So Harry Potter definitely has the cooler wand, the massive number of spells, trained deathmatches, etc. But the Wizards from Lord of the Rings are infinitely more powerful (If you delve into the Silmarillion and some of Tolkien’s letter and writings, in essence demi-gods restricted in their power). Personally, I think Gandalf would kick Dumbledore’s @$$. And not just because Dumbledore ‘Shall NOT PASS!’
(And neither would Harry, if Gandalf was his professor)
There’s a story that needs to be written. Gandalf as the new DADA teacher.
If I need someone to animate a broom so I dont have to sweep the floors, Ill call Dumbledore. If I need someone to kill a Balrog, Ill call Gandalf. Nuff said me thinks. 
i have this impression that if the Wizzards from Harry Potter wants to do large area damage, they can deal great amount of damage…
Huh. I dunno. I’ll watch this thread for the debate though. Anyone know how powerful Voldemort gets?
Seems Harry Potter mages are trained to fight other mages, but LotR mages are trained to fight everything. I’m leaning towards LotR mages, but my Potter knowledge is lacking.
Linna Inverse beats all though. d:
My Potter knowledge is a bit lacking as well, but I had to pick 2 types for deathmatch, and these were the most common off the top of my head. I got the idea from the Wizard vs Jedi post, and realized that you had to pick your wizards and their abilities to determine which would be the winner and how.
The Istari…no question.
Large staffs vs small wands! IYKWIM
Given your signature, I have to believe you’re strongly biased! d:
Nope, I’ve read all Tolkien’s books and all of Rowlings books. I love both universes.
The Istari (or Maiar…which is what Gandalf was) were very powerful beings that were “clothed as old men” when they were sent to Middle Earth, they are not human and they are immortal. The Wizards of Harry Potter are simply humans born with magical powers and certainly mortal.
Of course, Gandalf has the advantage of the Ring of Fire, but his goal in Middle Earth is inspiration of the Free Peoples (Men, Elves, Dwarves etc.) to fight against Sauron and not get engaged in open combat. To that end, his powers (those of a Maiar) are restricted and bound. What we see when Gandalf comes back a Gandalf the White is a lessening of those restriction.
i think the LotR Wizards are probably more powerful but the Harry Potter ones are smarter…I mean Herione would have come up with a much easier way to rid the world of the ring…ie the “How it Should have Ended” way of flying the ring on the eagles back (or Broom. or car. or hippogriff. or theystral. or apperate. or portkey…you get the picture).
Also Fred and George would have just made a fake ring (that passes for real) to give to Sauron that would have turned his finger into a baloney sandwich.
If they had tried to fly the Ring in, the Nazgul would have eaten the hippogriff, or the broomstick, or the Thestra…
Or the Nazgul’s mounts rather.
Heh, I can agree there. But, being smarter doesn’t mean that would translate into a win in a deathmatch.
coming from a tactical point of view, I’m going to back up my Harry Potter wizards are better view.
In battle speed and manuvability means a lot. Getting to key positions or getting to a place where enemy isn’t expecting, often spells victory, even if the number or firepower is out-matched.
Harry Potter Wizards seems to have a lot more ways to get around. They can fly on plenty of things, and they have a lot of transportation methods that helps them travel large distances. In LotR, Gandalf has to ride a horse… i mean there’s no comparison.
Even if the Harry Potter wizard lost their ability to fly and transport, they can still get a bunch of muggle cars and run over the silly horse.
That and guns.
It always seems that ancient magic is more powerful than modern magic. Harry Potter was protected by ancient magic. Gandalf speaks some ancient language and the sky darkens and the ground rumbles. Depending on who’s got the ancient knowledge is gonna win.
Personally, I think the Istari would wipe the mat with the whole Potter universe.
by that logic, Hermione and Fred and George should have been able to come up with a “smart” (read: silly) way to destroy Voldemort.
I think the world would be a better place if more things (and some people) were baloney sandwiches.
Harry Potter and pals have a lot of fun tricks up their sleeves, to be sure. But the Istari have wisdom and power from the beginning of the world. And they’re a lot more patient most of the time.
Dumbledore is getting there, but even he had his own deep flaws, as we saw in the last book. But in the sixth movie, when he trashes the zombie creatures in the cave (the Infieri, I think?), he reminded me greatly of Gandalf vs. the Balrog.
Gandalf against Voldemort. Now that I’d like to see.
I was just thinking that.