Harry Potter: 15 Most Powerful Wizards In The Wizarding World

Though he was undone by love - a particularly hippy concept even in the wizarding world - Lord Voldemort had ascended to a power that was almost unprecedented among Dark Wizards by the time of his death, and he was arguably only undone by his own stupidity and arrogance.

Even as a child, Tom Riddle was capable of great - and terrible - acts of magic, even without a wand. And from those early days he grew into an astonishing talent, pushing the boundaries of magical ability in a way that was unprecedented and terrifying for the witnesses. Even when facing the Elder Wand, or wielding a wand that he was not the master of, he was able to match incredibly powerful opponents (sometimes multiples at a time) and he was one of only two wizards capable of true unassisted flight.

Without his limitations - and the fact that he created his own nemesis and his own means of defeat - Voldemort could well have topped this ranking. He was certainly powerful enough and gifted enough in all aspects of magic - for God's sake, he was so infamous that his name alone inspired terror.