Was Gandalf a Wizard?

A few years ago, an internet thread went viral in which a fan firmly claimed that Gandalf, one of the most famous fictional wizards of all time, was actually just a warrior with some basic knowledge of magic. Despite the initial shock this caused among many TTRPG fans (myself included), the fan’s reasoning wasn’t completely far-fetched: it’s true that Gandalf fights mostly with a sword and his staff, and rarely makes use of magic—and when he does, his spells seem rather low-level. So much so that they could almost be considered mere acts of illusion rather than true “displays of magical power.” But is this really the case?

If we analyze Gandalf as an NPC from the perspective of the world’s most famous tabletop role-playing game—where, in the latest edition, wizard-class characters can literally manipulate reality itself with a spell called “wish”—it’s clear that someone like him wouldn’t qualify as a high-level wizard. Unless, of course, he was deliberately restraining his power for some reason. A valid excuse for this could be, for instance, that the Valar decreed it so—because using too great a power might upset the balance in Middle-earth—or because, being an immortal being sent only to guide, Gandalf was meant to intervene as little as possible in the course of events, especially if these events were intended as a kind of “test” for the Free Peoples to prove their right to survive. Another theory could be that openly using his latent magic would attract the attention of his enemies in battle, making him more visible—and therefore more vulnerable to attack—while the consequences of his death would be disastrous for the alliance. Under this last theory, Gandalf would be protecting himself to ensure the heroes’ chances of success until the end. However, this doesn’t explain why his rivals also refrain from using their own magical powers.

For me—and for anyone even slightly familiar with the historical concept of “magic”—the real reason is much simpler. It lies in how magic (and therefore wizards) has been perceived throughout time, both in religious practice and in literature. Magic is undeniably universal; it appears in every culture on Earth. And beyond superficial differences, the underlying notion of what magic is—its nature, defining traits, and even its limits—is strikingly consistent across civilizations. The same applies to how magic is practiced (spells) and, naturally, to those who wield it (wizards, witches, sorcerers).

Historically, phenomena like prophetic divination, matter transmutation, or communication with animals or spirits were considered highly respectable magical gifts, belonging to a select few who, regardless of how they gained these abilities, stood out as unique individuals within their communities. In nearly every tradition, magic is extremely rare, develops slowly, and manifests subtly—very unlike the flashy, immediate effects we associate with TTRPGs, video games, or comics: fireballs, walls of stone, vaporizing enemies, and so forth. To give one example, matter transmutation—long seen as one of the ultimate goals of alchemists because of its extreme difficulty—is a relatively accessible spell for high-level characters in most TTRPGs, where it isn’t even considered among the most powerful spells. Do you see where I’m going with this?

Even the greatest pagan gods lacked the sort of overwhelming power we expect today. In Greek mythology, for instance, gods often cannot resurrect their mortal lovers, even though the pain of losing them is unbearable; meanwhile, shapeshifting into animals is a power many of them share. Odin, chief of the Aesir and unquestionably the foremost authority on prophecy and wisdom in his pantheon, is far from omniscient, and his magical abilities aren’t far above those of an average TTRPG wizard. If that’s true of Odin—imagine poor Gandalf the Maia! But Gandalf is a wizard. I have not the slightest doubt about that.

The only reason Gandalf might seem like a novice wizard—or even a warrior with a little magical training—is because of the context of his world. The critics of the Grey Wizard may have listed many reasons to doubt him, but they overlooked the fact that in his world, spells resembling the high-level magic of fantasy TTRPGs are extremely rare, and nearly exclusive to beings as powerful as mythological gods—which Gandalf is not. It’s true that The Lord of the Rings inspired much of the modern TTRPG genre, but there are still profound differences between them.

Many would be surprised to learn that “invisibility,” as described in some magical objects throughout history, didn’t always mean literal invisibility. Often, it meant simply “going unnoticed” in a crowd or among enemies. The Roman historian Pliny the Elder says this of heliotrope, a semiprecious stone. Such a power, though less spectacular than “vanishing completely,” would be very useful for someone pursued by hatred or envy—say, in a political intrigue or manhunt. Tolkien explicitly says the One Ring makes its bearer literally invisible, but we must remember that its true power, the reason it was forged, was to dominate the other Rings of Power. What kind of magic is that? It’s something subtle yet enormously powerful—difficult to express in game-mechanical terms. And that’s exactly what magic, and its practitioners, are meant to be.

We mustn’t forget that wizards have always been seen as peculiar beings, living solitary lives marked by unusual routines that ordinary people couldn’t sustain. No wonder the wizard is almost always an enigmatic figure who comes and goes like the wind—someone who cannot be controlled or bound. Though this is secondary to the main argument, it’s worth noting: Gandalf isn’t considered a wizard just because he can cast spells, but because of his very nature. And even if Gandalf’s magical abilities were truly basic, what would that say about the other characters—who can’t cast even the simplest spell? Even compared to rivals like Saruman, Gandalf is not clearly outclassed in terms of power.

In a world where magical ability belongs to such a select few of immense strength, it would be deeply unfair to suggest that Gandalf is merely a warrior with a bit of magic—or a low-level wizard—unless we artificially transplant him into a modern TTRPG setting. But that would not be a flaw of Tolkien’s original work. All of Tolkien’s legendarium draws heavily from Celtic and Norse mythology, whose “power levels” are much more restrained—concise, yes, but no less spectacular, and in many ways far more realistic.

I hope my reasoning isn’t taken as blind fan devotion for one of fantasy’s most beloved characters (whether you’re a TTRPG player or not), but rather as an analysis that considers every factor before reaching a sound conclusion.