Characters Who Are Stronger Than Gandalf In The Lord Of The Rings

As a devoted fan of Tolkien’s enchanting universe, I find myself utterly captivated by the indomitable spirit and resilience embodied within each character he so meticulously crafted. Among these heroes, Bilbo Baggins stands out as one of the most remarkable figures in the entire franchise, a testament to the power of determination, courage, and wisdom that transcends the pages of our favorite books.

As a devoted admirer, I find myself drawn into J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic, The Lord of the Rings, by none other than Gandalf the Grey – a formidable wanderer with magical powers traversing the realm of Middle-earth. Yet, in the pages of this enchanting tale, Gandalf is not just a character; he’s an ethereal entity, almost divine, reminiscent of celestial beings we might call angels.

In the world of Ea, which encompasses Middle-earth, Gandalf stands among the oldest living entities. For countless ages, he has played a role in the lives of Elves, Men, and Dwarves. However, despite his immense power, there exist beings within Middle-earth that surpass him in strength.

8 Tom Bombadil

A Mysterious Figure Who Harbors Baffling Power

Appeared In:The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, The Lord of the Rings, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings Of Power

This enigmatic figure stirs up a lot of debate because it appears that Tom has no relevance to the central plot and often gets left out in various adaptations. Yet, Gandalf still calls upon Tom Bombadil’s aid in “The Fellowship of the Ring,” acknowledging that this being may not be entirely trustworthy and could possess powers greater than his own.

In a pivotal instance, Tom dons the One Ring, yet there’s no transformation or enchantment for him. The ring doesn’t render him invisible nor does it force him to retain it. This leaves Frodo astounded, causing him to inquire from Gandalf about their plan if they were to leave the One Ring with Tom given its lack of influence over him. However, Gandalf explains that this very circumstance is concerning; Tom would likely ignore the ring and misplace it, potentially leading to its loss in another body of water. This could lead history to repeat itself all over again.

7 Elrond

The Son Of Elwing, Who Bore A Silmaril

Appeared In: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Rings of Power

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: I’m from a prestigious lineage, half-human, half-Elven, much like the legendary Elrond. Though fans only get glimpses of his wisdom and influence in the Lord of the Rings movies, the Hobbit series offers a deeper dive. Centuries before assembling the council that bears his name and endorsing The Fellowship of the Ring, I was already deciphering the ancient map belonging to Thorin and translating the Elvish engravings on their swords, proving my historical prowess.

In essence, Elrond possessed a vast array of knowledge, similar yet distinct from Galadriel. He shared some abilities with her, such as camouflage and foresight. Rivendell, under Elrond’s guidance, was one of Middle-earth’s most significant knowledge vaults during the War of the Ring. This was largely due to Elrond’s unique ability to locate information and safeguard it effectively.

6 Smaug

Sauron Planned To Recruit The Great Worm

Appeared In: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and The Battle of the Five Armies

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel that old Gandalf may have been hiding something beneath his noble façade when it comes to those downtrodden dwarves of Erebor. Truth be told, there seems to be another, more pressing reason for our mission to take down Smaug. You see, whispers have reached my ears that Sauron was aiming to enlist the fearsome dragon into his ranks, a move reminiscent of ancient battles where the Dark Lord controlled a menagerie of monstrous beasts at his command.

Neither Gandalf nor the dwarves had a strategy for defeating or scaring off Smaug. The dwarves who were part of their group had endured his attack on the Lonely Mountain, so they were well aware of how formidable and fearsome he was. Smaug, one of Middle-earth’s most powerful dragons, was already a legendary figure when he descended from the mountains in search of power and riches.

It was only because of Bilbo’s secret information, sent via thrush to Bard the Bowman in Dale, that Smaug was defeated. It’s interesting to note that the Wizard is conspicuously absent throughout this episode, and only appears again when the Battle of Five Armies is about to erupt and the dragon is well and truly slain.

5 Saruman

The Leader Of The Istari

Appeared In:The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit

The loss of Saruman as an ally was a significant setback for the free folk of Middle-earth due to his immense power, which may have been second only to Sauron’s. He held a prominent position among the Istari (the wizards sent to Middle-earth by Manwe), and when he switched sides to align with Sauron, not just his magical prowess, but also his resources like the Tower of Orthanc and all its riches, were taken.

