Not all MCU fights are of the same quality, but their abundance means that some are overlooked or flat-out underrated when compared to others. This isn’t too surprising, given the MCU is home to some of the best action sequences in cinema, let alone the superhero genre.

In that regard, the MCU arguably has it easy. Fight scenes are undoubtedly made more interesting when participants boast an array of stunning superpowers bound to enhance any brawl. Then again, plenty of non-superpowered individuals whose hand-to-hand expertise more than makes up for their lack of frankly godlike abilities can also provide spectacle in spades.

While this might mean that the MCU is awash with incredible choreography in nailbiting tussles, that isn’t the only thing that makes some fights stand out. Background context, arresting dialogue, and unconventional match-ups are also integral components in the MCU’s greatest fights.

With that in mind, there are plenty of contenders that are rarely mentioned or unfairly maligned when highlighting the best in the MCU. Whether overshadowed by other sequences in the same production, or tarnished by its overall reputation, these are some of the greatest MCU fights that deserve more recognition.

Eternals V Ikaris In Eternals

Eternals was a bold attempt to spotlight yet more lesser-known heroes in the nascent Multiverse Saga. Unfortunately, it failed to stick the landing. Eternals became the MCU’s lowest-rated movie (the first to earn a “Rotten” score on Rotten Tomatoes), with overarching criticism pinning blame on it being overstuffed with a ten-strong main cast.

Nevertheless, the final fight sequence was a stand-out moment that capitalized on the team’s numbers and diverse power sets. It spotlighted one of Eternals‘ most celebrated aspects, its visuals, while delivering an emotional gut-punch as the movie’s most tooth-and-nail fight is fought between the heroes, with Ikaris being a tragic last-minute villain of the sprawling story.

Shang-Chi Scaffolding Fight In Shang-Chi And The Legend of the Ten Rings

Although it was far better-received than Eternals, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings didn’t fare much better at the global box office. Still, it is championed primarily for its expertly choreographed fight sequences, with Shang-Chi’s claustrophobic fight with Razor First aboard a bendy bus being frequently highlighted, with his emotional final fight with Wenwu being a close second.

This means that Shang-Chi’s escape sequence atop some scaffolding in Madripoor is often overshadowed. This is despite this sequence hosting some of the best choreography and editing in the MCU, with part of the sequence even playing out in window reflections, and its entirety igniting the audience’s latent acrophobia.

Agatha V Wanda In WandaVision

WandaVision wasn’t exactly the most action-packed of MCU productions, which made it a breath of fresh air. The climactic battles, therefore, stood out but are rarely mentioned among the MCU’s greatest fights. After all, a battle between two witches and two Visions adheres to a common MCU trope of pitting heroes against their parallels.

That oversimplifies the implications of the battle. Wanda’s fight with Agatha isn’t just a culmination of her growth in the MCU, but the genesis of her tenure as the Scarlet Witch. Until that point, Wanda’s main MO was using telekinesis and energy blasts, but turning Agatha’s spell-suppressing runes against her and using leeching powers instead encapsulated Wanda’s development.

Doctor Strange V Sinister Strange In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness

Director Sam Raimi’s distinctive style flourished in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where the Scarlet Witch became a terrifying villain. Sadly, the movie as a whole received mixed reactions, and Doctor Strange’s fight with a secondary villain, his Darkhold-tainted variant dubbed “Sinister Strange,” was among the most divisive scenes.

Proponents, however, argue (quite rightly) that the musical duel was a creative departure from the standard spell-slinging battles that MCU fans have become all too accustomed to. The unconventional idea cut through the fact that this was quite literally another hero fighting their mirror, and stands out as one of the most unique uses of Strange’s skill set to date.

The Marvels V Dar-Benn In The Marvels

The Marvels remains the MCU’s lowest-grossing movie, which necessarily denotes that few people bore witness to its action sequences. The movie’s villain, Dar-Benn, was accused of being underwhelming and vastly outmatched by Carol Danvers alone, but such accusations belie the spectacle of The Marvels‘ climactic brawl, which saw her face off against the full тιтular trio.

Armed with a Quantum Band, a Universal Weapon, and some incredible fighting skills, Dar-Benn proved to be a force to be reckoned with. The Marvels’ mastery of a unique displacement phenomenon also enhanced the battle significantly, bringing an entirely distinctive dynamic to a fight that easily became a highlight of the movie.

Iron Man And War Machine V Whiplash In Iron Man 2

Whiplash isn’t among the best-loved villains in the MCU, largely because his entire MO is slightly underwhelming. His decision to re-purpose Tony Stark’s arc reactor tech into a set of whips doesn’t seem to be the wisest move for a supposed genius, making it somewhat inevitable that the final fight would be frustratingly short.

Nevertheless, the Tony and Rhodey team-up sequence that consтιтutes Iron Man 2‘s climax is deserving of far more recognition. While Whiplash’s arc may have felt rushed, it doesn’t detract from the visual spectacle of the duo’s first proper collaboration, nor the fact that it rounds out Tony’s own arc regarding his legacy and growth in a particularly satisfying manner.

Rocket V The Ravagers In Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 doubled down on the critical success of its predecessor by delivering one of the most emotionally-charged MCU stories at the time. This put much of the attention on the scene that prompted many tears: the final fight sequence. This also meant that Rocket Raccoon’s standout scene is consequently often overlooked.

The scene in question sees Rocket defending his teammates from an encroaching army of Ravagers through a carefully laid sequence of traps that utilize some wildly entertaining alien technology, including mines that throw scores of enemies into the air. It also showcases how Rocket is more than his weaponry as he skillfully dispatches two Ravagers with his bare hands.

The Dora Milaje V John Walker In The Falcon And The Winter Soldier

Because The Falcon and the Winter Soldier centered on the тιтular heroes and John Walker specifically, their respective arcs were central to the show’s biggest action sequences. John Walker’s fall from grace, for instance, culminated in one of its most definitive moments, with the iconic shield spattered with blood after he proved himself unworthy of Steve Rogers’ erstwhile mantle.

This makes it easy to forget the Dora Milaje’s small but action-packed role in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Their first attempt to apprehend Zemo is one of the most impressive displays of the elite force’s skills as they almost effortlessly subdue the newly minted Captain America and Bucky Barnes in short order.

Ant-Man V Falcon In Ant-Man

Grossing just $519 million at a time when MCU movies were grossing almost double that amount on average, Ant-Man is one of the most underrated MCU movies overall. This is despite the character boasting a particularly unique power set that made for some incredible action sequences in the MCU overall.

While Ant-Man’s most impressive feats of power arguably began with Captain America: Civil War, his potential was laid bare in his tussle with Sam Wilson at the Avengers Compound. For his part, Sam Wilson also proved his own capabilities in their quip-laden tussle, which ultimately proved how well Ant-Man would always fare against tech-based characters, in particular, like Iron Man.

Captain America V Batroc In Captain America: The Winter Soldier

As one of the MCU’s Big Three since The Avengers, Steve Rogers is particularly prone to starring in some of the MCU’s best action sequences. With Captain America: The Winter Soldier being one of the best-rated MCU movies, it’s no surprise that other action sequences in the movie overshadow one of its earliest but best.

Captain America’s hand-to-hand proficiency is given the spotlight it deserves in his one-on-one fight with Batroc, as the mercenary successfully goads him into sheathing his shield and engaging in one of the best-choreographed fights the MCU has seen. Sadly, this fight is rarely mentioned among Cap’s best moments in the MCU thanks to their sheer abundance.