The MCU and the Marvel Comics universe are very different. So, while we’ve explored who the most powerful Marvel characters are, the MCU list would differ. So, let’s look at who the most powerful Marvel characters in the MCU are.
10. Hela
Though easily lost amidst the colourful chaos of Thor: Ragnarok, the indomitable wrath of Hela truly shook Asgard to its core. As goddess of death and Thor’s elder sister, Hela’s violent return from years of imprisonment rapidly proved she might have surpassed nearly every Asgardian who came before. She crushed Mjolnir with a single clench of her fist – the revered hammer that had weathered blows from giants and gods alike.
Hela then proceeded to massacre the entire Asgardian army and the elite Valkyrie squadron, seemingly without effort. Even with powers at their peak, both Thor and Loki struggled to slow Hela’s relentless onslaught as much as possible. She shrugged off lightning and blades while conquering Asgard’s capital in mere hours.
This murderous deity only met her end when Surtur finally triggered the Ragnarök apocalypse, causing irreparable damage to the Asgardian civilization. For all of Thor’s storied feats, Hela represented his ultimate challenge – the goddess of death itself.
9. Black Panther
As the noble guardian of Wakanda, Black Panther’s fearsome skills and Vibranium-empowered panoply transform T’Challa (or Shuri!) into a uniquely potent defender. Though not boasting reality-breaking abilities like Doctor Strange or Scarlet Witch, Black Panther more than proves his mettle against nearly any foe with his combination of physical might, fighting prowess, and brilliant intellect.
His bulletproof Vibranium suit absorbs and harnesses kinetic force to fuel T’Challa’s catlike agility, enabling superhuman feats of speed, strength, and reflexes. Retractable claws and energy-projecting gauntlets further augment Black Panther’s close-quarters domination.
Under the mask, King T’Challa himself possesses a genius-level tactical mind, outplanning adversaries through shrewd technical innovations. His scientific brilliance rivals pioneers like Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, while his unmatched knowledge of Vibranium makes Wakanda the most technologically advanced nation on Earth.
Combined with the fighting experience earned from generations of Black Panther predecessors, T’Challa stands as an unyielding guardian ready to clash with any powered threats endangering his people.
Though his abilities are very much earthly in origin – and since the MCU’s power creeping is on a whole new level these days – Black Panther’s physicality, combat finesse, and intellectual ingenuity make him more than capable of contending with lesser cosmic-tier entities.
8. Kang the Conqueror
As a time-displaced warlord boasting dominion over the timestream itself, few Marvel entities wield power rivalling that of Kang the Conqueror. This tyrannical traveller hails from the 31st century, though his mastery over chronology allows Kang to materialize anywhere and anywhen he desires.
Already having survived innumerable cycles of death and rebirth across branching timelines, Kang relentlessly seeks to dominate all of reality under his tyrannical rule. Armed with futuristic technology and complete temporal awareness, Kang the Conqueror has repeatedly proven nearly unbeatable by even teams of Avengers across myriad realities.
He also possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of all historical events, tactically predicting enemy movements before they even occur. Kang also frequently snatches warriors from various eras to serve as his deadly henchmen – though that mostly happens in the comics.
Yet perhaps nothing defines Kang more than his sheer refusal to stay dead for long. Each timeline may acquire unique variants of this would-be overlord, such as the wrathful ruler Immortus, who waits for him at the End of Time in the comics. However, Kang’s core ambition to achieve total conquest continues to drive him forward throughout history, uncaring of whatever deaths he must suffer along the winding roads of time.
Still, Kang’s most powerful adversary yet might be Jonathan Majors, the actor who plays him in the MCU. After Majors’ legal issues, Kang has been all but removed from future MCU projects, with Avengers: The Kang Dynasty even removing his name from the title. It seems Ant-Man and the Wasp finally ended Kang’s rule in the MCU for good.
7. Loki
Of all the radical redemption arcs in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, none have been so unexpected as that of Loki Laufeyson. Introduced as a scheming god of mischief, Loki sought to conquer Earth and continually antagonized his brother, Thor. Yet over repeated clashes, Loki’s motivations became more complex, his villainy revealing deeper layers of character development.
At heart, Loki craved identity and acceptance, warped by jealousy into spite and hunger for power. But through Loki’s struggles with himself and his adoptive family, his better nature slowly emerged.
Now, having journeyed down a wayward path to self-discovery, Loki sits enthroned as the Guardian of Time and God of Stories at the centre of Marvel’s multiverse. The full extent of his newfound abilities remains unknown, though the power to shape narrative reality itself presumably gives Loki dominion over space, time, matter, and magic across all universes.
For better or worse, the once-outcast antihero now oversees the entire branching timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse. Only the writers can tell where this former god of lies goes from here.
