As of this writing, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (aka, the MCU) consists of 29 films and 7 Disney+ shows, with more than a dozen new projects on the way. That's a lot of content, and it's full of superheroes and villains with varying power sets, as well as the weapons they wield. Honestly, if you're not an avid comic book reader, it can be overwhelming to keep track of it all without a notepad. Thankfully, we're here to help. With the end of Phase 4 quickly approaching, we thought it was time to give a quick rundown of the most powerful weapons in the MCU.

Some of these weapons make our heroes mightier, while others corrupt those who wield them. In extreme cases, these objects can even reshape reality itself. Any of these armaments would be considered powerful in the real world, of course, but this is a universe where supersoldiers and aliens clash on a regular basis; in the MCU, power levels are a tad inflated, so we've worked hard to hammer down the best of the best.

Spider-Man's Web-Shooters

Peter Parker's homemade web-shooters and the corresponding fluid have a tensile strength that even Tony Stark thought was "off the charts" — and if you can impress Iron Man, you can impress anyone. The webbing is used in several ways throughout the Marvel films. Defensively, they can tie up enemies. Offensively, they can shoot web fluid with enough force to knock foes across the room. More importantly, without his web-shooters, Spidey would be unable to swing freely across New York City. And, oh yeah, they had all of these impressive skills before he got the Iron Man treatment.

The Stark Spider-Man suit has a built-in A.I. named Karen who helps guide Peter through all 576 combinations of his newly upgraded web-shooters. While we don't see all of them in action, from what we can tell the "Iron Spider" armor has quite a few tricks up its sleeve. For example, the splitter web allows Peter to snare multiple targets simultaneously. There's a taser web, which is not to be confused with stun webbing, though both have similar results. Peter can also launch GPS trackers from his web-shooters so that the bad guys never get too far. Whether we're talking about Peter's original design or Stark's upgrade, the web-shooters are an instrumental part of Spider-Man's crime-fighting abilities.

Winter Soldier's Cybernetic Arm

Bucky Barnes was already impressive when he fought alongside Steve Rogers in World War II, but by giving him a cybernetic arm and brainwashing him to become the Winter Solider, Hydra made him nearly unstoppable. The Winter Soldier possesses all of Captain America's enhanced abilities, plus a mechanical arm that can rip off car doors and punch through walls like they're wet cardboard. At one point, he uses his titanium limb to catch Cap's shield (see above), a moment that stops both Steve and the viewers in their tracks.

Once Hydra's brainwashing is undone by Wakandan scientists, Bucky gets an upgrade, with a new arm made out of vibranium, the most powerful metal in the MCU. Vibranium can deflect bullets, withstand powerful forces, and add more power to Bucky's punches. An indestructible prosthetic wielded by an assassin-turned-superhero? That makes our list easily.

Captain America's Vibranium Shield

Captain America's shield is not only one of the MCU's most powerful weapons. It's also one of Marvel's most potent symbols. It represents the unwavering heroism that Steve Rogers embodies, and has saved him countless times. When Cap falls from death-defying heights, he lands on his star-spangled disc and gets back up with barely a bruise. In addition, the shield is made of vibranium, which has allowed it to fend off bullets, grenades, Iron Man, and even Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. Time and time again, it has proven to be one of the MCU's best defensive weapons.

It's not all about protection, though. Captain America's shield is a boon during hand-to-hand combat and, in the hands of a trained pro, an effective long-range weapon. Once it was upgraded with electro-magnetics, Cap gained the ability to throw his shield from a distance; watching it ricocheting off bad guys before safely returning to Steve's hands never gets old. Let's not forget the fan-favorite moment when Cap bounces Mjolnir off his shield into Thanos' face in "Avengers: Endgame," either. It's a stand-up-and-cheer moment for the ages.

Yondu's Yaka Arrow

The most bizarre weapon on this list might be Yondu's Yaka Arrow. It is controlled by various high-pitch whistles that only trained members of Yondu's race, the Centaurians, can make. This pointy punisher responds to Yondu's commands with laser-focused accuracy, too. When confronted by an entire battalion of mutinous Ravagers, Yondu whistles and his arrow flies through dozens of foes, making it rain bodies as he calmly struts by.

The arrow's precision is matched by its strength. It's capable of cutting through armor, bones, and even spaceship hulls like butter. Yondu often uses it as a means of intimidation when negotiating — double cross this blue anti-hero, and you'll meet a pointed end. Yondu can also use it as a transportation device, as seen during the showdown with Ego in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2." One of the MCU moments that elicits the biggest laughs is when Yondu flies through the air using the Yaka Arrow, proudly proclaiming, "I'm Mary Poppins, y'all!" The Yaka Arrow is small, but that doesn't stop it from being fashionable, functional, and deadly.

The Panther's Habit

Before anyone argues that this is a costume, not a weapon, hear us out. The Black Panther suit, or the Panther Habit, is constructed entirely of vibranium, giving its wearer virtual indestructibility. T'Challa takes on bullets, explosions, and attacks from aliens and fellow heroes without batting an eye. The vibranium also packs a powerful punch, enhancing the attacks dished out by whoever wears the outfit. The claws in the gloves rival Wolverine's, and that's just scratching the surface of the suit's abilities.

