Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are many characters who are both hugely powerful and still active in the live-action Marvel movies and TV shows. Since the beginning of the MCU’s movie timeline, the franchise has introduced multiple figures with god-like abilities or power levels. The prolific nature of the MCU has seen many characters come and go, sometimes being introduced and having their stories end over just a single movie.
However, the movies and the TV shows of the MCU are still heavily populated with heroes and villains. The franchise has even introduced a number of hugely powerful characters since the beginning of its Multiverse Saga, with both heroes and villains capable of exacting change on a reality-bending level. Many of these characters are still alive in the franchise, and will likely play a role in upcoming MCU releases. With that in mind, here are 10 god-tier heroes and villains still active in the MCU, and how powerful they are.
10
Thor Remains A God-Tier MCU Mainstay
First appearance: Thor (2011)
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Though he may not be the most powerful figure in the franchise, Thor’s MCU story has seen the God of Thunder become one of its most prominent heroes. First introduced in 2011’s Thor, the titular Asgardian has undergone significant growth and change across his many franchise appearances. Thor’s Asgardian physiology, ability to wield Mjolnir and Stormbreaker, and being able to harness the power of lightning at will combine to make him incredibly formidable.
As of the ending of Thor: Love and Thunder, Thor remains active within the MCU. He’s one of the few original Avengers still active and alive, as well as being one of the team’s most powerful members. The MCU has shown him facing off against several hugely powerful villains and either winning or surviving, outliving almost every antagonist he has faced. As such, Thor has earned his status as a powerful god-tier MCU hero.
9
Namor Possesses God-Like Influence As Well As Mutant Abilities
First appearance: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
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First introduced in the cast of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Namor the Sub-Mariner is one of the MCU’s most powerful post-Endgame characters. As the leader of Talokan, Namor has already been shown leading a considerable army against the people of Wakanda, and has showcased his own mutant abilities. In the comics, Namor is a complex figure, and the MCU’s version of the character is in a similar vein, making it unclear whether he should be considered either a hero or a villain.
One thing that is clear is that Namor is a god-tier character. The name given to him by the people of Talokan – K’uk’ulkan – is that of a Mayan serpent god, offering insight into how he is perceived by his people. As well as god-like influence, Namor possesses superhuman strength, stamina, durability, and agility, making him an especially powerful figure in the MCU.
8
Hercules’s MCU Story Has Only Just Begun
First appearance: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Thor: Love and Thunder’s post-credits scene saw the unexpected introduction of Hercules to the MCU, teasing a future showdown between Thor and the son of Zeus. In the comics, Hercules is an incredibly powerful member of the Avengers, though the MCU has yet to explore his character or establish his power level. Even so, it already seems clear that he’s set to be an incredibly powerful figure, should the MCU opt for any semblance of comic-accuracy.
One particularly telling aspect of Hercules’ introduction hints at this. As Zeus is the leader of the gods of Omnipotence City, the fact that he is enlisting Hercules to exact revenge on Thor is especially interesting. This seems to indicate that Hercules is equally powerful or potentially even more physically powerful in some regards than Zeus himself, but either way, his Olympian physiology will almost certainly afford him an impressive amount of power.
7
G’iah Still Possesses A Wealth Of Abilities
First appearance: Secret Invasion (2023)
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In a franchise populated by gods and cosmic beings of unimaginable power, G’iah isn’t the most obvious contender for one of the MCU’s most powerful figures. However, Secret Invasion saw the Skrull become imbued with the Harvest, the DNA of the many heroes (and some villains) present at the Battle of Earth in Avengers: Endgame. This saw G’iah given a massive last-minute power boost in Secret Invasion, making her one of the MCU’s most powerful active characters.
G’iah is able to use the abilities of Captain Marvel, Groot, Drax, Ghost, and Mantis, as well as enhanced strength, ice manipulation, flight, and the Extremis healing factor. All of these powers are surplus to her original shape-shifting ability granted by her Skrull physiology, making her one of the most versatile characters in the MCU. The combination of so many abilities makes G’iah a god-tier figure, making how the franchise handles her story going forward a fascinating topic.
6
Zeus Ranks Highly Among The MCU’s Gods
First appearance: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
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Introduced in Thor: Love and Thunder, the MCU originally treated Zeus as something of a joke. However, Russell Crowe’s Greek god was established as a particularly powerful character, acting as the ruler of Omnipotence City and the wielder of impressive lightning bolts. He was also shown to be incredibly resilient; surviving being pierced by one of his bolts seemingly without any lasting effect other than a bruised ego.
