Marvel Comics has introduced fans to some of the best and most unforgettable weapons in comic book history.
The X-Men are currently in yet another fight for their lives in the pages of Marvel Comics. This time, it involves the children of Apocalypse. X of Swords is going to be a bloody battle. With weapons like the Muramasa Blade, Soul Sword, Grasscutter, and Godkiller being involved, there’s going to be a lot of cranage.
These are some of the greatest weapons in Marvel Comics. Grasscutter and Godkiller are swords that can put a god down for good. The Soul Sword is one of the most powerful weapons in the universe. It gives the wielder the ability to rule over Limbo, negate spells, and can cut through things that aren’t physical (like Kitty Pryde or Ghost’s phasing).
These are only some of the more intimidating weapons in the Marvel Comics universe. There are some that may not seem threatening until they’re in the right hands. Then, we have objects that are horrifying. Things that can literally destroy entire planets and gods.
With that in mind, here are 20 of the most popular and mightiest weapons in Marvel. Some of them you’ve seen in movies, others will most likely be used as time goes on. On that note, let’s start with one that wreaked havoc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
20. Infinity Gems/Gauntlet
The Infinity Gems may be the most powerful objects in the universe. Individually, each one is a threat. Once you’ve combined the power, mind, reality, space, time, and soul gems, however, the Infinity Gauntlet can be completed. After that, the universe is yours to mold – just like in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thanos blanked half of reality’s beings from existence. When the universe’s strongest tried to stop Thanos, they were easily defeated.
While the wielder is always defeated, it’s never done easily or without a price. It’s not shocking. Power like this always comes with a price.
19.Ebony Blade
Speaking of weapons with a price, we have the Ebony Blade. A weapon forged by Merlin himself, not only is it nearly unbreakable, it has the gift of being magical. However, it comes with a curse. The person using the blade eventually becomes more violent and bloodthirsty. A villain may not consider this a bad thing but the problem is that it’s a hero’s weapon. A few of the Black Knights have succumbed to the curse, others have given the weapon up before their thoughts and rage got worse. As of now, the current Black Knight has broken the curse. We can assume it won’t be long before it creeps up on him again.
18. Nova Corps Helmet
The Nova Corps in the MCU have nothing on the corps in Marvel Comics. In the comics, they don’t fly around in ships. Their power comes from their helmets. It gives them a ton of abilities. They can fly (and breathe) through space at super speeds, translate other languages, they’re super strong, and have a catalogue of the universe’s history. Despite all of this power and skill, they aren’t invincible. The corps was once destroyed during the Annihilation Wave. The only survivor was Richard Rider. He did get his revenge by killing the being that started the war to begin with.
17. Crimson Gem of Cyttorak
There have been more than a few people who assumed that Juggernaut is a mutant. Mostly because of his relationship with Charles Xavier and his constant battles with the X-Men. Nonetheless, Cain Marko’s powers are magical. The Crimson Gem of Cyttorak comes from the god Cyttorak. A deity that only wants destruction. Whoever has his power is unstoppable. On top of the incalculable power level, once they’re in motion, they can’t be stopped. Juggernaut’s even given the Hulk problems. One of the problems that comes with this power is anger. They feel the need to destroy everything and everyone in their path. Even gentle souls like Colossus have given into it.
16. Destroyer Armor
We’ve seen the Destroyer Armor in the MCU. Not shocking at all, but it’s more powerful in Marvel Comics. Thor wouldn’t have been able to defeat the armor so easily. It has the power to withstand Mjolnir and the lighting it throws. The best thing about it is how difficult it is to get the wearer out of it. It’s not as simple as taking the armor apart. For example, in Thor (written by J Michael Straczynski) Thor had to magically remove Balder out of the armor to shut it down. In that case, Thor was lucky. For all of his power and durability, the Destroyer Armor can kill him.
15. Jarnbjorn
This is a personal favorite. Jarnbjorn is another Asgardian weapon that’s more than it appears. It isn’t just an axe. It’s an axe that can block and deflect energy attacks and is sharp enough to cut through almost anything. Apocalypse found this out the hard way when he fought a young Thor.
