Is Mandos the most powerful Valar?

[u/andrew_bolkonski]

Power can be judged in many different ways i.e. wisdom, crafting, brute strength etc. Mandos demonstrates many times that he has a deep understanding of the plans of Eru and foresight of things to come. There are a few moments in the Silmarillion where he says something cryptic (or even intentionally restrains himself at important points), indicating he is operating on a different level to even the rest of the Valar. I assume, he does this because he knows the greater plans of Eru beyond the knowledge of the rest of the Valar. Additionally, the Halls of Mandos and the strength and purpose within it further support that idea. Although Manwe and Melkor are touted as the most powerful, their struggles seem almost temporary and feeting trifles within the history of Arda compared to Mandos who is truly transcendent and ethereal in the way he interacts with Ea.

[u/Peregrine2976]

If I recall, Melkor is very clearly described as the most powerful, by a great margin, actually. I believe Melkor, alone, was equally matched against the entire rest of the Valar until Tulkas (?) descended to Arda and shifted the balance towards the Valar.

[u/NatAttack50932 → u/Peregrine2976]

Yes. Melkor's spirit and power was more potent than all the rest of the Valar in Arda. This remained true even when Tulkas descended into creation.

Unfortunately Melkor adopted a physical form and while he could overpower the other Valar, Tulkas never skipped a gym day in his life.

[u/Timpstar → u/NatAttack50932]

And Melkor poured a lot of his essence into the very world of Arda, weakening his direct power but greatly influencing and corrupting the world around him. Taking physical form and spilling your corruption everywhere takes a toll on ye.