There is a time when enhanced individuals don’t run the show in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. During the events of Captain America: The First Avengers, the United States and its allies are desperately searching for a way to fight back against the Nazi Party and its scientific offshoot, HYDRA. Dr. Abraham Erskine joins the cause because he believes he has a formula that can turn a regular soldier into a super one. However, he’s not willing to just hand his creation over to anyone, as he knows what can happen if it ends up in the wrong hands. That leads him to Steve Rogers, a scrawny kid from Brooklyn who wants to do his part.
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Undergoing the procedure turns Steve into a formidable force, one that can make quick work of enemies who were once twice his size. He doesn’t go into battle without a weapon, though. Howard Stark provides Captain America with a vibranium shield that proves more useful than a gun. Throughout the shield’s time in the MCU, many characters pick it, but not all of them are cut from the same cloth.
8) Clint Barton
One of the very few times that the Avengers get to relax in the MCU comes in Avengers: Age of Ultron, when, after defeating HYDRA, the team celebrates back at the tower. Unfortunately, the event gets interrupted by Ultron, who attacks Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Clint Barton tosses Captain America his shield, hitting his target in stride. However, Hawkeye’s accuracy doesn’t make up for the fact that he’s better with a bow than his fists.
7) Natasha Romanoff
Unlike Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, Captain America’s shield can’t just return to him when he drops it. The hero loses his trusty weapon during a fight with Ultron, and Natasha Romanoff is Johnny-on-the-spot. After grabbing the shield, she puts it on the front of her motorcycle and uses it to great effect. Black Widow doesn’t get much time with her ally’s antique, but she shows off how impactful it would be in her hands full-time.
6) Sam Wilson
Despite being the second person to officially own the shield, Sam Wilson struggles with it mightily. He doesn’t have powers to fall back on when times get tough, meaning he’s got to train the old-fashioned way. Well, all that hard work pays off because, by the time Captain America: Brave New World rolls around, the titular character is as effective as Steve ever was. While the vibranium suit helps, the new Star-Spangled Man isn’t afraid to let his fists do the talking.
5) Ant-Man
Sam Wilson probably wouldn’t enjoy the revelation that he’s out-matched by Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), but he found out the hard way the first time they met. Plus Lang has come a long way since then. Like Hawkeye, Lang’s use of Cap’s shield isn’t exactly transformative on the surface, but in the wake of Spider-Man’s first appearance during Civil War‘s Leipzig-Halle Airport battle, it was Ant-Man who returned the shield to Cap. He took advantage of the argument that blossomed out of Spidey’s appearance to steal the shield from Parker by sneaking up on him and delivering an acrobatic kick while growing back to full size. No mean feat in itself.
4) Bucky Barnes
Hanging out with Steve allows Bucky to get plenty of face time with the shield. He uses it in The First Avenger to battle a HYDRA grunt, in Captain America: The Winter Soldier during his fight with Steve, and in Captain America: Civil War when he and his childhood pal take on Iron Man. If Sam hadn’t been the perfect choice to succeed Steve, Bucky would’ve been the next best choice, and he wouldn’t have missed a beat.
3) John Walker
Sam’s identity crisis in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier allows the US government to handpick the next Captain America. John Walker is the choice because, even without Super Soldier Serum, he’s capable of amazing feats. The pressure gets to Walker, though, and he ends up juicing in order to keep pace with the Flag Smashers. Being strong pushes him higher up this list, but it doesn’t make him a worthy wielder of the shield.
2) Steve Rogers
When Howard hands Steve the shield in The First Avenger, he promises to help the little guy, and that attitude never disappears. In every appearance, Captain America uses his shield to fight the good fight, even when other people tell him he’s wrong. Having a good heart isn’t the only thing that makes him an effective hero, though, as he’s stronger than every other Super Soldier in the MCU. Characters like Walker are chasing a ghost they’ll never be able to catch.
1) Peter Parker
It’s a bit of a stretch to say that Spider-Man wields Captain America’s shield. However, stealing it in Civil War at the start of the airport fight has to count for something. Despite being new to the hero game, Peter Parker holds his own in Germany against Falcon, Captain America, and the Winter Soldier. Steve is able to outsmart him, but it’s clear that Spider-Man is the stronger of the two.
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