Peter Jackson's Middle-earth Films

Gandalf

Gandalf

Gandalf is an Istar, one of five Maiar spirits sent by the Valar to Middle-earth in the Third Age to counter Sauron by guiding the Free Peoples. Known as wizards, the Istari took forms resembling elderly Men, ranked by color. Initially the Grey Wizard subordinate to Saruman the White, Gandalf is reborn as the White Wizard after dying in combat with the Balrog, as Saruman defects to Sauron. One of Middle-earth’s wisest beings, he speaks in riddles, favors Hobbits, values overlooked ordinary strengths, and orchestrates Sauron’s defeat by spurring Thorin to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug, exposing Sauron at Dol Guldur, and leading the Fellowship in the War of the Ring.

Equipment

  • Uses a magical staff for casting most spells; carried several due to destruction or loss. (source)
  • Wields Glamdring, an Elven sword originally owned by King Turgon. (source) (UJ)
  • Wears Narya, the Ring of Fire, one of the Rings of Power, which turns invisible on his hand. (source) (BotFA)
  • Employs impressive fireworks. (source) (FotR)

Mental Attributes: Intelligence & Wisdom

  • Claims knowledge of every spell in the tongues of Elves, Men, and Orcs. (source) (FotR)
  • Speaks fluent Elvish (Sindarin) at Rivendell. (source) (UJ)
  • Interprets a message in Black Speech. (source) (DoS)
  • Utters an incantation in Elvish (Quenya). (source) (DoS)
  • Understands Orkish spoken by Azog. (source) (DoS)
  • Translates the Tengwar inscription on the One Ring. (source) (FotR)
  • Speaks in the Dark Tongue of Mordor to emphasize a point. (source) (FotR)
  • Translates Elvish text on the door to Moria. (source) (FotR)
  • Translates a passage from a Dwarven tome. (source) (FotR)
  • Knows his way around Middle-earth.
  • Leads the Fellowship to Mordor. (source) (FotR)
  • Identifies the safest course for the Fellowship. (source) (FotR)
  • Knows two alternate routes to the Lonely Mountain and their distances. (source) (DoS)
  • Argues why a Hobbit makes a good burglar for Thorin’s quest, citing stealth and unfamiliar scent. (source) (UJ)
  • Cites Hobbit stealth as advantage. (source) (UJ)
  • Cites Hobbit unfamiliar scent as advantage. (source) (DoS)
  • Determines a sword’s origin from quick inspection. (source) (UJ)
  • Grows suspicious of a growing evil despite peers’ skepticism and is proven correct. (source) (UJ)
  • Proven correct about the evil. (source) (DoS)
  • Distracts the White Council to allow Thorin’s party to escape Rivendell. (source) (UJ)
  • Deduces Bilbo’s ring is the One Ring from his behavior and wording, supported by Mount Doom activity and research. (source) (FotR)
  • Notes Bilbo’s behavior indicating the One Ring. (FotR)
  • Notes Bilbo’s wording indicating the One Ring. (source) (FotR)
  • Observes alarming activity at Mount Doom and conducts research confirming the One Ring. (source) (FotR)
  • Deduces the correct entrance to Dwarrowdelf by smell. (source) (FotR)
  • Knows Merry and Pippin are safe in Fangorn Forest due to Ents’ reawakening. (source) (TT)
  • Understands Sauron’s tactics and mindset. (source) (TT)
  • Understands Sauron’s various forces. (source) (RotK)
  • Locates the exiled Rohan army. (source) (TT)
  • Leads Rohan army to battle at Helm’s Deep. (source) (TT)
  • Arrives at Helm’s Deep at a specific scheduled time after searching. (source) (TT)
  • Determines Pippin tells the truth from his eyes after Sauron’s interrogation. (source) (RotK)
  • Commands Gondor soldiers against Sauron’s army during Minas Tirith siege. (source) (RotK)

