In X-Men lore, the strongest mutants of all are given the label 'Omega level.' These are the heroes and villains capable of warping the fundamental forces of reality and nature, accomplishing feats like terraforming planets, killing gods, and creating entire new realities. However, there are still many incredibly powerful mutant characters who aren't quite Omega level - characters who can still stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Marvel's strongest human heroes.

Here are the 15 strongest Marvel mutants who aren't officially Omega level, but still pack a staggering punch every fan should know about. We've assembled a list of well-known faces and relative unknowns, focusing on mutants who can match the Avengers and Fantastic Four's best, even if there are Omega-level X-Men who outshine them.

15 Cyclops (aka Scott Summers)

Debuted in 1963's The X-Men #1

The X-Men's stalwart leader, Scott Summers has the ability to absorb energy and unleash it in optic blasts of kinetic force. Cyclops has a deep mental block regarding his powers due to childhood trauma, and he rarely unleashes their true power. However, when he does, he's been able to rip Sentinels apart with a single blast, knock down the Hulk, and tear the skin off Wolverine's body.

Cyclops' beams are made of concentrated force, not heat. This confusion exists among many fans (and even some creators), with slip-ups in various comics explained away by the fact that Cyclops' beams hit so hard, they can generate heat on through friction.

Cyclops actually has three mutant powers in Marvel lore - his optic blasts, enhanced spatial reasoning, and immunity to similar powers like those of his brother Havok. Cyclops has honed his instinctive ability to aim and ricochet his blasts all his life, meaning that he doesn't just hit like a missile - he can do so from seemingly impossible angles.

Cyclops was played by James Marsden in Fox's X-Men movies, and by Tye Sheridan in the franchise's prequel movies.

14 Professor X (aka Charles Xavier)

Debuted in 1963's The X-Men #1

As X-Men's most prominent Omega mutant, Jean Grey kind of ruins the grading curve for X-Men's other psychics, but her mentor Charles Xavier has a god-level mind. An incredibly sophisticated psychic, Xavier has accomplished feats such as defeating the multiversal villain known as the Shadow King in a mental duel and knocking out the combined rosters of the X-Men and Avengers at the same time (minus Thor.) What Xavier lacks in pure telepathic power (which isn't much) he makes up for in experience and creativity.

At times when his spine has been healed, Xavier has ed the X-Men in the field, taking Cyclops' role as field leader. Xavier also has a low level of telekinesis, turning him into a bigger physical threat than many enemies realize.

Professor X has famously been played by Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy in Fox's X-Men movies.

13 The White Queen (aka Emma Frost)

Debuted in 1980's The Uncanny X-Men #129

Like Xavier, Emma exists in Jean Grey's Omega-level shadow, but she still deserves immense respect for her wildly skilled and powerful telepathy. Frost is among the best of the best, able to create long-lasting false memories and outfox even the most skilled telepaths, as well as do psychic battle on the very highest level.

However, what makes Emma so powerful is that she also have a totally different mutant power. Thanks to a secondary mutation, Emma Frost can turn her body into organic diamond, giving her immense durability, superstrength, and the ability to rechannel energy such as Cyclops' beams and Iron Man's blasts. While neither of her powers are Omega (and she can only use one at a time, since her diamond form shuts off her telepathy), Emma Frost is a mental and physical powerhouse.

Emma Frost is played by January Jones in X-Men: First Class and by Tahyna MacManus in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Marvel's second ever hero is known as its first mutant, and has even beaten the Hulk in a fist fight.

12 The Sub-Mariner (aka Namor McKenzie)

Debuted in 1939's Marvel Comics #1

Known as 'the first mutant,' Namor is Marvel's second official superhero (after the Human Torch) and has always been more associated with the Avengers than the X-Men. However, when mutantkind has been under threat, Namor (an Atlantean/human hybrid with an active X-gene) has stood by their side, using his immense strength, durability, flight, and Atlantean army to keep the species alive. Namor is incredibly strong on land, but even mightier in the sea, having even bested the Hulk when fighting underwater.

