Gothmog (Sindarin IPA: [ˈɡoθmoɡ]) was the first Lord of Balrogs during the First Age, and the greatest Balrog ever to walk
Lord of Balrogs
The most powerful of all the Balrogs, one of the chief servants of Melkor, who held an authority hardly less than Sauron himself. A wily commander and fearsome fighter, Gothmog was often accompanied by others of his fiery kind, and at least in the Nirnaeth he had a personal guard of dozens of Trolls.
Sure, maybe they were only weakened and Goblin invasion really pushed them to breaking point, but it still remains that Durin's Bane is probably the single strongest evil creature we meet in the story.
Gothmog was the Lord of Balrogs and the High-captain of Angband, one of the chief servants of the Dark Lord Morgoth during the First Age.
Famed Balrogs include Gothmog, slain by Ecthelion, and Durin's Bane, slain by Gandalf.
So, one glimpse into Smaug's eyes and the Balrog falls under the spell. Even if it's just for a second—a moment of hesitation or distraction, it'd be enough. Smaug would snatch up Durin's Bane and gobble him up with his sword-sharp teeth (and we know swords can kill Balrogs).
Gandalf pursued the monster for eight days, until they climbed to the peak of Zirakzigil, where the Balrog was forced to turn and fight, its body erupting into new flame. Here they fought for two days and nights. In the end, the Balrog was defeated and cast down, breaking the mountainside where it fell "in ruin".
No, Balrogs do not serve Sauron. Similar to Sauron, Balrogs are Maiar, powerful spiritual beings second only to the Valar themselves. They were corrupted by Melkor's evil before the first age and were made into Valaraukar (Demons of Power). They very strength and wills were bound to Melkor.
Balrog, hands down. Balrog are evil Maiar who possess power innate in and of themselves. The Nazgul, on the other hand, are “Ring junkies” who only exist because their life force is bound to the Rings they wear and to the One Ring that rule them all.
Even in the earliest writings, when Balrogs were much, much weaker and more numerous than they are in the conceptions you probably identify with them (as in, what Gandalf fights), Balrogs are stated outright to be more powerful than dragons.
Glorfindel was one of the mightiest Elves of Middle-earth. During the First Age, he was the lord of the House of the Golden Flower of Gondolin, and died fighting a Balrog.
So far I have learned that Galadriel is powerful enough to have a good chance. It is not clear whether she really would have to die or not. I personally think now that beating a Balrog could even be done without much physical power, e.g. by building a trap that will lead the Balrog to drown or fall very deep.
For more than five millennia, the Balrog hibernated in his deep hiding place at the roots of the mountains in Khazad-dûm. He remained undisturbed throughout the Second Age and most of the Third, before the mithril-miners of dwarf-King Durin VI awoke him in T.A. 1980.
Balrog appears as one of the final bosses on Street Fighter X Mega Man. His weakness is the Mega Buster and the Soul Satellite.
Gandalf was scared of this beast because he knew how powerful it was since it was a Maia like himself, but it was purely evil.
In all of Tolkien's text I've read, there are three people who have killed a Balrog. Ecthellion, Glorfindel and of course Gandalf. All of these fights ended in a draw with all three sacrificing their lives for the deed.
The Witch-king is the most powerful of the nine ringwraiths, having served Sauron as a Nazgûl for more than four thousand years. The Witch-king has a particular hatred of Gondor, and is responsible for the death of Gondor's final king, Eärnur.
Why is Sauron more powerful than Balrogs? Sauron belongs to another order of power among the Maiar; of a higher ranking in the hierarchy.
Both Morgoth and Sauron managed to inflict significant damage upon the world and their enemies before their downfall, but Morgoth was undoubtedly the more powerful of the two.
Answer and Explanation: Yes, Sauron knew about the balrog in Moria, as did Saruman, Sauron's lieutenant. However, Sauron did not attempt to recruit the Balrog to his side. The Balrog is a supernatural being who is on a similar level with Sauron.
I was just curious if Durin's Bane had taken The Ring from The Fellowship could they have used it? Yes, anyone can use the Ring.
In Tolkien's later writings, he made note of the fact that there could not have ever been more than seven Balrogs, yet they were able to drive away Ungoliant in what was described as a "tempest of fire".
The balrogs are maiar, and they certainly were highly intelligent creatures, at least to begin with. Yet the balrog encountered by the fellowship behaves in a very nearly bestial fashion, quite unlike the Witch King or even some orcs. Even when challenged by Gandalf, he does not speak.
He will fight in the Last Battle against the Valar and their allies, but will ultimately be slain by Túrin Turambar, the Man he cursed. By finally defeating Morgoth, Túrin will avenge not only himself, but all members of the race of Men.
Third Age. For more than five thousand years, the Balrog lay dormant at the roots of the Misty Mountains beneath the Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm.