Despite the numerous hero teams ᴀssembled in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, few of them would have stood a chance against Thanos. Thanos remains one of the MCU timeline’s greatest threats, a villain who bent the universe to his will with the Infinity Gauntlet. His power and relentless determination made him almost impossible to stop, forcing even the Avengers into near-defeat.

Yet the MCU isn’t only defined by Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Across films and series, Marvel has introduced a wide variety of superhero teams – some grounded and street-level, others cosmic and reality-bending. Each has its strengths, weaknesses, and potential strategies if they ever had to face the Mad тιтan.

The Howling Commandos

The Howling Commandos, led by Steve Rogers during WWII in Captain America: The First Avenge, were unmatched on the battlefield. Their guerrilla tactics and camaraderie made them legends in fighting Hydra. While effective against Nazi forces, they are hopelessly outclassed by Thanos.

Their conventional weapons, no matter how well-coordinated, wouldn’t even scratch Thanos. Even super soldier Captain America at this stage lacked the cosmic-level strength needed to challenge the Mad тιтan. Thanos’ physical might alone could dismantle the team within moments.

Add in the Infinity Stones and their odds shrink to zero. Their bravery and loyalty deserve admiration, but their capabilities stop at human limits. Against Thanos, the Commandos would be remembered for their courage, not their victory.

The Defenders

The Defenders (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist) fight best on the streets of New York. They excel against gangs, crime lords, and supernatural threats, but they are far from cosmic-level heroes. Luke’s durability and Jessica’s strength are impressive, but they pale beside Thanos’ raw might.

Daredevil’s agility and Iron Fist’s mystical strike could buy seconds, not victory. Even without the Gauntlet, Thanos’ тιтan physiology would let him dispatch them with ease. The Defenders simply lack heavy firepower, advanced tech, or large-scale battle tactics.

They’re scrappy underdogs. In the right setting, their unity shines. However, against someone who traded blows with the Hulk and battled gods, they would be completely outmatched.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy

The Guardians of the Galaxy are lovable misfits. Against Thanos though, they’re painfully overmatched. Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, Nebula, and Mantis have heart and resilience, yet their greatest strength is teamwork, not raw power.

Avengers: Infinity War showed this clearly – despite throwing everything at Thanos, they couldn’t slow him down. Even without all six Stones, he overpowered them with ease. Rocket’s gadgets and Gamora’s skills would sting, but Star-Lord’s impulsiveness often undermines the group.

Mantis’ empathic abilities briefly restrained Thanos, but it took everyone else just to maintain that moment. In a straight fight, they wouldn’t stand a chance. Still, their unpredictability and sheer willpower might keep them alive longer than weaker teams.

The Thunderbolts/New Avengers

The Thunderbolts boasts fighters like Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, and Taskmaster. They are resourceful but grounded in street-level power. They’re essentially enhanced humans with advanced combat training, espionage skills, and tactical grit. Against most threats, they’d excel.

However, Thanos is beyond their scale. Without cosmic abilities or advanced weapons on par with the Infinity Stones, they’d struggle. Bucky’s enhancements and Taskmaster’s mimicry could frustrate him briefly, and Red Guardian’s strength would give resistance, but none compare to the тιтan’s endurance.

Yelena’s precision strikes and coordination would hurt henchmen, not Thanos himself. The only one who could pose any real threat is Sentry/the Void, but with him out of action for the time being, he couldn’t contribute much. They’d likely fight with courage, but strategy only takes you so far when the gap in power is insurmountable.

The Revengers

Thor’s makeshift “Revengers” team (Hulk, Valkyrie, and Loki alongside himself) is formidable. Thor’s godly powers and Hulk’s unmatched strength alone put them leagues above most teams here. Valkyrie’s combat expertise and Loki’s cunning magic add valuable versatility.

Together, they toppled Hela’s unᴅᴇᴀᴅ army and survived Ragnarok’s chaos. Yet, Avengers: Infinity War showed the limits of this lineup. Hulk lost to Thanos in hand-to-hand combat, while Loki’s tricks did little against the тιтan’s foresight. Thor nearly killed Thanos with Stormbreaker, but even he failed to strike a decisive blow.

The Revengers could pressure Thanos, but unless Thor lands perfectly, they would still lose. Their combined power makes them dangerous opponents, but against a fully armed Mad тιтan, the Revengers fall short. Strong, spirited, but ultimately outclassed in the end.

The X-Men

Though only partially introduced in the MCU, the X-Men promise a team with enormous potential. Even the established lineup of Professor X, Beast, and Wolverine, offers powers that could rival Thanos. Add in those confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday and Thanos would be in real trouble.

Telepathy, weather manipulation, and raw mutant energy attacks could push him to his limits. A fully unleashed Jean Grey or Phoenix-level power could even overwhelm him outright. Indeed, a fully formed X-Men team would rank a lot higher and would likely defeat Thanos.

As yet, however, there are few X-Men in the MCU, and they are yet to form the iconic mutant team. Unlike street-level heroes, the X-Men bring world-shaking abilities that could legitimately threaten a тιтan. If united, disciplined, and led well, they could push Thanos harder than almost any other team on this list.

The Eternals

The Eternals were designed by Celestials, making them near-godlike beings. Ikaris’ flight and strength rival Superman, Thena’s conjured weaponry can counter nearly any attack, Sersi manipulates matter itself, and Druig controls minds. Their collective powers would push Thanos into one of his hardest fights.

Unlike the Avengers, they have inherent immortality and cosmic durability. The problem is unity. As Eternals showed, they’re prone to division and hesitation, often waiting for Celestial permission rather than acting decisively. This is precisely why they didn’t join the fight against Thanos in the MCU.

Nevertheless, a fractured team couldn’t defeat Thanos. Yet if they set aside differences and fight as one, their odds skyrocket. With strategy and full use of their abilities, the Eternals might overwhelm him, but without perfect cohesion, Thanos could exploit cracks in their foundation and secure victory.

The Fantastic Four

Marvel’s First Family has only just arrived in the MCU, but they quickly established a formidable reputation. Reed Richards’ unparalleled intelligence, Sue Storm’s force fields, Johnny Storm’s firepower, and Ben Grimm’s raw strength form one of Marvel’s most balanced rosters. Against Thanos, their synergy and Reed’s brilliance become key.

As seen in Fantastic Four: First Steps, the team are capable of fending off the huge threat of Galactus using intelligent planning. Reed would surely invent some way of defeating Thanos. His team would only need to keep the Mad тιтan busy long enough for him to implement it.

This is where the Fantastic Four might come undone. They lack the cosmic scale of the most powerful teams, but their cohesion and adaptability give them a legitimate chance. They wouldn’t crush Thanos outright, but they’d last longer than most and might even find a clever way to win.

The Guardians On The Multiverse

The Guardians of the Multiverse, seen in What If…?, boast an eclectic but powerful lineup: Captain Carter, T’Challa Star-Lord, Killmonger, Gamora, Thor, and Strange Supreme. The wildcard is Strange Supreme, whose near-limitless magical abilities push this team to incredible heights.

Reality-warping sorcery, combined with Captain Carter’s strategy and T’Challa’s leadership, makes them unpredictable and formidable. They aren’t bound to one universe, giving them perspective and experience others lack.

That said, their volatility is also a weakness. Killmonger’s betrayal in What If…? showed how fragile their unity can be. Still, with Strange Supreme leading the charge, this team ranks near the top. They might not just defeat Thanos but erase his chances entirely, reshaping reality itself.

The Avengers

The Avengers remain the MCU’s definitive superhero team, who finally defeated Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. Though an immense achievement, it took the combined might of every MCU-affiliated hero, including the mighty Wakandan army. While they managed to defeat the villain, it wasn’t an easy task.

The Avengers faced numerous defeats throughout Avengers: Infinity War. They roundly failed to topple Thanos in two separate battles. This led to Thanos successfully blipping half the universe away for five long years. It took a complex time travel narrative to undo the carnage.

Iron Man’s snap finally erased Thanos, but only after every Avenger fought tirelessly to set up the victory. They don’t always have the raw cosmic scale of the Eternals or Illuminati, but they have the heart, discipline, and teamwork needed to win. When united, the Avengers are one of the only teams capable of stopping Thanos.