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At the young age of eleven, Harry Potter was pulled into a world of magic and informed of his destiny: squaring off against the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Luckily for Harry, he has the help of the best that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has to offer. Between the Triwizard Tournament, the Ministry of Magic, and the infamous Death Eaters, there are quite a few powerful witches and wizards seen throughout the series.

From The Sorcerer's Stone to The Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter and his classmates encounter some of the strongest wizards and witches in the Wizarding World. By the end of the series, even many of Hogwarts' brightest young witches and wizards are competing with the likes of the world's best spellcasters.

Updated on January 9, 2024, by Alexandra Locke: The Harry Potter franchise has been popular for decades with many of its characters becoming beloved icons of the series. While many of these witches and wizards are powerful, some solidify themselves as the strongest. These sorcerers use their knowledge and strength in magic-making to enhance their abilities and make them the beloved characters we know today. Since CBR's guidelines have recently changed, this article has been updated to adhere to the current policies of the site.

25 Peter Pettigrew Knows How to Work Behind the Scenes

House:

Gryffindor

Affiliation(s):

The Marauders, Death Eaters

Wand:

9 1/4" Chesnut, Dragon Heartstring

Special Skills/Items:

Animagus

Actor:

Timothy Spall

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Peter Pettigrew is compelled by fear to submit to Lord Voldemort and betray his old friends, after which Pettigrew becomes the Dark Lord's right-hand man. However, he is only useful to Voldemort because of his perceived loyalty — not because of his magical skills and abilities.

Although Pettigrew is a dangerous individual, he is far less powerful than many of his fellow dark wizards and witches. He has a fair bit of knowledge concerning potions, brews, and charms (which is how he resurrets the Dark Lord), but overall, he is still quite weak as a wizard.

24 Dolores Umbridge is a Stickler for Rules

House:

Slytherin

Affiliation(s):

Hogwarts Staff (Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher), Ministry of Magic, Headmistress, High Inquisitor of Hogwarts

Wand:

8" Birch, Dragon Heartstring

Special Skills/Items:

Black Quill

Actor:

Imelda Staunton

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dolores Umbridge is sent from the Ministry of Magic to oversee Hogwarts. Eventually, she goes from its new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to its sitting Headmistress after the temporary dismissal of Albus Dumbledore.

It is a bit revealing that, aside from the Patronus charm she uses to keep the Dementors at bay at the Ministry, Umbridge shows a significant lack of knowledge when it comes to spells and potions. She possesses a variety of magical artifacts that she knows how to use but has very little skill in the way of her own magical abilities. Although she easily subdues a centaur in the Dark Forest, she fails to fight off the others before they capture her.

23 Ginny Weasley Bravely Faces Challenges

Ginny Weasley practicing with Dumbledore's Army

House:

Gryffindor

Affiliation(s):

Hogwarts Student, Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Dumbledore's Army, The Order of the Phoenix

Wand:

Unknown Length, Yew, Unknown Core

Special Skills/Items:

Tom Riddle's Diary

Actor:

Bonnie Wright

Throughout the years, Ginny Weasley experiences her fair share of run-ins with dark magic. For example, in her first year, she becomes enthralled by Tom Riddle's diary. After that, it's clear that her talents as a witch have developed well since Professor Slughorn saw fit to invite her to one of his dinners for the best and brightest students at Hogwarts.

Ginny also proves herself in each one of her duels against a Death Eater. She holds her own in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, and she is so confident in her abilities that she runs after Harry alone onto the field when the Death Eaters attack the Weasley house in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Of course, she also plays a vital role in the climactic Battle of Hogwarts.

22 Ronald Weasley's Strength is Loyalty

House:

Gryffindor

Affiliation(s):

Hogwarts Student, Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Dumbledore's Army, The Order of the Phoenix

Wand:

14" Willow, Unicorn Tail Hair

Special Skills/Items:

The Sword of Gryffindor, Scabbers the Rat

Actor:

Rupert Grint

When armed with a functional wand, Ron is actually quite a skilled wizard. He always fights alongside Harry and Hermione, and during the Battle of the Seven Potters and the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Ron disarms and stuns several Death Eaters.

Ron undeniably struggles with bouts of insecurity and underperformance. However, he is a brave and loyal friend — something he proves time and time again during moments like the lethal Wizard's Chess tournament and the hunt for Voldemort's Horcruxes. As proof of just how clever Ron really was under his underachieving exterior, he opened the Chamber of Secrets during the Battle of Hogwarts by mimicking Harry's use of Parseltongue.

