The MCU hasn’t been performing up to its usual standard in terms of box office as of late, which is rough, considering that its last two movies were some of the best in a long time. However, if there is a movie to fix that, it is Avengers: Doomsday, set to debut in 2026 with Robert Downey Jr. as the titular villain. The film has released some of the cast, but many names are withheld, leaving fans anticipating who else will show up.
The confirmed cast so far is exciting, especially since it includes characters from 20th Century Studios’ X-Men universe, reviving these classic heroes. With so many powerful characters set to appear, this list will rank the ten strongest who have been confirmed based on known feats, hypothetical feats, powers and abilities, and fan opinion. While it is likely that Franklin Richards will be in the film, and he is likely one of the strongest characters, he will not be featured, since we don’t know the true extent of his powers yet.
10
Namor
Avengers: Doomsday has some obvious returnees and some surprising choices, but perhaps the most shocking addition is Namor (Tenoch Huerta), who was the main antagonist in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Many fans assumed he wouldn’t appear in the MCU again, except for maybe a cameo here and there, but he seems to have a larger role than expected if he will appear in one of the biggest Marvel movies of all time.
Comic fans will understand that Namor and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) in the same movie raise concerns, but Disney isn’t likely to include anything like that (the movie is already crowded enough to include a cheating subplot). He may have lost in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but Namor remains a powerful character, both strong and intelligent, who executed a plan that left Wakanda in turmoil.
9
Cyclops
One of the best aspects of Avengers: Doomsday is that it brings back many classic X-Men actors, including James Marsden as Cyclops. This character has always been treated poorly in media such as the movies and X-Men: The Animated Series, so maybe this time around, he will finally be useful or do something cool, because he is actually powerful.
The movies may not have treated Cyclops that well, but he has still proven to be a strong character who can control his laser eyes to do varying damage, from simple stun blasts to full-on laser cutters. These powerful lasers are sure to be useful against weaker and stronger opponents, although probably not strong enough to damage some of the top-tier characters on this list.
8
Shang-Chi
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a unique Marvel movie and one of the best in modern times, making it surprising that a sequel hasn’t moved forward at all. Despite the lack of a second movie, Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) will at least appear in Avengers: Doomsday, hopefully setting up a new movie for him after Avengers: Secret Wars.
There is a pretty large jump between Cyclops and Shang-Chi, especially considering the potential the latter possesses. Shang-Chi is the best martial artist in the MCU, but he wouldn’t be on this list without the Ten Rings, which makes him that much more of a threat. From destroying dark dimensions to defeating enormous demons, Shang-Chi is one of the strongest modern MCU characters thanks to the mystical weapons he now wields.
7
Sue Storm/ Invisible Woman
The Fantastic Four: First Steps was a great new addition to the MCU and the first great movie in The Fantastic Four franchise, even if the box office wasn’t as good as it should have been. While everyone was focusing on Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm, AKA the Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), stole the show with her excellent performance and remarkable powers.
The comics have shown that Sue Storm can be one of the strongest Marvel characters in general, and while the MCU version isn’t at that point yet, she is certainly closing the gap. Sue said in the movie that she can create force fields inside someone’s head and kill them instantly. To add more feats to her impressive pedigree, she single-handedly pushed Galactus back, highlighting not only her considerable strength but also her immense willpower and determination.
6
Doctor Doom
Fans don’t know much about Avengers: Doomsday, but they do know who the primary villain is: Doctor Doom, the Fantastic Four’s archenemy, who will harness his power and pit it against the Avengers, the New Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four. Fans got a tease for him at the end of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but that is actually all they know about the character besides some news articles in the movie as well.
No one knows how strong Doctor Doom is in the MCU, so his placement here is purely speculation, but fans can assume he will be one of the strongest characters if he is taking on four teams of heavy hitters. Doom obviously has some sort of plan with Franklin Richards, and that will probably be how he matches the rest of the characters in strength, but his genius intellect and careful planning alone make him incredibly dangerous.
5
Magneto
The Marvel movies have built an impressive roster of actors, but none are as prestigious as two-time Oscar nominee Sir Ian McKellen, who played Magneto in the original X-Men films. He finally makes a reappearance years after portraying the iconic villain, leaving fans to speculate about what his role could entail.
Fans deserve another moment with McKellen’s Magneto because he is such a spectacular actor who gave a phenomenal, complex, and layered performance as one of the greatest Marvel villains. He may be on the older side, but that won’t stop him from controlling all the metal he can, especially since many Marvel characters use metallic objects to fight.
4
Charles Xavier/ Professor X
This list just mentioned how McKellen is the best actor in a Marvel movie, but Sir Patrick Stewart is rightfully up there with him, fittingly as well, since he portrays Charles Xavier, or Professor X, Magneto’s longtime friend/rival. Xavier has had much more screen time compared to his X-Men compatriots, getting the spotlight in Logan and even having the first cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Even though he had a disappointing showing in the latest Doctor Strange film, Professor X could defeat any character he wanted if he tried. His telepathy can control others, create illusions, read minds, andeven destroy someone’s psyche if they are vulnerable or unstable. Xavier is also not above crossing moral lines, meaning he would easily be a deadly power that enemies cannot simply punch their way out of.
3
Sentry
Every member of the Thunderbolts* will be in Avengers: Doomsday. While most of the members aren’t too powerful individually, the one outlier is Sentry, also known simply as Bob (Lewis Pullman). Sentry was born through an experiment to create the ultimate superhero, but his unstable nature resulted in a darker side, the Void, taking over occasionally when Bob caves into his dark impulses and depression.
Thunderbolts* showed fans what Sentry is capable of, and he easily became one of the strongest characters in the MCU. From laser vision to super speed, strength, flight, and particle dismantling, the Sentry is a serious threat who would give anyone a run for their money. However, he places a little lower since he can’t fully control this power, potentially resulting in grave consequences and making him susceptible to manipulation.
2
Thor
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is confirmed to make an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, with many speculating this could be one of his last Marvel projects. As the only original Avengers member in this movie, fans can expect a major showing from this fan-favorite god, who also happens to be one of the strongest.
Whether this is Thor’s last MCU movie or not, he will have a grand showing, specifically in the power department. He would be on a list of the MCU’s most powerful characters anyway, but with the limited cast, he easily scales high on this list. Stormbreaker is overpowered, his strength and lightning are unmatched, and he has defeated some of the best villains, proving Thor’s name is synonymous with power.
1
Loki
The god of thunder may be powerful, but he isn’t stronger than the god of trickery, Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston. Although initially the main villain in The Avengers movie, Loki would become a side character in some Thor films before starring in a solo TV show, where he would change the hierarchy of power in the MCU.
Before the LokiTV show, he would maybe be third or fourth, but after the finale of Season 2, Loki may be the most powerful MCU character, period, not just in Avengers: Doomsday. His magic is unique and deadly, but he ranks first on this list because of his recent ability as timekeeper, which allows him to create, destroy, and manage entire timelines, a feat no one else in this film can do. He is literally above everyone and everything, beyond time itself. Now, that’s power!
