Many Marvel fans have debated which Marvel superheroes are stronger than others. These conversations focus on characters who specifically have super-strength instead of just being incredibly powerful. Fans can argue The Phoenix would beat The Hulk, but they rank differently when looking at pure muscle.
While Marvel's strength scale can sometimes help settle arguments, it also comes down to the impressive feats of strength seen in the comics. Several similarly powered heroes like the Hulks and all the Spider-themed heroes can boast the same strength scale. This sometimes makes it difficult for fans wondering "who is the strongest Marvel superhero?"
Updated on Aug 28, 2022 by Scoot Allan: The most powerful heroes in the Marvel universe are gathering together in the multiversalAvengers Forever series. The new team has brought together some of Marvel's strongest heroes from across the multiverse to save the day. While some of the strongest Marvel characters who've appeared in the multiverse may challenge their mainstream counterparts' power levels, these heroes continue to prove their rankings among each other with unforgettable feats of strength.
30 Captain America
First Appearance: Captain America Comics (Vol. 1) #1, By Writer Joe Simon, Writer/Penciler Jack Kirby, And Inker Al Liederman
The super-soldier serum enhanced Steve Rogers, and he became Captain America. The serum pushed Steve's body to the peak of human physical potential, making Cap the strongest a human could be without becoming superhuman.
Major Strengths:
- Can lift approximately 1 ton consistently
- Captain America can further increase his strength by training
- His other strengths include his ability to inspire others and his leadership skills
Captain America possessed enhanced strength beyond what almost any human could muster. It didn't always compare to other super-strong heroes, but that never bothered Captain America. He still wrestled the strongest villains and heroes with his superior fighting skills, intelligence, and years of experience leading the Avengers.
29 Black Panther
First Appearance: Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #52, By Writer Stan Lee, Writer/Penciler Jack Kirby, Inker Joe Sinnott, Colorist Stan Goldberg, And Letterer Sam Rosen
The heart-shaped herb found in Wakana gave Black Panther his super strength. T'Challa, as well as the other Black Panthers, acquired strength that rose just above peak human potential. This meant T'Challa and other Black Panthers could lift about 100 pounds more than Captain America.
Major Strengths:
- Can lift approximately 1 ton consistently
- The heart-shaped herb also enhanced his senses
- His armor elevates him to Class 5 strength
It might not be much, but it came in handy for the Black Panther on several occasions. His Vibranium-laced suit further increased his strength, allowing him to take on powerful villains who would normally be way above his strength class.
28 Wolverine
First Appearance: Incredible Hulk (Vol. 1) #180, By Writer Len Wein, Penciler Herb Trimpe, Inker Jack Abel, Colorist Christie Scheele, And Letterer Artie Simek
Surprisingly, Wolverine is actually stronger than Black Panther and Captain America. Wolverine's power scales are improved thanks to his adamantium skeleton. Wolverine's strength limit may be less defined, but he's proven capable of handling close to two tons.
Major Strengths:
- Can lift up to two tons consistently
- Wolverine is the best there is at what he does
- His claws are made from one of the planet's strongest metals
Wolverine's Adamantium skeleton prevents his bones from breaking under the pressure of immense weight. His healing factor also contributes to his enhanced mutant strength by allowing his muscles to grow back stronger every time they break down. Ultimately, Wolverine's physical strength can increase each time he heals.
27 Beast
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #1, By Writer Stan Lee, Penciler Jack Kirby, Inker Paul Reinman, And Letterer Sam Rosen
Hank McCoy was easily the strongest of his fellow founding X-Men, and he possessed plenty of agility and intelligence as well. With his mutant animal muscle, The Beast could lift upwards of 10 tons and he pushed past this limit when needed.
Major Strengths:
- Class 10+
- His genius intellect led to his further mutations
- His strength makes his claws even more deadly
The Beast is a super genius and knows how to maximize his strength in various ways. He's gone through multiple secondary mutations throughout his life and grows stronger from each transformation. This means Beast's true upper limits of strength aren't set in stone.
26 Jessica Jones
First Appearance: Alias (Vol. 1) #1, By Writer Brian Michael Bendis, Penciler/Inker Michael Gaydos, Colorist Matt Hollingsworth, And Letterer Richard Starkings
Jessica Jones' powers may have changed over the years, but her strength remains rather consistent. She can lift around two tons but has occasionally handled 25 tons, placing her in a much higher tier. Jessica's super strong versus just having enhanced strength. Her most shocking moments have also proved her strengths aren't just physical.
