10 MCU Characters Introduced Since Endgame Powerful Enough to Use the Infinity Stones (Some Could Even Beat Thanos)

Many new heroes and villains introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe since Avengers: Endgame are powerful enough to wield the Infinity Stones and perhaps even beat Thanos. Marvel Studios has expanded the MCU into some thrilling new places during the Multiverse Saga, debuting dozens of new characters that are some of the most powerful and unmatched the franchise has ever seen. Many of these characters have altered the power levels of the MCU significantly, with some clearly being capable of withstanding the combined energy of the Infinity Stones.

The Infinity Stones were heavily featured throughout the Infinity Saga as the objects of Thanos’ desire. He collected all six in Avengers: Infinity War and used them to wipe out half the population of the universe, while the Avengers used them five years later to bring everyone back and defeat Thanos once and for all. Some of the MCU’s newer characters might be even more powerful than Thanos, however, and could use the Infinity Stones if they ever return to the live-action MCU.

10) Adam Warlock

First seen in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) is right at the beginning of his MCU journey, and is still discovering his impressive range of powers. Adam has the potential to be one of – if not the – most powerful characters in the MCU, and his cosmic powers, at full force, might be enough to allow him to withstand the energy from the six Infinity Stones. Adam became a member of the new Guardians of the Galaxy team in 2023, so there are hopes he’ll return to the MCU to become even stronger soon.

9) Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor

When the Avengers were discussing who would wield the Infinity Gauntlet to bring everyone back in Avengers: Endgame, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) threw his name in the ring. He would have surely been able to survive the Infinity Stones given his godly physiology and the power running through his veins, which means Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor (Natalie Portman) must also be able to use the stones. Foster has been in the MCU since 2011, but she only became a superhero with the powers of Thor after wielding Mjolnir in Thor: Love and Thunder, and she could still return despite her death.

8) Hercules

If Thor and the Mighty Thor are powerful enough to wield the Infinity Stones, it’s very likely that other gods in the MCU would be, too. This includes the Greek god Hercules (Brett Goldstein), who debuted in the end-credits scene of Thor: Love and Thunder. Hercules has been teased to battle Thor, perhaps in a possible Thor 5, but he’s yet to return, so we don’t yet have a good sense of his power set. He is regarded as one of Marvel Comics’ strongest characters, however, which makes it very likely he’d be strong enough to use the Infinity Stones.

7) The Eternals

Widely regarded as some of the most powerful and unmatched characters in the Marvel Universe, there’s no doubt any member of the Eternals would be able to use the Infinity Stones. In the new Marvel Zombies series, Ikaris was shown to be in a never-ending battle against a zombified Captain Marvel, proving just how formidable the Eternals really are. As synthetic beings, the Infinity Stones probably wouldn’t have the same impact on the Eternals’ bodies as biological individuals, and their access to cosmic power connected to the Celestials means they already have almost limitless energy in their bodies.

6) G’iah

Even though Secret Invasion became one of the MCU’s lowest-rated projects ever and received heavy criticism, the series did introduce one of the MCU’s most overpowered and formidable new characters. The Skrull G’iah (Emilia Clarke), the daughter of Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), became the Super Skrull after absorbing the DNA and abilities of many different MCU characters. Including the likes of the Hulk, Captain Marvel, Thanos, Captain America, and many more, the Harvest of DNA inside G’iah’s body means the Infinity Stones’ energy should barely have an effect on her at all.

5) Mephisto

After years of teasing and rumors, Mephisto (Sacha Baron Cohen) finally made his MCU debut in Ironheart. He was introduced as the benefactor of Parker Robbins’ Hood (Anthony Ramos) and a new tentative ally to Riri Williams herself (Dominique Thorne), but Marvel has barely scratched the surface of Mephisto’s incredible power level. Mephisto is the ruler of Hell in Marvel Comics, and one of the universe’s most formidable and unbeatable antagonists, so these otherworldly origins and inexplicable power levels must be enough to withstand the Infinity Stones – though Mephisto might consider these relics might beneath him.

4) Jennifer Walters’ She-Hulk & Other Hulks

It was Bruce Banner’s Smart Hulk who used the completed Infinity Gauntlet in Avengers: Endgame to bring back the trillions of individuals snapped by Thanos five years previously. This did damage his arm and leave him injured, but he proved capable of using the Infinity Stones for a short time because the energy they give off is mostly gamma – the same radiation in his blood. This suggests that any other gamma-irradiated character could also wield the Infinity Stones, including Banner’s own cousin, Jennifer Walters’ She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany), though it’s unclear if she’ll actually be returning to the MCU.

3) Robert Reynolds’ Sentry

Imbued with the power of a thousand exploding suns, Robert Reynolds (Lewis Pullman) became one of the MCU’s most significant new heroes in Thunderbolts* as the Sentry. Unfortunately, right now, the Sentry’s use of his powers are directly connected to the emergence of the Void, his dark alter ego who threatened to thrust everyone in New York into their own worst nightmares. Even so, Reynolds’ power as the Sentry means there’s little doubt he could wield the Infinity Stones, and this could occur when Pullman reprises the role in the MCU’s future.

2) Death

Few characters in the MCU are actually the embodiments of universal forces, but Death (Aubrey Plaza) in Agatha All Along is just that. As the original Green Witch, there is no limit to Death’s power in the MCU, so it would surely be easy for her to pick up, carry, and use the Infinity Stones – though they may seem insignificant to her. Death is one of the most exciting new MCU characters with the power to overwhelm anyone – she only held back against Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) because of love – so it would be amazing to see her return.

1) Franklin Richards

One of the most recent additions to the MCU is also one of the franchise’s most powerful characters ever. Franklin Richards was born in The Fantastic Four: First Steps as the son of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby). First Steps, set in the 828 Universe, revealed that Franklin Richards is imbued with the Power Cosmic, which gives him unmatched and unpredictable levels of power that will be thrilling to explore in the MCU’s future. He practically has the power of the Infinity Stones in his blood without actually having to use the stones themselves, which makes Franklin one of the MCU’s most exciting new heroes.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

7 Best MCU Heroes That Have No Super Powers