Which is stronger, a balrog or dragon?

[Medellon]

My son is a real LOTR fan and he just asked me this question. Is the dragon Smaug for instance more powerful than the balrog in Moria?

 

[nakedfrog]

I'm going to vote Balrog. I base this on absolutely nothing.

 

[CPA]

This is a classic case to use your Dad License of Creativity.

Personally, I would tell my boys the balrog is physically stronger, edit: reminded myself of what a balrog was. Balrog would kick a dragon's a$$.

 

[thawolfman]

balrog pwnz.

No really, IDK.

Edit: That mofo didn't breathe fire?

 

[WhiteKnight]

Well in the Silmarillion it refers to certain elves going 1 on 1 with Balrogs if that means anything. My vote would go to the dragon. On the other hand, Smaug was brough down by one arrow, albeit in a weak spot.

 

[Riverhound777]

I also have to go with the balrog. It just looks more mean

 

[Nanotech]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I'm going to vote Balrog. I base this on absolutely nothing.

I second that and base it on what I believe a Balrog is. I don't know how a dragon could phase it!

Edit: Is the Balrog what Gandolf fought when he fell in the mountain? Wasn't that thing made out of fire, hence a fire breathing dragon would have little to no affect on it?

 

[imported_Ziggy]

Fire breathing? Who needs that when the Balrog has a freaking big whip, or tail or whatever it is.

Gandalf!!!

 

[NuclearNed]

Balrog.

Balrogs where similar to fallen angels. They existed before dragons. They had lots of powers and were nigh unkillable.

Dragons were created by Melkor. While it is true that they were powerful beings, they sometimes were killed by a single person (i.e. Turin, Bard)

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: DrEvilEvil
Fire breathing? Who needs that when the Balrog has a freaking big whip, or tail or whatever it is.

Gandalf!!!

Yeah, I got confused and changed my response. ooops.

 

[Medellon]

I would assume they would both be immune to fire.

 

[thawolfman]

Balrogs
Smaug
Main Site

Just for reference!

-Ben-

 

[Yax]

I thought you were talking about street fighter 2. Balrog owned in the Championship edition. The dragon punch was still invincible though.

 

[memo]

im gonna have to go with balrog, i mean he was an azzkickin boxer in north america, and a claw on hand, mask wearning, bouncing off the wall guy in japan, what more can you ask for....
// end street fighter nostalgia

seriously though, one of my friends is a huge fan of LOTR and D&D and stuff and he tells me balrogs are on of, if not the best character in the LOTR world.

 

[Shockwave]

the LOTR Balrog is essentially a creature of fire. THus, the dragons fire attacks would be ineffective against such a creature.
However, (Unsuer on LOTR dragons) its generally assumed dragons have both physcial attacks (tail, bite and breath weapon) in addition to magical abilites. So, while the dragons breath weapon would be ineffective, dragons still possess mythical strength as does the balrog, and magical abilities which could offset the lack of an effective breath weapon.
Also, neither creature is dumb. So both would try to place the fight on grounds which would help them.

I'd say it comes down to where its fought. In a limited space (Cave, dungeon) where the dragon wouldnt fly and was restricted to "In your face" type of fighting, I'd give nod to the balrog. In a more open space where the dragon would fly and have time to set up and use magical abilities (assuming our dragon has them) I'd give nod to the dragon.
This is why who picks the fight is so important. A dragon most likely wouldnt march into the balrog's cave any more then the balrog would run out in the open to get picked apart.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: memo
im gonna have to go with balrog, i mean he was an azzkickin boxer in north america, and a claw on hand, mask wearning, bouncing off the wall guy in japan, what more can you ask for....
// end street fighter nostalgia

seriously though, one of my friends is a huge fan of LOTR and D&D and stuff and he tells me balrogs are on of, if not the best character in the LOTR world.

Therein is the problem. Both creatures exist in nearly every fantasy world (dragons and demons (balrogs)) The problem comes in on which worlds limits you wish to place on the creatures. In a D&D type setting I'd say slight advantage to dragons. In an LOTR setting I'd say slight advantage to Balrog's. In other settings? Who knows.....

You also have to ask about dragon type. Even in LOTR theres different species of dragons. Proof is in Smuag is a red dragon and the dragon the Witch King rides is a black dragon. Smaug is MASSIVE. I'd say pyshically as strong as a Balrog. The black dragons appear much smaller, I believe a Balrog (And Smaug) would tear the black dragons in two and have them for lunch.

 

[jjones]

My impression is that the Balrogs are more powerful than the Dragons.

 

[FoBoT]

got poll?

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Well in the Silmarillion it refers to certain elves going 1 on 1 with Balrogs if that means anything. My vote would go to the dragon. On the other hand, Smaug was brough down by one arrow, albeit in a weak spot.

Some elves could probably take on a dragon 1-on-1 and win. Earendil, the half-elf, killed Ancalagon who was one of the most powerful dragons of all time. Several Men killed dragons as well.

Anyway, I definitely have to go with a Balrog. Dragons are extremely powerful (obviously) but Balrogs are Maiar and are pretty much immortal spirits of fire. Only a seriously powerful Elf or another Maia (like Gandalf) could probably take out a Balrog.

 

[notfred]

I think this thread actually managed to be nerdier than the "Which Star Trek series is the best?" threads.

 

[Shockwave]

<- Yes, very nerdy

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: notfred
I think this thread actually managed to be nerdier than the "Which Star Trek series is the best?" threads.

I knew it was extremely nerdy as I was typing it. But this is a computer hardware internet forum... if you can't discuss this particular issue here then where can you discuss it?

 

[ElFenix]

in terms of named Enemies, imho: melkor > gorthaur the cruel > glaurung > gothmog

 

[MithShrike]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth

Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Well in the Silmarillion it refers to certain elves going 1 on 1 with Balrogs if that means anything. My vote would go to the dragon. On the other hand, Smaug was brough down by one arrow, albeit in a weak spot.

Some elves could probably take on a dragon 1-on-1 and win. Earendil, the half-elf, killed Ancalagon who was one of the most powerful dragons of all time. Several Men killed dragons as well.

Anyway, I definitely have to go with a Balrog. Dragons are extremely powerful (obviously) but Balrogs are Maiar and are pretty much immortal spirits of fire. Only a seriously powerful Elf or another Maia (like Gandalf) could probably take out a Balrog.

Yes, correct. However, Gandalf is of another class... similar to a Maiar but it starts with I. Argh, LOTR was so long ago.

 

[Yax]

Remember, in the Hobbit, it was mentioned that dragons had a shield of scales.