Galadriel's powers were so vast that it's said that other powerful beings like Saruman or even Elrond could not fully comprehend them. The powers she did have were used for good, of course, such as protecting Lothlórien and even toppling Dol Guldur, a fortress that was enhanced by Sauron's magic.
Galadriel is one of the most powerful elves. Galadriel's brother engaged in a contest of power with Sauron and was not beaten by much. Sauron is certainly more powerful then Saruman. After thousands of more years of life, Galadriel would probably have become more powerful.
In The Lord of the Rings, it is said that had Galadriel chosen to use her powers for evil instead of good, she would have been even more destructive and terrifying than Sauron himself. Galadriel was the greatest and most powerful of all Elves in Middle Earth in the Third Age.
Galadriel with the Ring would be a child to Morgoth. This is the Satanic figure of Middle-earth we're speaking here, the Dark Lord of Arda. Morgoth is an Ex. Vala, mightier than Sauron or any evil force of that matter.
Contrary to assumptions that Sauron would likely be the one to offer Galadriel the biggest challenge, Clark instead revealed that she felt that the High Elf Glorfindel would be the only one capable of beating her.
As previously stated, Gandalf is a Maia and is therefore superior to Elves regarding power. Still, this isn't to say that an elf couldn't develop enough skill and power to defeat a Maia. As a bearer of one of the Three Elven Rings (Nenya), Galadriel would have an edge against Maiar like Saruman and Radagast.
In his notes, Tolkien remarks that Sauron saw Galadriel as his equal. Add that to the fact that she's untrusting of Sauron (yes, even when he's in his Annatar guise) and an unwavering, single-minded force, and it's more likely than not that Sauron feared Galadriel — or the potential she held to upend his plans.
Though neither is someone you'd wish to annoy, Galadriel is generally considered more powerful than Elrond in Lord of the Rings. Not only is she older than her Rivendell counterpart, but Galadriel witnessed the light from Valinor's Two Trees, giving her a mystic quality.
Why didn't Galadriel face Sauron in Lord of the Rings if she was powerful enough to fight him? Because she was not. She could never win in a one on one fight against a prepared Sauron.
Morgoth, the first to reign terror upon Middle-earth, was more powerful than Sauron and commanded an army of dragons and Balrogs. While both Morgoth and Sauron were cunning, Morgoth's rule and terror lasted longer and his corruption spread further, making him more formidable in the Lord of the Rings universe.
Defeated by the Host of Valinor in the War of Wrath, Morgoth was banished from Middle-earth into the Timeless Void, though it was prophesied that he would one day return.
There's no question that Sauron is among the strongest beings in Middle-earth, so powerful that even when defeated, he lay dormant and gathered strength in non-corporeal form. Sauron poured his power and will into the One Ring so that as long as it existed, he could never be truly defeated.
Most of the time that Gandalf knows Saurman he is known as Saruman the White. He was originally the chief of the wizards as well as the White Council that was formed to fight against Sauron. He was more powerful than Gandalf at these stages, but his study of dark magic turned him to support Sauron.
Saruman's status as both the greatest Istar (originally) and follower of Sauron gave him arsenal to a variety of powers. Though he would eventually be defeated by Gandalf the White, Saruman was very mighty at the peak of his power, managing to imprison Gandalf the Grey.
Sauron was the great evil, Saruman is petty evil. What's more humiliating for Saruman, is that he was now beneath the notice of Gandalf. Gandalf parted with his Hobbit friends before they entered The Shire, instead going to the Old Forest to treat with Tom Bombadil.
Rather than cast magic at Sauron, Galadriel opts to challenge him on the spiritual plane; she resorts to her Wrath form to penetrate Sauron's mind and break his will. She obviously succeeds, as Sauron audibly cries aloud as he flees.
Assuming the One Ring was destroyed, Galadriel's ring would also start to fade, causing Lothlórien to lose its glory and magic. So, when Galadriel refused the One Ring, she wasn't just sacrificing her desire to rule. She knew that she was sacrificing her kingdom and its well-being for the sake of peace in Middle-earth.
While Glorfindel already one of the greatest of all elves as Ecthelion and Glorfindel are Gondolins greatest captains. So in the first age Feanor is the most powerful elf. In the second age it's Galadriel. In the Third age it's reincarnated Glorfindel.
Elrond's powers are great, to be sure, but Galadriel is simply in a class of her own, and is definitely the being who is greater in power between the two of them.
Unfortunately, Elrond's host arrived too late and was not large enough on its own to defeat Sauron's army. He retreated north with the refugees of Eregion, including Celeborn, only escaping because the forces of Durin III assailed Sauron's army in the rear.
It was as if the Ring had granted him a vision of what could happen if the great Elf were to wield its power. Jackson, on the other hand, used Galadriel's dark form as a visual cue for the audience. Specifically, it represented how she would become evil if she gave in to her deepest desire.
Galadriel in Rings of Power Bears Little Resemblance To Her Lord Of The Rings Character. The Rings of Power showed Galadriel as bitter and impatient. She was driven by a desire for revenge. Her father and three of her brothers has been killed by Morgoth.
In the final episode of season one we found out that Halbrand was, in fact, Sauron and has been manipulating Galadriel in order to access knowledge that only elves have.
