The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power hasn’t been afraid to make changes to the lore established in J.R.R. Tolkien’s original book series, but this has created exciting mystery and intrigue in the series. One of the characters in The Rings of Power season 2 is The Stranger, played by Daniel Weyman, who is revealed to be the one and only Gandalf the Gray. A large part of how the show establishes this fact is through his slow development of magical skills and the appearance of the iconic staff that Gandalf wields throughout The Lord of the Rings.

Now that The Rings of Power season 2 has confirmed The Stranger is Gandalf, it’s likely that more explicit references and connections to the wizard that audiences know from the books and films will be included in the show. In The Rings of Power season 2, Gandalf starts to realize his purpose in Middle-earth, and the staff is elevated to a level of importance beyond what is seen in the books. How this differs from the information about the staff provided by Tolkien in the novels allows The Rings of Power to distinguish its version of Gandalf.

How Gandalf Gets His Staff In The Rings Of Power (Compared To The Books)

The Lord of the Rings provides wiggle room for The Rings of Power to create new storylines

Not much is known about how Gandalf got his first staff in Tolkien’s books, as it is one of the few aspects of lore that the author leaves open-ended. On the one hand, giving a more concrete answer to how Gandalf is united with his powerful magical tool is a strong storyline to include in The Rings of Power. Throughout season 2, the Stranger is consistently trying, and failing, to find the right staff, leading the audience to believe that the Valar had placed a particular instrument for him to find once he arrived in Middle-earth from Valinor.

During the Stranger’s time with Tom Bombadil in season 2, he learns he won’t find his name or his staff but that these two critical pieces of his identity will find him. One of the defining parts of Gandalf’s character is how dedicated he is to the Hobbits and the Stoors. The Stranger finds his staff in a Stoors village after choosing to save his friends over developing his power. Additionally, The Rings of Power gives Gandalf an origin story for his name, and though it isn’t canonically accurate, it still has the heart of Tolkien’s writing inside it.

Is Gandalf’s Staff In The Rings Of Power The Same One From The Lord Of The Rings?

Gandalf’s staff is always by his side throughout The Lord of the Rings

Based on the lore established in The Hobbit movies, the staff that the Stranger finds isn’t the one audiences see with Gandalf when he first steps onto the screen in The Fellowship of the Ring. However, it’s likely the same staff that Gandalf uses in the first Hobbit movie, An Unexpected Journey. Unfortunately, this is eventually destroyed in The Desolation of Smaug, and Gandalf must borrow Radagast the Brown’s staff, one of the other Istari. Within the continuity of the films, it can be assumed that Radagast’s staff is what Gandalf has in The Fellowship of the Ring.

In this way, The Rings of Power embellishes Tolkien’s magic system for narrative impact.

However, these changes and destruction of the staff are something that the films use as pieces of drama and conflict within the story. Additionally, since the Istari don’t canonically arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age, there’s little canonical evidence that the staff would have been waiting for Gandalf during this time. In this way, The Rings of Power embellishes Tolkien’s magic system for narrative impact. In the movies, Gandalf wields five staffs in The Lord of the Rings in total, and the one that finds him in The Rings of Power can now be added to the list.

Why Gandalf & The Other Wizards Need To Use A Staff For Magic

Every Istari wizard is seen with a staff

While Gandalf is quick to play the part of the innocent older man when he needs to, the wizard relies on his staff as much more than a walking stick. Gandalf inherently has magic within him and much more power than a typical resident of Middle-earth because he’s a Maiar from Valinor. However, the staff is important because it acts similarly to a wand in other fantasy magic systems. The staff focuses the scope of the power of the wizards and makes their magic easier to control. Gandalf is still the source of this magic, but the staff completes him.

This is confirmed through how Saruman is treated after he’s captured. He still wields power and is someone to be feared and contained, so he can’t lend his strength to Sauron. There’s a significant difference between when Gandalf’s staff breaks while he’s fighting the Balrog, though it’s lost, not broken in the movies, and when Gandalf strips Saruman of his rank and title, then breaks Saruman’s staff. These actions show that the staff could also be interpreted as part of the identity of the wizards and a way of linking them back to their origins in Valinor.

What Happens To Gandalf’s Staff In The Lord Of The Rings

Through his many travels and fights, Gandalf always finds his way back to a staff

There are many memorable moments in The Lord of the Rings original trilogy, and many of them revolve around Gandalf, as he’s a major source of power. His magic is relied upon by the other characters, and they’re well aware of how important his staff is. In The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf’s staff goes through a lot, as he’s imprisoned by Saruman and then gets a new staff from the elves. After this, Gandalf has his epic battle with the Balrog, which sees him lose his staff once again, lost in the movies and destroyed in the books.

The Rings of Power season 3 is not yet confirmed but seems likely (via The Hollywood Reporter ).

Galadriel gives Gandalf his white staff, the most powerful of his instruments after he returns from his battle with the Balrog and is upgraded to the title of Gandalf the White. Though The Witch King of Angmar doesn’t break Gandalf’s staff in the books, the monster destroys it in The Return of the King. However, Gandalf is restored to full power with an even more magnificent white staff, which is seen as he helps Frodo and Bilbo prepare to depart for Valinor. This later connection to Galadriel and the elves’ intervention, in general, should be explored by the show.

It will be interesting to see what these changes in the staff mean for the future of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. There are many questions left in the air despite the confirmation of the Stranger’s identity as Gandalf. How he will come into contact with the other characters, and what the series will do to justify his presence. Now that Gandalf has come into his own, the opportunity to see him join forces with the elves and eventually confront Sauron in battle will likely be the endpoint of the series.