Mental Attributes: Awareness & Perception

  • Detects Mirkwood’s illusionary properties in the air. (source) (DoS)
  • Immediately detects Dol Guldur’s concealment spell, unnoticed by Radagast. (source) (DoS)
  • Sees through illusions at Dol Guldur. (source) (DoS)
  • Feels the One Ring’s growing power on Frodo. (source) (FotR)
  • Locates an invisible closed Dwarven door. (source) (FotR)
  • Knew Gollum covertly followed the Fellowship for days. (source) (FotR)

Skill

  • Kills numerous Goblins at the Misty Mountains. (source) (UJ)
  • Kills the Great Goblin with a few well-placed blows. (source) (UJ)
  • Fends off Thráin’s ambush at Dol Guldur. (source) (DoS)
  • Participates in the Battle of Five Armies. (source) (BotFA)
  • Fights Orcs at the Mines of Moria. (source) (FotR)
  • Single-handedly fights and defeats the Balrog over a long period, at the cost of his life. (source) (TT)
  • Defeats several Uruk-hai on horseback at Helm’s Deep. (source) (TT)
  • Defeats invading Orcs at Gondor. (source) (RotK)
  • Fights at the Battle of the Morannon. (source) (RotK)

Physical Attributes: Strength

  • Splits a boulder with his staff. (source) (UJ)
  • Knocks aside multiple Goblins while escaping the Misty Mountains. (source) (UJ)
  • Throws Thráin. (source) (DoS)
  • Yanks Sam through a window and slams him onto a table with one arm. (source) (FotR)
  • Strikes a Cave Troll with his sword, causing it to stagger and drop Merry. (source) (FotR)
  • Beats up Denethor with his staff. (source) (RotK)
  • Kills a Troll with a single throat slit. (source) (RotK)

Physical Attributes: Speed & Agility

  • Decapitates a Goblin so fast its head stays in place until knocked off. (source) (UJ)
  • Dodges the Great Goblin’s attacks. (source) (UJ)
  • Repeatedly dodges a Troll’s attacks. (source) (BotFA)
  • Catches a moth while severely injured. (source) (FotR)
  • Matches speed and stamina of Men, Elf, Dwarf, and Hobbits despite age. (source) (FotR)
  • Leaps over a broken staircase. (source) (FotR)
  • Blocks and deflects a thrown axe and arrow at point-blank range. (source) (TT)
  • Jumps an Orc rushing towards Pippin. (source) (RotK)

Physical Attributes: Durability

  • Survives being caught on a bridge crashing down a chasm and emerges unharmed. (source) (UJ)
  • Endures being dropped on by Thráin. (source) (DoS)
  • Shrugs off being clubbed by Azog the Defiler. (source) (DoS)
  • Quickly recovers for the Battle of Five Armies after brutalization by Sauron and Orcs. (source) (BotFA)
  • Brutalized by Sauron. (source) (DoS)
  • Brutalized by Orcs. (source) (BotFA)
  • Endures telekinetic throttling by Saruman. (source) (FotR)
  • Is unharmed when leg snared by Balrog’s fiery whip. (source) (FotR)
  • Sits on Balrog’s flaming torso unaffected. (source) (TT)
  • Endures being smacked by the Balrog multiple times. (source) (TT)
  • Endures prolonged battle with Balrog across locations including freezing mountain top before dying after slaying it. (source) (TT)
  • Unfazed by Saruman’s fireball. (source) (RotK)

Physical Attributes: Senses

  • Recognizes Saruman’s voice in harsh climate, matched only by Legolas. (source) (FotR)
  • Differentiates smells of three pathways from equal distance. (source) (FotR)