Another critical feature of the Black Panther costume is nanotechnology, which allows the outfit to regenerate. So, even if a villain gets in a damage-inducing hit, they can't gloat too long — the suit will simply rebuild itself. It also absorbs energy and redirects it as a super-charged burst attack, as seen during a chase sequence in "Black Panther," during which T'Challa crushes a car and sends its crumpled shell tumbling down the road. The Panther Habit makes an already mighty hero nearly invincible. That's one habit we don't want to shake.

Iron Man's Suits

Iron Man's suits are as powerful as they are iconic. Ever since the first "Iron Man" movie debuted, they have allowed Tony to withstand an inhuman amount of pummeling and emerge with only minor bodily injuries. It's constantly changing, too, as Tony continually tinkers with and improves his designs. In the MCU, there are over 50 different models of Iron Man armor to choose from — these are a few of our favorites.

Built with scraps in a cave, the Mark 1 armor gave Tony increased strength, flame throwers, and a missile; besides all that, it's what inspired him to become a superhero in the first place. The Mark 3 armor features the classic gold and red design, with upgrades that added flight, wrist-mounted rocket launchers, arc reactor energy blasts, and repulsor rays to Tony's arsenal. The Hulkbuster armor was specifically designed to pacify the Hulk, and powers one of the stand-out moments in "Avengers: Age of Ultron." However, Tony's suit in "Avengers: Endgame" is by far his most impressive. Outfitted with nanotech, the suit's abilities are nearly limitless — it's the whole reason why Tony is able to steal the Infinity Stones from Thanos and save half the galaxy.

Pym Particles

While Pym Particles aren't technically a weapon by themselves, they allow objects and people to grow or shrink, altering the strength of any attacks against them accordingly. A hilarious example comes in "Captain America: Civil War" when Ant-Man has Captain America throw a miniaturized truck at a Pym Particle device, causing the vehicle to revert to full size and explode on War Machine. Scott Lang sheepishly replies, "Oh man, I thought it was a water truck. Uh, sorry."

Pym Particles don't just make things bigger or smaller, though. They are also the key to time travel in "Avengers: Endgame." With the combined brilliance of Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Scott Lang, the Avengers use Pym Particles to travel to the Quantum Realm and, from there, back in time in order to retrieve the Infinity Stones. Without Pym Particles, 50% of the galaxy's population would have remained blipped. We're excited to see what else these subatomic particles can do when "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" kicks off Phase 5.

The Darkhold

The Darkhold is a dangerous book written by the ancient demon Chthon. Imagine the Necronomicon from "The Evil Dead" mixed with the wish-fulfillment powers of a genie's lamp. The grimoire amplifies the reader's powers while giving them what they desire most, ultimately corrupting them. The more vulnerable the mind of the reader, the easier it is for the Darkhold to lead them into darkness. An average person who reads the Darkhold is already a threat, but the results can be catastrophic when a magician as powerful as Wanda Maximoff or Doctor Strange gets their hands on it.

For example, the Darkhold reveals the dimensions where Wanda's two boys are still alive, quickly turning her into a single-minded killing machine and making her fully embrace the mantle of the Scarlet Witch. The book also opens the door to dreamwalking, which allows the Scarlet Witch to possess her interdimensional counterparts. If someone dreamwalks too long, however, it corrupts their mind entirely, and might cause an "incursion." As Reed Richard explains, that's a huge risk: "An incursion occurs when the boundary between two universes erodes, and they collide, destroying one or both entirely." A potentially universe-destroying book written by a demon? That's scarily powerful.

The Ten Rings

"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," Marvel's first martial arts movie, features some of the best fight choreography in the MCU in addition to a set of powerful weapons known as the Ten Rings, iron rings that give their wielder a variety of magical powers. It's still a mystery where they came from and what their full capabilities are, but we'll break down what we do know, as well as why these rings make the list.

Wenwu, Shang-Chi's father, looks like he's in his mid-40s, but he's actually thousands of years old; apparently, the Ten Rings dramatically slow down the aging process. However, they cannot protect the wearer from mortal wounds, and they don't grant immortality — Wenwu would have eventually died of old age. It simply would've taken a while. In addition, the Rings give their bearer superhuman strength, and are controlled via a telepathic link. In "Shang-Chi," we see them firing energy blasts, attacking in various formations, and flying right back to their user's arms. In the film's final battle, Wenwu and Shang-Chi can also leap to great heights and land without suffering any harm. While a "Shang-Chi" sequel hasn't been announced yet, one seems more or less inevitable. As such, we're sure to discover more about what these mystical rings can do very soon.

The Necrosword

The Necrosword may not have gotten as much screen time in "Thor: Love and Thunder" as fans would've liked, but after the devastation it unleashed, it easily makes the number five spot on our list. Gorr the God Butcher's blade combines elements of the Darkhold and Mjolnir. It grants whoever wields it extreme power — it's strong enough to kill gods — but it also corrupts their body and soul.