When Thor became unworthy of Mjolnir (Original Sin), he went back to one of his earliest weapons. Jarnbjorn served him well throughout his time without his hammer. Another quality that should be noted is that it can kill a Celestial – beings that aren’t easily killed by conventional means.
14. Black Panther’s armor
This is one of the times where the MCU did a fantastic job recreating a comic book item. T’Challa started wearing this suit in Black Panther written by Ta-Nehisi Coates with art by Brian Stelfreeze. This particular suit worn by T’Challa is more than just Vibranium. While a suit made of that metal is enough, it has other capabilities. It can absorb kinetic energy and expel it back out with force. In some of the more recent comics, T’Challa’s armor is capable of teleporting as well. This on top of it being nearly unbreakable. T’Challa’s armor may not be able to fly like Iron Man or have super strength, but it is more flexible and durable.
13. The Watcher’s Eye
This might seem like a weird item to have considering it should be in the Watcher’s head, but it’s not. During Original Sin, Uatu the Watcher was killed by Nick Fury. Later on, Orb took the Watcher’s eye and put it inside his torso. He now knows the secrets of the universe – an advantage he can use in any fight. All of that power should not be in the hands of a Z-List villain. Now that Uatu is back (with Nick Fury as his herald), we can assume he’ll be going after his eye.
12. Web shooters
This may be the most underrated weapon on this list. Spider-Man uses his web shooters to do more than just swing around the city. We’ve seen him tie villains up, but he’s also made hang gliders, used them to catch falling objects, support beams that were damaged, and so much more. That’s the beauty of them. It’s all about the wielder. A creative person (which Peter Parker is) can turn the webs into anything. The only limit is a person’s imagination. If you’ve seen or played the PlayStation 4 Spider-Man game, you’ve seen examples of this. The impact webbing, web traps, and web-bombs are only a few of the weapons you can use.
11. Wolverine’s Claws
Nick Fury once said that Wolverine’s claws were the perfect stealth weapon. He was right. They can’t be removed and they’re concealed inside his body. We’ve seen Wolverine pop his claws faster than people can see and gut them even faster. Also, just like the web shooters, Wolverine’s claws can do more than just the primary purpose they were designed for. Logan has used them to climb walls, pick locks, and deflect attacks. When they’re coated in adamantium, his claws can cut through almost anything. Sure, their main usage is to eviscerate people, but they have other uses than just fighting weapons.
10. Mjolnir
Mjilnor is more than a nearly indestructible hammer. It has a magical protection that other weapons don’t. It can’t be lifted or used by just anyone. The enchantment reads, “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” That power includes weather control, super strength, invulnerability, and apparently talking like an Asgardian.
Recently, Mjolnir has been picked up by more than just the worthy. However, as Iron Man found out, lifting it and getting Thor’s powers are two different things. It may be a while before Mjolnir’s back to normal. For all we know, this could be permanent. Wouldn’t that be something.
9. Captain America’s shield
Captain America’s shield is a perfect weapon. It was created by the two strongest metals on Earth (Vibranium and Adamantium). After it was broken (in Fear Itself) it was repaired with Uru-infused enchantments. It’s nearly indestructible. Although, it can’t be thrown by just anyone. You have to either be Hawkeye or Bullseye level-accurate to throw it the way Steve Rogers does. Even then, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the results you want. When Steve Rogers throws it, he’s not just aiming at his target, he’s throwing it so that it will come back to him. Cap’s shield could be the most difficult weapon to use on this list.
8. Mandarin’s Rings
When the Mandarin was announced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this writer was excited. The Mandarin is one of Iron Man’s greatest villains. Him and his powers would have looked great on screen. It’s unfortunate that we got a spoof on him instead of the comic-accurate enemy we deserved in Iron Man 3.
Mandarin’s ten rings all do different things. There’s a matter rearrange, impact beam, freeze ray, one that makes absolute darkness – and that’s only four out of the ten! Together, the right user could be an A-list threat. Mandarin was eventually killed by The Punisher. He could have survived if not for his arrogance. His weapons are powerful enough to protect him.
