The X-Men have proven just how tough they can be. The team consists of the most powerful and skilled mutants on the planet. They've faced down threats that many teams would have a problem taking out, the abilities of the individual members and their teamwork coming in clutch. They've shown that they can handle all kinds of threats.
A big reason for that is that some members of the X-Men are perfect secret weapons. Their enemies underestimate these members of the team. They have powers and abilities that have allowed them to make all the difference in the world.
10 Wolverine Has Talents That Constantly Get Underestimated
Wolverine has carried the X-Men often since joining the team. Many enemies think they have a plan for Wolverine, but none of them realize that there is no way to plan for Wolverine. He's a tank in battle, able to take massive amounts of damage and dish out pain to his foes. He's among the most stealthy heroes on the planet, able to sneak in where his enemies least expect it.
The X-Men's enemies know how dangerous Wolverine can be, but they often make the mistake of thinking that will be enough to give them an advantage. Wolverine knows how to hit his enemies where they least expect it, doing damage they aren't ready for.
9 Archangel's Ferocity Shocks Enemies
As Angel, Warren Worthington III wasn't the most formidable member of the team. He didn't carry any weapons, so he was just a guy who could fly around and brawl. He could slap someone with a wing, but other than that, he didn't have much else. His change to Archangel changed his life in many ways, but a huge one was making him dangerous in battle.
Archangel's metal wings could cut enemies to ribbons, defend him from attacks, and allow him to rain razor-sharp feather flechettes down on his foes. He's much faster and more ferocious as well, an altogether more dangerous presence on the battlefield. Many enemies have made the mistake of underestimating how deadly he can be.
8 Bishop Is A Threat Like Few Others
Bishop was made the Captain of Commanders on Krakoa after Cyclops stepped down. His powers are pretty good, allowing him to absorb and redirect energy, but what really got him the job was his skill in battle. Bishop hunted down mutant fugitives in the future and has dealt with the worst of the worst. He's a master of strategy and tactics and he's tough as nails.
Even when his energy reserves are dry and he's unarmed, Bishop is still dangerous. Most enemies never realize this until it's too late. He's a total threat on the battlefield, and no one ever expects him to be the one to take them down.
7 The Team's Telepaths Give Them A Huge Command And Control Advantage
Marvel's heroes and villains have some cool powers, but few are as versatile as telepathy. Telepaths can read and control minds, mess with the senses, erase memories, and communicate without words. The X-Men have more telepaths than any other team, giving them a huge advantage over their foes.
The X-Men's various telepaths - Jean Grey, Emma Frost, Psylocke, Xavier, and others - give the team a command and control advantage that others can't match. The X-Men can communicate instantaneously no matter what the distance, in a way that can't be spied on. This is very important to the X-Men's victory, allowing the team to keep in touch no matter what.
6 Nightcrawler Is A Whirling Dervish Of Offense And Defense
The X-Men have amazing fighters on the roster, with Nightcrawler being the most surprising to foes. His teleportation powers aren't offensive at all, he doesn't have super strength, and he looks rather easy to hurt. However, Kurt Wagner is no slouch. He's mastered combining an acrobatic fighting style with his teleportation, allowing him to seemingly be everywhere at once.
Nightcrawler is all about motion. From the first seconds of the fight, he starts moving and never stops, bouncing around and attacking his foes constantly. Nightcrawler is easy to underestimate, but it's a huge mistake. Once he starts, he never stops.
5 Magik Is As Scary As They Come
Magik can be a terrifying foe. Kidnapped by Belasco and taken to Limbo, Magik learned powerful magic to survive and mastered hand-to-hand combat. She took over Limbo and was its queen for years, with a demonic army at her disposal. Her mutant powers allowed her to create teleport discs that could move through space, time, and other dimensions.
Magik joined the X-Men and quickly proved that she deserved to be there. Not only did her magic powers make up for her lack of offensive power, but she could send enemies into Limbo or drop an army of demons on them. She's a versatile threat like few others.
4 Emma Frost's Diamond Form Gave Her An Extra Dimension Foes Don't Expect
Several X-Men can solo their teammates, including Emma Frost. Her telepathic powers are what everyone is afraid of, and there's a good reason for that. She's very skilled and extremely powerful. However, it's her secondary mutation that really put the deadly cherry on the dangerous sundae.
Emma Frost can transform into diamond, gaining a degree of superhuman strength. She can take an amazing amount of damage, although she loses her telepathy in the process. Most don't expect someone like Emma to be so dangerous in a fight and that surprise has allowed the team to win several times over the years.
3 Synch Can Replicate The Powers Of Any X-Man Near Him
Synch has only recently joined the X-Men, but he's shown off just how much he's always deserved to be there. Synch can copy the powers of any mutant around him, which basically makes him a backup for any member of the team. He's taken to practicing with the powers of his teammates, giving himself a high skill level with the powers he'll use the most.
Synch's ability means that the X-Men always have every weapon on the battlefield they'll need at any time. He's gotten very good at using the powers of his teammates. This allowed the group to either double up on what works or keep a power in the fight when someone is down.
2 Cyclops's Optic Blasts Are A Very Potent Weapon
Cyclops brings a lot to the table as a hero. He's an amazing leader and tactician with experience like few others. While superpowers don't always make the hero, Cyclops's optic blasts are extremely versatile. They're not heat blasts, but rather beams of concussive force. This gives them all kinds of options that Cyclops has mastered.
Scott can calculate angles in his head and bounce them around the battlefield. He can use his visor to change the width of a blast, making them pencil thin or into a wide-effect blast. When he unleashes his full power, he can level everything in front of him. The variety of options they give him is amazing.
1 Kate Pryde Is A Heroic Polymath
Kate Pryde has been a hero for years. Her phasing ability is the ultimate defense, both for herself and anyone she touches. That's only the start for her, though. Over the years, she's more than just mastered her powers. Wolverine trained her in hand-to-hand combat, she's become a computer hacker extraordinaire, and she has faced off against all kinds of foes.
On top of that, Kate's pet dragon Lockheed is always ready to fry any enemy around. Kate is smart and skilled, with the kind of experience that few enemies can match. She can handle things that others can't, and enemies never realize just how dangerous she is until it's too late.