Interestingly, although Saruman possessed immense power, it was an enraged group of Ents, who emerged from nearby woodlands, that ultimately overcame him. Enraged by his betrayal of trust, they attacked him and his machinery. Unlike in the films, where Grima Wormtongue took his life, in the books, the remnants of the Fellowship felt compassion for Saruman and allowed him to depart, broken and bereft of magical abilities.

4 Sauron

The First Lieutenant Of Morgoth

Appeared In:The Hobbit trilogy, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Rings of Power

Sauron, like Gandalf and Saruman, shared the same kind of supernatural existence. He was a servant of Aule, just as Saruman was, and possessed all the abilities typical of his kind, with added powers derived from Morgoth.

As a devoted admirer, allow me to share my insights about Sauron: He wasn’t just an imposing warrior, wielding formidable magical powers; he was also a prodigious artisan and strategic mastermind. He imparted his wisdom to Elves and Men, instructing them in the creation of the enchanted rings, all the while secretly crafting the Master Ring for his own sinister purposes – to dominate them all. All it took was donning the One Ring for him to enslave us, making him a truly formidable adversary worthy of our fear and respect.

3 Glorfindel

Returned From The Halls Of Mandos

Appeared In: The novels The Silmarillion and The Fellowship of the Ring

In the opening scenes of “The Two Towers,” Gandalf didn’t die but was instead returned to the Halls of Mandos. Mandos is a powerful being who oversees and protects the souls of the deceased. The Valar, powerful beings themselves, deemed that Gandalf still had work to do in Middle-earth, so he wasn’t allowed to rest in peace just yet.

Glorfindel, like another character, experienced a similar transformation, occurring after he vanquished a Balrog. His role in the book serves as a crucial connection between current Middle-earth and the First Age, during which Glorfindel was significantly influential. However, in Peter Jackson’s “Fellowship of the Ring,” he is replaced by Arwen Evenstar; yet, he does make an appearance in Ralph Bakshi’s animated film.

In the book, Elrond has a special purpose for dispatching Glorfindel that isn’t related to his horseback riding or combat abilities. His esteemed status in Middle-earth is well-known. The ringwraiths are so terrified of the elf who had killed a Balrog that they kept their distance, unwilling to come close enough to touch him, despite knowing that the hobbit he was riding had the One Ring.

2 Galadriel

The Keeper Of Nenya And The Lady Of Lothlorien

Appeared In: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

As a devoted admirer of Middle-earth’s enchanting beauty, I could have easily chosen to return to the tranquil Valinor long before, but my heart was deeply rooted in these lands, and cherished kin resided in Lothlorien and Rivendell. It was almost destiny that kept me amongst you, for it turned out that my prolonged stay proved essential. Had I departed sooner, the noble Fellowship of the Ring might have crumbled without my aid.

Galadriel hailed from the divine land of Valinor, yet unlike Gandalf or Saruman, she wasn’t a Maiar. However, she enjoyed a close friendship with Melian, another Maiar who imparted various enchanting magical wisdom to her. This bond allowed Lothlorien’s realm and the Ring of Adamant (the Nenya) to remain concealed from Sauron’s grasp.

1 Bilbo Baggins

Perhaps The Strongest Character In The Whole Franchise

Appeared In: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings

While Frodo certainly deserves recognition for his valiant efforts involving the ring, it’s Bilbo who might be considered more powerful overall. Not only did Bilbo initially find the One Ring and keep it hidden for a considerable period, but he also managed to relinquish it when the moment came to depart from the Shire.

In a potentially legendary and emotional scene from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, Bilbo Baggins prepares to covertly depart from the Shire, yet Gandalf persuades him to relinquish the ring. For a brief instant, it appears as though Bilbo will defy Gandalf and retain the ring, potentially leading to drastic measures from the Wizard. However, Bilbo ultimately hides the ring in his house and places it on the floor near the entrance for Frodo to discover later on.

Despite appearing as a simple act, letting go of the One Ring, especially after possessing it for such an extended period, is no trivial accomplishment. In fact, Bilbo’s ability to relinquish it, even with struggle, showcases his remarkable strength and power among the characters in The Lord of the Rings.

2024-09-29 19:54