Thor's hammer Mjolnir is arguably the most famous weapon in all of Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although Thor isn't the only person who has wielded Mjolnir throughout Marvel's comic and film history, the hammer is synonymous with his persona. Not only can Mjolnir imbue its user with immense power, but it can also serve as a test of character for anyone attempting to use it, preventing others from lifting it who aren't considered "worthy".
Throughout its existence, Mjolnir has been used a number of unique ways outside of simple feats of strength or immense power. Here are ten times Thor, or another Marvel character, has creatively made use of Mjolnir's vast abilities.
10 Flight
While this is an obvious pick, it doesn't take away from the fact that spinning and hurling Mjolnir so quickly that it propels its user through the air is certainly a creative way to make use of the hammer. The weapon can also allow the user to hover in place, as well as perform mid-flight course corrections with ease.
With enough force applied to Mjolnir, the hammer allows its user to travel at impressive speeds. On a planet with an atmosphere similar to Earth, Thor can travel at roughly the speed of sound.
9 Interrogation Tool
Sometimes bad guys need a reason to reveal their evil plans or be swayed to do the right thing, and sometimes that reason can be something as simple as not wanting to be at the mercy of the Mighty Thor and the legendary Mjolnir. As depicted in the film Thor Ragnarok, Thor threatens Loki with pain, and potential death, if he doesn't stop masquerading as their father Odin.
Thor's threats work like a charm and easily force Loki into submission. For someone who has come face-to-face with Thanos, the mere threat of Mjolnir breaking Loki is an impressive feat.
8 Particle Reflector
In Marvel Comics' 2009 Secret Invasion, the Avengers have been infiltrated by the villainous Skrulls. Unknowingly, Wasp has been implanted with a bio-weapon serum that will explode and take many lives. In order to prevent mass death, Thor uses Mjolnir's energy absorption ability to contain the deadly particles emitting from Wasp and save the lives of his comrades.
Thor initially hates himself for his role in taking Wasp's life, despite saving many others, but is later relieved when it's discovered that Wasp survived the ordeal.
7 Escape the Jaws of Death
Thor Ragnarok features another moment in Mjolnir's history where Thor creatively uses its powers, this time to fight his way out of the jaws of a dragon.
When Mjolnir isn't being held by its owner, or someone deemed worthy to wield it, the hammer becomes impossibly heavy to the point where even Marvel's strongest heroes and villains can't lift it. Thor uses this to his advantage in the film when trapped in between the fangs of a mighty dragon, dropping Mjolnir inside the beasts' mouth, and temporarily incapacitating the dragon.
6 Personal Transformation
In Thor's early comic history, he was living on Earth under the persona of a doctor named Donald Blake. By using Mjolnir's transformative abilities, Thor could switch between his Asgardian and Earth personas at will, successfully maintaining an alternate identity to hide the fact that he is actually the God of Thunder.
Although this transformation ability has been used for other purposes by Thor, shifting in-and-out of Donald Blake remains the most iconic and creative use to date of this specific power.
5 Stark Defibrillator
Although it's a moment played for laughs in Avengers Endgame, during the film when the Avengers are attempting to get their hands on the Space Stone, a 2012-version of Thor has to resuscitate a 2012-version of Iron Man when his arc reactor is deliberately sabotaged by an Ant-Man from the future.
In the film, Thor successfully uses Mjolnir and just a smidgen of lightning as a make-shift defibrillator to shock Tony's heart and arc reactor back into working order, saving his life.
4 Interdimensional Communicator
A little-known power of Mjolnir is its ability to act as a communication device across various dimensions and realms. To put it simply, Thor's hammer can effectively function as an interdimensional telephone of sorts.
By inventively using the capabilities of Mjolnir, any of its wielders can use it as a means to communicate with friends or enemies essentially anywhere in both the known and unknown reaches of the universe, and potentially the multi-verse as a whole. During the next big Marvel comic crossover, we want to see Mjolnir acting as a communication bridge for the Avengers and their allies.
3 Vision Worthiness Test
During a pivotal moment in Avengers Age of Ultron, Vision has to prove to the rest of the Avengers that he can be trusted to help them defeat Ultron. Having no prior relationship with the Avengers as he was built that same day, Vision needs to prove that he is an ally to the team and does so by lifting Mjolnir.
Whether Vision knew about the test of worthiness, or was simply handing Mjolnir to Thor as a call to action, seeing Vision lift the hammer was all the Avengers needed in order to ultimately decide to trust him.
2 Banish Villains
Mjolnir has the ability to tear the very fabric of reality, creating wormholes that allow Thor and people accompanying him to travel instantaneously across the Nine Realms and various dimensions. However, when used creatively, this power can serve the purpose of casting judgment on Thor's enemies.
The hammer has been used to banish both Ymir and Surtur to a reality known as the Death Dimension. When enemies prove too powerful to be contained on Earth or in their own realms, Mjolnir can send them far away, where they no longer pose as a threat.
1 Party Favor
During the opening act of Avengers Age of Ultron, the Avengers host a party at their headquarters. When the event dies down and only the core members of the team remain, everyone takes turns attempting to lift Mjolnir as the Avengers drink (responsibly) and enjoy each other's company.
While certainly not a critical moment in Mjolnir's history, using the hammer and its worthiness test as a means to celebrate a successful mission and build team camaraderie is our top creative use of Mjolnir's powers.