Namor is played by Tenoch Huerta in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

11 Rogue (aka Anna Marie LeBeau)

Debuted in 1981's Avengers Annual #10

Beginning her life as a villain who brutally attacked Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel, Rogue has since become a major figure in X-Men lore. Her ability to steal the powers of others has only gone from strength to strength, with Rick Remender and Daniel Acuña et al.'s Uncanny Avengers vol. 1 seeing her siphon the powers of every major Marvel hero in order to push a Celestial away from Earth, saving the planet.

In recent comics, she also confirmed that she has retained the physical strength of both Captain Marvel and Wonder Man, making her one of Marvel's strongest beings in existence.

10 Mikhail Rasputin

Debuted in 1991's Uncanny X-Men #285

The brother of iconic X-Men hero Colossus, Mikhail Rasputin is a villainous mutant who can control subatomic matter. Mikhail can manipulate the powers of other energy-based mutants, allowing him to control the powers of heavy hitters like Iceman, Sunfire and Jean Grey. He's also able to teleport incredible distances, including between dimensions. Visiting alternate dimensions has given him additional powers, including powerful energy blasts and enhanced physical strength.

9 Sunfire (aka Shiro Yoshida)

Debuted in 1970's X-Men #64

Despite ing the team alongside icons like Colossus and Wolverine, Sunfire soon quit and has been an on/off ally of Xavier's mutants ever since. He is able to generate and control both heat and radiation, to the extent that he's been called a "Living Sun." Sunfire's feats include breaking Apocalypse's Celestial-tech armor, defeating Kang the Conqueror at the height of his power, and vaporizing millions of tons of metal in a feat that impressed even Thor.

Sunfire has never appeared in live action, however Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu has offered Marvel his own multiseason plan for a series starring the character.

Multiple Man has one of the greatest powers in X-Men lore, turning him into a genius spy, lawyer, doctor and scientist.

8 Magik (aka Illyana Rasputin)

Debuted in 1975's Giant-Size X-Men #1

The kid sister of Colossus and Mikhail, Magik was kidnapped during childhood and raised in the demonic realm of Limbo. Her actual mutant power is to create teleportation discs which, by ing through Limbo, allow instant teleportation across immense distances. However, Magik's experiences in Limbo taught her magic, and she later conquered the realm, becoming its leader and Sorcerer Supreme. On top of mutant powers and magic, she also wields the ultra-powerful Soulsword, forged from her own innocence - a coveted weapon which can cut down even the Silver Surfer.

Magik is the perfect example of a mutant hero with relatively middle-of-the-road offensive power whose adventures have elevated her well above any one ability. A master sorceress, Magik has also trained for years to use her portals in combat, for example using them to give her blows incredible momentum.

Magik was portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy in The New Mutants.

7 Multiple Man (aka James Madrox)

Debuted in 1974's Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4

While James Madrox isn't the most reliable hero, the former leader of X-Factor has one of the most useful powers in X-Men history. Multiple Man turns kinetic energy into 'dupes' - copies of his body and mind which can operate independently and be reabsorbed at will. There's no real limit on how many dupes Multiple Man can create, and they're all autonomous people. That means Multiple Man is effectively an army of one.

However, the most jaw-dropping aspect of Multiple Man's powers is that when he absorbs a dupe, he gains all their knowledge and experience. Madrox has taken advantage of this by sending various dupes out to live different lives, later absorbing them to gain their skills. Multiple Man therefore boasts a lifetime's worth of detective skills, medical and legal knowledge, spycraft and scientific insight, which are also possessed by any later dupes he creates.

A villainous Multiple Man was played by Eric Dane in X-Men: The Last Stand.

6 Polaris (aka Lorna Dane)

Debuted in 1968's X-Men #49

The biological daughter of Magneto, Polaris has similar powers, with immense control over magnetism. The recent Krakoan Era saw her double-down on her commitment to the mutant cause and her own abilities, with incredible feats such as pulling the severed Celestial head known as Knowhere across space. X-Men writers have hinted that, like her father, Polaris likely has Omega-level potential, though she's not quite there yet.

Polaris was played by Emma Dumont in The Gifted.

Gambit is incredibly powerful, with hints he could destroy Galactus himself if he ever accesses his full potential.