If he failed to kill a baby and an adolescent boy, then Voldemort must be a pushover, right?Clearly, that's not the case. Stopping and defeating Lord Voldemort is actually a monumental task that requires all the efforts in the Wizarding World... or at least a whole wizarding school's effort at least.
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Even so, there are actually some individuals in the Wizarding World who could have forced Voldemort to use up a Horcrux or two. After all, he's not the only talented wizard around. Certain characters in theHarry Potterlore can and have proven that they can defeat Voldemort in a fair fight.But which super powerful or incredibly brave characters could take him on?
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Updated on January 3rd, 2022 by Hilary Elizabeth:Voldemort may be one of the most powerful wizards who ever lived, but as Harry Potter himself demonstrated, he wasn't impossible to beat. Whether it's because of their inherent magical power, their knowledge of wizardry, their strategic nature, or their dangerous bravery, quite a few witches and wizards would actually pose a real threat to the Dark Lord.
Albus Dumbledore
This one's already a given. Albus Dumbledore is the most obvious person who can defeat Voldemort, and the Dark Lord seemed to realize it. Rowling herself has explicitly stated in the books that Dumbledore is the only person Voldemort fears and recognizes as a genuine threat to his own power.
A quick look at their fight inOrder of the Phoenixshould be enough to see how Dumbledore fares against Voldemort. In fact, Voldemort would have been defeated then and there if not for Harry's presence. That means if Dumbledore ever had another fair chance to fight Voldemort,the Dark Lord's defeat would almost certainly be inevitable.
Hermione Granger
Nearly everyone who meets Hermione agrees that she's the brightest witch of her age that they've ever met, and she was tackling threats that most adult witches or wizards couldn't handle in her first year at Hogwarts.
Perhaps Hermione would have had some trouble against Voldemort in her early years, but as an adult witch, she could certainly give him a run for his money if not outright demolish the Dark Lord. Her power combined with her breadth of knowledge is tough to beat.
Gellert Grindelwald
Objectively, Gellert Grindelwald actually had better "Dark Lord" achievements than Voldemort. Voldemort just happened to be eviler and more driven, hence more dangerous, but he is by no means more powerful than Grindelwald. Grindelwald could not only likely match Voldemort's magical abilities, but he seemed to be a more compelling and charismatic leader, winning over legions of wizards.
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Voldemort, by comparison, struggled to take over a small region of the Wizarding World (including a school) in more than a decade. Dumbledore himself admitted that Grindelwald was a "touch more skilled" when both were at the peak of their powers and skill.
Antonin Dolohov
Death Eaters don't exactly have a long life expectancy due to the occupational hazards, but the ones that do survive their own temperamental boss and the dangers of the job are among the most powerful and cunning. Antonin Dolohov, for that matter, is the most decorated Death Eater in Voldemort's ranks.
He has the highest win/loss ratio among all Death Eaters, and his peersare no match forhis dueling skill. He was able to defeat Remus Lupin and Mad-Eye Moody while also having the rare ability to caststrong spells without words. If he plays it smart and careful like Harry, he just might get a chance againsthis own leader.
Salazar Slytherin
Tom Riddle may have been the Heir of Slytherin, but it seems like a safe bet to assume that the Dark Lord probably couldn't defeat Salazar. Not only is the ancient Slytherin essentially the source of Voldemort's magic, but his intellect and cunning would likely run circles around Voldy.
Voldemort plans decades ahead, while Salazar planned centuries ahead. Voldemort hid Horcruxes in Hogwarts for years, and Slytherin managed to conceal the Chamber of Secretsand a whole Basilisk. The Dark Lord would be no match for the Hogwarts founder.
Neville Longbottom
It might sound like a stretch, but Neville could have been as good as Harry. Because in an alternate universe, Neville Longbottom could have been the official Chosen One, and just as Harry stood against Voldemort and defeated him in a straight duel, Nevilleprobably could have done the same.
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It just so happens that Harry was thewizard that Voldemort believed was the one to defeat him. Meanwhile, Neville, being the "other" Chosen One, could have easily fulfilled the prophecy just as Harry did. After all, Harry mostly just won because the Elder Wand refused to kill him.
Nicolas Flamel
Nicolas Flamel has only had brief mentions and appearances in the Wizarding World, but he could almost certainly put the smackdown on Voldemort.
Nicolas is a huge threat to the Dark Lord for a few reasons. The first and most obvious is that he managed to do what Voldemort failed to do, and seemingly keep himself alive for a near-eternity. Secondly, Flamel's centuries on earth means that his knowledge of magic is undoubtedly unparalleledby anyliving person.
