I’ve noticed that the only decent RT for Sauron is the one on Reddit, and it only includes things from Tolkien’s original lore. So while the films and games may not necessarily be canon, I am going to add them to the thread, for debate purposes, and just for the sake of aggregating everything I can find. The thread may miss a lot of quotes, I don’t own the LOTR novels or the Silmarillion personally, so this thread will be composed purely by what I can find out on my own. If there is something important I’m missing, feel free to share it with me, and I’ll be sure to add it to the thread. As I do not have quotes for absolutely everything, I will provide links to wiki pages in some instances. These wiki pages are closely watched and maintained for accuracy, all information within “should” be accurate, as well as sourced.

I will also draw distinction between the three “canons”, anything from the films (LOTR or Hobbit film trilogies) will be labeled with the (FILM CANON) designation, anything from the “Shadow” game series will be designation with (GAME CANON).

Credit for the many quotes here goes to Reddit user Pimpathinor, as I pulled them from his Sauron RT on Reddit. Credit to the youtubers whose gameplay and film clips I used, and credit to the game developer and filmmakers who created the games and films seen here.

The original RT for Sauron can be found here, and credit for the quotes goes to the RT author:

Original RT

With that out of the way, respect Sauron, the Lord of the Rings, and Dark Lord of Mordor.

Nature/Accolades

Sauron is a Maiar, a powerful spirit being.

Among those of his servants that have names the greatest was that spirit whom the Eldar called Sauron, or Gorthaur the Cruel. In his beginning he was of the Maiar of Aulë, and he remained mighty in the lore of that people. In all the deeds of Melkor the Morgoth upon Arda, in his vast works and in the deceits of his cunning, Sauron had a part, and was only less evil than his master in that for long he served another and not himself. But in after years he rose like a shadow of Morgoth and a ghost of his malice, and walked behind him on the same ruinous path down into the Void.

-The Silmarillion

As a Maiar, he is in the same order (same race, essentially) as the Valar.

Maiar: http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Maiar

"spirits whose being also began before the world, of the same order as the Valar but of less degree"

-The Silmarillion

Valar: http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Valar

Sauron is also stated directly by Tolkien as being of a “far higher order” than Gandalf or Sauruman. Gandalf’s abilities are detailed in the Respect Thread made for him on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/respectthreads/comments/2baay1/respect_gandalf/

(GAME CANON) Though this applies to Tolkien’s original lore and the films as well. Sauron, as Dark Lord, is very likely to be more powerful in his full strength than a Balrog. For reference, Carnan thought of Tar-Goroth (a Balrog) as being a threat to virtually all of nature and green life. Carnan, despite being incredibly powerful in her own right, did not seem convinced she could defeat Tar-Goroth on her own.

(this video is all of Carnan’s cutscenes, it’s very long.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3joa6wA2hv8

Tar Goroth, a Balrog, is capable of rampaging across the world, and has defeated entire armies single handedly.

Shapeshifting

Sauron is a capable shapeshifter, able to switch between numerous form, and relegating the power of each thing he becomes. In the form of a werewolf, he makes himself the strongest werewolf ever.

“Therefore he took upon himself the form of a werewolf, and made himself the mightiest that had yet walked the world;

Then Sauron shifted shape, from wolf to serpent, and from monster to his own accustomed form;

And immediately he took the form of a vampire, great as a dark cloud across the moon,”

-The

Silmarillion

(GAME CANON) Sauron is able to swap between his “true” form (the giant armor clad image of evil) and his “fair” form, which he used to deceive Celebrimbor into creating the Rings of Power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQnx8xWS3IU

(GAME CANON) Sauron switches between his true and fair forms during his battle with Celebrimbor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS0DVMPrfE0

Nature Control

Sauron seemingly manipulates the fires within Mt. Doom. He can also cause the volcano to erupt.

Now Sauron prepared war against the Eldar and the Men of Westernesse, and the fires of the Mountain were wakened again. Wherefore seeing the smoke of Orodruin from afar, and perceiving that Sauron had returned, the Numenoreans named that mountain anew Amon Amarth, which is Mount Doom.

-The Silmarillion

Therefore, after a time he made war upon the Exiles, before they should take root. Orodrúin burst once more into flame, and was named anew in Gondor Amon Amarth, Mount Doom.

-The Silmarillion

Turgon followed Túrin, but of his time it is chiefly remembered that two years ere his death, Sauron arose again, and declared himself openly; and he re-entered Mordor long prepared for him. Then Barad-dûr was raised once more, and Mount Doom burst into flame

-The Silmarillion

Sauron, prior to the invasion of Minas Tirith, creates a giant cloud to blot out the sun, allowing his armies of Orcs to move freely.

‘But the Sun has not risen, yet,’ said Merry.

‘No, and will not rise today, Master Holbytla. Nor ever again, one should think, under this cloud. ...

