Glorfindel fought the Balrog and succeeded in slaying the monster, but was himself mortally wounded. His body was recovered by the great eagle Thorondor and buried under a stone cairn, where afterward grew yellow flowers.
The only recorded instances of Balrogs having been slain are Gandalf's slay of Durin's Bane, Echtelion's slay of Gothmog and Glorfindel's slay of an unnamed Balrog. “A Balrog of Morgoth, deadliest of all elf-banes, save the o…
The Balrogs were Maiar corrupted by Morgoth during the creation of Arda, who cloaked themselves in shadow and flame and carried whips and swords. Famed Balrogs include Gothmog, slain by Ecthelion, and Durin's Bane, slain by Gandalf.
The ardour of Glorfindel drave that Balrog from point to point, and his mail fended him from its whip and claw. Now had he beaten a heavy swinge upon its iron helm, now hewn off the creature's whip-arm at the elbow.
Ecthelion stood no chance against the Lord of Balrogs, and lost his sword in the brief struggle. But then Ecthelion leaped forward, and stabbed Gothmog in the breast with the spike atop his helm. They both fell into the Fountain of the King, where Gothmog, if not already killed by the spike, drowned with his opponent.
Gothmog, the Lord of Balrogs in the First Age, used a great black axe in battle, and Dúrin's Bane possessed a flaming whip and a molten sword. He managed to expell the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm from their ancient and supremely fortified home, which was the greatest kingdom of Dwarves that had ever been.
The Elf Ecthelion leads the charge against the Orcs, and fights Gothmog, the greatest Balrog; they wound each other and both fall into the king's fountain in Gondolin; both drown.
In all of Tolkien's text I've read, there are three people who have killed a Balrog. Ecthellion, Glorfindel and of course Gandalf. All of these fights ended in a draw with all three sacrificing their lives for the deed.
Throughout Tolkien's works, two characters, Gandalf and Glorfindel, faced off against a Balrog, and though they won, the battle cost them their lives. Though Galadriel herself never (as far as we know) went face to face with a Balrog, she would likely have met her match if she did.
The movies didn't show it, but the Balrog all but defeated Gandalf in a battle of spells. As mighty as he was, Smaug was killed by a single arrow shot by a lone human. So, the bottom line is that some brutish beast like Smaug (regardless of his size) wouldn't have been a threat to a Balrog.
For more than five millennia, the Balrog hibernated in his deep hiding place at the roots of the mountains in Khazad-dûm. He remained undisturbed throughout the Second Age and most of the Third, before the mithril-miners of dwarf-King Durin VI awoke him in T.A. 1980.
Glorfindel is greater than Elrond. But he is not considered greater than Galadriel or Cirdan. First Age Galadriel was greater than Glorfindel, and already in league with Feanor. These two kinsfolk (Galadriel and Feanor), the greatest of the Eldar in Valinor, were unfriends for ever.
Fingolfin, receiving false news, rode alone to Angband and challenged Morgoth to single combat. He wounded Morgoth several times, but grew weary and was killed by the immortal Vala. Fingolfin has inspired artists, musicians and video game designers to create depictions of his deeds.
Who is the strongest elf in the 3rd age, Elrond, Galadriel, or Cirdan? I would say Glorfindel is the most powerful elf of the Third Age. Glorfindel killed a Balrog and was then reincarnated in a brand new body in the third age with even more power and authority.
The company fled with Gandalf, but the Orcs and the Balrog, taking a different route, caught up with them at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. At the Bridge, Legolas instantly recognized it as a Balrog, and Gimli recognized it as Durin's Bane.
Secondly, Balrogs were the epitome of malice and power while Sauron only ever won one of three fights he ever had. Sauron was the great deceiver. His power lies in planning, subterfuge, manipulation, and corruption.
The Battle of the Peak was Gandalf's name for his climactic battle with the Balrog known as Durin's Bane, on the peak of the mountain called Silvertine. Gandalf pursued the Balrog from the deepests dungeons of Moria to Durin's Tower, climbing through the whole Endless Stair.
Oh, yes, there are creatures more frightful than Balrogs in Middle Earth. Ungoliant who was able to cry havoc in all Valinor is easily more terrifying than Balrogs, even Morgoth feared its gigantic and hideous form. It took a group of Balrogs and Morgoth himself resisting Ungoliant's attack to make her flee.
First off, it simply wasn't his job and doing so would have bordered on breaking the mandate of the Istari. He -- along with the other wizards -- was sent from Valinor to oppose Sauron by stirring up resistance amongst the free peoples of Middle-earth.
No, Balrogs do not serve Sauron. Similar to Sauron, Balrogs are Maiar, powerful spiritual beings second only to the Valar themselves. They were corrupted by Melkor's evil before the first age and were made into Valaraukar (Demons of Power). They very strength and wills were bound to Melkor.
The Balrogs were originally the servants of Morgoth in the First Age, of whom, Sauron was also his servant. The Balrogs and Sauron were all Maiar and somewhat coeval; it is debatable whether a Balrog would recognize Sauron as successor and serve him willingly.
Thus, Galadriel's dark form in Jackson's The Lord of the Rings personified what would have occurred had the Lady of Lothlorien given in to temptation and taken the One Ring for herself. She would have succumbed to evil because the Ring was indomitable, even with her power.
