Summary

• Gandalf's expertise in magic outclassed Saruman's, as evident when he overpowered him in The Two Towers. However, in The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf was not the better wizard.
• Saruman was a higher-ranked wizard and the leader of the White Council, while Gandalf was primarily seen as a wise warrior and counselor to Frodo.
• Gandalf became stronger as the White Wizard and the leader of the wizards, ultimately besting Saruman in combat due to his loyalty and growth in power and authority.

Despite his well-earned reputation as the strongest wizard in the movies, Gandalf was clearly weaker than Saruman in The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. Based on how they've performed in battle, both Gandalf and Saruman are regarded as two of the most formidable characters in the franchise. Both possess high levels of power, but that's not to say that they're on equal footing in Tolkien's world.

There has been some degree of speculation as to whether Gandalf or Saruman is the superior wizard in The Lord of the Rings. As the story progressed, it became increasingly clear that Gandalf's expertise in magic outclassed Saruman's. That became evident when Gandalf, as the White Wizard, overpowered Saruman in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. That said, he certainly wasn't the better wizard in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Gandalf Was A Lower-Ranking Wizard In Fellowship Of The Ring

Gandalf was first introduced in Fellowship of the Ring, as Gandalf the Grey, one of five wizards sent by the Valar to defeat Sauron. He travels across Middle-earth searching for The One Ring, which he eventually discovers in the hands of Frodo Baggins. As the Grey Wizard, Gandalf was a wise warrior and the only one who knew what to do when things seemed hopeless; he was primarily seen as a counselor to Frodo and Samwise, and less so as an all-powerful wizard.

Meanwhile, Saruman was a higher-ranked wizard than Gandalf; he was the chief of the five wizards and also, the leader of the White Council. Unlike Gandalf, Samuran used his time on Middle-earth to learn more about the aspects of dark magic; he eventually came to desire Sauron's power for himself, leading him to betray the Council. During their iconic confrontation in Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf was shocked at his ally's betrayal and Saruman showed his strength and superiority over the Grey Wizard when he easily defeated and imprisoned him.

Why Gandalf The White Was Stronger Than Saruman The White

In The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf met his initial demise after his battle with the Balrog, but he was resurrected by Eru in The Two Towers, as Gandalf the White. As the White Wizard, Gandalf is cautious and significantly stronger in his use of magic. What's more, he's the new leader of the wizards and someone actually capable of besting Saruman in combat. This is later shown in an extended Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers scene when Gandalf destroys Saruman's staff and frees King Théoden from the villain's control.

The reason why Gandalf was stronger than Saruman as the White Wizard lies within their actions on Middle-earth. Both were sent to rally fighters against Sauron, but Saruman ultimately betrayed the Council and allied with Sauron; Gandalf stayed true to his original mission, and through his resurrection as Gandalf the White, Gandalf grew in power and authority. With that in mind, Saruman's inability to maintain the advantage he held over Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring can be attributed to his decision to switch sides.