Magic being introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe elevates Marvel Studios’ plans for future projects as old concepts are taken to new heights. The earlier phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe originally focused on more grounded and earthly superheroes before progressing on to explore those in space. Off-Earth characters served as a direct pipeline to magic-based superheroes (and their villains). The use of magic in the MCU was first introduced in Thor after Tom Hiddleson debuted as Loki Laufeyson, God of Mischief. Magic in the MCU wasn’t confined to the Nine Realms and eventually made its way across a number of Marvel movies following the release of Doctor Strange in 2016.
With the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, magic has become an important, if not simply normalized, part of storytelling while driving the entire franchise forward. In conjunction with the Multiverse now unfolding at a rapid rate, the use of magic is even more crucial to keeping the universes afloat. As more spell-casting chaos looms near, here are the most powerful magic-users in the MCU so far.
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7 Wong
Marvel Studios
It has been established in Spider-Man: No Way Home that Wong (Benedict Wong) now holds the title of Sorcerer Supreme in the MCU. Previously, Wong was known as the protective keeper of ancient books when he was first introduced to Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), quickly stepping in and assisting him in his studies. He stood alongside Strange when the Black Order attacked Earth, protecting the Sanctum Santorum before Strange perished in the Blip for five years’ time. It was then that Wong was granted the title of Sorcerer Supreme.
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Wong is listed among the ranks of the Masters of the Mystic Arts and is credited as one of their most powerful members. He has the ability to manipulate Eldritch Magic into spells, shields, or other weapons. The Eldritch Magic is also used to create projections in the form of holographic displays, used when explaining new concepts. The Sling Ring aids Wong in creating portals fit for interdimensional travel, and he is able to conjure barriers through the practice of Tao Mandalas. Wong, like other Masters of the Mystic Arts, possesses the ability to astrally project and gain access into the Astral Dimension.
6 Baron Karl Mordo
Former member of the Masters of the Mystic Arts, Baron Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) was a strong ally to The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) and was responsible for training new sorcerers. After encountering Doctor Strange, he invited him to learn how to harness his power at the Kamar-Taj. He later joined him in the battle against Kaecilius and the Zealots, when it was revealed that The Ancient One was drawing their power from the forbidden Dark Dimension. After the battle was won and The Ancient One was killed, Mordo decided to turn his back on his allies, stripping the power of the sorcerers that he believed were abusing magic.
Mordo was once a Master Sorcerer, regarded as one of the most powerful members of Masters of the Mystic Arts. He is able to shape, create, and manipulate the state of his reality through the use of Eldritch Magic. He also possesses the ability to detach himself from his physical being through astral projection and travel through portals with the assistance of the Sling Ring. Additionally, Mordo’s power allows him to absorb energy from those around him.
5 America Chavez
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Designated MCU newcomer, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) is a dimension-hopping hero who is bound to form an allyship between Strange and Christine Palmer (Rachael McAdams) in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. There’s little known about what to expect from America in live-action prior to her proper debut. Through her comic book history, it’s understood that she will serve as an incredibly powerful late arrival to the growing collection of characters.
Chavez has the ability of both superhuman speed and superhuman strength. She has the power of superhuman durability, bioluminescence, and the capability of interdimensional travel. Aside from her bulletproof skin and power of flight, America is also to travel via teleportation. The first glimpse of America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be spotted in the trailer for the Doctor Strange sequel.
4 Loki Laufeyson
The history of Loki Laufeyson is as rich in Norse lore as it is complex with Marvel Studios’ additives. Biologically a Frost Giant of Jotunheim and the son of Laufey, Loki was adopted by Odin and Frigga to be raised as their own. Bitter at their brother Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) for being heir to the throne of Asgard, Loki set out to sabotage the coronation, leaving Odinson to retaliate against the attacks from the Frost Giants of Jotenheim. God of Mischief, Loki’s live-action interpretation of a trickster allowed more magic to be woven into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His reign of terror continued on as he commanded the Chitauri Army to destroy New York City in Avengers, and claimed possession of the Tesseract. From there, Loki’s arc acted as a redemption for the Frost Giant, slowly yet surely seeking out to salvage the Trickster’s morality.
Loki’s powers offer a range of superhuman abilities outside of their superhuman feats. His range of magic grants them the ability to manipulate and control those around them. Illusion manipulation gave Loki the power to project extremely detailed images of themselves from afar, casting the illusion that they were present in other situations. Duplication casting acts in the same way that a holographic mirror does while projecting multiple false likenesses in order to fool the enemy at hand. While these projections cannot interact directly with one another, they can take on a number of roles while all being cast at once. Loki used presence concealment to keep themselves from being given away, rendering himself invisible to those around him. Mental manipulation works much like mind control, allowing Loki to influence the mindset of others. Conjuration was used to summon anything into his grasp, and shapeshifting abilities allowed Laufeyson to take any form they wanted.
