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Gandalf the White

46 (79.3%)

Dumbledore

10 (17.2%)

tie

2 (3.4%)

Total Members Voted: 58

[Xantalos]

At the very least a supernatural fear-inducing ability.

Unless Dumbledore is an atheist, in which case Gandalf ceases to exist.

Eeeh...
Keep in mind I'm not an expert or anything, just bored, so don't expect a high quality of argument.
Gandalf is a Maiar, essentially a member of an order of beings who created the LOTR universe over a guy singing a different song than God. The entire history of Middle-Earth is just a debate to these guys.
So yeah.

[Cheeetar]

At the very least a supernatural fear-inducing ability.

Unless Dumbledore is an atheist, in which case Gandalf ceases to exist.

Eeeh...
Keep in mind I'm not an expert or anything, just bored, so don't expect a high quality of argument.
Gandalf is a Maiar, essentially a member of an order of beings who created the LOTR universe over a guy singing a different song than God. The entire history of Middle-Earth is just a debate to these guys.
So yeah.

And that means he can defeat Dumbledore how, exactly?

[Heron TSG]

All this talk about Avada Kedavra has so far forgotten that a significant portion of the named targets of the spell survived its effect. Namely Harry Potter. Why? Love. The most powerful magic of all.

I'm pretty sure that Gandalf can whip up some sweet lovin' from somewhere.

[PanH]

GandalfxElrond = Love

[Neonivek]

Look... how may I put this

Titles don't mean anything. words like "god" or "diety" doesn't mean much setting to setting.

For example Raiden from Mortal Kombat is a diety and his maximum power output is the power of a nuclear bomb (which can kill him).

Yet in Dragon Ball Z that is nothing. Raiden would be uttarly trumped by the weakest of the weak characters (Krillin would easily beat up Raiden).

Just because Gandalf is a being of grand importance and power in LOTR it doesn't mean that the very same power transferred to another setting is just as powerful.

In the same way that Dumbledor being the "most powerful wizard in existance" would probably mean nothing in the anime Fairytale (though his kill spell is still pretty powerful, but that is pretty much it) where magic spells can destroy several city blocks, something Dumbledor would struggle to do.

You have to look at characters STRICTLY in what they can and cannot do.

[Xantalos]

GandalfxElrond = Love

DON'T BRING THAT UP FOR THE LOVE OF EÄ

[PanH]

And that means he can defeat Dumbledore how, exactly?

If Gandalf doesn't have the benefits implied by being a Maiar, then I guess Dumbledore can only use spells that is written he use. Hey, maybe he can't Avada Kedavra (especially considering the hate thing, Dumbledore isn't really hateful, and not over any white robe wearing old man).

GandalfxElrond = Love

DON'T BRING THAT UP FOR THE LOVE OF EÄ

Too late ! It's already shipped for the Grey Havens !

[Glowcat]

Eeeh...
Keep in mind I'm not an expert or anything, just bored, so don't expect a high quality of argument.
Gandalf is a Maiar, essentially a member of an order of beings who created the LOTR universe over a guy singing a different song than God. The entire history of Middle-Earth is just a debate to these guys.
So yeah.

This was meant for Cheetar, right? My tongue-in-cheek answer wasn't exactly relevant, I think, though I could be wrong.

In case I was being dragged into this I'm pretty much with Cheetar in that "god" is a loaded word that doesn't mean much without proper context. While Gandalf and others like Saruman helped shape the world they don't seem to possess power that seems unusual for any other setting's wizards, at least during the time period of LotR.

All this talk about Avada Kedavra has so far forgotten that a significant portion of the named targets of the spell survived its effect. Namely Harry Potter. Why? Love. The most powerful magic of all.

I'm pretty sure that Gandalf can whip up some sweet lovin' from somewhere.

I can see it now... Gandalf is struck by the Avada Kedavra curse but as the light of life is about to escape from his eyes they meet with his opponent whose features soften as he realizes his mistake in striking down a fellow noble soul and, indeed, a kindred spirit. Truly recognizing one another for the first time Gandalf is rescued from his fate by true love and the two ancient wizards become lifelong partners.

Obviously Gandalf is played by Ian McKellen in this.

[Xantalos]

The problem with this debate is that about 90% of Gandalf's powers are just hinted at, or referenced in some obscure book that no one has read, or the description is so poetic that you have no idea what happened.

[Glowcat]

The problem with this debate is that about 90% of Gandalf's powers are just hinted at, or referenced in some obscure book that no one has read, or the description is so poetic that you have no idea what happened.

That and the power of LoTR characters seems to shift a lot. I mean... just look at Saruman before and after Orthanc fell.

[lemon10]

That was intentional, when he was driven from Orthanc his staff (and his power) was broken.

And mariars aren't really that strong. They are angels and not on the levels of gods at all. They are quite a bit more powerful then a regular mortal, but not unbeatable.

[SalmonGod]

As quite the Tolkien fan I have to say... Dumbledore would win, simply because magic is portrayed as far, far more evocative in that world than in Arda.  Tolkien's descriptions of magic are almost always subtle in nature.  There are very, very few examples of magic power manifesting in a spontaneous fashion.  Rowling's descriptions of magic are a couple words, a flick of the wand, and something happens.  On that basis alone, it's hard for me to imagine how Gandalf would fight Dumbledore, unless the encounter began in melee range.

Also, maiar didn't participate in the creation of Arda.  They may have witnessed it, but I'm pretty sure only the Valar took part in the song of creation.  Maiar sort of flocked to the place afterwards, I think.

[Phmcw]

You're all wrong anyway : according to the habits of Dumbledore, an elementary school children would have ended up fighting his fight and winning by pure luck. The defeat actually reinforce Gandalf further or is part of his plan. Duh.

[Glowcat]

That was intentional, when he was driven from Orthanc his staff (and his power) was broken.

And mariars aren't really that strong. They are angels and not on the levels of gods at all. They are quite a bit more powerful then a regular mortal, but not unbeatable.

Well it was just an example. There are also several other instances such as Ungoliant(sp?) being able to take on Melkor at one point, and obviously Sauron was weaker during The Hobbit than he was during LoTR. My main point was that being Maiar doesn't = incredible power by itself.

The only constant I see with them, and this is sort of a big snag with the whole post premise, is that Maiar are immortal spirits who can never actually die. They can be banished to wonder nothingland forever for sure, but otherwise you're not going to see a fight to the literal death unless it's Dumbledore who goes down. It's more like... home wrecking in the case of Gandalf losing.

[Darvi]

You're all wrong anyway : according to the habits of Dumbledore, an elementary school children would have ended up fighting his fight and winning by pure luck. The defeat actually reinforce Gandalf further or is part of his plan. Duh.

I think I already mentioned in the crossover thread that the two are in cahoots anyways.