Minerva McGonagall
McGonagall was among the oldest and most experienced teachersin Hogwarts, and she was a worthy successor to Dumbledore as the headmistress. In fact, she has proven her mettle against Voldemort and survived a duel against him. To be fair, it was McGonagall, Horace Slughorn, and Kingsley Shacklebolt who dueled Voldemort at the same time.
Sadly, he incapacitated all three of them after being enraged at the news of Bellatrix Lestrange's death. However, the fact that McGonagall was able to withstand Voldemort is proof enough that she can take on him under the right circumstances and with a little luck.
Filius Flitwick
Professor Filius Flitwick doesn't seem like the type to get violent unless it's absolutely necessary, but he surely has the dueling capability to withstand the Dark Lord. As proof of Flitwick's mastery of dueling, he's the one who defeated Antonin Dolohov, Voldemort's most decorated Death Eater.
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It's safe to assume that Flitwick has a fighting chance against Voldemort himself in the dueling department at the very least. Flitwick did defeat his best Death Eater, and he's quite literally a Charms expert.
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Kingsley Shacklebolt is a part of the squad who held off Voldemort commendably, and he's also one of the veteran members of the Order of the Phoenix. Shacklebolt's skill and talents did net him the top position in the Ministry of Magic, and that says a lot about his capabilities.
When it comes to duels and wizard battles, Kingsley has shown that he can easily fight and survive multiple Death Eaters all at once. He's one of the few who came to Harry's rescue inOrder of the Phoenix. In any case, anyone worthy enough to become a Minister of Magic is competent enough for a duel with a Dark Lord.
Bellatrix Lestrange
Bellatrix Lestrange is devoted to Voldemort to the point of obsession, so clearly she would never even think of raising her wand against the Dark Lord. But if she did, she might actually give him some trouble.
Bellatrix is an incredibly powerful witch in her own right, but what makes her even more dangerous is how wild and unpredictable she is. She also doesn't seem particularly cognizant of danger, so while most magical folks would flee at the sight of Voldemort's power, she probably wouldn't be very intimidated.
Credence Barebone
Gellert Grindelwald was smart and thought ahead. The biggest threat to his radical plans was Albus Dumbledore. Needless to say, he wasn't confident that his talent would be enough to kill Dumbledore. Hence, Grindelwald sought someone (or something) that could have easily dispatched Albus: Credence Barebone.
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Credence possesses powers that Grindelwald was sure would make quick work of Dumbledore and sought it for himself. Heck, even Voldemort didn't have direct means to deal with Dumbledore on his own. So it stands within reason that amagician as powerful as Credence would easily win against Voldemort.
Godric Gryffindor
Undoubtedly every one of the founders of Hogwarts could hold their own against a wizard of Voldemort's caliber, but aside from Salazar Slytherin, Godric Gryffindor would likely stand the best chance in a duel.
That's not necessarily because of his magical strength (which is considerable), but rather because his primary values revolved around bravery and chivalry. Someone like Gryffindor would feel compelled to fight the Dark Lord regardless of his chances of winning, which actually makes him a bigger threat.
Severus Snape
Severus Snape was similar to Voldemort in thatthey were both astonishingly brilliant in their youth. Whereas Voldemort's achievement back in his school days was his Horcruxes, Snape's was his own potions knowledge and his very own curse-- someone no else but Harry knew about.
Moreover, Snape can easily resist Voldemort's Legilimens attempts,as he has done it so many times to hide his allegiance with Dumbledore. Voldemort and Nagini did kill him, but it wasn't really much of a fight. Snape's no slouch and could have easily used his hidden knowledge and spells against Voldemort in order to win, especially if he has a cause to fight for.
Merlin
Dumbledore might have been the best Hogwarts student ever and the most powerful wizard of his time, but the most powerful wizard of all time in the Wizarding World remains Merlin. His ideals and goals were the exact opposite of Voldemort's even thoughthey were Slytherin alumni.
To that end, Merlin was even more powerful than Dumbledore at their respective peaks. Voldemort would have backed off immediately if a person like Merlin was present during his reign of terror. In fact, Merlin does not even need a wand to cast any form of magic at full efficiency, something no other magical person has ever mastered.
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FAQs
Who would win in a fight between Harry Potter and Voldemort? ›
It would clearly be Voldemort, easily. All the times Harry beat Voldemort was because of factors apart other than the one we are considering right now: magical skill. Voldemort is far more knowledgeable in curses and counter curses than Harry is.
Who would have won the duel Dumbledore or Voldemort? ›Originally Answered: Who would win in a fight? Voldemort or Dumbeldore? Dumbledore, but in more ways than one. We already know of Dumbledore's legendary duelling ability from his defeat of Gellert Grindelward, the terrifying Dark Lord of Europe, when his erstwhile friend held the Elder Wand.
