The Avengers face off against Marvel's greatest threats regularly. They've saved the day when the chips were down, thanks to their mixture of power and fighting skills. Heroes from all over the superheroic community have joined the team, each bringing something different to the table, allowing the heroes to deal with any threat. The Avengers' superhuman fighting skills have been a very important factor in their success.

While not every Avenger is the strongest fighter in the world, many of them are unsurpassed warriors. They've mastered multiple martial arts, combining their skills with their powers to become amazing fighters. These warriors have saved the day many times as a result.

Updated on December 21st, 2023 by David Harth: The Avengers are Marvel's biggest team, and they've had everyone from Omega-level mutants to street-level heroes join their ranks. There's a reason they're called Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Marvel's most powerful heroes have almost always joined the team.

35 Hawkeye Has No Powers, But That Never Stops Him

Facts about Hawkeye:

No actual powers

Highly trained in the use of multiple weapons, but a master of the bow and the sword

Trick arrows help even up the odds with superpowered foes

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Hawkeye has used many costumed identities, but he's always been a skilled warrior. It all began when he and his brother were children in the circus. The two of them were trained by the man who would become Swordsman. Hawkeye not only became an amazing marksman, specializing in the bow and arrow, but also mastered everything Swordsman taught him.

After joining the Avengers, Hawkeye only got better. He trained with Captain America, gaining more martial prowess as well as practicing what he knew from before. Hawkeye has always been an amazing fighter, and his skills have kept him alive and successful for years.

34 Shang-Chi Is A Martial Arts Master

Shang-Chi wields the 10 Rings in Marvel Comics

Facts about Shang-Chi:

Shang-Chi is such a good martial artist he basically has superpowers

Preternaturally fast and strong

A master of multiple weapons

Shang-Chi didn't have a long stint with the Avengers, but he definitely showed the team what he could do. A member of the group during the Avengers Machine era, when the team was at its largest and most diversified, Shang-Chi was given special nunchucks made by Tony Stark to even up the odds with the powerful threats the team faced.

Shang-Chi's martial arts skills, and the special weapons given to him by Iron Man, put him on even ground with most foes. He wasn't the best fighter on the team, but he definitely made an impact. Shang-Chi hasn't been with the team since, but he still has their respect.

33 Captain America/Falcon Rose To The Top

Sam Wilson picks up the shield in Captain America: Sam Wilson

Facts about Sam Wilson:

Mastered the art of using flight in combat

Mastered the use of Captain America's shield

Was able to slot into Steve Rogers' place nearly flawlessly

Marvel has many amazing fighters, and Sam Wilson learned from the best of the best. Wilson was trained by Steve Rogers, who made the young man his partner, Falcon. Falcon joined the Avengers and SHIELD, fighting alongside the most powerful heroes on Earth. Given a flight harness by Black Panther, he soon became as high-flying as his namesake.

After the super-soldier serum started to degrade in Steve Rogers' system, Sam got the nod to become Captain America. Later giving up the mantle and becoming Falcon again, Sam's since gotten a new shield and become Captain America again. Sam doesn't have any superpowers, but he's in top physical condition and can take down most foes. The ones he can't beat with his fists, he can beat with his brains, a skill every Captain America should have.

32 Black Widow Is The Avengers Premiere Spy

A Marvel Comics cover shows Black Widow standing in a tough action pose

Facts about Black Widow:

Trained in the Red Room

Dosed with the Infinity Formula

Her gauntlets give her a wide variety of options, including her widow bites energy attacks

Some Marvel heroes fight smarter than others, which has kept them alive through battles that would kill lesser warriors. Black Widow has survived decades as a spy, fighting against massive odds in order to win. She worked against Iron Man for a time before reforming and joining SHIELD. Since then, she's put her skills to better use.

Black Widow doesn't have any powers, so she has to depend completely on her skills. Her gauntlets pack surprises for her enemies, but in the end, it all comes down to how good of a fighter she is. She's been able to hang with the Avengers' most dangerous foes just on the strength of her fighting skill, an impressive feat since they regularly face gods and monsters.

31 Iron Fist's Chi Attacks Make Him Extremely Formidable

Facts about Iron Fist:

Master of Kung-Fu

Was able to harness his chi to make his attacks more powerful

Can wield multiple weapons but doesn't need them

Danny Rand was trained in kung-fu in the fabled city of K'un L'un, eventually being taught the greatest ability of the city's martial artists. He learned to focus his chi into one powerful blow and plunged his hand into the molten heart of the dragon who ruled the city. From that day forward, Rand became known as Iron Fist, using his skills and wealth to become a solid C-list hero alongside his best friend Luke Cage.

