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'Do as I say!' said Gandalf fiercely. 'Swords are no more use here. Go!'

 

_{The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm}

The passage was lit by no shaft and was utterly dark. They groped their way down a long flight of steps, and then looked back; but they could see nothing, except high above them the faint glimmer of the wizard's staff. He seemed to be still standing on guard by the closed door. Frodo breathed heavily and leaned against Sam, who put his arms about him. They stood peering up the stairs into the darkness. Frodo thought he could hear the voice of Gandalf above, muttering words that ran down the sloping roof with a sighing echo. He could not catch what was said. The walls seemed to be trembling. Every now and again the drum-beats throbbed and rolled: doom, doom.

 

_{The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm}

##Gandalf's sword: Glamdring

"This, Gandalf, was Glamdring, Foe-hammer that the king of Gondolin once wore."

 

_{The Hobbit}

##Durin's Bane vs Gandalf

'We fought far under the living earth, where time is not counted. Ever he clutched me, and ever I hewed him, till at last he fled into dark tunnels. They were not made by Durin's folk, Gimli son of Gloin. Far, far below the deepest delving of the Dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things. Even Sauron knows them not. They are older than he. Now I have walked there, but I will bring no report to darken the light of day.

 

_{The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The White Rider}

A great smoke rose about us, vapour and steam. Ice fell like rain. I threw down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountain-side where he smote it in his ruin. Then darkness took me; and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I will not tell.

 

_{The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The White Rider}

##Gandalf's use of magic

'A Balrog,' muttered Gandalf. 'Now I understand.' He faltered and leaned heavily on his staff. 'What an evil fortune! And I am already weary.'

 

_{The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm}

'Do as I say!' said Gandalf fiercely. 'Swords are no more use here. Go!'

_{The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm}

The passage was lit by no shaft and was utterly dark. They groped their way down a long flight of steps, and then looked back; but they could see nothing, except high above them the faint glimmer of the wizard's staff. He seemed to be still standing on guard by the closed door. Frodo breathed heavily and leaned against Sam, who put his arms about him. They stood peering up the stairs into the darkness. Frodo thought he could hear the voice of Gandalf above, muttering words that ran down the sloping roof with a sighing echo. He could not catch what was said. The walls seemed to be trembling. Every now and again the drum-beats throbbed and rolled: doom, doom.

_{The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm}

Gandalf's sword: Glamdring

"This, Gandalf, was Glamdring, Foe-hammer that the king of Gondolin once wore."

_{The Hobbit}

Durin's Bane vs Gandalf

'We fought far under the living earth, where time is not counted. Ever he clutched me, and ever I hewed him, till at last he fled into dark tunnels. They were not made by Durin's folk, Gimli son of Gloin. Far, far below the deepest delving of the Dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things. Even Sauron knows them not. They are older than he. Now I have walked there, but I will bring no report to darken the light of day.

_{The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The White Rider}

A great smoke rose about us, vapour and steam. Ice fell like rain. I threw down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountain-side where he smote it in his ruin. Then darkness took me; and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I will not tell.

_{The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The White Rider}

Gandalf's use of magic

'A Balrog,' muttered Gandalf. 'Now I understand.' He faltered and leaned heavily on his staff. 'What an evil fortune! And I am already weary.'

_{The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm}

The strain of keeping the Balrog behind the door took its toil on Gandalf, as he explicitly states:

The strain of keeping the Balrog behind the door took its toll on Gandalf, as he explicitly states:

Also note that Glamdring was a legendary sword made in the First Age for King Turgon. It's easily the most ancient sword of which still existed at the time of the Fellowship (since Narsil was made for King Elendil sometime in the Second Age). That doesn't necessarily mean it's the most "powerful", but the fact that it was made for the then High King of the Noldor means it could, at least, hold its own against a creature of Morgoth.

Also note that Glamdring was a legendary sword made in the First Age for King Turgon. It's easily the most ancient sword which still existed at the time of the Fellowship (since Narsil was made for King Elendil sometime in the Second Age). That doesn't necessarily mean it's the most "powerful", but the fact that it was made for the then High King of the Noldor means it could, at least, hold its own against a creature of Morgoth.