The Avengers are Marvel's premier superteam. Consisting of the greatest superheroes in the Marvel Universe, the team has saved the day when the chips are down many times over the years, battling against the most dangerous foes imaginable and stopping cosmic calamities. Their might is legendary but that doesn't mean that they're unbeatable.
While it's not exactly common, the Avengers have been defeated. Even more improbably, they have been soloed before and they could be again. In fact, there are any number of powerful characters from throughout the Marvel Universe who could pretty handily end the Avengers all by themselves.
10 Even Without The Phoenix, Jean Grey Would Shut Down The Avengers Easily
Jean Grey is one of the most powerful X-Men of them all and while the Avengers are formidable, if Jean wanted to take them out, she could do so rather easily. The Avengers don't really have any protection against telepathy; Iron Man has psi-blockers in his armor but he's the only one. Jean could shut down the majority of the team with a thought, leaving just Iron Man.
That would be where her telekinetic powers came in; she can protect herself from all of Iron Man's attacks and then just tear his armor apart, leaving him with no protection at all from her telepathic skills. She'd be able to beat the team in record time.
9 Magneto Is One Of The Most Powerful Beings On The Planet
Magneto isn't just one of the most powerful mutants but also just one of the most powerful beings on Earth. If he decided to, Magneto could pretty much level society at any time and the same would go for the Avengers. Any member with blood in their veins is vulnerable to Magneto, as he can stop their blood flow with a thought.
Thor and Iron Man have a chance against Magneto, but even then, it's a slim one. His magnetic force fields can protect him from them and everything around him is a weapon he can use to defeat them. Much like society, the Avengers only still exist because Magneto hasn't really tried to kill them all.
8 Apocalypse's Powers And Armor Make Him More Than A Match For The Avengers
Once upon a time, Apocalypse and Thor fought. Apocalypse hit him so hard it almost took Thor's head off. He's the Avengers' heaviest hitter and Apocalypse almost killed him with one shot. Apocalypse's powers are just about unmatched; he's amazingly strong, has complete control of his molecular structure, telepathic powers, and can fire energy blasts.
On top of that, his Celestial armor is just about impregnable. Even if Thor had Jarnbjorn, enchanted to deal with Apocalypse's armor, he'd still have the upper had. While he's recently helped save the world with the X-Men, if it came down to it, he would make short work of the Avengers.
7 Scarlet Witch Could Defeat The Team With A Few Words
Scarlet Witch is one of the most powerful Avengers of them all and if she really wanted to, she could take out the Avengers in a heartbeat. She's been known to freak out and attack the group, sometimes for good reasons and sometimes for not very good reasons, but with her power level, beating the Avengers wouldn't be very hard.
While she's kind of a glass cannon, if she really put her all into it and thought it out, she'd be able to take out her teammates before they would ever have a chance to stop her. In fact, she could do it with a few words.
6 The Hulk's Power Has Always Been Too Much For The Avengers
The Hulk is probably one of the most dangerous beings in the Marvel Universe. He's amazingly strong and durable and has a healing factor that allows him to come back from any attack. He often boasts about being the strongest one there is but it's no boast- the madder he gets, the stronger he gets and his strength potential is infinite.
The Avengers have been stopped by the Hulk before, as his power and rage have just been too much for them. Any counter measures they come up with are quickly thrown aside and they don't have the power to take him down before he gets really strong. Eventually, he just gets too overwhelmingly strong for them and Hulk taking down the Avengers by himself is too easy to imagine.
5 Any Of The Celestials Could End The World And The Avengers Without Even Trying
The Celestials are one of the most powerful forces in the known universe. In fact, they're pretty much responsible for most of the life in the known universe, having genetically tinkered with the species of multiple planets, including the Earth. Their power is next level; even gods like Thor are beneath them. A Celestial on its own is an extinction level event and not even the Avengers could stop one.
While Thor does have his anti-Celestial ax, a Celestial could stop him before he ever used it. As for the rest of the Avengers, atomizing them would be child's play for a Celestial, as they don't even have the power to phase one.
4 Doctor Doom Could Defeat The Avengers If He Really Set Out To
Doctor Doom and the Avengers have tangled many times and the Avengers have triumphed every time. A big reason for this is because Doom is an honorable man; he has a time machine and he knows their identities- he could go back in time and kill them in their cribs. However, he doesn't really need to do that to end them.
Doom is one of the smartest people on Earth. He's vastly smarter than Tony Stark and his armor can drain the power of gods. His mystical might is just barely second to Doctor Strange's and his Doombots are powerful cannon fodder. If Doom bent all of his power and resources towards killing the Avengers, he would succeed with ease.
3 Hyperion Has Proven Powerful Enough To Kill Just About Every Hero On His Own
Hyperion is the Marvel Superman analogue and he's one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe. Usually hailing from an alternate reality, there are some Earths where he went rogue and was able to kill every hero who battled him. It didn't matter who it was- Hyperion beat them.
A version of Hyperion was on the Avengers for a time and one of the most powerful members of the team. If Hyperion put his mind to it, the Avengers would fall before him very easily. He's just too powerful and would kill most of the team in seconds, with the heavy hitters surviving longer but still falling eventually.
2 Galactus Is Nigh Unstoppable
Galactus is one of the most dangerous beings in the Marvel Universe. For eons, he's traveled the cosmos, devouring planets to keep the cosmic balance. Wielder of the full might of the Power Cosmic, Galactus's power has allowed him to defeat every force arrayed against him. While the heroes of the Earth have been able to stop him from devouring Earth, they usually used some kind of trick.
In a straight up fight, there's no possible way for the Avengers defeat Galactus. He's just too powerful for any of them and there's pretty much nothing any of them could do to a fully powered Galactus.
1 Thanos Wins
Thanos is one of the most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe. He doesn't need the Infinity Gauntlet or any other weapon of ultimate power; there are few foes who can stand against him. He can solo Phoenix Force wielders. The Avengers are tough but up against Thanos, they'd have no chance.
Thanos's power, cunning, and years of experience have allowed him to outsmart and defeat some of the most powerful beings in the universe. All manners of beings have fallen before Thanos and while the Avengers are powerful, if Thanos really put his mind to it, he could end the Avengers at any moment.