He could also control the minds of those on Middle-earth (to a point) and influence the land and its animals. Gandalf, on the other hand, had a different brand of power. He had a physical body and therefore could not change his form and could, as seen in The Lord of the Rings, die.
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.
NO, Sauron was so much more powerful than Gandalf. Had all the 5 Ishtari worked together they could not have defeated Sauron in combat. Besides they were forbidden by the Valar from doing so. Their mission was to raly the Free Peoples to fight against Sauron and his minions.
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.
Why Was Sauron so Powerful? (Even Among Maiar) - Middle-earth Explained
Why can't Gandalf use his full power?
Summary. Gandalf, as an Istari, was sent to Middle-earth to assist in the fight against Sauron, but he was forbidden from using his full power to interfere with the natural order. Saruman's downfall serves as a warning of the dangers of exceeding the limits placed on the Istari by the Valar.
This Gandalf defeated Saruman, so he is also above Saruman. However, he is still les powerful then Sauron. But, there are other beings in Middle-Earth at that time (Third Age). For example, Galadriel and Elrond.
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.
Because Sauron lost his Ring, his power severely diminished, and it took him thousands of years to rebuild his power. Even after Sauron declared himself again, his sole focus was on finding the Ring, not on solidifying his dominion.
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.
The Valar(and the Maiar) did not have authority to harm the Children of Ilúvatar. Therefore when Ar-Pharazôn the Golden arrived at the shores of Aman, leading the vast army of Númenor, they didn't know how to deal with the situation, and called out to Eru.
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.
Bloodlines are very important in Tolkien's stories, and it makes a lot of sense that Sauron would fear the great-grandson of the man who cut off his hand. Aragorn carried the blood of Numenor with him. His genetic connection to the heroes of the Second Age established him as a dangerous opponent of Sauron.
Gandalf stated that Sauron feared “something indomitable” within Gollum. By the exact language used, Gollum is indomitable, meaning he cannot be dominated. Sauron is all about domination - and Gollum was openly defiant - breaking under torture, but still openly displaying his hatred and wrath to Sauron.
Meanwhile, a few faithful Númenóreans, led by Elendil, were saved from the flood, and they founded Gondor and Arnor in Middle-earth. Sauron still considered them his hated enemies and he launched a pre-emptive attack on Gondor in S.A. 3429.
The answer is, by far, Melkor. Melkor, or Morgoth, wanted to currupt and destroy everything good created by the other Valar. Sauron on the other hand only wanted to control and rule Middle Earth.
"So I think in his pitch to Galadriel, it cannot mean that he loves her or that there's any kind of romantic relationship. There should be no ambiguity around the fact that Sauron is evil — he's terrible, and he's using Galadriel to enhance his power."
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.
Gandalf's main reason for supporting Thorin's quest in The Hobbit was to eliminate the threat of the dragon Smaug, who would be a powerful ally for Sauron. Despite popular belief, the Balrog known as Durin's Bane was more powerful than Smaug in Middle-earth, being a literal, primordial demon.
“Go back to the shadows from whence you came, servant of Morgoth,” she orders, and once again, a burst of blinding white light erupts from the light of Earendil in her hand, and seems to send Sauron and all of his evil spirits away to some other realm or dimension.
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.
