20 Most Powerful Marvel Characters of All Time (Ranked)

Throughout the rich and colorful history of Marvel Comics, a large number of characters have appeared in the stories. Some of these have been villains, other heroes. Some have been weak, some extremely powerful. Some beloved, some hated, and the list goes on. In this article, we will be focusing on the most powerful Marvel characters ever.

We won’t discriminate based on their moral compass; The point is that they are powerful, and we plan on ranking them to finally determine which one among them is the strongest.

20. Surtur

Surtur, a fire demon from Muspelheim, awaits Ragnarok to destroy both men and gods. Initially imprisoned by Odin within the Earth, he is later freed by Loki, leading to conflicts with Odin, Thor, and Balder.

Despite attempts to invade Asgard and cause its fall during Loki’s reign, Surtur is ultimately pushed back and imprisoned again, establishing him as a powerful and legendary villain in the Marvel universe.

19. Thor

Thor, the Asgardian God of Thunder, possesses superhuman strength, he is likely among the rare characters capable of overpowering the Hulk and wounding a moderately fed Galactus. His near-invulnerability stems from his heritage as a half-Asgardian and half-Elder God, rendering him immune to diseases and toxins and withstanding powerful attacks from beings like Celestials.

Thor’s abilities include superhuman speed, godly stamina, heightened agility and reflexes, and vast energy manipulation through Mjolnir, allowing him to unleash powerful energy blasts and manipulate storms to destroy even Secondary Adamantium.

18. Uatu the Watcher

Uatu, a member of the Watcher race, possesses immense power as a virtually immortal being dedicated to observing and recording events across the multiverse without intervention.

Stationed in the blue zone of the Moon, Uatu first revealed himself to humans by saving the Fantastic Four and aided them on various occasions, including stopping the criminal Molecule and hiding Earth from the planet-devourer Galactus using advanced technology.

While the Watchers maintain neutrality, their extraordinary power levels, focused on observation and cosmic awareness, earn them a place among the most powerful entities in the Marvel Universe.

17. Legion

Legion is an Omega Level mutant with the unique ability to spontaneously manifest mutations, each associated with a distinct alter or persona due to his immense powers and mental instability.

With around “200 Omega-level split personalities” and the constant emergence of new powers, Legion’s capacity for creating diverse abilities is extensive, making him one of the most powerful mutants in the Marvel Universe.

16. Gorr

Gorr, originally a mortal, gained superhuman abilities after bonding with “All-Black the Necrosword.” With this symbiotic weapon, he possesses constituent-matter manipulation, creating various constructs like wings, weapons, and Black Berserkers.

Gorr exhibits superhuman strength, surpassing Thor and defeating millions of gods effortlessly, along with exceptional durability, speed, reflexes, longevity, and regeneration, making him a formidable antagonist with billions of years of existence.

15. Onslaught

Onslaught, a powerful entity, possesses the combined mutant abilities of Professor X, Magneto, Franklin Richards, and Nate Grey. In his prime, Onslaught matched entire formations of the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men, creating a second sun and physically challenging the Hulk.

Onslaught exhibits various psychic powers, including astral plane manipulation, telepathy with illusions, mind control, possession, alteration, amnesia, shields, psionic blasts, and astral projection, making him a formidable force with vast mental capabilities. Additionally, he can sense the presence of other superhuman mutants within a considerable radius.

14. Hulk

Bruce Banner’s exposure to the Gamma Bomb’s radiation transformed him into the Incredible Hulk, resulting in a gamma-mutate physiology characterized by increased bone marrow and muscle tissues. The Hulk’s strength escalates with his adrenaline levels, making him potentially the most physically powerful being in the Marvel Universe.

Described as an Omega Level Threat and the most powerful mortal entity, the Hulk’s strength is virtually limitless, capable of ravaging entire worlds and earning recognition as one of the most powerful beings in existence.

13. Grandmaster

The Grandmaster possesses superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability due to his mastery of the Power Primordial, residual energy from the Big Bang. With an obsession for games, the Grandmaster has channeled the Power Primordial, granting him all-around superhuman physical, mental, and energy-manipulative capabilities.

His strength, though undefined in limits, doesn’t exceed 25 tons, while his speed surpasses human athletic limits. The unique effects of the Power Primordial grant him limitless stamina, virtual invulnerability to physical injury, and true immortality, as Death itself has barred the Elders, including the Grandmaster, from its realm.

12. Skyfathers

Skyfathers in Marvel comics are powerful deities who hold a prominent position in their respective mythologies, such as Odin, Zeus, and Vishnu. They wield vast cosmic powers, including reality-warping abilities that allow them to shape the universe according to their will.

Immortal and physically formidable, they possess superhuman strength and durability, often surpassing ordinary superheroes. Additionally, Skyfathers are skilled in magic, possess immense wisdom, and may have connections to cosmic entities like Eternity and Infinity, making them central figures in the Marvel Universe’s cosmic hierarchy.

