm[]
Artstation.com: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/lL3WY