Love and Thunder’s ending established that Zeus was alive and well, and that his MCU story was far from over. His specific power level, as well as whether he should be considered a hero or a villain, has yet to be properly established, but it’s clear that he’s a god-tier character by any definition of the phrase. In addition to his own abilities, he holds sway over countless other gods within the franchise, making him powerful in his influence as well.
5
Death Is One Of The MCU’s Most Formidable New Villains
First appearance: Agatha All Along (2024)
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First featuring in the cast of Agatha All Along, Aubrey Plaza’s Rio Vidal was later revealed to be Death herself. In the comics, Death is a massively powerful entity that serves as the embodiment of life ending, and this would also appear to be true for her MCU counterpart. The ending of Agatha All Along not only establishes Death as hugely powerful, but as a potentially recurring figure within the MCU.
Death’s power levels are difficult to define, as they have rarely been measured in the comics, and Agatha All Along’s late reveal of her true identity did not afford much exploration of the character. Even so, she’s a dangerous and immortal being, making her potentially active at any point in Marvel’s timeline in any reality in the Multiverse. As such, Death is a god-tier villain who could reappear anywhere in the MCU’s future.
4
Loki Recently Received A Huge Power Upgrade
First appearance: Thor (2011)
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When he was originally introduced to the MCU, Loki was a god by definition. The God of Mischief was established first as a villain, and later as something of an antihero, with his main abilities revolving around his power to cast illusions. Initially, Loki was far from a god-tier villain in comparison to some others, as his powers lacked the strength required to compete with the incredibly fierce competition.
The ending of Loki season 2 changed that, though, with Loki becoming the God of Stories. Loki’s new MCU role gives him supreme authority over the Multiverse, having him exist outside of time and overseeing countless branching realities all at once. This makes him a truly god-tier character, and he will likely remain active behind the scenes of the MCU potentially forever, making it possible that he’ll reemerge at any point to exercise his newfound power.
3
Eternity Is One Of Marvel’s Most Powerful Figures
First appearance: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
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In the stories of Marvel Comics, there are very few beings as powerful as Eternity. The opposite of Death, Eternity was born with the Big Bang, making him as old as the universe itself. Introduced into the MCU at the end of Thor: Love and Thunder, Eternity’s ability to grant any wish was exercised by Gorr to resurrect his daughter, Love.
As some of Eternity’s power was transferred to Love, it’s fair to say that the entity is active in some form in the MCU. Considering Eternity’s power levels in the comics and the nature of his introduction into the MCU, it’s impossible to consider him anything other than a god-tier character, and with Love using some of Eternity’s power alongside Thor, it would seem that at least some of those abilities will employed in a heroic manner in the MCU’s future.
2
Arishem The Judge Has Extensive Celestial Powers
First appearance: Eternals (2021)
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Formally introduced in Eternals, the Celestials are some of the most powerful cosmic beings in the Marvel Universe. The colossal cosmic entities are all incredibly powerful, but Arishem the Judge is the Prime Celestial, marking him as even more so than most. Defining the Celestials’ abilities is complex, as they possess god-like powers of creation and destruction, as well as drastically different physiology from Marvel’s human heroes.
The cliffhanger ending of Eternals saw Arishem abduct Sersi, Kingo, and Phastos, planning to judge all of humanity based on their memories of the planet. This establishes that not only is Arishem active within the MCU, but that his story is only just beginning, and that he still has a major role to play in the franchise. Considering his abilities are undeniably god-tier, the danger Arishem poses to the heroes of the MCU is potentially devastating.
1
Dormammu’s Power Hasn’t Yet Been Unleashed In The MCU
First appearance: Doctor Strange (2016)
Dormammu made his MCU debut in Doctor Strange, in which the titular hero was able to outwit him by manipulating time using the Eye of Agamotto. The ruler of the Dark Dimension, Dormammu is often positioned as one of Marvel’s most powerful villains, particularly as he resides in a dimension entirely separate from the majority of its heroes and villains. Described as something worse than a demon, Dormammu possesses a staggering and unknowable amount of power.
As Dormammu has only made a single brief MCU cameo to date, it’s clear that he’s still active somewhere within the franchise. The introduction of Clea in Multiverse of Madness’s post-credits scene established another link to Dormammu, further hinting at his continued presence. He’s one of the most obvious god-tier villains to have been introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who remains active but otherwise unseen.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Captain America: Brave New World
Release Date
February 14, 2025
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Thunderbolts*
Release Date
May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Release Date
July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
Release Date
May 1, 2026
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
Release Date
July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
Release Date
May 7, 2027