Iron Fist ended up joining the team after the superhuman civil war. Using his fortune, Rand helped fund the group and stood alongside Luke Cage and the New Avengers as they battled the Mighty Avengers, the Hood's supervillain gang, and the invading Skrulls. Iron Fist stayed with the team for a while after that but has since gone back to being a hero for hire with Luke.

30 Captain America Is The Peak Of Humanity

Captain America rushing into battle with several allies, including Sharon Carter

Facts about Steve Rogers:

The supersoldier serum makes him a perfect soldier

An amazingly fast and strong fighter

The Avengers' greatest tactician

Captain America is the Avengers' inspiration, both as a symbol and on the battlefield. Cap has devoted himself to the battle for freedom like no other. Calling him skilled on the battlefield is both completely true and also feels like it's understating his abilities. Cap may not have superpowers, but he can hang with the most powerful heroes and villains out there.

Captain America's an expert strategist in just about any situation, a whiz at hand-to-hand combat, and a master of defending himself and those around him. Captain America has it all, and his versatility makes him the one Avenger everyone can rally behind. Few fighters have mastered the art of war like Captain America.

29 Reed Richards Had A Short Run With The Avengers

Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic, poses in front of a collage of the Fantastic Four comics

Facts about Reed Richards:

Was a part of the worst Avengers roster

Extremely intelligent

His stretching powers make him nearly indestructible

Marvel has many intelligent heroes, but all of them pale compared to Reed Richards. The leader of the Fantastic Four, he's explored the Marvel Multiverse, from alternate Earths to alternate dimensions, and faced down the most dangerous threats. Reed's had two runs with the Avengers — first with the Captain, his wife, and Gilgamesh — and later with the Illuminati team.

Reed Richards' elastic powers have served him well over the years. He's basically nigh invulnerable, as most attacks just bounce off his pliant body, and he can stretch out and attack foes. Mister Fantastic can even shape his body into rudimentary forms. He's not a powerhouse, but he's got it where it counts.

28 Black Panther Is a Heroic Polymath

King T'Challa defends Wakanda in Black Panther

Facts about Black Panther:

T'Challa has low-level superhuman physical attributes

Black Panther's suit isn't armor, but a cloth/vibranium weave that allows him full range of movement

As smart as he is skilled

Black Panther has fought many battles over the years, protecting Wakanda from every threat that comes up. T'Challa has a long history with the Avengers, but most of his stints ended badly because he put Wakanda first. His most recent time with the team was his most successful, as he became the chairperson of the Avengers, leading them in battle against dire threats.

Black Panther is a master strategist and an amazing hand-to-hand combatant. He's bested many of the toughest members of the Avengers in the past, as well as many powerful villains. His vibranium weave costume, enhancements from the heart-shaped herb, and skills have made him a dangerous combatant.

27 Wolverine Is An Indestructible Killing Machine

Facts about Wolverine:

Healing factor and adamantium skeleton make him basically indestructible

Adamantium claws allow him to cut through anything and hurt the Hulk

Is a master of multiple martial arts and weapons

Wolverine has long been the X-Men's strongest fighter, his decades of fighting experience serving him well. Wolverine fought in every war in the last century, mastered multiple martial arts, and was an expert in a variety of weapons. His mutant healing factor and adamantium skeleton combine to make him a near-unstoppable force on the battlefield.

As a member of the Avengers, Wolverine brought all of that to the team. He had experiences that few other Avengers could match and was always ready to jump into any battle. He gained the respect of his fellow Avengers, helping the team defeat the worst threats.

26 Valkyrie Is A Powerful Warrior

Brunnhilde as Valkyrie with Dragonfang from Marvel Comics

Facts about Valkyrie:

A master of the sword

Not as strong as Thor, but no slouch

A master rider of pegasi

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Valkyrie once served as one of the Valkyrior, shield-maidens of Odin charged with determining the worthiness of fallen warriors for Valhalla, and is based on the Norse figure Brunnhilde. As an Asgardian, Valkyrie’s physical capabilities are not only superior to that of ordinary humans, but most other Asgardians, too. This makes her extremely strong, fast, agile, and durable.

Valkyrie’s skills as a fighter are said to be unmatched amongst her own people — with the possible exception of Lady Sif — making her lethal with her magical sword, Dragonfang. Besides her sword, Valkyrie also has a winged horse named Aragorn, whose enhanced intelligence allows it to understand Valkyrie’s intentions in battle, making them a formidable pair.

