Every X-Men ranked from weakest to strongest

12. Pyro

Ah, Pyro, the fire-manipulating maverick of the X-Men universe, lands at the sizzling number 12 spot when it comes to the strongest of the X-Men we've seen in the movies. Let's look at why this hot-headed Aussie-turned-American-for-the-movies does not blaze his way further up the rankings.

There's no denying that Pyro's abilities are indeed fiery and spectacular, and they allow him to control and manipulate fire - though, crucially, not create it. This limitation is a bit like being a DJ who can only remix tracks but can't produce original music. Pyro's prowess in the pyrotechnic arts makes him a formidable foe, especially when he's got a lighter or any source of flame to fuel his fiery antics. He can hurl fireballs, create barriers of flame, and even sculpt the fire into shapes, turning him into a literal and metaphorical hot property (though he doesn't really need the fire for that).

But Pyro's spot at number 12 is tempered by a couple of cool-down factors. First, his dependency on external sources of fire to kickstart his powers is a bit like having a supercar in your garage but no keys to start it. This reliance means he can be extinguished easier than others on the list, especially if his opponents are savvy enough to keep flames out of reach. Also, while Pyro's control over fire is impressive, his abilities lack the versatility and sheer impact of those mutants ranked above him. He's a specialist in a team of versatile all-rounders; great for a barbecue, but not always the first pick when facing world-ending threats.

While Pyro undoubtedly brings the heat, his specific limitations and the broader spectrum of mutant abilities mean he simmers rather than boils over in the rankings.