‘It comes from Mordor, lord,’ he said. ‘It began last night at sunset. From the hills in the Eastfold of your realm I saw it rise and creep across the sky, and all night as I rode it came behind eating up the stars. Now the great cloud hangs over all the land between here and the Mountains of Shadow; and it is deepening. War has already begun.

-Return of the King

The Fellowship of the Ring surmises that Sauron is the cause of the storms that forced them to go through Moria, rather than through the mountain pass as they’d originally planned. Gandalf, who knows much about Sauron and his abilities, seems to agree with this assessment of events.

‘I wonder if this is a contrivance of the Enemy,’ said Boromir. ‘They say in my land that he can govern the storms in the Mountains of Shadow that stand upon the borders of Mordor. He has strange powers and many allies.’

‘His arm has grown long indeed,’ said Gimli, ‘if he can draw snow down from the North to trouble us here three hundred leagues away.’

‘His arm has grown long,’ said Gandalf.

-Fellowship of the Ring

Durability

Sauron tanks a strike from Eru Iluvitar, the Tolkien Mythos’ equivalent to the Judeo-Christian God, and creator of the universe in which LOTR takes place. This attack was able to destroy the island of Numenor, a relatively large island. While Sauron’s physical body WAS destroyed, he himself still survives the blow.

Eru Iluvitar: http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Eru_Il%C3%BAvatar

he was taken in the midst of his mirth, and his seat and his temple fell into the abyss. But Sauron was not of mortal flesh, and though he was robbed now of that shape in which he had wrought so great an evil, so that he could never again appear fair to the eyes of Men, yet his spirit arose out of the deep and passed as a shadow and a black wind over the sea, and came back to Middle-earth and to Mordor that was his home. There he took up again his great Ring in Barad-dur, and dwelt there, dark and silent, until he wrought himself a new guise, an image of malice and hatred made visible.

- The Silmarillion

Sauron casually tanks lightning cast down by the Valar. Keep in mind from earlier that the Valar are more powerful than the Maiar, which is what Sauron is. Meaning that, despite not being a Valar, Sauron is able to casually shrug off lightning that is meant to kill him, from beings that are supposed to be his superiors. Making Sauron, likely, more powerful than any Valar, save for his old master, Melkor/Morgoth.

Reference for who Melkor is: http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Melkor

Now the lightnings increased and slew men upon the hills, and in the fields, and in the streets of the city; and a fiery bolt smote the dome of the Temple and shore it asunder, and it was wreathed in flame. But the Temple itself was unshaken, and Sauron stood there upon the pinnacle and defied the lightning and was unharmed; and in that hour men called him a god and did all that he would.

-The Silmarillion

Sorcery and Manipulation

Uses sorcery to capture a fortress.

Sauron, greatest and most terrible of the servants of Morgoth, who in the Sindarin tongue was named Gorthaur, came against Orodreth, the warden of the tower upon Tol Sirion. Sauron was become now a sorcerer of dreadful power, master of shadows and of phantoms, foul in wisdom, cruel in strength, misshaping what he touched, twisting what he ruled, lord of werewolves; his dominion was torment. He took Minas Tirith by assault, for a dark cloud of fear fell upon those that defended it; and Orodreth was driven out, and fled to Nargothrond.

-The Silmarillion

Uses illusions for manipulation and deception.

On a time of autumn he came in the dusk of evening, and drawing near he saw as he thought a light at the window; and coming warily he looked within. There he saw Eilinel, and her face was worn with grief and hunger, and it seemed to him that he heard her voice lamenting that he had forsaken her. But even as he cried aloud the light was blown out in the wind; wolves howled, and on his shoulders he felt suddenly the heavy hands of Sauron's hunters. Thus Gorlim was ensnared; and taking him to their camp they tormented, seeking to learn the hidings of Barahir and all his ways. But nothing would Gorlim tell. Then they promised him that he should be released and restored to Eilinel, if he would yield; and being at last worn with pain, and yearning for his wife, he faltered. Then straightaway they brought him into the dreadful presence of Sauron; and Sauron said: 'I hear now that thou wouldst barter with me. What is thy price?'

And Gorlim answered that he should find Eilinel again, and with her be set free; for he thought Eilinel also had been made captive.

Than Sauron smiled, saying: 'That is a small price for so great a treachery. So shall it surely be. Say on!'

Now Gorlim would have drawn back, but daunted by the eyes of Sauron he told at last all that he would know.

Then Sauron laughed; and he mocked Gorlim, and revealed to him that he had only seen a phantom devised by wizardry to entrap him; for Eilinel was dead. 'Nonetheless I will grant thy prayer,' said Sauron; 'and thou shalt go to Eilinel, and be set free of my service.' Then he put him cruelly to death.

