Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for the MCU’s 2025 releases so far.The Marvel Cinematic Universe has introduced a few characters in 2025 that could rival some of the franchise’s most powerful foes, and comparing their power levels to Thanos shows that a mix of heroes and villains could defeat the Mad тιтan. The MCU’s 2025 movies are: Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and the recently-released The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

On the TV side, two live-action series have been released so far: Daredevil: Born Again, one of the MCU’s best TV shows, and Ironheart, which continues Iron Man’s legacy in an exciting and surprising way. Most of the MCU’s 2025 projects released so far have introduced at least one incredibly powerful character to the franchise, with some breaking MCU rankings.

Among the upper echelon of power in the MCU are heroes like Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch, Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. As for villains, Thanos, Loki (not a villain anymore), and Hela are great examples of foes who could take down multiple heroes.

Thanos is the MCU’s biggest threat so far, which means the MCU’s recently introduced characters would mostly struggle against him, though some of the franchise’s new players could beat Thanos. Here is how 2025’s powerful new MCU characters would fare against Thanos, ranked from least to most likely to defeat him.

12

Zeke Stane

Introduced In Ironheart – TV Show

Starting the list is the successor of the MCU’s very first villain. Alden Ehrenreich’s Zeke Stane debuted in Ironheart, first appearing as an intelligent individual with vast knowledge when it came to technology. That said, he wasn’t a threat. However, throughout the show, Zeke would undergo a major transformation.

Despite his power boost allowing Zeke to take down Ironheart initially, Riri Williams later defeated him easily.

Zeke’s body has been enhanced with bionics, giving him a wide range of abilities one would usually see from Iron Man or a similar power armor, not a person. Despite his power boost allowing Zeke to take down Ironheart initially, Riri Williams later defeated him easily. As such, he would not be a match for Thanos.

11

Parker Robbins/The Hood

Introduced In Ironheart – TV Show

Another key Ironheart character on the list is Anthony Ramos’ Parker Robbins, aka the Hood. The villain gets his powers from a magical hood that allows Parker to turn invisible, gives him the ability to bend bullets, and more. Mephisto gave it to him.

With the magic artifact, the Hood is somewhat of a frightening villain. However, Riri Williams showed that reality manipulation can be a tool to take him out, fooling the Hood into believing she was defeated before taking him down. With the Reality Stone, Thanos could easily take him down, also succeeding without it.

10

Ben Grimm/The Thing

Introduced In The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Movie

The Fantastic Four: First Steps showcased all of its main heroes’ powers multiple times. Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s The Thing was shown to be a capable pilot and a heavy-hitter for the new MCU team. However, his attacks barely scratched Galactus.

While it is true that Galactus is a towering figure, which Thanos is not, I don’t believe Ben Grimm could defeat the Mad тιтan. Sure, it would be a closer fight if Thanos had no Infinity Stones. However, even then, Thanos defeated the Hulk with his own fists. Of a similar power level as the Hulk, The Thing loses.

9

Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic

Introduced In The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Movie

Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards is not as powerful as The Thing. However, he has more of a chance of defeating Thanos in a fight due to his adaptability and genius-level intellect. Few MCU heroes could have a sH๏τ at outsmarting Thanos, and Mister Fantastic is one of them.

With his stretching powers, Reed could envelop Thanos and focus on weak points. He could also come up with a plan to take the villain down, playing the role of a distraction better, which could lead to a win. In a direct fight, Thanos should still be too powerful for Reed.

8

Johnny Storm/The Human Torch

Introduced In The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Movie

After ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine had Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm easily lose a fight to Pyro of all characters, not to mention Cᴀssandra Nova taking his skin away, the MCU needed to do better by the Human Torch. Enter the Fantastic Four.

Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm is quite powerful. He absorbs flames from a huge fire early in the MCU Fantastic Four movie, showing he would have defeated Pyro. The Human Torch also blinds Galactus for a moment and gives the Silver Surfer a hard time. Johnny could hurt Thanos, but the villain still wins.

7

Red Hulk

Introduced In Captain America: Brave New World – Movie

Captain America: Brave New World‘s most powerful character was undoubtedly Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk. While Thunderbolt Ross has been in the MCU since its creation, he only turned into the Red Hulk in the 2025 MCU movie.

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Sam Wilson could not defeat him. He realized that was impossible and instead talked the Red Hulk down. As such, the character has not lost a fight in the MCU yet. Depending on his power and anger, Red Hulk could beat Thanos. However, since the Mad тιтan pummeled Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk into submission, I’m taking the villain.

6

Silver Surfer

Introduced In The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Movie

Now this is when things start to get really interesting. The Silver Surfer is someone whose power levels the MCU has only begun to touch on based on the comics’ potential, but she was still a force to be reckoned with.

The Silver Surfer followed the Fantastic Four’s spaceship as they jumped into “hyperspace” with only her surfboard. Shalla-Bal was also able to escape a black hole. She fought all the Fantastic Four members, holding her own, and even pushed Galactus through the portal. Without the Infinity Stones, Thanos could lose to her.

5

Sue Storm

Introduced In The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Movie

Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm is, without a doubt, the most powerful member of the MCU’s Fantastic Four. The Invisible Woman mostly used her powers to create force fields to protect others throughout the film, besides making herself and others invisible.

Sue Storm died after using her powers at their highest level.

However, The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ ending showed her true might. While the rest of the team could barely hurt Galactus, Sue pushed her powers to the limit and moved the villain a long distance right into the portal. Sue Storm could strip Thanos of his armor and beat him if no Infinity Stones are involved.

4

Sentry

Introduced In Thunderbolts* – Movie

Thunderbolts*‘s new MCU introduction is one of the most powerful characters in franchise history. Bob Reynolds has two super-powered sides. As Sentry, he is essentially Marvel’s take on DC’s Superman, but with psionic powers added. As the Void, he is frightening.

His shadows trap characters in trauma rooms, forced to relive their darkest fears. Thanos killed half of the universe in a search for balance. He even sacrificed his daughter, Gamora, to do so. A character like him has regrets, and the Void could use them. In a fair match, Sentry likely has more brute strength than Thanos.

3

Mephisto

Introduced In Ironheart – TV Show

Mephisto is a trickster. Sacha Baron Cohen’s MCU villain did not fight anyone in Ironheart. However, Mephisto managed to get both Parker Robbins and Riri Williams to make deals with him, now controlling them.

His powers include the creation of portals, the ability to paralyze others, resurrection, and more. While his strength is unknown, Mephisto seems cunning enough and versatile to take down Thanos, especially in his realm from Marvel Comics, where his powers increase.