11. Amatsu-Mikaboshi

Mikaboshi is a primordial entity of living darkness, distinct from the Amatsu-Kami, with a form that represents a force of nature rather than a physical being. Emerging as the Chaos King, he serves as a natural opposing power to Eternity and Death, posing a threat to the entire Marvel Multiverse.

Mikaboshi possesses vast supernatural powers, including flight, teleportation, energy projection, matter manipulation, and control over minor demons, enabling him to defeat formidable beings like the Demogorge and Skyfathers like Zeus. His dark magic, shapeshifting abilities, and role as the conqueror of Yomi, the Japanese underworld, further contribute to his status as a formidable cosmic entity.

10. Galactus

Galactus, a cosmic being in the Marvel Universe, possesses the unimaginably powerful Power Cosmic, making him one of the most powerful entities with near-limitless godlike abilities and is considered omnipotent. His cosmic powers, beyond most measurements, allow him to produce virtually any desired effect.

However, his power is contingent on regularly absorbing energy from planets, and if he fails to feed, he weakens and faces the risk of starving to death, emphasizing his dependency on planetary consumption to sustain his immense abilities.

9. Celestials

Celestials are immensely powerful cosmic beings in the Marvel Universe, known for their vast and godlike capabilities. They are considered some of the most formidable entities, ranking high in the cosmic hierarchy.

Possessing vast strength, energy manipulation, and reality-warping abilities, Celestials are capable of shaping worlds and influencing the evolution of entire civilizations. Their actions and decisions hold significant consequences, impacting the balance of power on a cosmic scale.

8. Knull

Knull, a primordial god of darkness, possesses superhuman attributes and powers, including a metaphysical link to the undead corpse of a Celestial that enhances his invincibility. His connection to the living abyss allows him to manipulate eldritch darkness, creating entities like symbiotes, symbiote dragons, and the Void Knight.

Knull’s ability to create, dominate, and mentally influence symbiotes, as well as corrupt other dark entities, makes him a powerful force, even after the severance of his connection to the Celestial’s corpse.

7. Molecule Man

Owen Reece, also known as the Molecule Man, is an incredibly powerful being, often considered one of the most powerful in the Multiverse, second only to the Beyonder. His abilities stem from exposure to radiation from an experimental particle generator, connecting him to the dimension of a child Beyonder.

Possessing nigh-omnipotence, Molecule Man can manipulate matter and energy, demonstrating reality-warping capabilities and control molecules at will. His power allows him to reshape matter, traverse dimensions, and even animate inanimate objects, showcasing his extraordinary control over the fabric of reality.

6. Phoenix Force

The Phoenix Force is an extremely powerful entity, considered an Extinction-Level Threat and an Omega-Level Threat. Its abilities include nigh omnipotence, reality manipulation on a universal scale, and the ability to tap into future life force, denying existence to generations.

The Phoenix Force is practically omnipotent, limited only by its current mission or purpose, and possesses limitless cosmic energy, making it one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe.

5. Franklin Richards

The only reason why Franklin is not the in the top three on this list is because he is currently depowered. Franklin Richards, originally believed to be an Omega-level mutant, possessed immense telepathic, telekinetic, and reality-warping powers, creating pocket universes and equaling the Celestials’ might.

His mutant status resulted from his subconscious desire for uniqueness, altering his anatomy at a cellular level. As an adult, Franklin displayed the ability to turn Galactus into his herald, resurrect Galactus’s essence, and empower a defeated Galactus to destroy Celestials, earning him the title “the great enemy of the omniversal order.”

4. Eternity

Eternity, as a cosmic entity, possesses the powers and abilities of all its manifestations across the Multiverse. This unique attribute stems from the idea that all manifestations of Eternity are like cells within him.

As a result, he may also wield the power of every entity residing within the Multiverse, as they are considered mere thoughts generated within the expanse of his consciousness.

3. Living Tribunal

The Living Tribunal, a nigh-omnipotent cosmic entity in Marvel Comics, served as the judge of all realities across the Multiverse simultaneously. He possessed the ability to nullify the powerful Infinity Gems together, a notable feat considering their overwhelming cosmic influence.

Regarded as the greatest power in the Multiverse, second only to the One Above All, the Living Tribunal derived authority from the One Above All and had the unique capability to directly contact this supreme entity.

2. Beyonder

The original Beyonder was initially considered the most powerful being in the multiverse, surpassing even Cosmic Entities like the Living Tribunal and Eternity. However, subsequent retcons weakened the Beyonder, placing him below many Cosmic Entities in terms of power.

Despite the retcons, he retained reality-warping abilities on an almost infinite scale, psionic powers allowing him to scan minds and erase memories, teleportation across the Multiverse, matter manipulation, energy manipulation, superhuman strength, durability, and a regenerative healing factor achieved through reality manipulation.

The Beyonder’s cognitive capacity and super-senses bordered on nigh-omniscience, making him a formidable force in the Marvel Universe.

1. One-Above-All

The One Above All is the supreme being within the Multiverse, described as omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He surpasses all cosmic powers, abstract entities, and even the Living Tribunal.

The One Above All is portrayed as a manifestation of the writer, such as Jack Kirby, and resides in the House of Ideas, where all stories are formed.

Have a character to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!