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Image via Annamaria Ward
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is chock-full of powerful superheroes that are always saving the world from evil. However, not every hero in the MCU is as physically strong as others. While they may have gadgets that make them effective in combat, their physical strength is far weaker than the other Avengers, Guardians, and the rest of the expanding Marvel universe.
Still, this power difference keeps stories and characters interesting, as not every hero should be a Captain America (Chris Evans) type. It also allows the stakes to be higher, keeping these beloved heroes in danger. Being physically weak isn't always bad, and plenty of heroes are far weaker than others, for better and for worse. These are the weakest heroes in the MCU, and while their strength might pale compared to others, that doesn't make them any less meaningful or crucial to the universe's success.
10 Mantis
Played by Pom Klementieff
Image via Marvel Studios
Mantis (Pom Klementieff) is an interesting case when it comes to power. While she may have some incredible mental powers that took over even the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin), she has considerably less strength when it comes to physical fighting. It's estimated that she holds the physical power of a typical human.
There's also a small downside to her cool powers: to take people over mentally, she needs to touch them, which can be tough when she has little physical strength. The only reason she was able to take on Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War was that the rest of the Avengers and Guardians were pinning him down. Thus, her powers are slightly less effective but that doesn't keep everyone from absolutely loving her and her wonderful personality.
Release Date April 27, 2018
Runtime 149 minutes
Writers Stephen McFeely , Christopher Markus
9 Tony Stark/Iron Man
Played by Robert Downey Jr.
Image via Marvel Studios
While he may be one of the founding fathers of the MCU and one of its greatest heroes, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) is a self-proclaimed "man in a can." Without his suit and technology, he probably wouldn't be able to step up to the enemies he's typically facing. Not to mention, before he had it removed at the end of Iron Man 3, he was even more vulnerable, as his arc reactor served as a weak point for him.
Most notably, it is showcased in the first Iron Man movie, when his business rival removed it from his chest and almost killed him. There's no denying the fact that just being a simple human with no powers is simply not powerful when compared to the heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tony Stark mostly gets points for the fact that he's constantly protected by his Iron Man armor, but underneath, he's nothing much. Few can match him in brain power, though.
Release Date May 2, 2008
Runtime 126 minutes
Writers Matt Holloway , Art Marcum , Hawk Ostby , Mark Fergus
8 Sam Wilson/Falcon/Captain America
Played by Anthony Mackie
Image via Marvel Studios
A big plot point in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was whether Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) would take the Super Soldier Serum or not. After what happened to John Walker (Wyatt Russell), the hero was unsure of what he should do, especially considering his new place as the MCU's de facto Captain America.
Sam ended up not doing so and staying true to who he is naturally, a choice that will seemingly be a plot point of the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. So, while he may have taken on the role of Captain America, he doesn't have the superhuman strength Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) had. This key difference does add more stakes to his stories, though, as he's more vulnerable.
Release Date February 14, 2025
7 James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine
Played by Terrance Howard & Don Cheadle
Image via Marvel Studios
While both he and Iron Man are mere humans in mechanized suits, James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Terrence Howard and Don Cheadle) lost the use of his legs in Captain America: Civil War. Following his fall from the sky after being tagged by Vision's (Paul Bettany) laser beam, Rhodey became partially paralyzed from the waist down.
This unfortunate circumstance made him far more susceptible to being injured or killed. He may have a higher-caliber suit and military training, but that changes nothing about his condition. In recent projects, it's been shown that Rhodey is getting better, which is changing things for him in the power department. Still, Rhodey was never particularly strong per se, so his accident only lowered him in the MCU's overall power ranking.
Release Date May 6, 2016
Runtime 147 Minutes
Writers Stephen McFeely , Christopher Markus
6 Frank Castle/The Punisher
Played by Jon Bernthal
Image via Marvel Television
Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), AKA The Punisher, is another MCU anti-hero who is just a simple human. However, he doesn't have the luxuries of Iron Man or War Machine, with high-tech protection and the brain power or resources to come up with a gimmick. The vigilante has nothing at his disposal besides a bulletproof vest, various guns, and other street-grade weapons.