Major Strengths:
- Class 25+
- Can lift cars and other vehicles with minimal effort
- The upper limits of her strength have yet to be tested
Her ability to fly makes her even stronger since it adds some velocity to her punches and some lift to her strength. Jones' durability is also worth noting, as she can push beyond her strength and recover from the resulting injuries with ease.
25 Spider-Man
First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy (Vol. 1) #15, By Writer Stan Lee, Writer/Penciler/Inker Steve Ditko, Colorist Stan Goldberg, And Letterer Artie Simek
Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider to become the powerful Spider-Man. He gained the proportionate strength of a spider, making Spider-Man a surprisingly powerful hero. The strongest known spider is the jumping spider, which can lift 170 times its own weight. Applied to Spider-Man, it means he can easily lift around 12-15 tons.
Major Strengths:
- Class 25+
- His strength was enhanced even further by the Venom symbiote
- He habitually pulls his punches when fighting to protect his foes
However, the "proportionate strength of a spider" isn't always a hard rule. Spider-Man has lifted upwards of 25 tons in the comics. He's proven he can push himself to lift well over his regular class when needed. His incredible strength and spider-like agility make him a tough target, and some of Spider-Man's most impressive costumes have further enhanced these abilities.
24 Luke Cage
First Appearance: Hero For Hire (Vol. 1) #1, By Writer Archie Goodwin, Penciler George Tuska, Inker Billy Graham, And Letterer Skip Kohloff
The former Avenger and current Mayor of New York Luke Cage still has plenty of strength behind his punches. Along with his unbreakable skin, Luke possesses some impressive strength that allows him to lift around 50 tons on a regular basis.
Major Strengths:
- Class 50+
- His strength initially earned him the name Power Man
- Training with Iron Fist taught him how to use his strength
The ability to toss around construction equipment or ground planes as they attempt to take off doesn't make Luke Cage one of Marvel's strongest heroes, but it remains an impressive accomplishment. While Luke Cage isn't weak, there are plenty of super-strong heroes who can outclass him.
23 Drax The Destroyer
First Appearance: Iron Man (Vol. 1) #55, By Writer Mike Friedrich, Writer/Penciler Jim Starlin, Inker Mike Esposito, And Letterer John Costanza
One doesn't get a nickname like "The Destroyer" without being known around the galaxy for destruction. Drax's super-strength is pretty useful for destroying things. Drax's alien body has the strength, superhuman durability, and accelerated healing needed to kill Thanos. His strength makes him a valuable member of the Guardians of the Galaxy's best rosters.
Major Strengths:
- Class 50+
- Arthur Douglas' original resurrection as Drax was his most powerful form
- Drax has also mastered the alien martial arts known as Dwi Theet
Drax also has a special aura that activates in times of great need. This aura creates a protective shield and increases Drax's physical strength so much that he was able to rip out Thanos' heart. This aura puts Drax above some of his fellow heroes when it comes to strength, but it's not something he can always rely on in battle.
22 Vision
First Appearance: Avengers (Vol. 1) #57, By Writer Roy Thomas, Penciler John Buscema, Inker George Klein, And Letterer Sam Rosen
The Vision has several powerful abilities, including density manipulation. This ability further enhances his artificial body's super strength. When Vision increases his density, his max strength limit goes up to 50 tons. He can even push himself past these limits, but it risks destabilizing his own body.
Major Strengths:
- Class 50+
- His body has been rebuilt with advanced technology that enhanced his strength
- He was temporarily merged with Wonder Man, which further increased his strength
Vision has a lot of abilities that further elevate him above other heroes, especially when used in combination with his super-strength. His flight and solar beams both augment his physical strength exponentially. He can even absorb additional energy to further enhance those abilities.
21 America Chavez
First Appearance: Vengeance (Vol. 1) #1, By Writer Joe Casey, Penciler/Inker Nick Dragotta, Colorist Brad Simpson, And Letterer Rus Wooton
Miss America, otherwise known as America Chavez, is a young superhero with a plethora of powers. These include flight, super speed, invulnerability, the power to travel through the multiverse, and super strength. One of the strongest characters America Chavez beat in the comics was Loki, which reveals just how strong she is.
Major Strengths:
- Class 50+
- She can channel energy into her legs and feet for a power stomp
- Ms. America can throw tanks to the Moon according to Loki
Asgardians are incredibly strong on their own, and America nearly beat the trickster god. Loki isn't as strong as his brother and is only able to lift around 50 tons, which means Chavez might not be at Thor's level yet. However, America Chavez's ability to increase her strength ranks her high among Marvel's strongest heroes.
