Ultron vs Thanos: Who Would Win?

The Avengers have faced a lot of different villains over the years. Some of them were lesser threats, while others threatened to destroy the world as we know it. Some of the latter even made it into the MCU, and that inspired this article. We have decided to compare two powerhouse villains from the Avengers’ rogues gallery – the robotic Ultron and the alien Thanos:

If either Ultron or Thanos had the Infinity Stones on his side, he would be able to defeat the other one, but in case of a direct, weaponless fight – there would be no winner.

Ultron and his powers

Ultron is a fictional supervillain appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema. He is a highly intelligent, self-aware robot created by Hank Pym, who develops a god complex and a grudge against Pym and the human race. Ultron’s goal of destroying humanity has led him into repeated conflict with the Avengers.

General powers

Ultron’s visual appearance and powers have varied, but his common powers include superhuman levels of strength, speed, stamina, durability, and reflexes; and flight at subsonic speeds.

Weapons

He uses various offensive weapons such as concussive energy beams (brain-beam), fired from their hands and their optical sensors, as well as an “encephalopathic beam”, which places their victims in a death-like coma. This last ray also allows Ultron to hypnotize and mentally control his victims, or to implant subliminal hypnotic commands within their minds to be performed at a later time.

Self-repair

Ultron also has the ability to convert electromagnetic radiation into electrical energy for use or storage. Ultron has an incredible ability for creation and self-repair, superhuman abilities of cybernetic analysis, and the ability to process information and perform calculations with superhuman speed and precision.

Machine manipulation

He is an expert in robotics and strategy. Ultron can also control other machines remotely. Ultron occasionally reformed into a humanoid appearance above the waist, and the appearance of a complex machine, including a tractor beam apparatus for flight, below the waist.

A later model of Ultron developed mind-swarm technology, allowing him to animate and control hundreds of alternate Ultron bodies simultaneously

Thanos and his powers

Thanos is a supervillain appearing in the Marvel universe of the publishing house Marvel Comics. Created by writer and artist Jim Starlin, the fictional character first appeared in the Iron Man #55 comic book in February 1973.

Thanos is a mutant (an Eternal with Deviant genes), capable of synthesizing cosmic energy into a number of effects (like all Earth Eternals and Mentors, but not those born on Titan). He is by far the most powerful of the Eternals on Titan.

Physical powers

Thanos is blessed with immense physical strength. We do not know clearly the limits of its force, this one not having been measured with precision. However, he has shown that he is able to stand up to Thor and the Thing simultaneously for an extended period of time.

He is therefore likely to have a Class 100 force on the Marvel scale, allowing it to lift (or exert pressure equivalent to) 100 tons, or even more. He is almost invulnerable.

Energy manipulation

In addition, he can manipulate the cosmic energy as he pleases to create shields of force, but also to project powerful bursts of energy from his eyes or hands. We have also seen him manipulate matter.

Psionic abilities and intelligence

His mind is invulnerable to any form of psychic attack; he has also demonstrated to have telepathic and telekinetic abilities. Through science and witchcraft, Thanos increased his powers. Death, by denying him entry into his kingdom, made him immortal.

The deadliest of his powers remains his mind, doomed to the annihilation of all life. Superhumanly intelligent, he is feared by the entire cosmos. He possesses phenomenal resources and has access to a vast array of advanced weaponry.

Ultron vs Thanos: Who would win?

And now for the most important and interesting section of our article – the analysis. Here, we are going to use what we have found out about these two characters and analyze how all these facts would (or would not) help them in a fight against each other. Let us continue.

Truth be told, this was one of the most complex comparisons we have done, as Ultron and Thanos are pretty equal on almost all levels. Sure, Thanos might have the upper hand in one category and Ultron in the other, but it all amounts to the same thing in the end.

This means that in a direct clash, without any enhancements, there would be no clear winner and in a 10-round fight, Thanos would win five, as well as Ultron. This means that we have to become more hypothetical.

Now, since both are known to have used the Infinity Gems (or Stones), we’ll just go with that enhancement. This makes the solution a lot easier, as the one with the Infinity Stones in his hands would certainly win.

And that is our conclusion as well. Namely, a direct clash would end in a draw, as both are on very similar power levels, but if any one of them would get their hands on the Infinity Gems, the other wouldn’t really stand a chance. This was, in a somewhat similar fashion, illustrated in the MCU’s What If…?, where Ultron won.