21 Fred & George Weasley Manage Mischief

House:

Gryffindor

Affiliation(s):

Hogwarts Students, Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Dumbledore's Army, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, The Order of the Phoenix

Special Skills/Items:

Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Treats, The Marauder's Map

Actors:

James and Oliver Phelps

The identical twins, Fred and George Weasley, are both equally skilled at casting spells, most of which are used for (mostly) harmless pranks. They are gifted enough to create a multitude of devices and toys for budding young pranksters, which they sell at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes on Diagon Alley.

Both of them show considerable skill with broomsticks, which is how they escape with their lives during the Battle of the Seven Potters. They also show quite a bit of bravery during the Battle of Hogwarts in which they both fight off several of Voldemort's Death Eaters before Fred tragically falls in battle.

20 Fleur Delacour is the Chosen Witch of Beauxbatons

Fleur-Delacour in her uniform

School:

Beauxbatons Academy of Magic

Affiliation(s):

Triwizard Champion, The Order of the Phoenix

Wand:

9 1/2" Rosewood, Veela Hair

Special Skills/Items:

Half-Veela

Actor:

Clémence Poésy

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Unlike many of the Wizarding World's most powerful figures, Fleur Delacour doesn't receive much screentime in the Harry Potter franchise. Despite the brevity of her scenes, it's clear that she is quite a powerful witch. She first appears in The Goblet of Fire, and since only the most capable wizards and witches are allowed into the Triwizard Tournament, it stands to reason that she must be quite skilled.

Afterward, Fleur proves her bravery in the Battle of the Seven Potters in which she — along with her husband, Bill Weasley — risk their lives to transport Harry Potter. Later, she once again faces Death Eaters during the Battle of Hogwarts, proving that her place in the Triwizard Tournament was well-deserved.

19 Horace Slughorn Surrounds Himself with Talented People

Horace Slughorn looking confused in Harry Potter

House:

Slytherin

Affiliation(s):

Hogwarts Staff (Potions Master)

Wand:

10 1/4" Cedar, Dragon Heartstring

Special Skills/Items:

Slug Club

Actor:

Jim Broadbent

After unknowingly and unwillingly divulging the secret of Horcruxes to a young Tom Riddle, Horace Slughorn retires from teaching. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, he is asked to return by Dumbledore, and it's easy to see why. Slughorn is a master of potions and capable of performing powerful charms, such as those he uses alongside other powerful wizards to protect the school before the Battle of Hogwarts.

Horace may not have been the most outwardly brave wizard in the saga, but he is clearly very talented. The professor proves his abilities outside of battles by casting illusions, using transfiguration spells, and displaying the ability to modify memories, which allows his darkest secrets to be kept even from powerful wizards like Dumbledore.

18 Fenrir Grayback Leans into his Lycanthropy

Frenrir Greyback with the Snatchers in Harry Potter

House:

Slytherin

Affiliation(s):

Death Eaters, Snatchers

Special Skills/Items:

Werewolf

Actor:

Dave Legeno

Although Fenrir Grayback is a capable fighter, he is more than just a wizard — the Snatcher is also plagued by lycanthropy. Fans seldom see him attack, but he easily deflects Harry's spells during the attack on the Weasley homestead in The Half-Blood Prince. Also, he is often seen by Bellatrix's side, which means she must have great faith in his skills.

In addition to Fenrir Grayback's dangerous capabilities as a wizard, his curse also makes him one of the physically strongest wizards alive. Presumably, this is how he manages to survive a blast from Hermione during the Battle of Hogwarts and the subsequent fall through the window.

17 Nymphadora Tonks Can Transform At Will

tonks

House:

Hufflepuff

Affiliation(s):

The Order of the Phoenix

Special Skills/Items:

Metamorphmagus

Actor:

Natalia Tena

As a powerful witch in the Order of the Phoenix, Nymphadora, more commonly known as Tonks, quickly proves herself capable and talented at transfiguration. Her hair changes color to match her mood, and she can turn her mouth into a pig snout, then a duck bill just for fun — all without the need for a formal incantation.

Tonks fights well and escapes the Battle of the Department of Mysteries unscathed, which speaks volumes about her skills as a duelist. Unfortunately, at the end of the Battle of Hogwarts, she meets her end at the hands of the deadly Bellatrix Lestrange.

16 Barty Crouch Jr. Hides in Plain Sight

House:

Ravenclaw

Affiliation(s):

Death Eaters

Special Skills/Items:

Polyjuice Potion

Actor:

David Tennant

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Powerful and fiercely loyal, Barty Crouch Jr. is vital to Voldemort's plans in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. While disguised as Mad-Eye Moody, Barty displays a talent for non-verbal transfiguration spells and potions. He is also talented enough to circumvent the spells around the Goblet of Fire, allowing him to enter Harry Potter into the tournament.

