If I'm not mistaken Voldy did not know about the Elder Wand till kidnapping and torturing Olivander. So he would not have feared DD for having the Elder Wand.

I like your opinion on the Voldy/DD 50/50 comment. Although if we are talking pure power of using magic especially powerful dark magic I think Voldemort would edge DD out. But DD would definately win in the understanding of the powers of magic and what influences magic, such as Love.

Snape was also a very powerful in that he understood how to deal with dark magic and to later in life use it for the good side of the magical community. Snape was the best actor and played his part well. I would liked to of seen a duel between Voldy and Snape to see Snapes power against Voldy. Snape showed great loyalty and was very brave playing his part in the destruction of Voldemort.

Voldemort was the most magically gifted wizard to ever live!! The only one close to him in skill was Dumbledore. However, not even with the elder wand could Dumbledore finish off Voldemort. I know, you are going to say that Dumbledore didn't try to kill him. Well why wouldn't he? He didn't find out about the horcruxes till HBP, and even if he did, why wouldn't he try to kill Voldie and force him to go through that period of trying to find a way to get his body back again. At the very least it would of bought them some time!! Also, the other response I get is that Dumbledore knew the dark arts magic that Voldemort did. How exactly would he know that, if he is so scared of what it can do? To know it you have to practice it, and he didn't. And there was no prophecy saying that Dumbledore was the one to kill Voldemort, because he couldn't. I understand that the wizard with the better morals is Dumbledore, but that isn't the question. This question is who is the most "powerful" wizard, and there is really no point in the series that I question Voldemort is exactly that!! Oh yeah, I almost forgot the other response I get. That Voldemort feared Dumbledore. Yes, this is said quite a few times in the series, however Voldie feared him because Dumbledore is the one who showed him magic!! He is the one who took him to hogwarts and always looked over him. The reason that he "feared" him, is not because of his skill, but rather because he was the one who always seemed to have him figured out. Dumbledore states himself that Voldemort's knowledge of magic is more extensive than any wizard alive, and I'm pretty sure he is alive when he says it!! Then people want to say that Dumbledore only said this because he is humble. Why would he lie? It would only make it harder to face Voldemort if everyone was told false things. Dumbledore knew that if Voldemort ever reached full power, he would not be able to stop him. This is why he has to set up all these plans for Harry. Though I found it quite strange that he would be stupid enough to try and put on Marvolo's ring? He had to of known what would happen. Wouldn't it have made more sense to just go out fighting, and take as many death eaters with you as possible?

:sauron:

If you are talking about pure magical skill, I don't think anyone can match up to Voldemort. I mean, he knew so much magic and had so much potential. Dumbledore is the only one close to him, but I think that if Dumbledore was more powerful than Voldemort wouldn't have been able to last so long.

I think Dumbledore is the most powerful. I would say that Voldemort and Harry tie for second. I think Dumbledore would have lived longer, but given the situation, he chose to die to keep Snape in the loop rather than fight. I think while Voldemort was incredibly powerful his biggest flaw ended up costing him his life. He gave so much credit to Harry, when really Harry wasn't a knock your socks of kind of wizard, and took so much store in a prophecy that could of have been useless if he hadn't given it so much power and credit. I don't count Harry out as a great wizard though because he was so resourceful. Harry was able to figure things out and was so observant of the people and things around him that it made him a force to be reckoned with and kept him alive.

The question is not who is the most "resourceful". It is who is the most powerful. This is obviously between LV and Dumbledore, definetly not Harry. I know you are thinking about Harry being brave, but courage is not power. What I am saying is that if Dumbledore was clearly more powerful than LV, like most of you have been saying, how exactly would Voldemort have lasted so long and caused so much fear in everyone? Don't get me wrong I like Dumbledore and Harry a lot more than Voldemort, but I'm just trying to be realistic and not bias.

Woah. That's long.

But anyways, I gotta say, nice reasoning there. But about the 50/50 between Dumbledore and Voldie( Don't kill me Voldemort. Please! ) , I'm .... so not sure. Like you said, Dumbledore was a expert in love, and Voldie a expert in the Dark Arts. they are completly different so it's hard to say 50/50. But Love is supposed to be more powerful... so... yeah. Not sure.

And Snape! God. I think that he should be the most powerful. Loyal through and through, even though every body literally hated him. *shudder* I would have a hard time if I was him.

I think Dumbledore's wise, and that gives him great power.
Voldemort is powerful because of his great handle with magic.
Snape can do most things because he knows a lot of potions.
Harry is very brave, that gives him power.

All of them is powerful in their own ways, so I don't think Dumbledore's the definitive answer. =)

All of the ones listed are very powerful. But im gonna say Voldemort. I think he overpowered Dumbledore i their duel they had in the Battle of The Department of Mysteries.

Watch the scene in the URL

YouTube - Dumbledore Vs Voldemort (HQ)


Also,with Snape being an expert in the Dark Arts...in my opinion..I think he probably could beat Dumbledore in a duel *Prays..Oh god im about to get flamed...*

I don't think that Snape could beat Dumbledore in a duel. I think that Voldemort and Dumbledore are in a whole other league when it comes to dueling and magical ability. I do agree with you that Voldemort could take Dumbledore in a fair duel (Dumbledore without the elder wand) quite easily....

Dumbledore (i think), just because he can make other follow him in belief.

It is who is The Most Powerful wizard, not the best leader. Give me one example that shows how Dumbledore is nearly twice as powerful as Voldemort since the votes are 139-75...and please don't say love, bravery, or leadership because they aren't based on magical ability....

Dumbledore.