Gorr uses the Necrosword to cut down gods across the galaxy, although, sadly, most of the slaughter occurs offscreen. We do glimpse the particularly brutal aftermath, though, when we see the slain Falligar the Behemoth and a now one-armed Lady Sif. The scene is played for laughs, with Thor joking that only Sif's arm went to Valhalla, but it shouldn't undercut the fact that Sif was an incredibly skilled Asgardian warrior and Falligar was a gigantic god, and both were defeated by one sword.

The Necrosword has other creepy abilities, too. It allows Gorr to command grotesque creatures from the shadows, giving him an army of mindless underlings, and it can be used to teleport between dimensions. It takes the combined might of Thor and Jane Foster's Mighty Thor, attacking with Stormbreaker and Mjolnir respectively, to finally destroy this supernatural death dealer.

Mjolnir

Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, is a force to be reckoned with. The God of Thunder and his trusty hammer have taken down Frost Giants, Chitauri invaders, Dark Elves, and Ultron Sentries, and even landed a few good hits on Thanos. Mjolnir has only been "stopped" a few times: It was deflected by Captain America's shield, and it was temporarily destroyed by Hela.

Odin enchanted the hammer so that only those deemed "worthy" could lift it. As a result, to Thor's enemies, it's little more than an immovable paperweight. A hilarious example can be found in "Thor: Ragnarok," when Thor tosses Mjolnir into a dragon's mouth and instantly grounds the beast. Mjolnir also has resurrection powers. The Destroyer kills Thor at the end of the first film, but Mjolnir brings him back to fight another day. Finally, the hammer helps Thor control lightning, lets him fly by spinning it like a magical helicopter propeller, can be summoned across realms, and allows Thor to go from a hoodie and jeans into full warrior garb in an instant. Quick changes are very important in the MCU — after all, you can't fight a Dark Elf while wearing denim.

Stormbreaker

There is an ongoing debate among Marvel fans about whether Mjolnir or Stormbreaker is more powerful. As far as we're concerned, though, Stormbreaker takes the cake. It has all of Mjolnir's powers, but being an axe, it also cuts through enemies like butter, and it can summon the Bifrost. If there was any doubt, facilitating transportation between the realms pushes Stormbreaker over the edge.

Stormbreaker was created on Nidavellir, the home of ancient weapon-forging dwarves. As we learn in "Avengers: Infinity War," its maker, King Eitri (Peter Dinklage), and the dwarves also forged Mjolnir and the Infinity Gauntlet, so they know how to make powerful weapons. In that film, Thor uses Stormbreaker to teleport to the battlefield and severely wounds Thanos. He also uses the axe to finish the job at the beginning of "Endgame," lopping off Thanos' head like it's a shopping mall mannequin. With only three film appearances so far, we can assume that the full extent of Stormbreaker's power has yet to be revealed, but what we've seen so far is already pretty epic.

The Tesseract

The Tesseract was first introduced in "Captain America: The First Avenger," where Johann Schmidt, aka the Red Skull, and Arnim Zola discovered the cosmic cube and used it to make advanced weaponry for Hydra. At the time, Schmidt claimed to have "harnessed the power of the Gods." However, supercharging an army merely scratches the surface of what the Tesseract is capable of. In reality, the cube is just a fancy housing for the Space Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones.

The Tesseract's influence reverberates throughout the MCU. The unlimited energy it contains inspired Tony Stark to make the arc reactor, effectively jump-starting the entire MCU. Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel after absorbing cosmic energy from a Tesseract-powered explosion, making her into one of the most powerful Avengers. Using the Tesseract, Loki was able to summon a massive Chitauri army, which invaded New York at the end of "Avengers." Unlimited power and the ability to open wormholes that lead anywhere in the universe? Yeah, in terms of power, the Tesseract is only topped by one thing…

The Infinity Gauntlet

The Infinity Gauntlet was forged by the same ancient dwarves who made Mjolnir and Stormbreaker, and it's used to control the six Infinity Stones. These gems represent the basic elements that were used in the creation of the universe: space, time, reality, mind, power, and soul. Each stone can reshape worlds on its own; the might of all six combined is nearly unfathomable. No other weapon in the MCU can top the sheer power of the Gauntlet — after all, with it, Thanos can wipe out half of all life in the universe with a simple snap of his fingers.

In a way, the Infinity Gauntlet is like a universal remote for the Infinity Stones, letting Thanos choose which of them he'll use on a whim. With the Reality Stone, for example, he can reshape his surroundings and create illusions. When the Scarlet Witch destroys the Mind Stone (and, in the process, the Vision), Thanos uses the Time Stone to rewind time and take the Mind Stone for himself. The Infinity Gauntlet is hands-down (pun absolutely intended) the most powerful weapon in the MCU. We'll see if anything in Phase 5 or 6 will top this golden glove of mayhem. It seems unlikely, but in the Marvel multiverse, anything is possible.

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