Powers & Abilities: As Gandalf the Grey

  • Forms complex shapes from pipe-weed smoke, like a ship or butterfly. (source) (FotR)
  • Forms a ship from smoke. (FotR)
  • Forms a fluttering butterfly from smoke. (source) (UJ)
  • Telepathically communicates with mystical beings like Galadriel and Radagast. (source) (UJ)
  • Telepathically communicates with Galadriel. (UJ)
  • Telepathically communicates with Radagast. (source) (BotFA)
  • Delivers concussive blows with staff.
  • Breaks off building portion to crush pursuers. (source) (DoS)
  • Weakens Khazad-dûm bridge to collapse under Balrog. (source) (FotR)
  • Summons Great Eagles with a moth on two occasions. (source) (UJ)
  • Summons Eagles first occasion. (UJ)
  • Summons Eagles second occasion. (source) (FotR)
  • Appears to teleport short distances.
  • Teleports past Orcs within line of sight. (source) (DoS)
  • Shifts from Bilbo’s study to dining room. (source) (FotR)
  • Reaches Bilbo’s house before Bilbo. (source) (FotR)
  • Draws glowing mark on Bilbo’s door to signal meeting place. (source) (UJ)
  • Releases AOE blast blowing away Goblin horde. (source) (UJ)
  • Blasts rock chunk from Misty Mountains ceiling to aid Dwarves’ escape. (source) (UJ)
  • Ignites pine cones as projectiles against Wargs. (source) (UJ)
  • Partially heals Thorin after Azog confrontation. (source) (UJ)
  • Brings feral Thráin to senses. (source) (DoS)
  • Lifts concealment spell at Dol Guldur revealing dark forces. (source) (DoS)
  • Telekinetically immobilizes Azog briefly. (source) (DoS)
  • Escapes Azog and Orcs with blinding light flash. (source) (DoS)
  • Holds back Sauron briefly with forcefield. (source) (DoS)
  • Sets off fireworks mentally. (source) (FotR)
  • Ignites fireworks with staff. (source) (FotR)
  • Darkens room and deepens voice to assert authority and snap Bilbo from Ring obsessiveness. (source) (FotR)
  • Telekinetically pushes Saruman in magical duel. (source) (FotR)
  • Staff crystal emits bright light for darkness. (source) (FotR)
  • Shields from Balrog’s fiery sword. (source) (FotR)
  • Summons lightning to power Glamdring for final Balrog blow. (source) (TT)

Powers & Abilities: As Gandalf the White

  • Imitates Saruman perfectly, fooling Legolas. (source) (TT)
  • Shatters Gimli’s axe with staff. (source) (TT)
  • Disarms Aragorn by heating his sword. (source) (TT)
  • Summons Shadowfax by whistling. (source) (TT)
  • Releases Théoden from Saruman’s control, overriding Saruman’s power unlike as Grey. (source) (TT)
  • Failed to counter Saruman as Grey. (source) (FotR)
  • Senses Frodo’s general location during Quest of the Ring but loses it in Mordor. (source) (TT)
  • Senses Frodo’s location. (TT)
  • Loses connection to Frodo in Mordor. (source) (RotK)
  • Shatters Saruman’s staff on command. (source) (RotK)
  • Snaps Pippin from palantír-induced catatonia. (source) (RotK)
  • Unleashes divine light to blind Uruk-hai army. (source) (TT)
  • Unleashes divine light to repel Fellbeasts. (source) (RotK)

Powers & Abilities: Limitations

  • Cannot change weather for convenience. (source) (UJ)
  • Cannot work with faulty equipment. (source) (BotFA)
  • Power inferior to Witch-King of Angmar, loses staff in confrontation. (source) (RotK)

Miscellaneous

  • Renowned in Shire for fireworks. (source) (UJ)
  • Belief in others pays off. (source) (UJ)
  • Very close to Galadriel. (source) (BotFA)
  • Resists One Ring’s corruption when alone with it. (source) (FotR)
  • Resists Ring temptation from Frodo, aware of consequences for his power. (source) (FotR)
  • Loves pipe-weed. (source) (FotR)
  • Time on Middle-earth equals 300 Men’s lifespans (2000+ years). (source) (TT)
  • Sleeps with eyes open. (source) (RotK)
  • Performs Aragorn’s coronation. (source) (RotK)
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