: >>Where in Tolkien's work does it ever say that Sauron is recovering. Recovering from what? Gandalf suffered a far more traumatic situation and he recovered in a matter of days. Second of all, where does it say Gil-galad and Elendil got lucky? You don't get lucky and beat someone like Sauron in hand to hand. I do agree though that there probably wasn't enough power in Middle-earth to destroy Sauron at that time in the Third Age. Though the good side would have Gandalf, Radagast, Alatar, Pallando, Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond, Bombadil, and Cirdan. Not to bad but maybe not enough. But of course if the Valar came, it would be over ring or no ring. And our arguement aside, if Eonwe came with the Vanyar and the Noldor of Valinor it would be over.

Gandalf had the advantage of the Golden Woods to heal him and
Gandalf had a bodily form after all. Sauron was just a wraith now, and while wraiths are difficult to destroy, once they are destroyed, they take a long time to reform.

So Gil-galad, Isildur and Elendil attacked a wraith that was only partially reformed, and not only that, but they were attacking him three-to-one. Guess who wins.