20 Groot
First Appearance: Tales To Astonish (Vol. 1) #13, By Writers Stan Lee And Larry Lieber, Penciler Jack Kirby, Inker Dick Ayers, Colorist Stan Goldberg, And Letterer Ray Holloway
Groot is one of the strongest members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Groot's tree-like body is denser and stronger than most superheroes on Earth, which grants him great strength. This strength can increase exponentially as he changes his size and shape, another powerful ability his plant body grants him.
Major Strengths:
- Class 100+
- Groot was originally a monster who fought the Hulk
- He has healing abilities and a genius-level intellect
Even though Groot can consistently lift 100 tons, his strength is essentially limitless. Since he can increase his size and effortlessly regenerate parts of his body, Groot can multiply his strength with ease. Even without relying on changing his size, Groot's base form outclasses some of Marvel's most powerful heroes.
19 Captain Avalon
First Appearance: Captain Britain (Vol. 1) #1, By Writer Chris Claremont, Penciler Herb Trimpe, Inker Fred Kida, Colorist Marie Severin, And Letterer Irving Watanabe
Unlike Captain America, Captain Britain's powers are a huge upgrade from peak human physicality. Initially, Captain Britain's costume acted as a conduit for inter-dimensional energy, which gave him his powers. He gained incredible speed, superhuman durability, flight, and super strength. Captain Britain could lift around 90 tons while wearing his conduit suit.
Major Strengths:
- Class 100+
- Braddock can also enhance his senses using the same energy that increases his strength
- His strength is partially based on his confidence so he can increase it when needed
Brian Braddock eventually gained access to his abilities without the Captain Britain suit, and his sister later took up the mantle. Braddock earned new powers with the Sword of Might and became Captain Avalon. His strength continued to increase, as did his connection to the mystical Otherworld that empowered him.
18 Sasquatch
First Appearance: X-Men (Vol. 1) #120, By Writer Chris Claremont, Writer/Penciler John Byrne, Inker Terry Austin, Colorist Glynis Wein, And Letterer Tom Orzechowski
Walter Langkowski was a gifted scientist who experimented with Bruce Banner's gamma research. He unknowingly opened a portal to the Realm of the Beasts, which transformed him into a powerful new form known as Sasquatch. He joined the first powerful roster of Canada's Alpha Flight and remained with the team when they were revamped as a galactic defense force.
Major Strengths:
- Class 100+
- His original form was of the Great Beast known as Tanaraq
- He dropped in strength when he possessed Doc Samson
Sasquatch's incredible strength allowed him to battle with other strong characters, like the Hulk and the Wendigo. Langkowski underwent another change as a member of Gamma Flight, which was tasked with hunting down the Immortal Hulk. He switched bodies with the gamma-powered Doc Samson, and they became the still-powerful Walter Samson and Doc Sasquatch.
17 Iron Man
First Appearance: Tales Of Suspense (Vol. 1) #39, By Writers Stan Lee And Larry Lieber, Penciler/Inker Don Heck, Colorist Stan Goldberg, And Letterer Artie Simek
Tony Stark is normally just an ordinary human being in good physical condition. However, when he's wearing one of his most powerful Iron Man armors, his strength increases to beyond superhuman levels. Iron Man can lift over 100 tons, which is only the limit of his most basic suit.
Major Strengths:
- Class 100+
- The Celestial-fighting Godbuster armor is physically his strongest
- Tony Stark's natural strength was also enhanced by Extremis
Iron Man's strength class can easily increase based on which powerful armor he's wearing at the time. Stark created his Hulkbuster armor to take on more powerful gamma-powered foes, which increases his strength and durability much more than his usual suit.
16 Giant-Man
First Appearance: Tales To Astonish (Vol. 1) #27, By Writers Stan Lee And Larry Lieber, Penciler Jack Kirby, Inker Dick Ayers, And Letterer Artie Simek
Hank Pym's strength is reliant on his ability to increase his size as Giant-Man. When he increases his size, his strength proportionally increases. Technicalities aside, Giant Man's strength is greater than some of Marvel's strongest heroes, and it only increases as he grows larger.
Major Strengths:
- Class 100+ if he exceeds 100 feet
- He is a super-genius who became Marvel's Scientist Supreme
- His strength was further increased after merging with Ultron
Marvel's scale put Giant-Man's strength at 100 tons or more, as long as he exceeded 100 feet, which meant every foot he goes beyond that would further increase his strength. Pym recently went through a huge change when he was forcibly bonded with Ultron. They gained incredible strength and became the most powerful member of the Pym family.
