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Not since Merlin himself have names delineate wizardry like Gandalf and Dumbledore . Both are precisely what fans picture when they verbalize about wizards , wise sometime mentors with a gift for leadership , and the arcane art . People might consider it blasphemy to compare the two , but here at Screen Rant , argumentation is always a friendly , constructive affair . In that spirit , this list puts the two iconic magicians up against each other to influence just who is truly the better wizard .
How ? Well , it ’s likely most efficient to violate down the merits of wizards into categories , and then square up which character was best in each . That way , it can be decided on variety of a point system , the easiest way to judge a debate . So ready those forbidden record book and steadily growing beard , magic buff , as Screen Rant asks who is the best ?
update on April 6th , 2022 by George Chrysostomou : The argumentation go on as to who the best of the best really is . With Dumbledore continuing to get more play on - CRT screen than Gandalf , does this give him the edge ? Or is the Gray and the White just too powerful to ever compete against ?
Why Gandalf Is The Better Wizard
His Experience
witness have a go at it quite a lot about Gandalfincluding his old age and the soundness that comes along with this . Those details will be touched upon further by and by . However , the general experience of Gandalf is also unmatched . Within that lifetime , he has seen and done a fate of things .
While Dumbledore is also somewhat old , a deal of his time was spent teaching at Hogwarts and therefore not gaining a neat deal of experience from the wide world , at least not in the same direction Gandalf has . Simply more happens withinLord Of The Ringswhich contributes to Gandalf getting those experience distributor point .
His Whimsicality
Sometimes a wizard needs to let his hair down and give in to some of the whim of the moment . Dumbledore has a certain magical spell in the earlierHarry Potterfilms but as events proceed to get more serious he recede a good deal of that fun . Gandalf ostensibly flicks between the two .
He is of course particularly serious when a battle intensifies , but Gandalf continues to give in to his round-eyed wonder at any return chance . The points , therefore , go to the wise virtuoso of Middle Earth , who tries to insert a picayune bit of felicity into the macrocosm , even with something as simple as his pyrotechnic .
His Age
Usually , wizards are jolly sure-enough . Yes , theHarry Potterfranchise made wizards young , but the approximation of a wizard in pop culture is still one of an sometime man . It ’s a familiar paradigm , the foresightful beard , the gray hair , etc . And though both wizards rock that particular look , it has to be handed to Gandalf for really living the part .
In fact , Gandalf is fairly much an eternal being in Middle Earth , having entered that world as already an old man . So whileDumbledore ’s been around for a while specially as Headmaster , he ca n’t compare to a guy wire who started his physical life story in his sixties , then stuck around for a few centuries . Gandalf ’s senior citizen discounts are basically just innocent things at this detail .
His Enemies
Every hero should have a neat set of villains . And the antagonists for both Dumbledore and Gandalf ’s plot line are unbelievable . So do n’t believe that just because the win is going to Gandalf ’s baddies means there is less respectfulness for Dumbledore ’s . Voldemort and even Grindelwald are complex , menacing figures of evil . Just front at the Harry Potter fanbase to see how many sort of love those two villains .
But evil existence like Sauron and Saruman are just a trivial bit better in our belief . They ’re more potent , more visually interesting , and have much larger history . And have ’s be honest , one of them is Christopher Freaking Lee . It could ’ve just started with that and been done with this point .
His Skill In Combat
Both Gandalf and Dumbledore determine themselves apart from the passive , on - the - sidelines image of a wizard by actually join in with most of the combat . Dumbledore kicks some serious ass , particularly when it derive to wizarding affaire d’honneur , but in a contest of all - out brawl , the compass point have to go to Gandalf .
Gandalf will oftentimes give himself into the heat of battle , polish off orc after orc with his sword and stave combo . And that ’s without mentioning Gandalf ’s superlative fight , indeed , one of the good cinematic battles of the retiring twenty years . Of course , that ’s Gandalf ’s battle with the Balrog . Dumbledore ’s compeer are coolheaded , yes , but when comparing them against the fight scene in the depths of Moria , well … they shall not fall .
His Ancient Wisdom
Again , it can not be emphasized just how old , Gandalf , the best wizard in Middle Earth is . And that old age is what give him the advantage in this section of the sensation contest . Wizards are know for their knowledge of ancient lore . They often serve as exposition machines , explaining to the hero sandwich the mystical history of their quest .
And when it hail to occult chronicle , the hombre who knows more is most probable the one who ’s lived more of it . Of course , neither Gandalf or Dumbledore have any ancient wisdom close to the " Darth Plagueis the Wise " soliloquy from Emperor Palpatine . But honestly , who does ?
Why Dumbledore Is The Better Wizard
His Allies
Both Dumbledore and Gandalf have a broad range of impressive ally to back them up . The nations of Gondor and Rohan have become utile partners for the Middle Earth genius , while warrior like Aragorn , Legolas , and Gimli have all served alongside Gandalf in battle .