3 Agatha Harkness
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After facing accusations of practicing dark magic by her witch’s coven in Salem, Massachusetts, Agatha Harkness sensed the presence of chaos magic being used in Westview, New Jersey. Obsessed with Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen)’s use of chaos magic, Harkness weasels her way into the sitcom-influenced narrative created by the Scarlet Witch. She “cast” herself as the nosy neighbor, Agnes, and involved herself in Maximoff’s enslaved town. Following her defeat during the Battle of Westview, Harkness was dethroned from her witch status, and her powers were stripped away. Consequentially, Harkness was reduced back to Agnes, forced into mortality as punishment.
Harkness is a Master Sorceress with the capability of manipulating the use of magic for her personal benefit. Her status as a Master Sorceress allows her to manipulate energy while shaping the mystic and dark energy that she emits. She can absorb the energy around her and has the ability to sense energy that is not her own. Atop that, Harkness has the power of projecting energy onto others. Telekinesis gives Harkness an easy mental advantage, being able to move objects around her without having to physically lift a finger. Mental manipulation offers a cognitive and psychological advantage for Harkness as she interacts with and alters the mental state of others. Illusion manipulation permits the Master Sorceress to create illusionary spaces both physically and mentally. Transmutation, much like shapeshifting, was detrimental to allowing Harkness to switch up her appearance depending on the time period of Maximoff’s choosing.
She also practices enchantment over objects and people, locking them in her control through the use of magic. Necromancy was what gave Harkness the ability to reanimate the body of Pietro Maximoff (Evan Peters, formerly Aaron Taylor-Johnson), mimicking his likeness. Teleportation granted access for the witch to bounce around the town of Westview while making her appearances perfectly timed. Harkness was able to take possession of the Darkhold through conjuration, and she protected her runes on her lair’s wall through a protection spell that neutralized Maximoff’s chaos magic. Thanks to the absorption of energy from other witches in her coven, Harkness gained the power of longevity that promoted her fairly youthful appearance despite being hundreds of years old.
2 Doctor Stephen Strange
Facing the upheaval of his life after surviving a near-fatal car crash, Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) life becomes, well, strange. In order to reconcile the damage done to his hands, Strange steps away from Western medicine to seek out alternative treatments. His East Asain journey leads him to the Kamar-Taj, and it was there where Strange began to explore the unknown of alternative dimensions and magic. Training from The Ancient One allowed him to not only focus on the recuperation of his hands and his successful career as a neurosurgeon but to gain a deep intimacy with the mystic arts. His newfound path of following the mystic arts brought about his involvement with the Avengers, later gaining (and then losing) the title of Sorcerer Supreme.
Master Sorcerer and keeper of the New York Sanctum Santorum grants Strange a high level of superiority over other Masters of the Mystic Arts. He hosts the ability to create portals, Tao Mandalas, and Eldritch Whips, though Eldritch Magic. Portals give Strange the ability to travel inter-dimensionally, and the Sorcerer finds use through a handful of spells: Wind, Binding, Warding, Shield, Duplication, Transformation, Teleportation, Imprisonment, Earth-Swallowing, Locator, and Enchantment. Energy projections permit Strange to use energy around him to his advantage and control powerful torrents of energy. He has the power to create and manipulate the Mirror Dimension, and control the reality within reality on his own. It’s been established that he has the ability to fly, and can manipulate dimensions with ease. Formerly, the ex-Sorcerer Supreme could manipulate time, create time loops, and recreate events.
1 Wanda “Scarlet Witch” Maximoff
Native Sokovian Wanda Maximoff was orphaned at a young age, born with the power to control chaos magic. She, with twin brother Pietro, agreed to join HYDRA, and the Mind Stone was responsible for awakening Maximoff’s powers fully. In her teenage years, she was recruited to join the Avengers during the events of Age of Ultron. She sided with Captain America (Chris Evans) during the Avengers’ Civil War and following her freedom from imprisonment, reconciled with Vision (Paul Bettany). Through her time with the Avengers, Maximoff’s weight of grief over her loss of Vision and her brother interfered with her mental health, and, as seen in WandaVision, she “created” the town of Westview to cope with her deteriorating psyche. The captured town and re-imagined family that she created for herself was quick to slip from her control. In order to attempt to compensate for the damage she has done, Maximoff fled Westview to study the Darkhold.
Due to her exposure to cosmic energy, Maximoff has developed psionic powers and psionic manipulation. She is a skilled telekinetic and telepath gifted with force-field generation and flight. Much like Harkness, Maximoff claims the title of Master Sorceress for herself and uses chaos magic at a subconscious level. With chaos magic comes reality manipulation, time manipulation, and the creation of life. The Scarlet Witch controls additional manipulations of energy, weather, water, and fire. She has the ability to absorb energy, astrally project, teleport from place to place, and of conjuration. Maximoff casts protection spells learned from Harkness and possesses the abilities of mental and emotional manipulation.
