It all comes down to how one defines powerful, and which point in time we're speaking of. Physical strenght? Excluding the First Age (which would require much more thinking than I am capable of at the moment, and it's some time since I read the Silmarillion): Sauron perhaps, who defeated both Gil-galad and Elendil. It's not said how Isildur managed to defeat him, but I doubt it was in a fair fight, and anyway Sauron probably was 'tired' and damaged. The Balrog was strong, but how strong I'm not sure.
Treebeard is also very strong, in pure physical strenght I doubt many could match him (but he didn't use any weapons).
"Magical" powers? (Again excluding the great Elves, Men and Maiar/Valar of the First Age) Hard to decide. I don't have
The Letters, but have read a good deal of quotes from it. Using what I have: according to Morgoth's Ring, Sauron was
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...greater, 'effectively', in the Second Age than Morgoth at the end of the First.
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because while Morgoth put much of his power into the earth to corrupt it, Sauron:
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inherited the 'corruption' of Arda, and only spent his (much more limited) power on the Rings, for it was the creatures of the earth, in their minds and wills, that he desired to domniate.
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Could probably quote a bit more from that essay, it's a great source. I can't remember any of the quotes from
Letters saying (definitely) that Gandalf was stronger than Sauron (at least not in the 2nd Age), but they may very well exist (could someone provide a quote?).
Galadriel is said to be the Greatest of the Noldor ([maybe] with the exception of Fëanor), Elrond is part Noldo, part Man (from all the three houses, if I'm not mistaken), part Maia and part Sinda. Though he chose to be an Elf that's bound to have an effect on him.
Of Bombadil's powers we know little, save that he (according to Galdor or if it was Glorfindel) couldn't stand against Sauron (but if it means all of Sauron's forces or Sauron himself is not made clear). I think he had great powers outside his realm as well, he just didn't want to step outside...
The Balrog is very powerful, he/it killed Gandalf the Grey though he himself was killed. But we know that Glorfindel managed to kill one (of equal strenght? Lesser? Stronger?) in the First Age (again, killed himself in the fight), so perhaps Elrond or Galadriel could have done the same (though it's doubtful, since Gandalf had big problems with him). Smaug was indeed great, but compared to the other great beings we can't know...
Treebeard was strong, but mostly physically it would seems (I can't remember any other powers specifically mentioned).
The two above combined? Hard to say, but I think I'd go for Sauron.
Powerful in the sense of greatest military strenght? Excluding the First Age again, Sauron in both the Second and Third Age; but then Gil-galad and Elendil (though united, and with the support of Thranduil) managed to beat him. Númenórë was never a part of Middle-earth, I believe. And of course Treebeard had a large army of trees at his disposial. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
Sorry, tired right now and rambling. Hope I made at least one or two valid point(s) (and sense), and not just repeated what has already been said, here and elsewhere.
-Nelyo
<font size=1 color=339966>[ 7:19 AM February 08, 2004: Message edited by: Falagar ]
<font size=1 color=339966>[ 7:23 AM February 08, 2004: Message edited by: Falagar ]