25 Spider-Man Made An Amazing Avenger

Ultimate Spider-Man swinging in the night sky.

Facts about Spider-Man:

His spider-sense makes him formidable, since he can avoid nearly any attack throw at him

As smart as he is strong

Known for his perseverance

Spider-Man had long been New York's toughest hero. His spider powers were a big part of that, but what really makes Spider-Man such a strong fighter is his sense of responsibility. Once he's in the fight, he's in it until he's dead. Thanks to his spider-sense and agility, that basically means he's going to outlast everyone and if he doesn't, he'll still win somehow.

Even taking his defense out of the equation, Spider-Man is a spectacular combatant. He's strong, fast, and experienced. On top of that, he's very smart and has been fighting stronger foes for a very long time. Given enough time, the Wall-Crawler can outfight just about anyone.

24 The Thing Is A Physical Powerhouse

Marvel Comics' Thing about to throw a punch

Facts about The Thing:

The strongman of the Fantastic Four

Had a short tenure with the New Avengers

Not as strong as Hulk, but can hold his own against the Jade Giant

The Thing is the Fantastic Four's muscle, using his great strength to batter their opponents and move Reed's heavy science equipment and experiments around. Transformed into a rocky powerhouse by the cosmic radiation that gave the FF their powers, The Thing's monstrous appearance caused a lot of problems for his self-esteem. However, that never stopped him from doing good.

The Thing had one stint with the Avengers, joining the New Avengers after Norman Osborn was deposed as head of the Superhero Initiative. While The Thing's massively strong and durable, that's pretty much all he is, so he lands pretty low on any list of powerful heroes. The Thing's great in a fight, however, and has punched it out with the likes of Hulk.

23 War Machine Holds The Big Guns

Facts about War Machine:

Proved his worth as Iron Man

Is the heavy artillery of the Avengers

Mostly a member of the Avengers West Coast

Several of Marvel's iconic Black superheroes have been members of the Avengers, including War Machine. James Rhodes first got a taste of Avengers membership when he was subbing in for Tony Stark as Iron Man. After receiving his War Machine armor, he'd join up with the Avengers West Coast, mostly, using his heavy arsenal and military training to fight evil.

The War Machine armor has always been a little weaker than the Iron Man armor, with the biggest disadvantage being its conventional weapon systems, although it still had repulsors. However, it's still extremely durable and gives Rhodes titanic strength. Rhodes has also mastered its systems, making it a very dangerous weapon.

22 Iron Man Is The Avengers' Swiss Army Knife

Iron Man represents America in Civil War: The Initiative

Facts about Iron Man:

Armor is the epitome of bleeding edge tech

Is constantly modifying his armor

Has multiple suits to use against different threats

Iron Man is a founding Avenger, and his wealth made the team possible for years. Tony Stark is perhaps the greatest mind in the entire Marvel Universe. It’s what allows him to create whole new variations of the Iron Man armor on a whim, including suits as powerful as the Godkiller armor which allowed him to battle Celestials, and enables him to out-think his opponents at every turn.

As for the suits themselves, they’re basically high-tech Swiss army knives, with their versatility and ever-changing abilities allowing Tony to tackle any issue he might come across. Besides flight, super speed, and durability, the suits grant Tony incredible strength. Throw his highly effective repulsor rays and array of complex gadgetry into the mix, and it's clear Tony Stark wields some of the most overpowered technology in all of Marvel.

21 Luke Cage Is An Indestructible Fighting Machine

Luke Cage scowls at an opponent with a chain in Marvel Comics
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Facts about Luke Cage:

Unbreakable skin

Led the Avengers through some slim times

A crafty, strong fighter

Captured and imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, Carl Lucas (later known as Luke Cage) willingly volunteered for a risky experiment during his time in Seagate Prison. Luke found that his skin became completely impenetrable — resistant to bullets, edged weapons, chemical attacks, extreme pressure and temperature — while he also gained tremendous levels of superhuman strength.

Sitting in roughly the same category as some of Marvel’s heaviest hitters in terms of pure lifting power, Luke Cage’s strength and durability make him an incredibly effective warrior, able to dish out and soak up incredible amounts of damage without breaking a sweat. Cage is also a versatile fighter, cutting his teeth as a street brawler before training in other forms of combat, including several martial arts, with the help of his fellow heroes.