Who would win in a duel between Voldemort and Grindelwald? ›Voldemort would win, with or without advantages. The books state that Grindelwald was SECOND to Voldemort in terms of power. It's true that Voldemort often underestimated his opponents, but he wouldn't underestimate Grindelwald.
Who dueled Voldemort at the Battle of Hogwarts? ›Slughorn is one of the notable Hogwarts teachers who helps fight Voldemort's forces during the climactic Battle of Hogwarts in Deathly Hallows, and alongside McGonagall and Kingsley Shacklebolt, engages in a duel with the Dark Lord near the end of the book.
Who all can defeat Voldemort? ›Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was the only wizard Voldemort ever feared and the only one who could have defeated him in a duel. Albus Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard in the Harry Potter.
Did any Slytherins fight Voldemort? ›Slughorn facing Voldemort himself
Horace Slughorn really exemplified the Slytherin skill for self-preservation. He didn't seem to do anything that wouldn't benefit him, so you'd be forgiven for thinking he might not wish to stick around and risk his life. But he did – and faced Voldemort himself.
Bellatrix is Voldemort's most loyal and most powerful Death Eater of all, and she claimed many victims in Voldemort's name. Fortunately, Voldemort forbade Bellatrix to kill Harry, and then the series' best mom, Molly Weasley, personally vanquished Bellatrix.
Could Snape defeat Voldemort in a duel? ›Severus Snape
Voldemort and Nagini did kill him, but it wasn't really much of a fight. Snape's no slouch and could have easily used his hidden knowledge and spells against Voldemort in order to win, especially if he has a cause to fight for.
In his prime, Dumbledore truly had no equal who could best him in a one-on-one wizarding duel. Even though he might seem like an old man, his wizarding power is on a completely different level. Gandalf is probably the most powerful opponent he'd ever face, but Dumbledore wouldn't go down without a fight.
Who is stronger Dumbledore or Voldemort or Grindelwald? ›Voldemort is explicitly the most powerful dark wizard of all time. He stalemated Dumbledore when Dumbledore had the elder wand. Dumbledore would have died if not for Fawkes. In contrast, Grindelwald lost to Dumbledore despite having the elder wand.
Who would win Vader or Voldemort? ›
We would have to give the victory to Darth Vader. While the two dark lords seem perfectly matched on their villainy and power, Darth Vader's lightsaber and ability to immediately use the force to choke Voldemort, without chanting any spell would end this showdown in seconds.
How did Dumbledore beat Grindelwald if? ›As far as we knew, Dumbledore and Grindelwald didn't meet until 1945, when Dumbledore famously defeated Grindelwald in a duel and took the Elder Wand. The previous movies revealed that this was because the men struck a magical blood pact that prevented one from moving against the other.
Who defeated Voldemort the first time? ›Voldemort's first defeat took place on Hallowe'en, 31 October, 1981 at the hands of an infant Harry Potter. This led to Harry being known as "The Boy Who Lived". Shortly thereafter, all of his remaining Death Eaters were imprisoned, killed, or acquitted, bringing the war to an end.
Who tipped off Voldemort in Deathly Hallows? ›Who betrayed the Order and told Voldemort when Harry was moving? In order to preserve his position as a trusted Death Eater, Severus Snape was forced to tell Voldemort the true date at which the Order planned to move Harry, under the orders of Albus Dumbledore's portrait.
Who betrayed Voldemort? ›Narcissa's greatest moment, however, was when she chose to betray Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Not knowing whether Draco was alive or dead, Narcissa chose to lie to the Dark Lord rather than risk losing her son.
What spell killed Voldemort? ›During his final confrontation with Voldemort, Harry knew that he (Harry) was the Elder Wand's true master. He again cast Expelliarmus, ejecting the wand from Voldemort's hand into his own as the Killing Curse rebounded off his body, fatally striking Voldemort.
Was there anyone more evil than Voldemort? ›Dolores Umbridge's authority – especially her authority over children – is what makes her just so terrifying. In modern-day, she is more of a realistic threat to us Muggles than the Lord Voldemorts of the world.
What spell beat Voldemort? ›Harry became so enamoured with the spell that he eventually used it to finish off Lord Voldemort. Here's how Harry's relationship with Expelliarmus became his signature – and why that's a good and bad thing.
Who was the worst Slytherin? ›Today we look at the reasons why he embodied all the worst Slytherin traits and gave his house a bad name… Lucius Malfoy was an odious character. He was slimy, sneaky, vain and cruel – to name a few of his most… charming behaviours.
