Board Thread:Fun and Games/@comment-26535281-20150703012624/@comment-26360929-20150703152310

Sinthoniel wrote: I want to come back to Denethor vs Theoden. Denethor looks weak but he once was a wise and strong man and a good ruler. He is only broken because he uses the Palantir that is controlled by Sauron. Denethor is at least as good in fighting as Theoden and he is probably a better strategist. After all, Boromir and Faramir, two of the best men in all of Gondor, are his sons.

If Gandalf had not healed Theoden, he would have acted not much different than Denethor. He would have done nothing to fight Saruman until Saruman conquered Edoras itself. Quite so. They are also compared by Gandalf once:

“Théoden is a kindly old man. Denethor is of another sort, proud and subtle, a man of far greater lineage and power, though he is not called a king.” – The Return of the King, Minas Tirith

It is also mentioned that Denethor wore chainmail under his clothes at all times so as not to get weak because of his age, and that he still could wield a sword well; that indicates he would win against Théoden both with and without the armies of Gondor behind him.