20 Invisible Woman Has Upper Echelon Powers

Marvel Comics' Invisible Woman deflecting attacks

Facts about Invisible Woman:

The most powerful member of the Fantastic Four

A member of the worst Avengers roster ever

Her powers make her an offensive and defensive threat

The Fantastic Four is a formidable team, but everyone knows the most powerful member is Invisible Woman. Sue Richards' invisibility powers might not have seemed like much at first, but she refined them and soon mastered the use of her invisible energies. She's able to create devastating constructs to attack enemies and a nearly impregnable force field.

Invisible Woman's time on the Avengers isn't remembered fondly, but that has nothing to do with how powerful she is. Joining the team alongside her husband, the Eternal Gilgamesh, and Captain America when he was known as the Captain, Invisible Woman got little chance to show off her power level. However, it's impossible to deny how formidable she is.

19 Quasar's Quantum Bands Made Him The Guardian Of The Universe

Facts about Quasar:

Brought cosmic power to the early '90s Avengers

Patrolled the universe while an Avenger

Way more powerful than he seems

Stumbling across a mysterious pair of trinkets known as the Quantum Bands during his time as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Wendell Vaughn was the only one of his peers capable of using the weapons thanks to his easy-going nature. Successfully quelling a vicious attack by AIM after he first donned the bands, Wendell discovered he could create solid constructs out of pure energy. He became Quasar, and eventually became the Guardian of the Universe, working with the cosmic being Eon. Quasar also became an Avenger.

The bands allow Quasar to access the mysterious Quantum Zone and tap into its energy supply, enabling him to project blasts of heat and concussive force, as well as form constructs both simple and complex. Wendell can also use the bands to teleport, create "Quantum Tripwires," detect energy and access the entire electromagnetic spectrum, cementing his status as one of the most regularly overlooked and underrated Avengers in existence.

18 Wonder Man Is Ridiculously Strong

Wonder Man wearing a brown short-sleeved jacket in Marvel Comics

Facts about Wonder Man:

Functionally immortal

He dies a lot, but that has little to do with how powerful he is

Is actually an energy being

Wonder Man received powers from the first Baron Zemo, battling the Avengers before betraying Zemo and dying. He'd resurrect and join the Avengers, soon becoming one of the team's heavy hitters. Because of experiments by Zemo, Wonder Man became imbued with ionic energy, giving him superhuman strength, stamina, speed, agility, flight, and reflexes, and making him pretty much indestructible.

Wonder Man can also absorb various forms of energy, including anti-matter, can project powerful energy blasts at will, and can even exist as pure energy if he wishes. Perhaps the biggest quirk of his abilities is that Wonder Man doesn’t require food, water, or even oxygen to survive. His vast reserves of energy remain sufficient sustenance.

17 Nova Saved The Universe

Richard Rider in space as Nova

Facts about Nova:

Most powerful member of the Nova Corps

Saved the universe from the denizens of the Cancerverse

Joined the Secret Avengers

Although several characters have taken on the mantle of Nova over the years, Richard Rider remains the most beloved and powerful incarnation of the character. As a member of the Nova Corps, Rider received a portion of the Nova Force’s powers, which he uses to become the superhero known as Nova. Richard eventually became the highest-ranking official in the Corps, further enhancing his already impressive abilities.

Nova possesses the powers of flight, massively enhanced durability, and near-limitless strength at his most powerful. He can also absorb energy, subsequently releasing it as highly destructive beams or blasts, and can even weaponize gravity itself. Able to fly at near-lightspeed as Nova Prime, Richard Rider remains one of the cosmos’ fiercest protectors.

16 Vision's An Android Powerhouse

Vision scowling in Marvel Comics

Facts about Vision:

His density controlling power is his greatest power

He can fire energy blasts as hot as the sun

Is a great all-rounder for the Avengers

A key piece of the Avengers’ history, the colorful android known as the Vision was created by the robotic supervillain Ultron. Crafted with the purpose of serving Ultron in his crusade against the Avengers, Vision’s mind is based on the brain patterns of Wonder Man, making him very much human — mentally speaking, at least. It’s because of this that Vision eventually turned against his master, joining the Avengers and quickly becoming one of the team’s most iconic members.

Vision can absorb and expel solar energy as powerful blasts, thanks to the gem in his head. Numbering among Marvel's premiere robots, Vision was also created to be extremely strong and durable, allowing him to duke it out with some of Marvel's heaviest hitters. His most notable power, however, is the ability to control his own density, making him the Avengers' equivalent of the Martian Manhunter in some ways. He can either phase through attacks or become dense enough to tank all but the strongest blows.