-The Silmarillion

Sauron teaches magical abilities to the Elves. (Game Canon)

Sauron prefers manipulation over direct combat (though he is skilled in both) and when faced by a Numenorean army, Sauron CHOOSES to surrender, as a part of his plan.

And Sauron came. Even from his mighty tower of Barad-dûr he came, and made no offer of battle. For he perceived that the power and majesty of the Kings of the Sea surpassed all rumour of them, so that he could not trust even the greatest of his servants to withstand them; and he saw not his time yet to work his will with the Dunedain. And he was crafty, well skilled to gain what he would by subtlety when force might not avail. Therefore he humbled himself before Ar-Pharazôn and smoothed his tongue; and men wondered, for all that he said seemed fair and wise.

- The Silmarillion

Sauron becomes advisor to his captor, and eventually serves as would be ruler.

Yet such was the cunning of his mind and mouth, and the strength of his hidden will, that ere three years had passed he had become closest to the secret counsels of the King; for flattery sweet as honey was ever on his tongue, and knowledge he had of many things yet unrevealed to Men. And seeing the favour that he had of their lord all the councillors began to fawn upon him, save one alone, Amandil lord of Andúnië.

[...]

Thus Ar-Pharazôn, King of the Land of the Star, grew to the mightiest tyrant that had yet been in the world since the reign of Morgoth, though in truth Sauron ruled all from behind the throne.

-The Silmarillion

Sauron successfully deceives all of the elves in Middle-Earth, with the exceptions of Gil-galad and Elrond. This was a part of Sauron’s long plan to create the Rings of Power, which as seen in one of the videos above (as well as every other Tolkien related source) succeeded.

Men he found the easiest to sway of all the peoples of the Earth; but long he sought to persuade the Elves to his service, for he knew that the Firstborn had the greater power; and he went far and wide among them, and his hue was still that of one both fair and wise. Only to Lindon he did not come, for Gil-galad and Elrond doubted him and his fairseeming, and though they knew not who in truth he was they would not admit him to that land. But elsewhere the Elves received him gladly, and few among them hearkened to the messengers from Lindon bidding them beware; for Sauron took to himself the name of Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, and they had at first much profit from his friendship.

It was in Eregion that the counsels of Sauron were most gladly received, for in that land the Noldor desired ever to increase the skill and subtlety of their works.

-The Silmarillion

Sauron kept his armies of Orcs in check by the force of his will.

Their enemies were flying and the power of Mordor was scattering like dust in the wind. As when death smites the swollen brooding thing that inhabits their crawling hill and holds them all in sway, ants will wander witless and purposeless and then feebly die, so the creatures of Sauron, orc or troll or beast spell-enslaved, ran hither and thither mindless; and some slew themselves, or cast themselves in pits, or fled wailing back to hide in the holes and dark lightless places far from hope.

-The Silmarillion

Sauron defeats Finrod Felagund in a magic duel.

Thus befell the contest of Sauron and Felagund which is renowned. For Felagund strove with Sauron in songs of power, and the power of the King was very great; but Sauron had the mastery.

-The Silmarillion

Sauron’s signaling the Witch King’s invasion of Gondor (which is presumably through magic) causes an earthquake.

At that moment the rock quivered and trembled beneath them. The great rumbling noise, louder than ever before, rolled in the ground and echoed in the mountains. Then with searing suddenness there came a great read flash. Far beyond the eastern mountains it leapt into the sky and splashed the lowering clouds with crimson. In that valley of shadow and cold deathly light it seemed unbearably violent and fierce. Peaks of stone and ridges like notched knives sprang out in staring black against the uprushing flame in Gorgoroth. Then came a great crack of thunder.

- Two Towers

Using the Palantir(s), a being can alter the will or dominate the minds of others who have another Palantir (game canon)

Sauron shows Aragorn visions of a possible or false future via Palantir, causing Aragorn to recoil in fear.(Film Canon)Sauron shows Aragorn the future.

Sauron attempts to enter Pippin's mind through the Palantir and shows him visions of what Middle Earth will be should Sauron win, causing him to write on the floor in agony. While the Dark Lord ultimately fails to extract meaningful information from the hobbit, the experience leaves Pippin terrified. (Film Canon)

Sauron finds Pippin

Combat Superiority

(FILM CANON) Sauron casually annihilates dozens of elves and Gondorian soldiers during the final battle of the War of the Last Alliance.

