In Harry Potter, how does Dumbledore beat Grindewald?

Question

Doesn't Grindelwald have the unbeatable Elder wand? So how could Dumbledore defeat Grindelwald? I remember reading that Dumbledore bested Grindewald in a duel, but how could he?

Answer 1

It shows how powerful Dumbledore truly was. Even though Grindelwald had the Elder wand, Dumbledore still defeated him because he was just that talented.  

Answer 2

i was confused by that part as well becuase rowling didn't explain it anywhere but then i thought maybe dumbledore didn't beat him by being best than him in a duel maybe he disarmed him like what malfoy did with dumbledore and by that being the owner of the elder wand

or maybe grindelwald surrendered because he and dumbledore were friends.. i don't know

Answer 3

Dumbledore could have disarmed him, but if Grindewald was weak, he could have beaten him anyway. Maybe Grindewald wasn't the true owner of the wand. However, I don't doubt Dumbledores greatness, he beat Grindewald, I'm sure of it. :D

Answer 4

I don't think they ever really say but here are some things to think about:

A) The legend of the Elder Wand and the other Deathly Hallows are still just legends.  The items do exist, Dumbledore guesses that they are just stories made up about powerful magic items.   That being said, the Elder Wand might just be a powerful wand.

B) Perhaps Dumbledore found some other way to beat him than straight dueling.

C) Harry was able to become 'Master' of the Elder wand without actually defeating Malfoy while he was in possesion of it. Malfoy was in using a different wand at the time, but somehow the Elder wand knew he was beaten, and Harry became the 'Master'.  So how does this apply to Dumbledore and Grindelwald?  Perhaps Dumblebore had beaten Gindelwald in a duel before hand with a different wand.

Also I would guess that anyone that beat Harry in a duel could walk up be "Master" of the Elder Wand.

Answer 5

He beat Grindelwald even though Grindelwald had the more powerful wand. He was a shade more skillful than Grindelwald and I think it was because he NEEDED to beat Grindelwald which drove him on. It was only AFTER the battle that the Elder Wand was in his power.

YES, the elder wand can be beaten if its owner is not powerful enough. The battle between Grindelwald and Dumbledore was supposed to be "legendary" meaning, I think, it was a really tough fight.

xD

Answer 6

Grindelwald wasn't the true master of the wand.  He stole it from Gregorovich, he didn't win it. Voldemort took the wand from Dumbledore's grave, but he wasn't the true owner of the wand either.  He thought Snape was.  Malfoy was the true owner until Harry disarmed him.

Answer 7

This is what I think. When they say unbeatable wand, that means that the wand is unbeatable if for instance the power of spells, like when Harry repaired his wand. So say it shot a spell against another wand it would win. It is unbeatable, more powerful than any other wand, but doesn't make the OWNER unbeatable. Even though Grindelwald had an unbeatable wand, Dumbledore was more skillful, and beat him in the duel. Just because the wand is unbeatable doesn't mean it's owner is too. So if they were the same exact skill level Grindelwald would win because his spells were more powerful.