Why the Balrog Would Defeat Smaug in a LOTR Death Match

While ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is widely regarded as Tolkien's masterpiece, ‘The Hobbit’ plays a crucial role in the broader narrative of Middle-earth. One of Gandalf's motivations for supporting Thorin's quest was to eliminate Smaug, knowing that Sauron could potentially harness a dragon's destructive power in his rising dark influence. By removing Smaug from the equation, Gandalf reduced one significant threat as the forces of good prepared for their ultimate confrontation with Sauron.

Despite this, Gandalf could not foresee all outcomes. The Fellowship encountered the Balrog, Durin's Bane, in Moria, forcing Gandalf to sacrifice himself to protect Frodo and the Ring. Interestingly, while Gandalf ultimately defeated the Balrog, he never chose to confront Smaug directly. Instead, he entrusted Thorin and the dwarves with that task while he focused on the Necromancer in Mirkwood. This leads to the assumption that Smaug may be the more formidable of the two, but a closer examination reveals otherwise.

Image Courtesy: CBR

Tolkien's works imply that dragons, likely created by Morgoth, differ significantly from Balrogs, who were once Maiar—powerful spirits who fell into darkness. Balrogs, being older and more spiritually inclined, possess unique powers that dragons lack. While Smaug is indeed large and formidable, he is still bound by his physical nature, making a victory over a Balrog unlikely.

Many fans argue that Smaug would prevail due to his size and ability to fly. However, Durin's Bane was an ancient demon, experienced in battle, and immune to Smaug's fire. Additionally, Balrogs are adept in sorcery, a skill Smaug lacks. In fact, Smaug was ultimately defeated by a single arrow. 

Image Courtesy: CBR

Ultimately, Gandalf's decision to avoid direct confrontation with Smaug stemmed from his responsibilities and constraints as an Istari, rather than any assessment of the creatures' power levels. In the end, it was the Balrog that posed a more immediate threat, compelling Gandalf to act decisively.

–Farheen Ali