Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Rings of Power season 2.

In The Rings of Power season 2's episodes has been to kill Sauron in a bid to free his children from the latter's control.

This motivation will culminate in the Siege of Eregion, a key development in the timeline of The Rings of Power season 1's ending, the natural question is when the father of the Uruks figured out the identity of his prime enemy.

Adar Likely Didn't Realize Halbrand Was Sauron Until After He Left Mordor

Adar Discovered Sauron's Identity During Season 2

Given what happened at the beginning of The Rings of Power season 2, it is safe to assume Adar did not realize Halbrand was Sauron until the latter entered Eregion to craft the remaining Rings of Power. The reason for this stems from the fact that Halbrand was a prisoner of Adar in Mordor in the first episode of The Rings of Power season 2. As established, Adar is hellbent on killing Sauron, a feat that would have been much easier while the dark lord was in chains in Adar's camp.

Assassinating Sauron while he was incapacitated is a much easier alternative to waging war on Eregion, meaning Adar almost definitely did not know of Halbrand's true identity at this point. Although Adar has not been shown too much between The Rings of Power season 2, episode 1 and season 2, episode 6, he likely witnessed the state of the world and figured out that laying siege to Eregion would benefit Sauron. These elements, combined with the information gleaned from Galadriel, led to Adar figuring out Halbrand's identity as Sauron.

Sauron Probably Expected Adar To Figure Out The Truth

Sauron Is Manipulating Adar To Benefit His Own Goals

Based on what is known of Sauron's plan in The Rings of Power, he likely intended for Adar to figure out the truth of his deception. It has been confirmed that Sauron wants Adar to lay siege to Eregion. This way, Sauron's manipulation of Celebrimbor can go unnoticed as the elves in Eregion defend the city from Adar and his Uruk legions. If Adar figures out that Halbrand is Sauron, the former will be more likely to be more committed to his siege of the city. Beforehand, Adar's siege of Eregion was dependent on the trust between the two characters.

Adar was unsure whether Sauron had actually returned at the beginning of The Rings of Power season 2, and was taking Halbrand's word that Sauron was in Eregion as truth. If Adar began to distrust Halbrand, the Siege of Eregion may not have taken place. However, if Adar figures out Halbrand is Sauron knowing that the dark lord is in Eregion, the attack will not relent as Adar finally has confirmation that the object of his revenge is alive and well. Therefore, for Sauron's manipulations to go as planned, Adar figuring out his identity is for the best.

2 Clues Might've Given Away Sauron's Identity In The Rings Of Power

Sauron Planted Seeds For Adar To Figure Out He Was Halbrand

Regarding exactly how Adar figured out Halbrand's identity, there were two main clues. The first came in season 1 during The Rings of Power's Mordor origin story. During the Battle of the Southlands, Halbrand corners Adar and knocks him off his horse. As Halband stabs Adar, he asks "You me?" This hinted at a history between the two, specifically the moment in which Adar attempted to assassinate Sauron. It could be the case that Adar reflected on these words in The Rings of Power season 2, placing Halbrand as Sauron.

Adar likely figured out that Halbrand had a semblance of magical power...

The second hint is ittedly more subtle. In The Rings of Power season 2, episode 1, Halbrad frees a warg after taming it using his dark powers, with the warg later killing Adar's servant Waldreg. Despite the scene in which Adar finds Waldreg's body and the unchained warg not being shown, Adar likely figured out that Halbrand had a semblance of magical power to achieve this. These clues could have factored into Adar figuring out Sauron's identity in The Rings of Power season 2, setting up their fateful confrontation for the future.