Then, there's the fact that Barty Crouch Jr. is able to capture the powerful Mad-Eye Moody and masquerade as the famed wizard for several months, deceiving everyone from Harry Potter to Albus Dumbledore. On the surface, Crouch seems every bit as skilled and knowledgeable as the real Mad-Eye Moody, which says a lot about the dark wizard.

15 Harry Potter is the Chosen One

House:

Gryffindor

Affiliation(s):

Hogwarts Student, Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Dumbledore's Army, The Order of the Phoenix, Triwizard Champion

Wand:

11" Holly, Phoenix Feather

Special Skills/Items:

Horcrux

Actor:

Daniel Radcliffe

The Boy Who Lived is destined to defeat the Dark Lord, but that does not mean he is an all-powerful wizard. For example, he very well may have lost his climactic final duel with Voldemort if not for Neville Longbottom's timely defeat of Nagini. That being said, Harry is capable of quite a lot, in part thanks to his complex history with Voldemort.

Harry is a Parselmouth, masterful on a broomstick, capable of conjuring an immensely powerful Patronus, and can hold his own for a time in his duels against Voldemort. Harry is likely more powerful than he knows, as evidenced by the unintentional magic he repeatedly wields throughout the franchise.

14 Hermione Granger's Knowledge and Skills are Vast

House:

Gryffindor

Affiliation(s):

Hogwarts Student, Dumbledore's Army, The Order of the Phoenix

Wand:

10 3/4" Vine, Dragon Heartstring

Special Skills/Items:

Time Turner

Actor:

Emma Watson

The Harry Potter films make Hermione Granger's magical prowess a running gag, but when things are at their most dire, few witches are more capable than Gryffindor's brightest young student. Hermione is setting cloaks on fire at the age of eleven, blowing up rogue bludgers at twelve, and casting undetectable extension charms at the age of seventeen.

It seems as though there are few spells that Hermione can't master, making her arguably more powerful than significantly experienced wizards. She holds her own in duels against countless foes, and thanks to her quick thinking, she could likely outsmart many of the opponents who are stronger than she.

13 Lucius Malfoy is Ruthless

Jason Isaacs's Lucius Malfoy receives judgment in Harry Potter

House:

Slytherin

Affiliation(s):

Death Eaters

Wand:

Unknown Length, Elm, Dragon Heartstring

Special Skills/Items:

Tom Riddle's Diary

Actor:

Jason Isaacs

From very early on in the franchise, Lucius Malfoy makes it a point to let everyone know that his family is both wealthy and of pure blood. Because of that, he often looks down on his fellow witches and wizards, thinking himself better than them. As the former second-in-command of the Death Eaters, this couldn't be further from the truth.

However, despite his sinister disposition, Lucius Malfoy is far from useless. He squares off with numerous members of the Order of the Phoenix, and given his prior position in the Death Eaters, he must have significant prowess when it comes to the Dark Arts.

12 Remus Lupin Battles His Own Demons

david thewlis-harry potter

House:

Gryffindor

Affiliation(s):

The Marauders, The Order of the Phoenix, Hogwarts Staff (Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher)

Wand:

10 1/4" Cypress, Unicorn Hair

Special Skills/Items:

Werewolf

Actor:

David Thewlis

Remus Lupin is clearly imaginative as a wizard, as evidenced by the fact that he was one of the creators of the Marauder's Map. As Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher, Lupin displays a vast knowledge and keen control of magic. He teaches Harry how to cast the Patronus charm, and he holds his own against the Death Eaters in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.

What separates Lupin from many of his peers is his curse. Lupin is not just a powerful wizard, he's also a werewolf — an extremely dangerous creature, even for wizards. However, all his power cannot save him in the end, as he perishes alongside his wife Tonks, and countless others during the Battle of Hogwarts.

11 Sirius Black Escaped Azkaban

House:

Gryffindor

Affiliation(s):

The Marauders, The Order of the Phoenix

Special Skills/Items:

Animagus, The Invisibility Cloak, Azkaban

Actor:

Gary Oldman

Sirius Black is the only person to ever escape Azkaban unassisted, and as expected of someone with this honor, he is an extremely capable wizard. Black previously fought alongside James Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, making him one of the few wizards alive with significant experience fighting Death Eaters.

As evidenced by his actions in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Sirius Black is exceptionally talented in a fight. He may have been struck down by his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, but given the chaotic nature of the conflict, this seems more a product of circumstances than a mark against Black's abilities as a wizard.