6. Doctor Strange
“Dormammu, I’ve come to bargain!” – Stephen Strange
As the mystical guardian of Earth, Doctor Stephen Strange is undoubtedly one of the mightiest Avengers defending the planet from metaphysical threats. As Sorcerer Supreme, he frequently contends with otherworldly foes like the interdimensional conqueror Dormammu.
Armed with ancient spells and relics, Doctor Strange employs abilities beyond the comprehension of most heroes. Even before becoming a master wizard, Stephen Strange already possessed a keen intellect and photographic memory.
But it is his mystic mastery over magic that makes him such a formidable force. Strange rapidly became the Master of the Mystic Arts under the tutelage of the Ancient One, demonstrating an unmatched talent for sorcery. These powers allow him to open gateways to other realms, project his astral form, conjure mystical shields, and warp aspects of reality itself.
Doctor Strange has proven his sorcerous mettle against all manner of magical enemies. He helped Thor and Loki locate Odin on Earth, inadvertently beginning the events of Ragnarok. Strange also overpowered Kaecilius and his followers when they summoned the monstrous Dormammu. Even after death, he strategically outwitted the nigh-omnipotent Dormammu, forcing the being to withdraw by introducing him to the concept of time.
During Thanos’s quest for the Infinity Stones, Strange bested some of the Mad Titan’s most powerful commanders, like Ebony Maw. He was also the Avenger’s trump card to defeat Thanos – even if he had to briefly forfeit his life to win. With such reality-altering feats under his belt, Doctor Strange has more than proven he is one of Earth’s most formidable mystical protectors.
5. Captain America
“There are men laying down their lives. I got not right to do any less than them. That’s what you don’t understand. This isn’t about me.” – Steve Rogers
Power isn’t only about pure physical strength but also heart. Earth’s first recorded superhero, a World War II veteran, a founding member of the Avengers and sassy enough to converse with Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff. Steve Rogers is not one of the most powerful Avengers because the Super Soldier Serum gave him enhanced strength and other superhuman abilities. However, when it comes down to power levels, Steve Rogers is very far down the scale compared to the other Avengers.
However, if we look at everything Steve has done, from jumping over a dummy grenade pre-serum to sacrificing his freedom for his best friend to trying to better understand the super-powered people they’re set up against because he understands them. We begin to realise that Steve Roger’s strength comes not from his enhanced muscles but from his heart.
Steve has proved time and time again that he is the greatest Avenger. He’s persistent, has a sense of justice that is not easily reached and manages to pick up Mjolnir. He was willing to do whatever it took to bring his family back, even if it meant beating himself up.
This is the same guy who faced off against Thanos twice and didn’t get destroyed. Cap doesn’t back down from anyone – no matter how big or otherworldly you are. And that makes him powerful beyond belief. In fact, it makes him one of the most powerful superheroes of all time.
All of this makes him one of the most powerful characters in the MCU.
4. Thor
“Brother, whatever I have done to wrong you, whatever I have done to lead you to do this… I am truly sorry. But these people are innocent. Taking their lives will gain you nothing. So take mine and end this.” – Thor Odinson
The God of Thunder is a founding member of the Avengers and Revengers and a brief member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Thor started as a reckless god, more focused on having a good time than maintaining peace between the realms his father had worked hard to bring together.
After he found love and sacrificed himself to ensure that the town that had housed him survived his brother’s rage, Thor became worthy of his power and the throne he was destined to take over from his father. While Marvel didn’t properly display the full extent of his power until Thor: Ragnarok, there have been plenty of instances where Thor has proven himself to be one of the most powerful Avengers.
He has taken on Hulk single-handedly, destroyed the rainbow bridge to prevent the total destruction of Jotunheim and the frost giants and destroyed an entire chunk of Earth to prevent Ultron’s plans.
Thor has grown and developed since first arriving on Earth. When someone takes on the full power of a star and lives to tell the tale, they deserve the title of strongest Avenger, no matter what Tony Stark says.
When Thor arrived in Wakanda in Avengers: Infinity War, audiences knew the real MVP had arrived. It doesn’t matter if he wields Stormbreaker or Mjolnir because his power comes from deep within his veins. With him on your team, you’re practically guaranteed a head start.
Despite all the humour, Thor has proven himself to be one of the most powerful characters in the MCU.
3. Scarlet Witch
“I used to think of myself one way. But, after this… I am something else. I’m still me, I think. But that’s not what everyone else sees.” – Wanda Maximoff
A witch born with the ability to use Chaos Magic, a former member of the Avengers and a mother who will do anything to get her boys back. Wanda Maximoff is not only the most powerful character in the MCU but also one of the most terrifying.
When we first met Wanda, we saw hints of a twisted side. This was made most evident by the slightly mad look in her eyes during the mid-credits scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the crazy smile she gets as she tore the Avengers apart in Avengers: Age of Ultron. However, she seemed to grow past her twisted side after losing her brother and getting closer to Vision.
