Debates and speculations surrounding the strongest characters are always on, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is not an exception. The debut of Captain America in 1944 marked the entry of Marvel superheroes into the theaters and the MCU has been dominating the screens worldwide since then. With over 15 TV shows – like Loki and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier – and 30 movies, the MCU has drastically expanded and is now filled with mighty superheroes that Marvel fans can enjoy and appreciate. As the MCU continues to introduce new characters, it is evident that the power rankings will keep reaching new heights.
While some of the MCU’s supervillains, like Kang or Dormammu, possess incredible strength, they would still not make it into some of the franchise’s toughest characters. It is not just their strength that makes them stronger, it is their willpower, high moral grounds, and determination not to give up that create a resilient personality. For instance, Dormammu easily gave up against Doctor Strange’s time loop and signed a truce. Similarly, Kang is shown to betray his son in Marvel Comics.
1010. Peter Parker A.K.A. Spider-Man
Played by Tom Holland
Peter Parker’s young age does not hinder his position among the most powerful characters. After gaining immense stamina, speed, and heightened senses from the bite of a genetically modified spider, Spider-Man was able to neutralize two Avengers at once – Bucky Barnes and Falcon, survive a building collapse, and even resist Thanos and his army. And all of this at just 16 years old.
Beyond his raw power, Peter Parker is a tech genius (having crafted his own web slingers and Spider-Man suits), a moral individual, and an emotionally strong superhero. Spider-Man: No Way Home displays his strong mentality when Peter suffers the tragic death of Aunt May and when he even asks Doctor Strange to wipe him from the memories of his closest friends (just to make them safer). Following his virtues, there’s no doubt that Spider-Man embodies all the qualities that a superhero should have. Yet, Peter is still young and learning the ropes, and hasn’t faced the sheer number of battles that some of his other counterparts have.
99. Peter Quill A.K.A. Star-Lord
Played by Chris Pratt
Peter Quill, the beloved lead of Guardians of the Galaxy, was introduced as an interstellar criminal specializing in thievery, trafficking, and piracy. Peter was a mere Ravager until the disclosure of his identity in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, revealing that Star-Lord is half-celestial.
Being a son of Ego, one of the celestial in the MCU, Quill is kind of immortal with the storage of immense mystical power. Even though the Guardians of the Galaxy films depict Peter losing his galactic powers, fans don’t believe it. Speculation says Star-Lord still embeds the power, it’s just unknown to him. His potency can be witnessed when he holds the Power Stone for a few seconds without being consumed by the energy.
88. Doctor Stephen Strange A.K.A. Doctor Strange
Played by Benedict Cumberbatch
Before a tragic accident that rendered his hands unstable, Doctor Stephen Strange was among the finest surgeons. Following his misfortune, Doctor Strange initiates his journey to Kamar-Taj as a Wizard, eventually becoming among the best sorcerers. Within a short time, Doctor Strange came to assume great titles, such as the Master of the New York Sanctum or the Protector of the Time Stone.
With his photographic and brilliant memory, he mastered peculiar and mysterious magic. The manipulation of the Dark Dimension Energy is among those. Moreover, the Cloak of Levitation chose to link itself with Doctor Strange after realizing his potential. His genius was demonstrated when he captured Dormammu in a time loop and negotiated a truce. Not ending here, Doctor Strange fought one-on-one against the most mighty villain – Thanos and his apprentices.
77. Hela
Played by Cate Blanchett
While Thor now surpasses Hela in power, there was a time when she single-handedly defeated Thor, Valkyrie, and Loki. She slayed the whole of Asgard’s army who dared defy her. Hela was the formal owner of Mjolnir and the only character who shattered it without hesitation. This goes on to prove the caliber of Hela. However, it was Hela and this moment that stimulated Thor to understand his ability to harness the power of lightning.
Along with the assistance from Hela, Odin conquered the surrounding planets and established their superiority over them. As her powers had a direct affinity with Asgard, she could’ve remained undefeated on the planet. However, Thor combined the fire demon Surtur with eternal flames and promoted the destruction called Ragnarok.
66. Tony Stark A.K.A. Iron Man
Played by Robert Downey Jr.
Tony Stark might be the one with the weakest muscle power, yet counted among the most potent superheroes. Rather, Tony’s real strength lies in his strategic mind, determination to protect others, and ability to adapt to his surroundings, which have made him the most beloved Marvel superhero of all time. For instance, Iron Man’s superior intelligence has enabled him to craft armor from weapon leftovers, escape capture, and eventually land a lethal blow that wounded Thanos.
