Harry Potter Wizard Rankings: 5 Most Powerful

In the magical world, there are hundreds of witches and wizards who you wouldn’t want to trifle with. Getting on the bad end of these character’s wands. Whether they fight for good or bad, the talent of characters like Gellert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore cannot be ignored. And, now, ComicBook.com is ranking the five most powerful wizards in JK Rowling’s fantastical world of Harry Potter.

Honorable Mention: Harry Potter

First, we being with the boy wizard himself, Harry Potter.

Readers were introduced to the boy when he was little more than a kid, and they watched as he matured into a formidable wizard in his own right. By the book’s end, Harry Potter found himself as the master of all three Deathly Hallows, making him the Master of Death. Though he chooses not to use the all-powerful Elder Wand, Harry is still someone who bested Voldermort on multiple occasions and brought hope to the wizarding world. If that’s not a hero, then what is?

Severus Snape

According to Harry Potter, Severus Snape is one of the bravest men he ever knew – and he was also one of the most powerful.

Snape was renowned for his potions mastery. Aside from magical concoctions, Snape was also a highly trained duelist, and he proved his skills full-on during Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince. The wizard was seen deflecting countless spells from the likes of Harry and Professor McGonagall, and Lord Voldemort was clearly impressed with his magical talent to boot.

Minerva McGonagall

There’s no denying that Minerva McGonagall is a certified badass. The snippy yet kind-hearted professor was one of Harry Potter’s allies during his time at Hogwarts, and she dedicated her life to bringing Lord Voldemort to his knees. The skilled Transfiguration teacher was known for her crafty wand-work and battle strategies. When Hogwarts came under fire in the final Harry Potter novel, McGonagall was responsible for defending the school and did so by invoking a powerful spell which animated suits of armor to protect those fighting for the light.

Gallert Grindelwald

Before there was Lord Voldemort, there was Gellert Grindelwald, and he was one bad dude. The dark wizard is known as the most powerful villain in the wizarding world, and even Lord Voldemort feared his deadly magic. Grindelwald was responsible for a revolution which led to the first all-out wizarding war, and no one stood a chance against the devious wizard and his ownership of the Elder Wand. It wasn’t until Albus Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald that his tyrannical reign end, and he was locked away in an impenetrable prison of his own creation.

Lord Voldemort

This wizard is one who needs no introduction. Born Tom Marvolo Riddle, Lord Voldemort is the most famous dark wizard in Harry Potter’s canon. The villain acted as the series’ main antagonist and coveted a world where pure-blood wizards reigned above all muggles and half-bloods. Lord Voldemort’s wizarding skills are undenidable, but his true source of power came from his ability to manipulate others and act as though he were immortal. As a boy, Voldermort began storing bits of his soul into objects known as Horcruxes, and the well-hidden items kept the dark wizard alive long enough to nearly destory the entire magical community. 

Albus Dumbledore

When it comes to Harry Potter, there is no one more powerful than Albus Dumbledore, but the man himself hesitated to embrace his fearsome reputation. Fans were introduced to Dumbledore when he was the headmaster of Hogwarts, and he was instrumental in helping Harry bring down He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named for good. The sagely wizard wielded the Elder Wand for decades, and he kept a close watch on dark magic to keep it in its place. Ultimately, he sacrificed his life to prevent wizards like Draco Malfoy from going to the dark side for good.