15 Greatest Battles in X-Men History, Ranked

Throughout their decades of publishing history, the X-Men have been involved in some of Marvel Comics’ most jaw-dropping battles. With a list of enemies longer than most fans can count, the Merry Mutants have had plenty of opportunity on display their combat prowess over the years.

But not every fight is created equal. And the X-Men’s greatest battles remind readers just why they’re one of Marvel’s most prominent franchises.

15 The Hulk vs The X-Men

World War Hulk: X-Men by Christos Gage, Andrea Di Vito, &Laura Villari

When a vengeful Hulk returns to Earth after the destruction of the life he’d built on Sakarr, he returns with a brutal mission against Marvel’s Illuminati – including Professor X. Naturally, this puts Charles’ Children of the Atom right in the Jade Giant’s crosshairs.

Still reeling from the events of the Decimation, the Merry Mutants – including the Juggernaut himself – do their best to hold their own against the Hulk with abysmal results and only survive when takes pity on their near-extinction and walks away. The X-Men are undoubtedly some of the most powerful heroes that the Marvel Universe has to offer, but the Hulk is the strongest one there is.

14 The Marvel Universe vs Onslaught

Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1 by Scott Lobdell, Mark Waid, Andy Kubert, & Joe Bennet

The entity known as Onslaught is one of the greatest threats that the Marvel Universe has ever faced, and no team was better suited to lead the fight against him than the X-Men. Borne from the dark recesses of Charles Xavier’s psyche, Onslaught grows to menace the majority of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, roping in the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and even Doctor Doom into a battle for their very existence.

Ultimately, the majority of Marvel’s non-mutant heroes end the battle Reborn into a parallel universe. And though both they and Onslaught have long-since returned, it’s still the X-Men who pose his greatest obstacle.

13 Xavier’s Academy vs The Marauders

X-Men #207 by Mike Carey, Chirs Bachalo, & Tim Townsend

As the first major crossover of the Decimation Era reaches its climax, the tensions between Marvel’s various mutant factions reach a fever pitch in “Messiah Complex” that results in an all-out brawl between the X-Men, the newly formed X-Force, the students of Academy X, the Marauders, and even Predator X over the future of the Mutant Messiah, one Hope Summers.

Considering the then-recent Decimation, this meant that the battle included most of the heavy hitters remaining in Marvel’s mutant community. Resulting in one of the many apparent deaths of Charles Xavier, this war for Hope raised the stakes in an era in which the X-Men were arguably their most hopeless.

12 Krakoa vs Orchis

X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 #1 by Gerry Duggan, Russell Dauterman, & R.B. Silva

The final Hellfire Gala was controversial among fans for several understandable reasons, but it cannot be denied that, while gristly, it also happened to be one of the X-Men’s greatest battles in modern history. With astonishing power feats from the likes of Jean Grey and Nimrod, the Hellfire Massacre set a brutal tempo which the Fall of X loyally followed.

After witnessing the success of Krakoa in years prior, 2023’s Hellfire Gala was as heartbreaking for readers as it was for the X-Men themselves. But the X-Men never go down without a fight, and this battle reminds readers just who the X-Men are in the face of extinction.

11 X-Men vs Cassandra Nova

New X-Men #116 by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, & Mark Morales

Cassandra Nova is one of the breakout X-Men villains of the 21st century, and her initial battle against the Children of the Atom goes a long way towards demonstrating both the threat she represents and how far the X-Men are willing to go to win. Wreaking havoc through the halls of the Xavier Institute after orchestrating the Genoshan genocide, Nova tears through the team’s defenses to reach her hated brother.

Ultimately, the battle ends with her unknowingly occupying Charles’ body, tricking the X-Men into defeating their own leader. This may not be the most glamorous fight the X-Men have ever faced, but thanks to Cassandra Nova, it’s certainly one of their most unsettling.

10 X-Men vs Dark Avengers

Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus #1 by Matt Fraction, Mike Deodato Jr., & Terry Dodson

When Norman Osborn rose to power as America’s Top Cop during the Dark Reign period, no hero went untargeted – especially not the recently decimated Children of the Atom. Seeking to put the X-Men in their place by quelling a mutant riot in San Francisco, the Iron Patriot and his Dark Avengers, as well as his newly formed Dark X-Men, end up coming to blows with Xavier’s old students with disappointing results.

Learning firsthand how it feels to be outplayed by Scott Summers, Osborn’s defeat leads to more than a few stunning character moments with Emma Frost acting as a double agent and even a Valkyrie-empowered fan-favorite, Dani Moonstar, even stomping Ares himself into submission.

9 Avengers vs X-Men

Avengers vs X-Men by Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, John Romita Jr., & more

The Avengers and the X-Men are arguably Marvel’s two most prominent superhero teams, and an all-out war between these two entities resulted in one of the most dynamic battles fans had seen in quite some time.

With both teams facing off on the beaches of Utopia over the fate of Hope Summers, this battle features titanic clashes between Marvel mainstays like Cyclops versus Captain America, Magik versus Doctor Strange, and even the Thing versus Namor. This initial battle was arguably the selling point for the entire premise of Avengers vs. X-Men, and while it’s only the opening salvo for a story full of climactic battles, it doesn’t disappoint.

