Lord Of The Rings: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Wizards

In the extended edition of The Return of the King, we got so see what might have happened if Gandalf ever went up against the Witch-king. As the White Wizard raced to save Faramir from his crazed father, the Lord of the Ringwraiths swept down, breaking the wizard's staff in the process. Seemingly, all that saved Gandalf was the well-timed horns of Rohan, forcing the Witch-king away.

Peter Jackson didn't leave much room for the imagination, it was fairly clear Gandalf was f**ked. But this isn't all that faithful to book.

Gandalf faced the Witch-king several times during the War of the Ring. During the Council of Elrond, he tells the account of his battle with the Nazgûl. In hopes of protecting Frodo, Gandalf pursued the Nazgûl to Weathertop, where they fled before him. At night, Gandalf was attacked by the nine, including the Witch-king, but he managed to drive them off single-handedly. He was still the Grey Wanderer at this point, and even in his less powerful state he managed to hold his own against the Witch-king and all his servants.

During the Siege of Minas Tirith, after the gate is broken, the Lord of the Nine rode into the city with all but Gandalf fleeing before him. He taunts the wizard, but unlike the movies is hesitant to attack, eventually fleeing. It's alluded to that the Witch-king was reluctant to face the Gandalf due to the prophecy surrounding his death. The White Wizard was no living man after all.