15 Colossus
First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men (Vol. 1) #1, By Writer Len Wein, Penciler/Inker Dave Cockrum, Inker Peter Iro, Colorist Glynis Wein, And Letterer John Costanza
Piotr Rasputin already possessed the physique of a champion bodybuilder. However, Colossus' metallic form made him one of the strongest Marvel heroes. His metal form wasn't a shield that covered his skin. His mutant power actually converted his entire body's cellular structure into that of a super-strong organic metal.
Major Strengths:
- His organic steel is composed of the super-dense metal osmium
- He nearly won an arm wrestle against the Fantastic Four's Thing
- Colossus' strength increased exponentially as the new Juggernaut
Colossus' incredible strength class is 100+, which means he can consistently lift above 100 tons. Colossus' most ridiculous feats in the comics further prove his elevated strength class. His power has been increased even further when he became Cyttorak's avatar and later a host for the Phoenix Force.
14 Captain Marvel
First Appearance: Marvel Super-Heroes (Vol. 1) #13, By Writer Roy Thomas, Penciler Gene Colan, Inker Paul Reinman, Colorist Stan Goldberg, And Letterer Sam Rosen
Carol Danvers has quite a few powerful abilities as Captain Marvel, including her Class 100+ super strength. While she can usually lift around 50 to 70 tons, her power to absorb and re-channel energy increases her strength class. Captain Marvel has become one of the most powerful members of The Avengers, both in the comics and on the big screen.
Major Strengths:
- Class 100+
- She can lift heavy beings like Celestials
- Her photon blasts are also incredibly powerful
Captain Marvel has a connection to a cosmic force that allows her to tap into the nearly infinite power of a white hole. Danvers' ability to absorb energy helps her redistribute the absorbed power and add it to her own, which can skyrocket her strength to beyond 100+ tons.
13 Namor The Sub-Mariner
First Appearance: Motion Picture Funnies Weekly (Vol. 1) #1 By Writer/Penciler/Inker/Letterer Bill Everett
Namor the Sub-Mariner is incredibly powerful and deserves more credit for being one of Marvel's first and strongest superheroes. His strength level is at its peak when he's underwater. Namor can consistently lift around 75 tons, but that can further increase when he is in his natural element.
Major Strengths:
- Class 100+ when in water
- Namor is physically stronger than any other Atlantean
- He's stood up to powerful characters like Hulk and the Thing
Namor is a mutant Atlantean which allows him to survive the crushing pressures of the ocean. His unique hybrid physiology gives him strength far beyond other Atlanteans. Namor has beaten some of Marvel's toughest characters, but his reliability on the water holds him back when compared to other heroes.
12 Rogue
First Appearance: Avengers Annual (Vol. 1) #10, By Writer Chris Claremont, Penciler/Colorist Michael Golden, Inker Armando Gil, And Letterer Joe Rosen
X-Men's resident Southern sweetheart Rogue can lift upwards of 100 tons, making her one of the most physically strong X-Men. Rogue can absorb the powers of anyone she directly touches. However, she can absorb their powers permanently if touching them for too long. Rogue has absorbed the incredible strength of multiple heroes, beginning with Carol Danvers/Ms. Marvel.
Major Strengths:
- Class 100+
- She has absorbed the strength of heroes like Colossus, She-Hulk and Wonder Man
- Rogue can absorb multiple powers at once to increase her strength further
Rogue sits above some of the other 100-ton-lifting heroes because she can further increase her strength as needed. She can temporarily absorb the powers of those stronger than her and combine them together. Rogue can even enhance her incredible strength with Colossus' organic steel skin to propel her well past the 100+ ton strength class.
11 Nova
First Appearance: Nova (Vol. 1) #1, By Writer Marv Wolfman, Penciler John Buscema, Inker Joe Sinnott, Colorist Michele Wolfman, And Letterers Joe Rosen And Gaspar Saladino
The various cosmic energies of the Marvel universe are as mysterious as they are powerful, often granting infinite power. Nova was originally a member of the intergalactic Nova Corps. Richard Rider became the last Nova after the Corps' destruction. He was the final host for the source once used to power the entire Nova Corps.
Major Strengths:
- Class 100+
- He used the Nova Force to match Silver Surfer's cosmic strength
- He can also manipulate gravimetric energy into powerful blasts
Nova essentially became living energy before he used some of the Nova Force to rebuild the Corps. He could use the entire Nova Force to further enhance his strength and take on cosmic threats at the cost of leaving his fellow Corpsmen weakened.