8 Utopia Vs Bastion's Army

"X-Men: Second Coming" by Craig Kyle, Matt Fraction, Zeb Wells, & more

One of the most dramatic battles in X-Men history, the team’s battle for San Francisco is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the franchise’s Utopia period. Trapping the entirety of mutantkind – including major heavy hitters like Namor, Colossus, and Magneto - in San Francisco to battle Bastion and an army of Nimrods, “Second Coming” pushes the Children of the Atom to the edge like never before.

With every remaining mutant fighting for their lives against a seemingly unlimited army of highly advanced Sentinels, this fight is pure, high-octane action that shows both how powerful the X-Men truly are, as well as how dire the threats they face can be.

7 X-Men Vs Orchis

Fall of the House of X #5 by Gerry Duggan, Lucas Werneck, & Stefano Caselli

The Fall of X may have pushed the X-Men to their limits, but the team’s widespread battle against Nimrod and Orchis reminded the Marvel Universe what mutants are truly made of. As one of the final events of the First Krakoan Age, this climatic war for survival stuns readers across multiple planes of action.

With amazing character beats for icons like Storm, Cyclops, Magneto, Polaris, and Synch, this is truly one of the Children of the Atom’s most satisfying fights in years, and one of the highest points for the X-Men in recent memory after the unbridled tragedy of the Hellfire Gala.

6 Krakoa Vs. The Eternals

AXE: Judgment Day by Kieron Gillen, Valerio Schiti, & Marte Gracia

Pitting two of Marvel’s most powerful factions against one another, the Eternals’ attack on Krakoa is one of the most dynamic X-Men battles in the history of either franchise. With the Eternals manipulated into seeing mutantkind as an offshoot of the Deviants they are sworn to destroy, the Gods Who Walk the Earth throw everything they have at Xavier’s dream.

From scintillating psychic warfare to devasting kaiju battles, this war is one of the House of Ideas’ most energetic escapades, as the Eternals’ offensive on the mutant homeland pushes every X-Men icon to their limits for the sake of their home.

5 Mutants vs Monsters

"Inferno" by Chris Claremont, Louise Simonson, Marc Silvestri, & more

The events of “Inferno” were a long time coming, but it takes no time at all for the Goblin Queen’s Hell on Earth to devolve into one massive battle. Encompassing all of New York City, the event even ropes in Big Apple icons like Spider-Man and Daredevil, without losing focus on the mutants’ core ties to the narrative.

With the New Mutants facing off against an army of demons, a possessed squad of X-Men going head-to-head with their allies in X-Factor as well as the Marauders, and Jean Grey and Magik settling their personal scores with the Goblin Queen and the demon S’ym this mystical melee is arguably the climax of Chris Claremont’s sixteen-year stint on the X-Men family of titles.

4 Uncanny X-Men Vs. Marauders

"Mutant Massacre" by Chris Claremont, Louise Simonson, Walter Simonson, & more

“Mutant Massacre” was the mutants’ first major crossover event, and its shocking brutality and dynamic character beats maintains its status as one of their greatest battles to this day. As Mister Sinister’s Marauder systematically wipe out the Morlocks beneath New York City, the X-Men are challenged on every conceivable level in what was their darkest hour to date.

Featuring the first battles between ultimate rivals Wolverine and Sabretooth, then-gentle giant Colossus’ first kill, the devastating loss of Angel’s wings, and even involving Thor, God of Thunder, the Mutant Massacre changed the trajectory of the X-Men, both in-continuity and from a publishing perspective.

3 Arakko vs Uranos

AXE: Judgment Day by Kieron Gillen, et. al and X-Men: Red #5-6 by Al Ewing et. al

While the Eternals’ war against Krakoa was one of the X-Men’s most dynamic battles, it was Uranos’ siege on Arakko that was the major highlight of AXE: Judgment Day. Unleashed by Prime Eternal Druig for an hour of untold devastation, Thanos’ grandfather makes short work of mutant powerhouses like Magneto and the rest of the world’s Great Ring – even ripping Max’s heart out of his chest.

Round two of Uranos’ personal war with mutantkind is even more impactful, serving as culmination of forty years’ worth of character history for Magneto and resulting in the mutant martyr’s heartbreaking death – but not before he and Storm pull off one of most powerful and intimate combo attacks in X-Men history.

2 X-Men Vs. The Imperial Guard

X-Men #137 by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, & Terry Austin

The Dark Phoenix Saga is considered by many to be one of the X-Men’s greatest stories, and its ultimate climax – which pits the team against the hyper-powered Shi’ar Imperial Guard in trial by combat – remains one of their greatest battles.

Arguably the Claremont Era’s first major battle, this is one war that the X-Men are doomed to lose, and it’s even more satisfying for just that reason. The mutants’ battle on the moon is the perfect encapsulation of how far they’re willing to go to defend one another. And despite the much larger stakes the X-Men have faced since, this first major conflict still holds up all decades later.

1 Phoenix vs Enigma

Rise of the Powers of X #5 by Kieron Gillen, Luciano Vecchio, & David Curiel

When discussing the greatest battles in X-Men history, it’s impossible to disregard the one battle which features every X-Man from across time and space. Embodying ever mutant from across the Multiverse to face off with the Enigma entity Jean’s Phoenix form fights for the survival of mutantkind’s destiny against their ultimate enemy in an incredible battle that encapsulates every corner of X-Men lore.

In many ways, Jean Grey’s phoenix can be considered the pinnacle of mutantkind. And with her very species serving as the wind beneath her fiery cosmic wings, Phoenix’s war against Enigma is truly the greatest battle in X-Men history.