The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - The Route of the Ring

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I doubt that a "power ranking can ever be made".
As far as these things are concerned it is clear from the book that
Gandalf > Saruman and
Gandalf > Witch-king, however in a letter, I believe #256 we are told that
Gandalf wearing the Ring ~ Sauron without it and also it is said that it makes sense the Valar would send a coeval and equal in power spirit to Sauron's downfall.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meriadoc1961 (Post 536166)

One thing that I had not noticed until following this thread is that it would seem the question of who would have been more powerful, Gandalf or the Witch King, has been answered. If Gandalf feared taking the ring near Saruman through the Pass of Rohan more than facing Moria, then it would seem that in his glorified state Gandalf would have easily dispensed the Witch King. After all, he did vanquish the Balrog in his pre-"resurrected" self, a Balrog who should have been very close in powers to Sauron himself.

When he was without the Ring. But you are missing one important thing: Gandalf was victorious only by a tiny bit. And, mainly, he "died".

Yes, it does seem the Gandalf was "meant" to pass through Moria, and it is interesting that the Gladden Fields are not mentioned as an alternative. Perhaps they thought they would have been more likely to be spotted if they went that way, and by going through Moria they would disappear for a while, and maybe they had hopes that if they passed that way they would lose anyone fallowing them.