However , the point has to go to Dumbledore reckon the fact that all of his allies are powerful wizards . In the circumstance of Middle Earth , few others maintain magic . For the Wizarding World , there are countless witches and star who shoot a line interesting ability that can help out Dumbledore where needed .
His Resources
Gandalf travels through Middle Earth without much to his name . His resources are really modified to the allies that he makes . He does n’t have some great force to back him up and is really just a wiz do his way alone in the world . Dumbledore is the precise opposite when looking at Dumbledore vs Gandalf .
He has political drag within the Ministry of Magic and the totality of the resources at Hogwarts . That ’s a kind of power that can only be gain through years of toilsome work , with Dumbledore piss himself extra worthful to these institutions . He has the good resource overall , therefore gaining the full point .
The Respect He Commands
Gandalf is realize as quite an oddment within Middle Earth . While some look at him with great deference , for the most part , a set of people lean to manoeuvre clean , considering how unpredictable he and his conjuring trick can be . That does n’t use to Dumbledore though who is sought out by some of the not bad magic wielders .
As the Headmaster of Hogwarts Dumbledore halt a position of power . Despite the secrets and tilt within his life , everyone around him holds him in gamey heed . Even when the Ministry of Magic was trying to take him down there was still an mention of his own skill . The distributor point have to go to Dumbledore here .
His Style
Speaking of take care the part , just because someone is an old and sage magician does n’t mean they have to look shabby . Gandalf might disagree , judging by his drear Second Earl Grey cloak and hat . Of course , Gandalf gets an upgrade after he returns from the dead , but overall , the win has to be given Dumbledore for expressive style .
Not only does he wear the hell out of some old - timey scholar robes , but as a young cat , Dumbledore ’s rig could put Don Draper to disgrace . In fact , Dumbledore even has a good after - death look , adapting his Hogwarts attire to an all - livid , heavenly set of robe . There ’s something to be suppose about seem better than someone at both immature and old stages of their lives , but count better after the grave ? That ’s a major win for Albus .
His Weapons
star are known for their sorcerous weapon system . Sometimes , they just serve up the purpose of giving that magical weapon to the Italian sandwich , but now and then , they get to keep them themselves . Gandalf has two pretty telling weapons at his electric pig . First is the sword Glamdring , a powerful vane , and a scourge to malicious animal .
Then there ’s his staff , which sports fan have seen panic attack off Nazgûl and break the enchantment keep back King Théoden . But neither of those weapons ' featscompare to the Elder Wand . Not only was it crafted by Death himself , but the Elder Wand is also a more thick , various tool for a wiz in armed combat . It ’s one of the three most powerful object in all of Harry Potter , and though it might not be as powerful as the One Ring , it definitely tops anything Gandalf has ever used .
His Leadership
All wizard are wise , of track , and up to of dolling out some very useful advice . Neither Dumbledore nor Gandalf is an exception to this . However , when it comes to actually stepping up as a loss leader , Albus Dumbledore is ahead above hisLord of the Ringsmatch . It ’s not that Gandalf has n’t led groups before , it ’s that he ’s know to break off from them to pursue his own dangerous undertaking .
Dumbledore , though , sticks with his people . He ’s a squad thespian , and true as a contact in times of need . Yes , everyone knows that Gandalf is always off doing some important matter on his own , but that ’s belittled comfort to Bilbo and the gang when they ’re in fuss .
His Number Of Appearances
Advice for being a wizard is something like advice for being a parent . sports fan know that quondam locution , " You do n’t have to be consummate , you just have to be there ? " Probably applies to magic - wielders as much as dads , right ? If that ’s the shell , then Dumbledore is a good wizard in this regard in the argument of Dumbledore vs Gandalf .
Dumbledore has been with us for a total of seven account book , ten flick , and one play , all officially recognize as canon . Gandalf , meanwhile , appears in four completed books ( technically two , ifLord of the Ringsis counted as one book as J.R.R. Tolkien did ) and six movies . Yes , there are some canyon Tolkien writings in which Gandalf appears , but since many of them were left unfinished by the serviceman himself , this one is being given to Dumbledore . Sorry , Silmarillionfans .
Who’s The Winner Of Gandalf Vs Dumbledore?
It’s A Draw
With a scotch of seven to seven , this is really a draw . Though it was a close match , it ’s light that neither ultimately take the edge over the other . It ’s clean to say that both wizards are absolutely tremendous fictional character reference with a long legacy and permanent impact on the humanity .
Within the context of their universes , they will be held up as heroical symbolisation and in the actual man , they are really the way that all other wizarding characters are define . Ultimately though it ’s the lover that will have to decide based on all of this information on who wins in Gandalf vs Dumbledore !
NEXT:10 Ways Dumbledore Was The Real Villain Of The Harry Potter Franchise
