Generally , being worse at something means being   hapless in carrying out , but that ’s not always the lawsuit . When it comes to Voldemort and Grindelwald , it in reality means being better …   at being malefic . These two star are the only ace we know from theHarry Potteruniverse to be bona fide warlord , and their report for being such are vast .

With the secondFantastic Beastsfilm add more flesh to the osseous tissue that was Grindelwald ’s characterization , this new selective information that ’s come to light is worth liken to Voldemort . So , if you were inquire which wizard was worse for the wizarding worldly concern during their period of power , here ’s an in - profundity look at who choose the title .

Reign of Power: Grindelwald

Voldemort ’s reign at the top of the wizarding cosmos really only lasted a year or so . He was making his move on the globe before baby Harry cross him , but he was really on top –for a time– duringHarry Potter and the   Deathly Hallows .

Grindelwald , meanwhile , not only accept over the wizarding world , but did it for about two X . grand animal : The Crimes of Grindelwaldshowed the antagonist was already well on his way to set out his conquering , and it only sound up from there until 1945 .   Voldemort ’s clip is dwarfed by Grindelwald ’s ; the heir of Slytherin really did n’t last very long in comparability .

Academic Level: Voldemort

Do n’t believe we ’re counting being an academic as something that ’s evil here . What we mean is that Voldemort made full use of his studies   in his malevolent action at law . If you have n’t noticed Voldemort ’s style of scrap , then go back and watch over the deception he use .

Voldemort used Charms , Transfiguration , Potions , Care of Magical Creatures and even account of Magic to further his pursuance for power . His excellence as a student intend he exploit everything he learned from books as part of his arsenal . Grindelwald was n’t even close to this level , as he was expel before he could even complete his education . Voldemort , on the other hand , used his academics to make himself stronger and plan his move .

Lives Taken: Grindelwald

Whenever we saw Voldemort in the present - day timeline ofHarry Potter , the hombre would be throwing around the Avada Kedavra curse like it was last out of fashion . He loved to take lives , but Voldemort still lags behind Grindelwald in the body count .

Grindelwald was ostensibly active across the Earth , not just in the United Kingdom . As a result ,   his victims were so wide - ranging that Viktor Krum ’s grandfather in Bulgaria meet his end at the hands of Grindelwald . There were many other families who experienced the same passing as Krum , but Grindelwald was acknowledged as always fend off Britain . On the other manus , Voldemort never really took his operations outside of Britain , so his   casualty reckoning could n’t tally more than Grindelwald .

Knowledge Of The Dark Arts: Voldemort

There should n’t be a long discussion over this . The parameter should be,“Horcuxes . Nuff said ” . However , we ’ll still expound by pointing out that nobody took learning the Dark Arts further than Voldemort .

The guy opened up the Chamber of Secrets when he was just xvi , for crying out loud . He give out as   far as make seven horcruxes . The cave ’s cursed goblet and Inferi were a illusion even Dumbledore did n’t really sleep together   how to sound , and the cursed gang was what lead to his demise . Grindelwald has never demo any particular proficiency in Dark Arts noesis , other than the experimentation with them which   go to his expulsion . Other than that , we do n’t know if he knew much more .

Leadership: Grindelwald

This should go without say if you ’ve watchedFantastic Beasts : The Crimes of Grindelwald . Voldemort was oblique , cunning , and an self-seeker , but he could never be a proved leader . Several   of   his Death Eaters were Grade - A Sir Noel Pierce Coward , who only link out of fear and never truly comply   him .

Grindelwald ’s leading was such that every follower he had genuinely believe in his deputation . He could have them jumping into the enchanted fire – as seen at the end of the former movie – with nary a care for their life . His “ Greater Good ” message was such that remnants of it still persist by Harry ’s time . Grindelwald ’s leadership was a combination of smarts and magic spell , and he had the ability to require .

Skill Level: Voldemort

Although Voldemort always avoid fight Dumbledore , there ’s no traverse he more than held his own during their duel . While Grindelwald lost to Dumbledore despite own the Elder Wand , Voldemort almost beat Dumbledore multiple clip during their own affaire d’honneur ( while the headmaster   was the owner of the Elder Wand ) .

In combat , Voldemort used transfiguration and charms to such levels that it was impossible to empathise how he cabal them . Dumbledore himself admitted that Voldemort had the power to beat him , while modestly telling Harry that he , Dumbledore , was more skilled than Grindelwald .

Grindelwald also was n’t as resourceful as Voldemort , in and of himself .

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley looking at a crystal ball in Harry Potter.

Of of course , Grindelwald might not have been so well off on his own because he had so many followers . We ’ve mentioned his leadership skills , but this point focuses on the number of masses he had clinging to his Good Book .

By all accounts , it appears Grindelwald ’s follower level was enormous ; he had multitude holding to his impression all over the world . Fantastic brute : The Crimes of Grindelwaldshowed he had mass stationed in several positioning , and the masses travel along him at the terminal of the film were only a shaving of the number he was in charge of . Voldemort just ca n’t claim to sport such a phone number . have ’s not draw a blank his Death Eaters ' inauspicious tendency to   run away when the clock time came for them to fight , either .

Magical Power Level: Voldemort

Voldemort is the first – and only , until he taught Snape – genius or beldame to show the power to fly . The two human were also   among   the   only ones shown to have the ability to actually verify fiendfyre ( or something close to it at the very least ) , unleashing a immense , fiery ophidian at antagonist   during duels . With an Elder Wand that was denying him , Voldemort blow apart the entire protection over Hogwarts , formidable protective spells honk by give genius like McGonagall and Slughorn .

Yes , the movies take certain liberties with spells that may or may not be fiendfyre ( Bellatrix Lestrange ’s end of the Burrow being another example ) , so that one ’s a little shaky , but let ’s not leave : Voldemort    bunk McGonagall , Slughorn and Flitwick all at the same clip without any problems .

Grindelwald also had very potent witching power of his own ( the possible action and closing scene ofCrimes of Grindelwaldcan attest to that ) , but they clearly were n’t   on the tremendous scale that Voldemort attain .

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Feared Legacy: Voldemort

Voldemort did n’t really take his operations outside of Britain , and yet people worldwide still were terrified of uttering his name . That ’s quite a legacy of fear :   people were afraid to merely say the name of a person who had been gone for over a decade .

Grindelwald ’s legacy dwell of being the individual Dumbledore defeat in a legendary duel , but hardly anyone knew he was still alive or where he was imprisoned . By the nineties , few even have it away about Grindelwald ’s “ Greater Good ” philosophy , while children who had n’t even been born when Voldemort had been in power grovel in fright at the citation of his name . When Krum and the ease of the overseas pupil add up to Hogwarts , they were all cognizant of Harry and his role in vanquishing the feared Dark Lord .

Winner: Voldemort

Since Voldemort wins most of these points , he takes home the title of being the worse warlord of the wizarding world . He was more slick , naturally talented , feared , and above all powerful , compared to Grindelwald .

Grindelwald ’s sovereignty of terror did see worldwide credit , but as it was n’t   scary enough to be call up years down the line , he just ca n’t be deliberate on the stratum of Voldemort . There ’s also the issue of Grindelwald possess the Elder Wand and still losing , while if Voldemort had true possession of it , he would ’ve beaten even Dumbledore and most certainly Harry ( the latter postulate dumb fortune on every juncture to best Voldemort ) .

All in all , if you ’re survive to be stick around tangling with either of these two dark wizards , the well option would be Grindelwald : Voldemort will spell out your doom .

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