Unfortunately for the Avengers and much of the multiverse, Wanda’s twisted side seems to return after she unleashes her Chaos Magic on the world for the first time after the loss of Vision. She started slightly mad after losing her family and was corrupted by the Darkhold, which took advantage of her broken mind. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we see just how far Wanda is willing to go to get her family back.
We’ve seen Wanda go from struggling to levitate items, blasting through structures with her energy blasts and showing the Avengers their worst nightmares to creating entirely new realities with her newly awakened magical abilities. She almost took out Thanos single-handedly and destroyed characters like Black Bolt, Agatha Harkness and Professor X with virtually no effort.
If she can make you believe you’re in a different reality – without using any Infinity Stone – she can disarm and dismantle just about any hero or villain, and they wouldn’t even know it. It’s fantastic to see Wanda finally gaining some strength that is true to the comic, omega-level mutant version of her character.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness proves that Scarlet Witch is one of the most powerful characters in the MCU.
2. Captain Marvel
“All those things you said about me are true, sir. I’m emotional and impulsive, and more than a little cavalier. But I’m also brave enough to let myself learn. You should try it sometime.” – Carol Danvers
A former member of Starforce, the first official member of the Avengers and a Kree warrior with a habit of getting into trouble. The MCU version of Carol Danvers is the most powerful Avenger. She possesses comic powers, energy manipulation, energy absorption, superhuman strength, and she can fly. She’s basically Green Lantern, Superman, Bishop, and the Phoenix Force, all packed into one superhero.
Carol grew up in a broken household and was constantly put down by her father. As a result of this, and the further ridicule she experienced trying to reach her goal, she became determined and stubborn. However, she never backs down from a challenge and does all she can to help those who are powerless against their enemies.
Few things in the MCU can take out Carol. She was unmoved when battling Thanos until he used the power stone against her, and she survived/absorbed the full force of the explosion that came from the Light-Speed Engine.
She often prefers to work alone, appearing arrogant because of how powerful she is compared to the other Avengers. However, she does work with the team, helping them keep an eye on the status of the entire universe and accepting help from teammates even if she doesn’t really need it (she destroyed a whole ship on her own, blasting through waves of Thanos’s army would not have been difficult for her).
While she might be one of the strongest Marvel characters, her generally closed-off attitude and apparent lack of flaws make her a difficult character with whom to connect. Carol has always been arrogant and proud in every film we’ve seen her. While she has good reason for this, she’s quite dislikeable. Hopefully, Marvel fixes this in The Marvels. We’ve seen her get along great with kids, such as Monica Rambeau and Peter Parker, so it’ll be interesting to see if she gets along well with Kamala Khan.
Realistically, Thor is perhaps the only Avenger who can go toe-to-toe with her in combat and live to tell the tale. The rest of the squad? They might as well wave the white flag when Carol Danvers is mad because they’ll be toast. She is definitely one of the most powerful MCU superhero characters.
1. Thanos
“The hardest choices require the strongest wills.” – Thanos
Can you talk about the most powerful MCU character without mentioning Thanos? The Mad Titan is a mad warlord and an all-around dead-beat dad. Thanos spends all his time hunting down the Infinity Stones to wipe out half of all life to prevent people from using up the universe’s finite resources.
He and his subordinates travelled the galaxy searching for the Infinity Stones and wiping out half of the races they came across along the way. Gamora’s home world and the Asgardians were both victims of Thanos’s mission. Audiences quickly learn that he would do anything to ensure his success, even sacrificing his favourite daughter for a rock.
Thanos has proven his strength and power multiple times throughout the films. Even without the Infinity Stones, Thanos is incredibly powerful and one of the greatest threats to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In Avengers: Infinity War, he showcased that he’s more than capable of holding back a whole team of Avengers on his own.
We’ve seen him beat Hulk without using any of the Infinity Stones and take on Thor, Iron Man and Captain America without much difficulty (he was dangerously close to mortally wounding Thor in Avengers: Endgame). Thanos also changed an entire timeline single-handedly, something that Fox struggled to do with its X-Men movies for almost 20 years!
Thanos is an incredibly complex character with a traumatic past that led him to commit horrible actions. However, he had incredible willpower and was such an intimidating and unforgiving character that his children were afraid to fail him, which was proven by Ebony Maw’s refusal to go to Titan before fully removing the Time Stone from Doctor Strange.
He had no love or empathy for any of his subordinates or children besides Gamora, made apparent by his dismissal of Ronan and The Other in Guardians of the Galaxy and his willingness to interrogate Nebula for the location of the Soul Stone. Yet, despite this, he still managed to gain their loyalty and respect.
His patience is admirable. He managed to keep such a low profile for many years before finally deciding to go after the Infinity Stone himself. Doctor Strange, who we know has been keeping an eye on beings that could end up being a threat to Earth, didn’t even know who he was until Bruce Banner told him.
It took all of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (and their friends) to take Thanos and his army down. I’m sure they’ll be happy if they never have to face off against him again.
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Who do you think are the most powerful and strongest characters in the MCU?
