With three seasons down and at least one more to come, HBO Max's Doom Patrol continues to delight fans with its endless oddities, comedy, and heart. Based on one of the strangest superhero teams to ever exist in comics, Doom Patrol centers on the residents of Doom Manor as they spend more time trying to work out their inner turmoil than they do saving the planet.
With the revelation that most of the team was created by Dr. Niles Caulder so he could run his experiments and keep his daughter safe, the Doom Patrol may not have a powerhouse like Superman or Thor in their ranks – but they can hold their own in a fight. Well, some of them can. Warning: Spoilers for Season 3 are included in this piece
8 Niles Is Smart But Not Much Of A Fighter
There was a time when Niles Caulder was strong and agile, but those years have long since passed. Even before his death at the hands of the Candlemaker, Niles was well past his fighting years. While he was in a wheelchair, Niles was clearly in good shape, especially for someone who was almost a hundred and forty years old. Compared to the rest of the team, however, he wouldn't stand much of a chance in a brawl. Luckily, Niles tended to use his mind instead of his muscles, which is probably why he lived as long as he did.
7 Rita Could Be Stronger If She Learned To Control Her Powers
In the comics, Rita Farr, also known as Elasti-Girl, is one of the stronger members of the Doom Patrol thanks to her ability to fully control her powers. On the show, Rita has finally started to learn to use her powers, but still has a long way to go before she can be any sort of a threat in a fight.
While Rita did turn to Cyborg for some training, she didn't keep up with the work and quickly reverted to trying to hide her abilities instead of using them. Her time with the Sisterhood of Dada helped Rita be more comfortable with who she is, but she still needs to learn to really use what she has before she becomes a force to reckon with.
6 Cyborg Had The Tools, But Now He Doesn't
The only member of the team who's an actual bonafide superhero, Cyborg was easily one of the most powerful of the Doom Patrol – if not the most powerful – until he gave up his cybernetic abilities to look human again.
Now that Cyborg is just plain old Vic Stone – at least for the moment – he can't lift cars, track people, or shoot plasma blasts from his arm cannon. Still, Vic is a hero at heart and will continue to be an important member of the team, even without his powers.
5 Cliff Is Strong Enough To Rip Nazis In Half
The one-time NASCAR driver turned clunky robot, Cliff Steele, aka Robot Man, is stronger than any human – as shown in the first season when he gets into a fight with a group of Nazis and quite literally rips them into pieces.
Still, Cliff rarely uses his metal body for its superior strength, choosing to spend his time moping, playing with electric race cars, or flipping people off. But when push comes to shove, the rest of the team can trust that Cliff will step up and fight the bad guys.
4 Madame Rouge Has Yet To Reveal Her Full Strength
The newest member of the team and the one with the most to prove, Laura De Mille, aka Madame Rouge, is a shapeshifter who has shown the ability to not only take the form of other people, but animals and inanimate objects too.
In theory, De Mille can turn herself into a gorilla or a rhino and bring some serious muscle to a battle, but she hasn't shown off that kind of skill just yet. Since she has a lot to prove to the rest of the team, De Mille may show off her full potential in the next season.
3 Larry Could Be The Strongest If He Let Go
Possibly the most powerful member of the team, Larry Trainor is a former Air Force pilot with a negative energy entity residing inside his body. The entity gives Larry a number of powers that he almost never uses, but if he were to break them out, he could be at a power level the rest of the Doom Patrol could only dream of. There's no telling just how strong the entity is, but now that Larry is looking to prove himself as a hero, fans may find out soon.
2 Crazy Jane Is Crazy Powerful
With as many superpowers as she has personalities, Jane's full potential remains to be seen. In the past, Jane was the most useful member of the Doom Patrol, slicing through the team's enemies with razor words, using telekinetic powers to slam things around, growing claws, and even having super strength depending on which version is in charge at the moment.
Jane is clearly the most powerful of the regular members of the team, especially now that Cyborg is powerless. But even with all of Crazy Jane's powers, there was only one member of the Doom Patrol who could stop the Candlemaker.
1 Dorothy Is Essentially Unstoppable
The century-old daughter of Dr. Niles Caulder, Dorothy Spinner is forever stuck being a little girl, but her imagination manifestation powers essentially mean that she can bring to life anything she imagines. While Dorothy herself may not be able to knock down doors or toss a car as easily as a baseball, Herschel the giant imaginary spider can. Currently, Dorothy is busy trying to teach Candlemaker not to destroy the world. If she ever returns, the not-so-young girl will retake her place as the most powerful member of the Doom Patrol.