Although i have not read the books i come to my conclusion based upon the fact that Riddle constantly tried find sneaky ways to have Dumbledore killed outside of just a straight duel. Furthermore, when you look at the wizards and their respective attitudes and characters there is one facet that separates them the most. And that is emotion vs logic. Riddle is very impulsive and loses his cool very quickly. While Dumbledore continues to out think his opponent as if it were a chess game.

Again, this is The Most Powerful, not the smartest or least emotional. Raw power favors Voldemort easily. Just imagine if Voldemort had the elder wand and Dumbledore didn't in their duel. Dumbledore would have been crushed quite easily, as he was stalemated when he had it. Voldemort was also gone for 14 years trying to get back to his body, while Dumbledore had that long learning more magic! Just think how rusty he must of been for that duel. If Dumbledore was so much more powerful and smart then why was everyone so scared for their life, why didn't Dumbledore just eliminate him before Harry's parents were killed?

Having raw power does not make you the most powerful. Being powerful means having the complete package and total control. If you have very little control of your emotions it does not make you powerful, but a fool.

I dont think they were stalemated. I was laughing my *** off when Dumbledore had Riddle in the water bubble and was tossing him around like a ragdoll. At no point did i ever see Riddle overcome Dumbledore. As for the wands, doesnt the wand choose its master? This is where my knowledge of the series (the books) comes into question. How Dumbledore came to own the Elder wand i do not know but if Riddle was truly that powerful he wouldnt of had a problem with Dumbledore wand or no wand.

People were scared because Riddle was indeed a very powerful wizard, especially a dark one. And Dumbledore wouldnt purposely kill a boy as it was against his pedigree. The general consensus of Dumbledore was that there was good in everyone and he believed that he could help direct Riddle to being a better person and wizard. This was evident when he had Snape kill him rather than Draco as he didnt want to the see the boy go down the same path. If Dumbledore had one regret was that he took Riddle from the orphanage and gave him the means to learn the dark arts.

If you had actually read the books, before entering a thread about the books, you would know that Dumbledore would have died in their duel if it weren't for fawkes. Also, the elder wand doesn't chose its master, it gives its loyalty to whoever beats the previous master in a duel. Dumbledore had 100+ years to figure this out, compared to Voldemorts 50. And what are you talking about with "the complete package"? In this question, "the complete package" is power because that is what the question is!

I forgot about the wands going to their respective masters after a duel so great point. Does the book ever say how Dumbledore came upon the Elder wand? However, I still stand by my statement regarding the true meaning of power though. We will just have to agree to disagree on that aspect. You can have all the power in the world but if you dont know how to utilize that power it makes you and that power useless. Perhaps, had Riddle chose to spend more time learning he may have become a more powerful wizard in the end.

Voldemort didn't even have half the time Dumbledore had to learn magic and he still probably knew more. Dumbledore himself said that if Voldemort returned to full power he would not be able to stop him with his best spells. Plus Dumbledore had his own weakness for power, proven by the ring and by his childhood "weirdness" plan to kill all the muggles...

Again, knowing more and able to utilize it are two different things. This is why emotion plays a part in making one "powerful". But, to each his own. Im not nor will i ever be sold that Riddle was the most powerful. Too many things go into being a wizard that go beyond the books of spells. Good debate though.

So by your definition, Neville was more powerful than Voldemort? I will never even consider Dumbledore even close to Voldemort either. If Voldemort was given his full potential like Dumbledore was (time and the elder wand), he would have conquered the world and killed all the people with your "emotion" factor...

No, Neville wouldnt of been more powerful that Riddle. But again, you fail to see the bigger picture. Having "power" goes beyond just the knowledge. You say that Riddle wasnt at full potential but make the claim he was already more powerful than Dumbledore. You cant seem to make up your mind on this. If Riddle was indeed more powerful (whether he was at full strength or not) he should of been able to wipe everyone out without any problems. So what was holding him back?

Answer: Emotion

Riddle's biggest weakness was his inability to think clearly because of his hatred. That was his ultimate downfall and why he was consistently outsmarted by both Dumbledore and Harry Potter. Its always a common theme with "bad guys" that hatred clouds the mind and makes you vulnerable no matter how tough or powerful you may think you are. In the end you will always be defeated because there is one who has a "complete" understanding of said powers which makes them more powerful than you. In the end it doesnt matter how much Riddle knew because he was constantly unable to outsmart his opponents.

He was about to wipe out everyone before the prophecy made him try to kill Harry. When he finally got his body back he was weaker than before and by the time he was back to strength Dumbledore had already killed himself by foolishly trying to see his sister again. And of course all books and movies have the villains lose. Who would read or watch something where the villains win?

Yes, Riddle was defeated by the one thing that he could not see or defeat. LOVE. When you heart and mind is full of hatred you cannot think clearly thus limiting you and any power you may have.

Which confirms my point about good triumphing over evil. There is a reason for that and its that villians never think clearly, only going on emotion. For me personally, i have no problem with villians winning in the end. The question becomes is it believable and most likely that villian would have to have balance to their logic. Riddle was off on the deep end and consumed by hatred so he had already lost before he had begun. It was ultimately what he couldnt see that took him down.

I didn't know we moved from the most controlled emotion ability question to the best ability to love question, oh yeah we were never at either seeing as this is the Most Powerful Question. Good triumphs over evil in story's. Doesn't mean it works that way in real life though...

Isnt that what we are talking about? A story? Its ok, your entitled to your opinion. But for me, there's more to being more powerful than simple knowledge.

Power is power, not a combination of all these different things. What you are giving examples of is Dumbledore having a better view towards life. I want you to give me some kind of evidence that proves Dumbledore was more powerful in Magic...