Summary
- The MCU has featured some of the most powerful weapons in any superhero franchise, including the likes of Captain America's shield, Thor's hammer Mjolnir, and the Infinity Gauntlet.
- Both heroes and villains in the MCU have wielded some of the franchise's most powerful weapons.
- Weapons such as Kamala Khan's Quantum Bands, the Darkhold, and Iron Man's nano-gauntlet are some of the most formidable weapons used in the MCU, and their use often has catastrophic consequences.
Some of the most powerful weapons in any live-action superhero franchise have been used in the insignificant MCU villains even more terrifying, or increased the strength of the franchise's superpowered heroes.
Many of the MCU's heroes don't need the use of dangerous weapons to fulfill their goals, and some use tools of creation rather than weapons of destruction. Even so, Marvel Studios has introduced many formidable weapons into the MCU, comprising world-destroyers, god-killers and even some that have threatened the entire universe. With many being enhanced by mystical energies, or being able to harness the power of other, stronger relics, the MCU has showcased some very powerful and frightening weapons.
20 Black Hole Grenades
The Dark Elves Use Black Hole Grenades In Thor: The Dark World
Making their first and only appearance in 2013's Thor: The Dark World, black hole grenades were the favored weapons of Malekith and the Dark Elves. When used, these grenades created small and temporary black holes that destroyed anything in their radius. These proved helpful during the Dark Elves' infiltration of Asgard, and also almost culminated in the God of Mischief Loki losing his life much earlier than planned.
19 Yondu’s Yaka Arrow
Yondu ed His Yaka Arrow To Kraglin After Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
Yondu's mastery of the Yaka arrow provided some impressive moments of strength in the MCU's Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Powered by his whistle, the Yaka arrow seemed to be able to thrust itself through any object, being able to easily take down Sakaaran soldiers and their vessels, and even decimating Yondu's former Ravager crew in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Following his demise, Yondu left the Yaka arrow and fin to Kraglin, who used the weapon to battle the High Evolutionary's Hellspawn.
18 Captain America’s Shield
Captain America’s Vibranium Shield Is Incredibly Durable
Although not typically used as an offensive weapon, Captain America's vibranium shield is one of the strongest pieces of equipment used in the MCU. Its vibranium composition allows it to absorb vibrations, and deflect almost any projectile. While Steve Rogers primarily used the shield for armor, John Walker brutally murdered a Flag Smasher with the shield, and Bucky Barnes' Winter Soldier has also used it against Rogers. While incredibly strong, Captain America's shield is far from the most powerful weapon in the MCU.
Every Marvel Character Who Has Wielded Captain America's Shield In The MCU
Steve Rogers isn't the only Marvel character to wield Captain America's shield in the MCU, as Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and more have used it.
17 Corvus Glaive’s Glaive
Corvus Glaive’s Weapon Damaged Vision’s Body
Corvus Glaive's eponymous glaive might seem like a simple staff-like weapon, but this implement was shown to easily be able to slice through Vision's vibranium body in Avengers: Infinity War. This proves the glaive to be stronger than vibranium, so perhaps stronger than other vibranium tools such as Captain America's shield and Black Panther's habit. Even so, the glaive's lack of flash and one-purpose use meant that it was still rather disappointing.
16 Thanos’ Double-Sided Sword
Thanos’ Sword Destroyed Captain America’s Shield
Far more impressive than Corvus Glaive's weapon is Thanos' double-edged sword, which he uses in battle against Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers: Endgame. Thanos foregoes the sword during his sacred quest for the Infinity Stones in Infinity War, but the younger Mad Titan favored the weapon after traveling to the future. This sword was capable of breaking huge chunks off of Captain America's shield, yet was eventually destroyed by the Scarlet Witch's chaos magic powers.
15 The Ebony Blade
Dane Whitman Hasn’t Used The Ebony Blade Yet
Despite not having been shown off in the MCU yet, Dane Whitman's Ebony Blade is a weapon of incredible strength in Marvel Comics. The cursed blade transforms Whitman into the Black Knight when wielded, causing a lust for bloodshed in exchange for granting its full invulnerability, deflecting any magic and being able to slice through any material. It's unclear when Dane Whitman will return in the MCU's future, but the Ebony Blade has been speculated to play a huge role in Marvel Studios' Blade reboot.
14 All-Black The Necrosword
Gorr’s Weapon Had The Power To Kill Gods
Yet another sword depicted in the MCU's Phase 4 is Gorr the God Butcher's Necrosword, named All-Black. Originally, the Necrosword was wielded by the Dark Shadow Lord, though it delivered itself to Gorr upon the beginning of his quest to eliminate the universe's gods. The Necrosword had the power to kill the gods - which is no mean feat - though it slowly corrupted Gorr and bound his own life-force to it. It was eventually destroyed thanks to Jane Foster's Mighty Thor's use of Mjolnir in Thor: Love and Thunder, smashed into pieces.
13 Loki’s Scepter
Loki Mind-Controlled SHIELD Agents With His Scepter
Upon Loki's arrival on Earth in 2012's The Avengers, he quickly revealed that his scepter had the ability to take over the minds of others. This allowed Loki to control Clint Barton and Erik Selvig, among many others. Avengers: Age of Ultron revealed that Loki's scepter housed the Mind Stone, which was later used to give life to Vision, making the scepter redundant. However, it's ability to mind control others and fire powerful blasts of energy made it an impressive weapon for the God of Mischief.
12 The Ten Rings
The Ten Rings Made Xu Wenwu Immortal & Very Powerful
Introduced as the property of Xu Wenwu in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the eponymous Ten Rings granted the MCU's real Mandarin some incredible abilities. Along with immortality, Wenwu could use the rings to emit concussive blasts, fire them as projectiles, use them as platforms, use them to enhance the strength of his punches and kicks and create energy fields. Upon his imminent death, Wenwu gifted the Ten Rings to his son, Shang-Chi, who now wields them as his signature weapons.
11 Zeus’ Thunderbolt
Thor Gifted Others His Power With The Thunderbolt
Thor: Love and Thunder not only introduced Zeus as the leader of Omnipotence City, but also debuted his powerful weapon, Thunderbolt - in the shape of a lightning bolt. Thunderbolt could be used as a projectile weapon, and even granted its the ability to teleport, yet its most impressive power was being able to imbue others with the strength of the gods. Thor uses Thunderbolt to give a group of Asgardian children his own abilities to help in the fight against Gorr the God Butcher.
