By Destiny Montgomery
Staff Writer
When it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), fans have a large variety of characters to pick as favorites. Many fans though, argue about who is the strongest/most powerful. This list will show the top ranked, in my own opinion, including some honorable mentions.
#8 Hulk
- When it comes to the Hulk’s appearance; it is no secret that he is one of the physically strongest characters in the MCU. However, with the number of abilities that come with each Avenger, the Hulk is not coming out on top. The Hulks powers are also unique, in ways that he can leap/jump far and high, and he also has a large stamina, where he does not take destruction to his body easily. On top of that, now that the Hulk is “Professor Hulk,” he has his abilities, plus the intelligence of his counterpart, Bruce Banner combined.
#7 Black Panther
- Black Panther is immensely powerful in many ways. T’Challa is skilled in hand-to-hand combat, even when he doesn’t have the powers of Black Panther. His sister Shuri designed his costume, which is stored in his necklace. His suit is also bulletproof, making it easier to fight any villains. Another stealthy part of his suit are the claws which are made from vibranium, one of Wakanda’s finest metal like substances. Another interesting part of his suit is that it absorbs kinetic energy, then “redistributes it” allowing him to release it all at once as an energy pulse. Becoming the Black Panther includes consuming Wakanda’s special herb, which gives him enhanced strength, speed, agility and stamina. At the time of consuming the herb, he also can communicate with his ancestors in the afterlife.
#6 Ant-Man
- Scott Lang didn’t get powers on his own. He was chosen by Hank Pym to take over as the Ant-Man. Using the Pym Particles in his suit, he can shrink to subatomic size and grow up to 65 feet. Also coming with his suit, he carries discs that can make any object grow or shrink, a strategic combat method. Although Ant-Man is tiny most of the time, his gear “enables the original physical mass to be retained while shrunk” which means that he is incredibly strong. On top of these abilities, he is also able to communicate with ants and similar insects, basically having a whole army behind him. Scott learned how to travel through the Quantum Realm, showing his intelligence. He has a master’s degree in electrical engineering, according to Marvel, and his experience as a master thief shows all he can do. On top of all of that, he has martial arts training.
#5 Shang Chi
- Shang Chi has been an experienced martial arts fighter since he was a boy. His father trained him for tough situations, making him a great fighter in combat. However, hand-to-hand combat isn’t what puts him in this spot on the list. At the end of his movie, he became the holder of the Ten Rings while battling his father. According to screenrant, the rings “provide him with super strength, advanced reflexes, energy manipulation and blasts, and longevity in life.” All these combined are what makes Shang Chi an all-around fighter.
#4 Thor
- Thor is literally the “god of thunder.” He has the ability to summon thunder and lightning to use on his enemies. Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, can only be wielded when a person is worthy enough to have the powers of Thor. Mjolnir can be pretty destructive, too. Thor is also capable of flight while holding Mjolnir. When his sister, Hela, destroyed Mjolnir, Thor knew he needed a new weapon. He went to Nidavellir where Mjolnir was made by Eitri the Elf, however the star was dying. Thor took on the full force of the heat of the star, holding it open enough to melt the Uru to make his axe, Stormbreaker. Taking on the full force of the star and not dying shows how powerful Thor really is. He was also able to almost kill Thanos, who had all six infinity stones.
#3 Doctor Strange
- Doctor Strange’s powers aren’t like any other in the MCU. He is a master of the mystic arts, almost became the sorcer supreme (didn’t due to a “technicality”). He possesses magical knowledge and power and can produce spells at any moment. He is also able to take his astral projection away from his body and can also do it to other people. He holds a sling ring, allowing him to open portals to any location and teleport to them. He also was chosen by the Cloak of Levitation, which allows him to fly and can help fight off enemies. He also has numerous other abilities, like moving into the mirror dimension when fighting.
#2 Captain Marvel
- Captain Marvel is one of the most physically powerful Avengers to date. Her powers include flight, energy blasts, superhuman durability and superhuman strength. She got her powers after absorbing a blast from the Tesseract. She is extremely powerful. She even punched her way through Thanos’s ship in “Avengers: Endgame.” She could have beat Thanos too, if he didn’t have the infinity stones.
#1 Scarlet Witch
- Wanda Maximoff is the most powerful Avenger, and there is no arguing it. She was able to use her powers to hold back Thanos, who had all the infinity stones at the time (TWICE). She even would have succeeded in “Avengers: Endgame” if Thanos hadn’t called for a rain fire. Wanda got her powers after exposure to the Mind Stone while working in Sokovia. She discovered her true powers, after declaring herself the Scarlet Witch in “WandaVision.” Her powers are very complex, and she has many of them. She can produce a form of telepathy including mental manipulation, which can be useful in combat. She was able to brainwash an entire town and create a Hex around it. Her powers also include powerful telekinesis. She can lift and move anything she wants to with her mind. Like other Avengers, her powers give her the ability to levitate and fly. Wanda’s energy is red, and she uses it to create energy blasts.