The Limitations of the Istari

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Nikkolas

So if Saruman had faced the Balrog of Moria he wouldn't have been able to defeat it like Gandalf did? Seems kinda odd since I always thought he was the strongest of the istari.

Saruman was said to be the "eldest", and the "head of the Order", but it is said in UT that Círdan surrendered Narya to Gandalf because he

....divined in him the greatest spirit and the wisest...

Saruman, as the head, had the most authority, derived from the Valar, and thus had power over the others, as long as he remained the White.

As for Saruman versus the Balrog, I can't say who the victor would have been for certain, but Saruman's line of attack would almost surely have been different than Gandalf's in that situation.