10 Molly Weasley is a Protector

Molly Weasley aims her wand in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

House:

Gryffindor

Affiliation(s):

The Order of the Phoenix

Special Skills/Items:

Howler

Actor:

Julie Walters

It isn't until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that fans see Molly Weasley use her magic for anything beyond manipulating household objects to complete chores. When she finally does step into the fray, it becomes clear that beneath the facade of a welcoming and humble homemaker, she is a ferocious duelist capable of taking on even the most vicious Death Eaters.

She is among the few witches and wizards who cast the powerful protective spells that shield Hogwarts from Voldemort's forces. However, Molly isn't just gifted with protective spells. During the Battle of Hogwarts, she steps in and quickly overpowers Bellatrix Lestrange after the Death Eater threatens to kill one of her children for the second time. Admittedly, Bellatrix is without her personal wand, but this feat should still not be taken lightly.

9 Bellatrix Lestrange Delights in Heinous Acts

Bellatrix Lestrange smiling among flames in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

House:

Slytherin

Affiliation(s):

Death Eaters

Wand:

12 1/4 Walnut, Dragon Heartstring

Special Skills/Items:

Azkaban

Actor:

Helena Bonham-Carter

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Many of the world's most powerful wizards and witches have earned their reputations by surviving conflicts with the most murderous member of the Death Eaters, Bellatrix Lestrange. She is feared throughout the Wizarding World nearly as much as Voldemort himself, simply because she has such a penchant for unnecessary violence.

Bellatrix proves herself extremely familiar with the unforgivable curses and other torturous spells. In battle, she is also one of the franchise's most lethal. She murders Sirius Black, Nymphadora Tonks, and plenty of others after she escapes from Azkaban prison. It's no wonder that Voldemort trusts her to care for one of his Horcruxes and the Sword of Gryffindor.

8 Minerva McGonagall Stands Her Ground

House:

Gryffindor

Affiliation(s):

Hogwarts Staff (Transfiguration Professor), Headmistress, The Order of the Phoenix

Wand:

9 1/2" Fir, Dragon Heartstring

Special Skills/Items:

Animagus

Actor:

Maggie Smith

Professor McGonagall is much more than just the head of Gryffindor — she is one of the most powerful witches in the saga. As an animagus, McGonagall is exceptionally skilled at transfiguration — one of the subjects she teaches at Hogwarts. She is also courageous and extremely knowledgeable about a wide variety of magic, as seen when she animates every one of the guardians of Hogwarts with a single spell and sends them to protect the school against Voldemort's forces.

McGonagall is also brave enough to stand against opposing Death Eaters at the first sign of conflict. When she duels Snape, she single-handedly forces him from the school (although, in his defense, he probably isn't attacking with killing intent). As the Headmistress of Hogwarts at the end of the series, Minerva McGonagall is undeniably among the most talented spellcasters of all time.

7 Severus Snape Never Gives Up

House:

Slytherin

Affiliation(s):

Hogwarts Staff (Potions Master, Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher), Headmaster, Death Eaters, The Order of the Phoenix

Special Skills/Items:

Pensieve

Actor:

Alan Rickman

Severus Snape is a man of many talents. He is a master of potions, possesses extensive knowledge of the Dark Arts, and wields extreme defensive abilities. This defensive prowess is why he is eventually tasked with teaching Harry how to protect himself against anyone who would try to invade his mind.

To act as a double agent for as long as Snape requires more than just great magical skills. The Hogwarts professor is dedicated and cautious, while simultaneously being courageous and unafraid enough to do what is necessary. His widespread talents allowed him to craft spells like Sectumsempra at a young age, and throughout his duels against characters like Harry Potter and Professor McGonagall, he keeps his cool under virtually any circumstance.

6 Mad-Eye Moody is an Experienced Auror

Mad-Eye-Moody

House:

Hufflepuff

Affiliation(s):

The Order of the Phoenix, Hired to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher

Special Skills/Items:

Polyjuice Potion

Actor:

Brendan Gleeson

As the leader of the Order of the Phoenix and former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Alastor Moody proves himself to be more than a match for the average Death Eater. As seen in The Order of the Phoenix, Mad-Eye can repel a Death Eater with just a tap of his staff, which goes to show how experienced he is as an Auror.

Unlike most wizards, Mad-Eye seems to be able to cast a wide variety of spells without the use of any incantations. His mastery of magic also shows in his ability to cast charms, use all three Unforgivable Curses, and brew advanced potions with great ease.