Which Slytherin is not evil? ›Slytherin teaches students that people are complex
Yes, Slytherins could be snide and cruel, as Harry Potter can vouch. But we think being a Slytherin does not necessarily make someone a bad person. Draco Malfoy was the prime example of this.
How evil was Slytherin? ›
Slytherin doesn't mean evil! Some Slytherins have avoided becoming the worst of the worst. The question of what makes a Slytherin not fully evil essentially amounts to whether they embraced wizard fascism or not, either by following Lord Voldemort or pursuing purist policies in government.
Can Draco Malfoy do wandless magic? ›It's never explicitly mentioned, but it's possible that Draco Malfoy can perform wandless magic. After spotting an invisible Harry in his compartment, Draco shuts the door and closes the blinds to block out sight so he can confront Harry.
Which unforgivable curse did Harry use on Bellatrix? ›Cruciatus Curse ('Crucio')
Harry tried to use this spell himself. The first time was against Bellatrix after she had killed Sirius. His attempt was unsuccessful because, as Bellatrix mockingly explained: 'You need to really want to cause pain – to enjoy it – righteous anger won't hurt me for long…'
Yep, that happened: Bellatrix and Voldemort had sex sometime around Order of the Phoenix or Half-Blood Prince, and their wild night in bed led to a child named Delphi Diggory/Riddle/Lestrange. According to Delphi herself, she was born sometime before the Battle of Hogwarts.
Could Sirius have beaten Bellatrix? ›Sirius was no slouch in the wizarding department, but ultimately, he would have always failed to defeat her. He lacked the ruthless cunning needed to take on Bellatrix.
Who would win in a duel Snape or Bellatrix? ›Winner: Snape
Bellatrix would be in the top pile of witches and wizards of all-time based on powers, but her reliance on the same moves and lack of wit means she would be defeated by Snape after giving him an initially tricky time.
Voldemort executed Snape by snake bite instead of his favorite curse because he believed that Snape was the true owner of the Elder Wand, and thought that the wand might not work properly if used against its owner.
Who was the most powerful after Dumbledore? ›Gellert Grindelwald
After falling out with Dumbledore, he became the master of the most powerful Elder Wand and led a years-long crusade against the Wizarding World.
- Albus Dumbledore.
- Lord Voldemort.
- Gellert Grindelwald.
- Merlin.
- Salazar Slytherin.
- Godric Gryffindor.
- Credence Barebone.
- Severus Snape.
Undoubtedly due to his experiences in his youth, Snape is able to use dark magic without it corrupting him, something even Dumbledore is not able to do. Additionally, Snape is more skilled in potions than Dumbledore, making him a powerful contender for Albus's spot on the list.
Who was more powerful Albus or Voldemort? ›
Voldemort himself wasn't more powerful than Dumbledore, and his followers, including Bellatrix, definitely weren't. Don't get me wrong, she was dangerous, and committed horrible crimes, but she wasn't as strong as Albus. After all, she was ultimately defeated by Molly Weasley.
Who is the greatest wizard in Harry Potter? ›- 1 Albus Dumbledore.
- 2 Voldemort. ...
- 3 Merlin. ...
- 4 Gellert Grindelwald. ...
- 5 The Founders Of Hogwarts. ...
- 6 Nicolas Flamel. ...
- 7 Minerva McGonagall. ...
- 8 Alastor Moody. ...
The Elder Wand, the most powerful wand ever created, is one of three objects that make up the Deathly Hallows, including the Cloak of Invisibility and the Resurrection Stone. The Elder Wand was 15 inches long, formed by Death himself, made of elder wood, and contained the center of the tail-hair of Thestral.
Who can beat Darth Vader easily? ›1 Luke Skywalker
Having faced his father once before, Luke was familiar with his tactics and used the force to gain an upper-hand. In Star Wars Canon, only Luke Skywalker can be acknowledged as the one who truly defeated Darth Vader.
Infil'a put up a fierce fight against Vader, almost killing him by throwing the already damaged Sith Lord off of a cliff. Despite severe damage to his suit, Vader survived the fall, and repaired himself with parts from Infil'a's droid, Arex.
Who is as powerful as Darth Vader? ›Despite these setbacks, Vader still became one of the most powerful Force-user in the history of the galaxy; only Palpatine, who was considered to be the strongest Sith-Lord of all time, surpassed him due to his disabilities, and only Luke Skywalker, Vader's own son, rivaled Vader's power at its full potential.
Why can't Dumbledore hurt Grindelwald? ›Dumbledore and Grindelwald took a blood oath to not fight each other. "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald," the second film in the series, reveals that as teenagers Dumbledore and Grindelwald undertook a blood pact that wouldn't allow them to move against each other.