Iron Man’s entry in 2008 can be observed as a critical turn that set up the groundwork for future MCU films. It was this movie that combined strong character development with an engaging interconnected storyline, laying the groundwork for other movies. For instance, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Nick Fury, approached Tony to discuss The Avengers. Furthermore, Tony references Obadiah Stane’s past deals with Stark and Howard, which became a plot in Captain America: The First Avenger.
55. Steve Rogers A.K.A. Captain America
Played by Chris Evans
Captain America is the face and moral crux of The Avengers. It’s not just his strength alone that defines him, but also his fearlessness, ability to confront hordes of enemies, and commitment to ethical principles. Had Steve agreed, the Mind Stone of Vision would’ve been destroyed by Wanda way before Thanos got his hands on it. However, Steve Rogers believed in the importance of trying every possible solution before resorting to sacrificing an ally.
With the Supersoldier Serum, proficient fighting skills, and fast reflexes, Captain America becomes the deadliest opponent any foe ever dreamed of. During Avengers: Endgame, Steve was ready to take on Thanos’ army all alone. Additionally, in a conversation with Peter Parker, Tony Stark acknowledges Tony by conveying that the Captain would’ve neutralized him if he truly wanted to.
44. T’Challa A.K.A. Black Panther
Played by Chadwick Boseman
The late Chadwick Boseman entered the MCU as the Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War. The African superhero wields immense strength, speed, and reflexes, thanks to the Heart-shaped Herb that has mystical properties due to its exposure to the Vibranium-rich soil of the region. This herb grants similar traits, like the supersoldier serum of Captain America and Bucky Barnes.
With the good reserves of vibranium in Wakanda, the nation grew exponentially and secretly in technology while maintaining its secrecy from the rest of the world. Thanks to this technology, the Avengers were able to confront Thanos’ army in Avengers: Infinity War. The armor made from this vibranium was potent enough to leave scars on the shield of Captain America and go toe-on-toe with the Winter Soldier.
33. Vision
Played by Paul Bettany
In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ultron designed a perfect body for himself and resolved to give it a life using the Mind Stone. However, this synthetic body was reprogrammed by Bruce Banner and Tony Stark, and JARVIS was uploaded to it. Hence, Vision is the combined outcome of the brains of Ultron, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, JARVIS, and Mind Stone.
It is the Vision that has abilities that go beyond superhuman powers. Vision can fly, regulate gravity near him, and even trespass everything. During Captain America: Civil War, Vision was seen to bypass the arrows and attacks from Hawkeye. In the What If…? Series, Vision even demonstrated the ability to cut Thanos into equal halves with his Mind Stone in an instant.
22. Thor
Played by Chris Hemsworth
A dialogue by Drax can illustrate the impressive personality of Thor, “He (Thor) is not a dude. You’re (Peter Quill) a dude. This… this is a man. A handsome, muscular man.“. These were the lines from Guardians of the Galaxy members who were impressed by the very appearance of Thor.
There stand only a few select characters who hold the strength to fight Thor, especially after the Stormbreaker upgrade. Thor was the foremost character who nearly annihilated Thanos. Had Thanos not possessed the Time Stone, the events of Avengers: Endgame might have developed differently. Thor’s sheer potential lies in raw strength, which enabled him to withstand the full energy of Nidavellir and prove himself worthy of the Stormbreaker.
11. Thanos
Played by Josh Brolin
Almost every superhero, from the Guardians of the Galaxy to gods, wizards, and super-soldiers united against a single antagonist – Thanos. Despite this, Thanos acquired all six Infinity Stones and used them to erase half of the universe’s population. In the known universe, Thanos stands alone as the only being capable of wielding all the Infinity Stones in the Infinity Gauntlet. Thanos wasn’t mighty because he wielded the Infinity Stones, rather he exerted the Infinity Stones because he was strong. To put it forth, even without the Infinity Stones, Thanos fought a tough fight with the Avengers in Avengers: Endgame, defeated Hulk, and even captured Thor.
Thanos believed in his thinking that he would alleviate overpopulation and resource scarcity by wiping out half of all life, giving the rest of the world enough resources to grow. He assumed that he was saving civilizations from collapsing under their own weight. However, the methods he adopted were cruel and violent, which questioned his actions as complex and divisive.