(Start at 3:20 mark)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhjDnrw34QA

(FILM CANON) Sauron, in a weakened state, unable to take physical form, almost matches Lady Galadriel. Implying that his full power is far greater than the Lady’s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa1jSU7PEBA

(FILM CANON) The same weakened Sauron, using what seems to be a fraction of his power, defeats Gandalf in a brief contest of power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssYpJn5YGJc

(GAME CANON) Sauron defeats Celebrimbor and Eltariel in single combat, despite the Elf Lord and servant of Galadriel having Celebrimbor’s new Ring and Eltariel possessing the powerful "Light of Galadriel" which she used on numerous occasions to defeat the Nazgul, the New Ring is stated in the game as having equal power to the One Ring. Meaning Sauron is far more powerful than just his ring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOByxhOYrdQ

The One Ring

The One Ring is the key to ruling Middle-Earth, and is Sauron's greatest creation. (Game Canon)

While Sauron wields the ring, all other rings of power, and their wearers, are bound to his will.

Therefore they hearkened to Sauron, and they learned of him many things, for his knowledge was great. In those days the smiths of Ost-in-Edhil surpassed all that they had contrived before; and they took thought, and they made Rings of Power. But Sauron guided their labours, and he was aware of all that they did; for his desire was to set a bond upon the Elves and to bring them under his vigilance.

Now the Elves made many rings; but secretly Sauron made One Ring to rule all the others, and their power was bound up with it, to be subject wholly to it and to last only so long as it too should last. And much of the strength and will of Sauron passed into that One Ring; for the power of the Elven-rings was very great, and that which should govern them must be a thing of surpassing potency; and Sauron forged it in the Mountain of Fire in the Land of Shadow. And while he wore the One Ring he could perceive all the things that were done by means of the lesser rings, and he could see and govern the very thoughts of those that wore them.

- The Silmarillion

Even the greatest rings of power were dominated by the One.

Therefore the Three remained unsullied, for they were forged by Celebrimbor alone, and the hand of Sauron had never touched them; yet they also were subject to the One.

- The Silmarillion

After Sauron created the One Ring, the elves caught on and took theirs off. Sauron retaliated by attacking the elves and recovering his rings in the process, as well as murdering the ring maker, Celebrimbor. He gave his recovered rings to men and dwarves. The men under the influence of the rings would eventually become the Nazgul, Sauron’s greatest servants.

But Sauron gathered into his hands all the remaining Rings of Power; and he dealt them out to the other peoples of Middle-earth, hoping thus to bring under his sway all those that desired secret power beyond the measure of their kind. Seven Rings he gave to the Dwarves; but to Men he gave nine, for Men proved in this matter as in others the readiest to his will. And all those rings that he governed he perverted, the more easily since he had a part in their making, and they were accursed, and they betrayed in the end all those that used them. The Dwarves indeed proved tough and hard to tame; they ill endure the domination of others, and the thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to shadows. They used their rings only for the getting of wealth; but wrath and an over-mastering greed of gold were kindled in their hearts, of which evil enough after came to the profit of Sauron.

[.....]

Men proved easier to ensnare. Those who used the Nine Rings became mighty in their day, kings, sorcerers, and warriors of old. They obtained glory and great wealth, yet it turned to their undoing. They had, as it seemed, unending life, yet life became unendurable to them. They could walk, if they would, unseen by all eyes in this world beneath the sun, and they could see things in worlds invisible to mortal men; but too often they beheld only the phantoms and delusions of Sauron. And one by one, sooner or later, according to their native strength and to the good or evil of their wills in the beginning, they fell under the thraldom of the ring that they bore and under the domination of the One, which was Sauron's. And they became for ever invisible save to him that wore the Ruling Ring, and they entered into the realm of shadows. The Nazgûl were they, the Ringwraiths, the Enemy's most terrible servants; darkness went with them, and they cried with the voices of death.

- The Silmarillion

The One Ring is a corrupting force of evil, and is especially dangerous to more powerful beings, according to Elrond.

We cannot use the Ruling Ring. That we now know too well. It belongs to Sauron and was made by him alone, and is altogether evil. Its strength, Boromir, is too great for anyone to wield at will, save only those who have already a great power of their own. But for them it holds an even deadlier peril. The very desire of it corrupts the heart. Consider Saruman. If any of the Wise should with this Ring overthrow the Lord of Mordor, using his own arts, he would set himself on Sauron’s throne, and yet another Dark Lord would appear… I fear to take the Ring to hide it. I will not take the Ring to wield it.

‘Nor will I,’ said Gandalf.

-Fellowship of the Ring

Even Galadriel, one of the mightiest beings in Middle-Earth, is evidently incapable of resisting the power of Sauron’s ring. Stating that under the Ring’s influence, she would rise a queen in place of a Dark Lord.

The Evil that was devised long ago works on in many ways, whether Sauron himself stands or falls… You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you would set up a Queen… All shall love me and despair!

- Fellowship of the Ring

Sauron is more powerful while wearing the One Ring (game canon):

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There’s probably a good deal that I’m missing, but I’ve seen people underrating Sauron lately, and decided he needed at least as good an RT as I could give him. If you have any other accolades or feats from any LOTR source, be it a game or Tolkien’s own works, please, tag me in the comments with the quote or clip, and I’ll add it to the thread.