My list: - Edit 1
Before modification by RugbyPlayingAshaman at 28/04/2011 07:42:04 PM
1. Ishamael
2. Aginor
3. Demandred
4. Rahvin
5. Sammael
6. Balthamel, Be'lal
7. Asmodean
A few points as to my reasoning: I think Ishamael and Lews Therin are as close to equal in saidin as two men could be, somewhat like how Egwene, Elayne and Aviendha are approximate equals in saidar. Ishamael is generally considered the most powerful of the Forsaken, so I gave him the top rung.
Aginor is specifically stated to be extremely close to Lews Therin in strength and we know from the book lore that he is one of the few that is stated to have actually matched Lews Therin's channeling of the One Power blow for blow/feat for feat. So I gave him the second rung.
Demandred is a blowhard who has delusions of grandeur. He is stated to be close to Lews Therin in strength but not on the same level. Plus we never hear that he could match Lews' ability to wield saidin. So he gets third place, which makes cosmic sense to me given that this position makes him powerful enough in saidin for the other Forsaken to feel that he is a threat, but also low enough that room for his ego to be given extra space for him to feel the need to make up for this deficiency in his selection of enemies.
I placed Balthamel and Bel'al at the same level, but their level of strength is rather inconclusive. In truth, I consider this level to be very close to the upper tiers of the female strength scale in quantity of power wielded not necessarily effectiveness. Either could be listed in any order, but I do think they are both weaker than Sammael and stronger than Asmodean, who is for the most part, acknowledged as the weakest and less threatening of the Forsaken overall (though he has a better battle record than Aginor).
2. Aginor
3. Demandred
4. Rahvin
5. Sammael
6. Balthamel, Be'lal
7. Asmodean
A few points as to my reasoning: I think Ishamael and Lews Therin are as close to equal in saidin as two men could be, somewhat like how Egwene, Elayne and Aviendha are approximate equals in saidar. Ishamael is generally considered the most powerful of the Forsaken, so I gave him the top rung.
Aginor is specifically stated to be extremely close to Lews Therin in strength and we know from the book lore that he is one of the few that is stated to have actually matched Lews Therin's channeling of the One Power blow for blow/feat for feat. So I gave him the second rung.
Demandred is a blowhard who has delusions of grandeur. He is stated to be close to Lews Therin in strength but not on the same level. Plus we never hear that he could match Lews' ability to wield saidin. So he gets third place, which makes cosmic sense to me given that this position makes him powerful enough in saidin for the other Forsaken to feel that he is a threat, but also low enough that room for his ego to be given extra space for him to feel the need to make up for this deficiency in his selection of enemies.
I placed Balthamel and Bel'al at the same level, but their level of strength is rather inconclusive. In truth, I consider this level to be very close to the upper tiers of the female strength scale in quantity of power wielded not necessarily effectiveness. Either could be listed in any order, but I do think they are both weaker than Sammael and stronger than Asmodean, who is for the most part, acknowledged as the weakest and less threatening of the Forsaken overall (though he has a better battle record than Aginor).