Yea the wood release (though he never seems to use it) would give him a leg up, but the entire thematic of the Sanin is the Three Way Deadlock suggesting they're all equally powerful. That's the entire point of their summons and animal-inspired powers.

That's what I thought I read somewhere on the wikia. That they're powers are an old Rock-Paper-Scissors style thing. I would like to have seen them working together in their prime.

I consider Orochimaru to be the most dangerous of the three. The guy is creepy as hell (which is a strength on its own), and he basically spends all of his time devouring information. He basically knows the most about Jutsu, Chakra, Natures, etc. How can you beat someone who knows every weakness to every skill you can come up with? Atop that, the guy is like Lord Voldemort. When he dies, he has contingencies that will bring him back.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya are the strongest. I think they are equal.

I believe Jiraiya is the strongest with sage mode of course he just seems the most durable out of them all but, i do think Healthy Orochimaru would be a hard fight with Jiraiya being on top still. I mean Orochimarus eight headed white serpent was killed easily by Itachi but, im not sure they are all pretty equal its just a matter of who has better feats

i think it is jiraiya because he was able too nearly beat pain unlike orochimahu who had to turn in the towel against pain and tsunade is only good at medical ninjustu and strength her taijutsu is powerful but too slow so reaction speeds against someone very fast is not good example when the forth raikage and tsunade had a arm wrestle match 3rd raikage was obviously not stronger but his speed was able too beat her and orochimahu has had his bane of experiments and his use of body exchange so his bodies become real weary and over time then become useless and his lack of hand sign use jutsu also his senjustu is really weaker compared too jiraiya kabuto said something i am can't remember all the deatils but he said that orochimahu could not use sage mode because of him changing bodies i think but this is my opinon and thoughts on the subject corrections and also other opinions and theories obliged

In my point of view Jiraiya is the strongest, Because he has Sage Mode. with this he take on six path of pain. and also Nagato stated that if Jiraiya find their secret sometime early or from beginning than defeating him is more hard.

Than come Orochimaru he have sage mode but not at the same scale of Jiraiya. he have a jutsu which make him immortal, he also have wood release but his chhakra pool not so large that's why he not able to use it with it's fullpower.

third Tsunade with her 100 seal technique and physical power.

Interesting.