It goes without saying that Captain America is one of Marvel’s most iconic superheroes. However, his shield is even more iconic than Steve Rogers himself. Steve and his shield debuted in 1941 and became a comic mainstay after that. He achieved a new level of popularity due to his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Steve Rogers is the most famous Captain America, many people have wielded the shield over the course of Captain America’s history.
The design of the shield is recognizable even to the non-comics reader. However, Captain America has wielded a variety of different shields over the years. Captain America's shields vary in design and ability, and some have been better than others. Here are the top ten of Captain America's shields over the course of his long, storied history.
10 10. The Skrull Gladiator Shield
Earth-5692 Captain America in Exiles #9 is a gladiator in a universe where the Skrulls conquered Earth. Gladiator matches are the preferred form of entertainment in this reality. Captain America, referred to as simply The Captain, is a favorite competitor in these battles by Skrull spectators.
The Skrulls designed the shield The Captain wields with their technology. While it is vastly different from the traditional Captain America shield due to its purple and gray color scheme, its design is simple, sleek, and maintains the power of the traditional Captain America shields.
9 9. Infinity War Gauntlets
“Get this man a shield,” King T’Challa declares as the Wakandans prepare for war against Thanos and his army in Avengers: Infinity War. The ensuing shield gauntlets created for Steve Rogers are vastly different from Steve’s previous shields. The gauntlets, designed by Shuri, contain sleek Wakandan design and technological power.
The design was intended to be a callback to Captain America’s original triangular shield but has its own, Wakandan style. While the gauntlets didn’t turn the tide against Thanos, they were still fun to watch in the final battle.
8 8. Triangular MCU Shield
Captain America became even more of a cultural phenomenon after his first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Steve Rogers’ journey to becoming Captain America started in his first solo movie, Captain America: The First Avenger.
The initial shield design was an homage to Captain America’s original triangular shield in the comics, but with a more refined design for its cinematic appearance. The triangular shield is used primarily for Captain America’s USO appearances and breaks in combat. Luckily, Howard Stark creates a sturdier option for Steve to wield later on.
7 7. Yeoman America's Shield
This shield is a Renaissance Faire cosplayer’s dream come true. This reality is set in Earth-398, where Arthurian legend witch Morgan le Fay has warped the world into a middle age setting.
This universe's Captain America, who goes by the name Yeoman America wields this version of the shield. The shield maintains the traditional Captain America shield color scheme but changes the design to fit the medieval setting. The eagle crest inside the middle star is a nice touch that sells the middle age aesthetic of the world and the shield.
6 6. Captain America's Wakanda Disc Shield
Over the years, Captain America’s shields have been primarily made of two materials, adamantium and vibranium, the strongest metals in the Marvel universe.
This shield, made completely of vibranium, was a gift from Black Panther to Steve Rogers in Captain America #342. The shield is the familiar disc shape and contains the red and white stripes lining the edge of the shield. However, the circle inside is black, a nod to its Wakandan design. Steve eventually donated the shield and costume to USAgent before regaining his traditional look and shield.
5 5. Energy Shield
Sharon Carter gives Steve two versions of the energy shield in Captain America #9 and Captain America #451. One of them was simply a bright orange disc, the other one resembles a translucent version of Steve’s traditional shield. In reality, both shields are really a giant manifestation of a disc of energy.
The shield is comprised of a flexible plasma that has the ability to change shape. While the shield can withstand stronger attacks, it cannot be thrown like Captain America’s traditional shield, limiting long-range attacks in battle.
4 4. Original Triangular Shield
The shield wielded by Captain America in his comics debut in 1941 is not the most powerful or most visually pleasing version of the shield on this list, but it is the more well-known version of the shield.
The original shield is comprised of steel and lasted until destroyed by Mr. Hyde in Avengers #275. Marvel discontinued the traditional triangular shape of the shield due to a copyright dispute with rival comics publisher MLJ comics (now Archie Comics). Thankfully, they replaced it with the current circular shield we know and love.
3 3. Mutant-Hunter Shield
The Age of X storyline takes place in Earth-11326, an alternate reality where all mutants are labeled as terrorists after an attack with a massive number of casualties is pinned on Jean Gray.
The Avengers in this universe are tasked to hunt the mutants. Captain America wields a shield in this universe that is similar to his standard shield but contains a black color scheme and a layer of blue energy surrounding it. The shield functions similar to the energy shield but is able to be thrown for long-range attacks.
2 2. Classic Disc Shield
Once Steve’s shield changed from its original triangular shape to a new circular shape, the shield became the most commonly used and most iconic of Captain America's shields throughout all of Captain America's comic appearances.
The design of the shield, with its star, stripes, and red, white, and blue color scheme, have become forever linked with the traditional Captain America look. The shield has been broken and rebuilt many times, and most commonly forged out of vibranium and adamantium. The shield is considered one of the strongest weapons in the Marvel universe and has withstood many battles over the years.
1 1. MCU Disc Shield
Captain America's popularity grew with his leading role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in his solo movies and as a leader of the Avengers. Filmmakers adapted Steve Roger’s iconic disc shield and the result looks great on the big screen.
The impact of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has forever impacted pop culture and Captain America has been a huge part of that. With Steve passing on his shield to Sam Wilson at the end of Avengers: Endgame, the shield and the Captain America namesake is in good hands for the future.