First off, I want to thank Ken for asking Brandon my question on the strength difference between Semirhage and Nynaeve. I was definitely not expecting an answer, and I was pleasant surprised.

I decided to make a new post because there are over a hundred views in the previous post and it's getting crowded. Thanks to Shannow and all the debating there - I loved all the bickering.

Let me start off by saying that Brandon seems like a nice guy, but he shoots from the hip. He's answering things incorrectly and causing all manner of scandals. If we didn't know better about Cyndane, we'd all be in a fuss, but he's making major errors in his answers. I also find it very unlikely that the guy knows the strength tree to any reasonable degree. I'm sure he knows some landmarks, but his own words show that he's 'reasonably' this 'pretty sure' that. It's all very vague and unreliable information. It would actually be better to get a RAFO than to get wrong information based on guessing.

Moving on.. I've read all his comments, and sort of sifted through with what I consider to be true and false, and I'm sure some people will disagree. I certainly disagree with Shannow's assessment of the tree, and my own now looks like this...

1. Lanfear
2. Cyndane, Alivia
3. Graendal
4. Sharina, Someryn
5. Nynaeve, Talaan
6. Semirhage
7. Mesaana
8. Moghedien

Nynaeve is weaker than three Forsaken and stronger than three, and that makes her average Forsaken strength - according to RJ. Brandon is reasonably sure Semirhage is weaker than Nynaeve, but this is not fact - he might be wrong, but he's quite sure that they are close, so they may share a level. What he does know is that only six women are stronger than Nynaeve. The six women are Lanfear, Cyndane, Alivia, Graendal, Sharina and Someryn.

There's been too much effort to create controversy regarding Cyndane. Brandon's recanted his statement that she is much weaker, and settled on her only being weaker. We know this from the series already. Graendal said that Cyndane was much stronger than Moghedien, so placing her only one level higher is wrong. We know from multiple repetitive quotes that Cyndane is weaker than Lanfear, but no one says that she is incomparably weak. Graendal is shocked at Cyndane's strength - even in her own Age, Cyndane's strength was extremely rare in women. There's no point in Graendal considering herself to be a woman of rare strength if there are five levels of strength above her. That single quote implies that Graendal is very close to the top of the strength tree. We also have quotes that imply that Graendal is a match for Sammael and Lanfear in combat, either from Moridin or Rahvin, so she's clearly not low down.

Now Someryn supposedly has strength among the Wise One that has never nearly been approached. This implies very great strength, and we already know of women like Aviendha, Tamela and Viendre who have high strength among the Aiel. Someryn's statement implies that Graendal is even stronger than her, which is once again proof that Graendal is extremely powerful for a woman.

Mesaana is one of the weaker Forsaken, which if you look at it, may be one of the only pieces of really valuable information we received apart from the statement of the 'six'. Most people have equated Mesaana and Semirhage in strength for as long as I can remember, but Brandon is sure that Mesaana is not a strong Forsaken, despite what Sheriam says.

The strengths of Moghedien and Lanfear are probably obvious as the weakest and strongest. It doesn't really matter where Sharina and Alivia are, but they are both stronger than Nynaeve. It's your own opinion on where they stand but mine are as I stated them. I also believe that we know every channeler of strength in the series. I don't believe that new channelers of great strength are coming for the last book, and I don't believe that the super-strong channelers are obscure characters like Sera, the Kinswoman who is over 600 years old, or Latra Posae Decume.

I think it's important not to let Brandon bomb years of theorizing out of the water. Sure, he's one of maybe three people who's ever seen the true strength of these women, but he's clearly guessing in half his answers, and certifiably incorrect in at least one (which he now admits). RJ made specific statements on strength in interviews that were rare but carry a lot of weight. There are also many quotes in the series surrounding the strength of the female Forsaken.

It's awesome that we now know more about Mesaana and Nynaeve, but the rest is conjecture. It should affect most of our strength lists minimally.