What makes The Punisher so impressive is the fact that he is such a simple and human anti-hero but can come up against some really powerful foes and even take down entire gangs in a thrilling spectacle. He's the definition of an unstoppable force but somehow has no powers or special technology. Instead, The Punisher is powered through sheer anger and a desire for vengeance, which is pretty impressive, to be honest.
5 The Hawkeyes
Played by Jeremy Renner & Hailee Steinfeld
Image via Marvel Entertainment
For quite a long time, Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) was made fun of in both the fan base and in-universe for being a simple man with a bow and arrow standing with the borderline gods that are The Avengers. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agent has gone up against both Thanos and Ultron (James Spader) with just a bow and arrow, which is both impressive and puzzling.
When he eventually brought the young hero, Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), under his wing in the Disney+ series Hawkeye, fans got to see a mentor side to him. Still, the two are just humans with weapons that are arguably less effective than guns. They have trick arrows but hold less caliber, for sure, and are incredibly skilled fighters, but it can't be denied that they're just two individuals with bows and arrows.
Hawkeye
Release Date November 24, 2021
Creator Jonathan Igla
Seasons 1
4 Star-Lord
Played by Chris Pratt
Image via Marvel Studios
Peter Quill, AKA Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), is another interesting case when it comes to power. Before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Peter Quill was one of the most powerful heroes in the MCU, being half Celestial. However, when he faced his father, Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell), and killed him, Peter lost all Celestial power he previously had.
Now, Peter is simply a human, which makes him far more vulnerable and threatened. He doesn't have the protection of a bulletproof vest like Punisher or military training like Clint Barton, either. Currently, Peter is merely a dude in a jacket, some gadgets, and many funny quips. His time with the Guardians has made him a skilled strategist and fighter, but he's still vastly outpowered, considering the cosmic scale he usually involves himself in.
Release Date May 5, 2017
Runtime 137 minutes
3 Black Widow
Played by Scarlett Johansson
She may be a super spy and arguably the most talented S.H.I.E.L.D. agent there is, but much like the underappreciated Hawkeye, Natasha Romanoff, AKA Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), is a human among gods. Her ability to stand among them and be a genuinely vital member of the team is even more awe-inspiring, especially because she doesn't have trick arrows like Hawkeye or protection like Frank Castle. Instead, Natasha just wears a S.H.I.E.L.D.-outfitted suit with guns and wrist blasters.
Natasha is one of the most vulnerable Avengers, yet she still gets the most done out of many of her fellow Avengers. She's incredibly skilled and uses her weaknesses to her advantage when taking down the enemies that stand in her way. Natasha knows what she can and can't do and plays her moves smart because of it.
2 Nick Fury
Played by Samuel L. Jackson
Image via Marvel Studios
He may be the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and S.W.O.R.D. and the man who formed the Avengers, but Nick Fury's only real power comes from influence. When physical strength is tested, Fury is a simple human being and, in his days as a director, doesn't really seek out action, preferring to take a backseat role to the conflicts typically at hand.
However, his physical capabilities have never stopped Fury from kicking butt when he needs to. He's still trained by the government and the super spy of all super spies, meaning he can still hold his own when danger arises. Fury's still very susceptible to danger, best shown in his faked "death" in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where he got really banged up, almost truly dying.
Release Date April 4, 2014
Runtime 136 Minutes
Writers Christopher Markus , Stephen McFeely
1 Howard the Duck
Played by Seth Green
Image via Marvel Studios
So, Howard the Duck (Seth Green) is exactly as it sounds: he is simply a duck that can talk. There is truly not much to say that isn't already clearly obvious about how powerful the goofy character may or may not be. Most recently appearing in Season 3 of What If...?, Howard the Duck hasn't made many appearances in the live-action MCU and has primarily only featured in the Guardians of the Galaxy as a cameo.
Howard the Duck is an inherently goofy character and the writers over at Marvel Studios know and play into it.
Voiced by the wonderful Seth Green, Howard is typically played just for comedy and never really gets involved in wild action, except for his recent What If...? adventure. He's an inherently goofy character and the writers over at Marvel Studios know this and play into it. Howard can't really do much but get some laughs from the audience, and it's good that the MCU doesn't want to force him to become something he isn't.
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