How did Voldemort get Nagini? ›Nagini was Lord Voldemort's final Horcrux
In an interview, J.K. Rowling revealed that it was the murder of Bertha Jorkins that made Nagini a Horcrux. After Voldemort discovered his Horcruxes were in danger, Nagini was magically protected, described as being encased in a 'starry, translucent sphere'.
Grindelwald later loses the wand to Dumbledore in a duel in 1945.
Who was Voldemort before he turned evil? ›Riddle was outwardly a model student, but was in reality a psychopath who took sadistic pleasure in using his powers to harm and control people. He eventually murdered his father and grandparents as revenge for abandoning him.
Who was the first choice for Voldemort? ›
Rowan Atkinson As Voldemort (Seriously)
Fiennes brought the same haunting humanity to Voldemort that he'd previously brought to Amon Göth in Schindler's List. However, he wasn't the producers' first choice for the role. They also looked at John Malkovich and even Mr. Bean star Rowan Atkinson before casting Fiennes.
While this is not mentioned in the book, the author has mentioned in an interview since its publication that Tonks was killed by her aunt Bellatrix Lestrange.
Who was Voldemort's faithful servant at Hogwarts? ›The "most faithful servant" is Barty Crouch Jr., who has already been in place at Hogwarts working for Voldemort. The three dead include Evan Rosier, Wilkes and Regulus Black.
Who killed Fred Weasley? ›In 1998, Fred participated in the Battle of Hogwarts, defending the castle's passageways with his twin. While fighting alongside his brother, Percy, he was killed in an explosion possibly caused by Death Eater Augustus Rookwood.
Who had a crush on Voldemort? ›She looked a little cleaner than the two men, but Harry thought he had never seen a more defeated-looking person. ' After being left alone in the Gaunt family hovel, Merope bewitched the Muggle boy she had a crush on, Tom Riddle.
Who is the next villain after Voldemort? ›After Voldemort's death in 1998, Delphi became Salazar Slytherin's last known heir.
Why did Draco's mom say Harry was dead? ›Draco Malfoy's mother Narcissa was cold, cunning and devoted to the Dark Lord. But she was also a mother, which meant she was willing to risk everything to make sure her son was safe. When Harry survived Voldemort's Killing Curse for the second time, Narcissa pretended he was dead so she could get to Draco.
Why can't Voldemort beat Harry? ›Because Voldemort contains Harry's blood, as long as Voldemort is alive he preserves Lily Potter's charm, so Harry can't die at his hand. Thus, paradoxically, while Harry had to die before Voldemort could, Harry can't die while Voldemort lives.
Who is stronger Harry or Bellatrix? ›5 HARRY CAN'T BEAT: Bellatrix Lestrange Is A Prodigy
No matter his rage and grief, Harry doesn't have what it takes to defeat Bellatrix. Bellatrix is Voldemort's most loyal and most powerful Death Eater of all, and she claimed many victims in Voldemort's name.
Formerly known as Tom Marvolo Riddle, Lord Voldemort was the most formidable evil wizard in the entire universe. Until Harry Potter, Voldemort's magical prowess was practically unmatched, and no one could stand a chance against him.
Does Harry Potter ever become stronger than Voldemort? ›
He became the Triwizard Champion and defeated multiple dark wizards and creatures before he was even 18 years old. Dumbledore himself observed Harry as the rare wizard whose ability to love and "pure" heart made him capable of defeating Voldemort.
Who killed Mad Eye Moody? ›Mundungus, becoming aware that he had been targeted by Voldemort, Disapparated from the back of Moody's broom. The killing curse that had been aimed at Mundungus instead hit Moody.
Why did Lucius Malfoy's wand break? ›History. Harry Potter's wand shot a stream of golden flames at Lord Voldemort of its own accord during the Battle of the Seven Potters. The spell was powerful enough to break Lucius Malfoy's wand.
Is there anyone more powerful than Voldemort? ›Like Tom Marvolo Riddle (aka Voldemort), Merlin was a Slytherin, an ambitious, powerful wizard. He was a wizarding legend, and, of course, more powerful than the Dark Lord. According to the Harry Potter Wiki, Merlin was “arguably one of the most powerful wizards of all time”.
Can Harry Potter beat Draco Malfoy? ›DRACO MALFOY
Harry and Draco were pretty much neck-and-neck when it comes to dueling and wand-related stuff. It was only until Harry got a hold of Snape's diary and channeled his Slytherin tendencies that he was able to win against Malfoy. As a result, he nearly killed Malfoy in The Half-Blood Prince.