# Gandalf Vs. Dumbledore **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657 "2003-08-30T17:03:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cletus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@cletus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cletus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/21 "2003-08-30T23:05:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Babbington \* > \*\*Gotta go with Gandalf, buddy. Gandalf was one of only three people in Middle Earth powerful enough to see the Balrog, let alone fight it. The other two being Sauron and Saruman. It would be a hell of a fight, though. \*\* /nitpick The others COULD see him. Fortunately, I have my copy of LotR here with me. Here is an example from the book. > [@](#): > > _Gimli stared with wide eyes. ‘Durin’s Bane!’ he cried, and letting his axe fall he covered his face._ Or were you refering to the movie? BTW Gandalf would win for sure. ---
**Author:** ![sjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@sjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sjc)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/22 "2003-08-30T23:12:40Z")
About Dumbledore not having a sword, haven’t you read the books? He has Godric Gryffindor’s sword. And who’s to say a wizard from the world of HP is less powerful than a demi-god from the world of LotR? It’s not easy for me to answer that, although I must admit that Gandalf seems like he might have more potential power. ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/23 "2003-08-30T23:19:26Z")
My vote goes to Doctor Strange carrying Batman on his shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![MusicJunkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@MusicJunkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MusicJunkie)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/24 "2003-08-30T23:26:30Z")
Gandalf. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/25 "2003-08-30T23:27:04Z")
From the Far East–i.e. the world of Anime-- Lina Inverse, of _Slayers_ fame. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/26 "2003-08-30T23:29:17Z")
Gandalf ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/27 "2003-08-31T00:08:30Z")
Well, if Dumbledore had a prepared Batman fly the Enterprise-D into Gandalf’s Super Star Destroyer, the resulting annihilation caused by the collision would create a pocket universe so convoluted that not even Lara Croft in her skimpiest bikini teamed with Indiana Jones, Sherlock Holmes, and every lawyer ever to appear in a John Grishom novel would ever be able to unearth who owned the marketing rights. ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/28 "2003-08-31T00:10:14Z")
Dumbledore wouldnt have a hope! Even If he had McGonagell to help because Gandalf could call on Aragorn for help and we all know the only thing that will kill him is time because the man **cannot** be killed! So anyway… **Gandalf** ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/29 "2003-08-31T00:18:21Z")
Sounds to me like an imagined fight between the batty Uncle vs. the Empress Jadis in _The Magician’s Nephew_. No comparison–Gandalf. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/30 "2003-08-31T00:23:24Z")
Gandalf. i think it’s telling that no one even thinks it’s necessary to add ‘if he is prepared’. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/31 "2003-08-31T00:40:34Z")
Rincewind is the King!!! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/32 "2003-08-31T01:25:43Z")
Relevant link to this thread topic. [http://www.grudge-match.com/History/gandalf-dumbledore.shtml](http://www.grudge-match.com/History/gandalf-dumbledore.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/33 "2003-08-31T01:30:08Z")
Sorry **Ilsa** , but Dumbledore doesn’t have a prayer. Gandalf is angelic in nature, is thousands of years old, and has tons of combat experience. Dumby will be most decisively spanked. ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/34 "2003-08-31T02:45:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ilsa\_Lund \* > \*\* > Personally, I think Dumbledore would whip Gandalf without breaking a sweat. Maiar of Valinor my patushkin. \*\* … … … … You’re fuckin’ joking, right? ---
**Author:** ![lilbtagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@lilbtagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbtagna)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/35 "2003-08-31T02:51:53Z")
Another vote for Gandalf here. Dumbledore may be powerful in the HP world, but he doesn’t stand a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Zaikan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/77aa72/32.png) [@Zaikan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaikan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/36 "2003-08-31T03:25:17Z")
**Gandalf all the way!!!** I don’t think there is any way Albus Dumbledore could beat Gandalf. Firstly, _Gandalf_ could simply take away Dumbledore’s wand and then chop him to tiny bits with Glamdring. Or he could knock Dumbly’s glasses off and then cop him with Glamdring. Or he could launch a series of powerful spells that would turn Mr. Dumbly into a pile of mush. I mean, if Dumbly and _Gandalf_ switched places there is no way that Dumbly could survive half the crap _Gandalf_ goes through. Example: Balrog. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/37 "2003-08-31T04:27:30Z")
Gandalf, absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/38 "2003-08-31T05:09:41Z")
Dumbledore would win. Gandalf is basically a powerful elemental of sorts, but Dumbledore is both wise and canny, and highly intelligent people are smarter than elementals _and_ elves no matter how old they are _because they have to be_. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/39 "2003-08-31T05:45:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*From the Far East–i.e. the world of Anime-- Lina Inverse, of _Slayers_ fame. \*\* She definatly has the most powerful direct attack spells; a single dragon slave from a distance could win the fight. Of course, this depends on the fight not occuring during “that time of the month”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_wizard_song_for_thee)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657/40 "2003-08-31T06:56:11Z")
> [@](#): > > _Spake Zaikan_: > **I mean, if Dumbly and Gandalf switched places there is no way that Dumbly could survive half the crap Gandalf goes through. Example: Balrog.** Technically, though, Gandalf doesn’t survive this. He goes back to Valinor, and the Valar are like, what the hell are you doing here?, and sent him back. > [@](#): > > _Spake astro:_ > **Gandalf is basically a powerful elemental of sorts, but Dumbledore is both wise and canny, and highly intelligent people are smarter than elementals and elves no matter how old they are because they have to be.** Ummmm, no, not the way Tolkien wrote them. The elves and especially Gandalf are extremely intelligent beings. See the above quotation about Gandalf knowing every spell in the tongues of Elves and Men. The only thing Gandalf screwed up was that he was so old he startedto forget some of the things he had learned in his early years. In fact, that’s the only chink in Gandalf’s armor. Think about it. Even if I was four million years old, I think I would remember that a Ring of Power ain’t a good thing and that the One Ring had the firescript effect. But, no, it takes Gandalf years to figure it out. Years! But unless Dumbledore could pull some ancient strategy out of his wazzoo that Gandalf had forgotten about, Gandalf wouldn’t even face a challenge. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandalf-vs-dumbledore/198657.md?page=3)