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Sauron’s capacity to transform was particularly pronounced compared to his peers. While it was exhausting for other Maia to adopt a physical body, Sauron excelled in rapidly altering his form. Notably, this gave him a deceptive advantage; he could embody noble and beautiful appearances, fooling most observers into underestimating his true intentions. His capacity for shapeshifting was an integral tool for manipulation and control throughout his dark reign.
An example of Sauron’s shapeshifting prowess is revealed during his confrontation with Túrin and the hound, Huan, in Beleriand. In a moment of desperation—as Huan overpowered him—Sauron transformed first into a wolf, then into a serpentine figure, and ultimately assumed his regular form, seeking to escape.