7. The Cosmic Cube
In the wrong hands, the Cosmic Cube could destroy the world with it’s reality-altering power. One of its most famous uses is altering personalities. When Bucky was Winter Soldier, Steve Rogers used it to give him his old memories back. After the Cosmic Cube became sentient, it changed Steve Rogers’ history. The cube was the reason that Steve Rogers was hailing Hydra.
It seems like the Cosmic Cube is always in the hands of villains. Red Skull obsessed over it and Dr. Doom has craved the cube’s power as well. However, for some reason, the heroes never think to destroy it. They just poorly hide it for a villain to steal it in a few years.
6. Staff of One
If you have the Staff of One, you have the ability to do almost anything. With a blood sacrifice, you can create any spell you desire. From what we’ve seen, the amount of blood can determine the might of a spell – a tiny cut could give you something like a traffic-light changing, a giant wound could cause a hurricane. The Runaways’ Nico used this power to create hellfire, create a shield, and defeat Spider-Man. The biggest problem is that the spell can only be used once. That means if you want more hellfire, you better make sure you absolutely need it. The results of using the same spell twice can be disastrous.
5. Soul Sword
The Soul Sword has to be on this list. First, it can break spells. In Exiles, Magik used it to make the Exiles remember who they really were. Unlike some weapons, Illyana doesn’t have to hold it. She can pull it out of another dimension. Handy when you don’t want to have it on your person or keep it a secret. If you can become intangible, you’re still in danger. The Soul Sword can harm beings that can phase. It’s one of the most powerful swords in the Marvel Comics universe. However, it’s most effective on mystical beings. This writer can’t wait to see how Magik uses it in X of Swords.
4. The Necrosword
The Necrosword has the power to enslave gods. That’s not hyperbole. Gorr the God Butcher used the Necrosword to create hounds that seemed to be unstoppable. Thor, young Thor, and All Father Thor were all defeated by Gorr at one point in time. He even defeated them all at once.
Before he defeated them, Gorr used the power of the Necrosword to kill multiple gods. Gorr may have used it to get revenge on the gods, but Knull created it and it’s the reason that power to create our next section.
3. Symbiotes
The Symbiotes are well-known. Venom and Carnage are the most popular, but they aren’t the only ones. The Symbiotes are actually a race called Klyntar. These beings are usually peaceful. The problem is they have to reconnect with their planet to stay that way. If they don’t, they can become more savage.
The Symbiotes can give their hosts super strength, durability and other powers. Venom can make webs, while Carnage uses it to create weapons. The user can determine what the Symbiote can do. For example, Flash Thompson as Venom used it to create wings to glide while Mac Gargan was just a big brute with it, using his Symbiote to get bigger and eat things. It may not seem as cool, but it was effective.
2. Iron Man’s Armor
Iron Man’s armor has evolved over the decades. It was once clunky and cheesy – one even had roller skates (seriously) – but now it’s much more effective. It’s not just the flight, repulsor rays and super strength that comes with it; Tony Stark’s armor is a sophisticated and dangerous weapon.
During the Brian Michael Bendis run (Invincible Iron Man), Tony upgraded his armor to adapt to whatever he needed. Fighting the Hulk? Transforming into Hulkbuster? Sneaking into a building? How about the camo-armor? At one point he was fighting ninjas and created a samurai kind of suit. That was in 2016. Imagine what he’ll come up with in a few years.
1. The Ultimate Nullifier
The Nullifier is a weapon so powerful that it could even make Galactus poop his giant under-roos. It can take a being and nullify them from existence. But there’s a catch. This isn’t like a gun or a bomb; using it can destroy or alter a reality.
The most recent time this writer remembers it being used was during Original Sin. One of the Mindless ones used it on itself after finding out the world’s secrets. Imagine learning so much you want to blink yourself from existence. The blast was so powerful that it caused destruction for blocks. And it was aimed at a small being. Imagine the destruction if it was used on Galactus.
What other Marvel weapons were missed? The Eye of Agamotto? Magneto’s helmet? Whatever materials The Blob uses to keep his belly in place? Let us know in the comments below!