For many years, the comic book world seemed full of strong male superheroes and a few equally powerful females (with rare exceptions). The X-Men's early years were no different. Jean Grey was the only major female member and nowhere near as powerful as she'd become years later.

However, thanks to the X-Men's creators, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and their ability to tell stories about discrimination and prejudice, they started to strengthen their female team members over time. This resulted in just as many strong female leaders as males, making the women of the X-Men among the most powerful in Marvel Comics. However, some stand out above the rest.

Updated on March 25, 2024 by Scoot Allan: This article has been updated with new site features and modified to conform to current CBR guidelines.

10 Laura Kinney

Codename: X-23 and Wolverine

• First Appearance: NYX #3 (December 2003), by Joe Quesada, Joshua Middleton, Jean-François Beaulieu, Chris Eliopoulos, and Randy Gentile

Laura Kinney is the female clone of Wolverine. She came into being thanks to the combined DNA of Wolverine and one of the scientists who created her, Sarah Kinney. However, she soon escaped the top-secret laboratory she was being hidden in and became a major hero in her own right.

Wolverine is one of the strongest members of The X-Men, so it makes sense his clone is too. Laura took Wolverine's place after his death and has been a capable member of multiple X-Men teams. Her powers include a regenerative healing factor, acute senses, and an extended lifespan.

9 Hisako Ichiki

Codename: Armor

• First Appearance: Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3 #4 (August 2004), by Joss Whedon, John Cassaday, Laura Martin, and Chris Eliopoulos

Armor is one of the younger members of the X-Men. Hisako Ichiki first appeared in Marvel Comics in 2004 and was originally trained by Kitty Pryde. While it took her a little while to master her powers, Armor has the mutant ability to create a psionic exoskeleton that builds itself around her body.

When her armor is up, Hisako gains superhuman strength and durability and is virtually invulnerable. Her armor is strong enough to withstand a fall through the atmosphere, and she suffers no damage when hitting the ground from a great height. Hisako also can shoot concussive blasts, but it requires a level of concentration that requires her armor to be removed.

8 Monet St. Croix

Codename: M

• First Appearance: Generation X #1 (September 1994), by Scott Lobdell, Chris Bachalo, Mark Buckingham, Steve Buccellato, Electric Crayon, Richard Starkings and Comicraft

Monet St. Croix isn't as popular as other female X-Men members; however, the mutant known as M is one of the most powerful heroes in the Marvel Universe. What puts M on a list of the most powerful female mutants is the fact her abilities make her near-perfect.

Monet's powers include telepathy, telekinesis, and a genius-level intellect. She can fly well over 500 miles an hour and transform into an even more powerful Penance form to further enhance her abilities. M is a powerhouse in any of her abilities, let alone all of them together.

7 Lorna Dane

Codename: Polaris

• First Appearance: X-Men #49 (August 1968), by Arnold Drake, Don Heck, Werner Roth, John Tartaglione, and Herb Cooper

Polaris is Magneto's daughter, which says everything fans need to know about her power levels. Polaris has abilities similar to her father's, and her magnetic manipulation sometimes surpasses his. She can also absorb energy from two different sources simultaneously and combine them to do just about anything.

Polaris did have a secondary mutation at one point, which allowed her to absorb emotional energy and transform it into different physical enhancements. However, even without that power, Polaris is an Alpha-level mutant and grows stronger the more she masters her abilities.

6 Illyana Rasputin

Codename: Magik

• First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (April 1975), by Len Wein, Dave Cockrum, Peter Iro, Glynis Wein and John Costanza

Magik has been around for a very long time. She's the little sister of long-time X-Men member Colossus; however, her powers and demeanor are the polar opposite of her big brother, who's a kind giant in a metal body. Magik has the mutant power to create teleportation discs, yet she gained her darkest power during a tragedy.

Magik went to the hellish dimension Limbo whenever something awful happened. She created Limbo in her subconscious until it became real, and she grew up there before returning to the real world as a young adult. While serving as the ruler of Limbo, she developed a mastery of sorcery and a knack for showing no mercy. Due to her use of dark magic, she's a ruthless fighter.

5 Ororo Munroe

Codename: Storm

• First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (April 1975), by Len Wein, Dave Cockrum, Peter Iro, Glynis Wein and John Costanza

Power isn't based on superpowers alone; it's also about leadership qualities. No X-Men proved that more than Storm, especially when she lost her powers after being shot by agent Henry Gyrich. While this temporarily weakened her, she returned stronger than ever and became the leader of both the Morlocks and the X-Men, all without superpowers.

However, when Storm is powered, she's one of the strongest mutants on the planet. She's an Omega-level mutant with complete control of the weather. This allows her to control the atmosphere and change it into whatever form she chooses. She also has the gift of the ancient mystical power, godhead, passed down to her from her ancestors and has the potential to utilize magic.

4 Anna Marie LeBeau

Codename: Rogue

• First Appearance: Avengers Annual #10 (August 1981), by Chris Claremont, Michael Golden, Armando Gil and Joe Rosen

Due to her mutation, Rogue is one of the most powerful X-Men members ever. When she touches anyone skin-to-skin, she gains their powers. The longer she touches them, the stronger her powers become. This means she can touch Wolverine and develop his healing factor, touch Colossus and gain his impenetrable skin, and even touch multiple people and gain all their powers simultaneously.

However, this power comes at a cost. For example, when Rogue touched Carol Danvers for too long, she gained the permanent ability to fly but also absorbed all of Carol's thoughts and feelings, driving both of them to distraction. She could absorb enough powers to become an Omega-level mutant if she ever chose to.

3 Emma Frost

Codename: The White Queen

• First Appearance: X-Men #129 (October 1979), by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, Terry Austin, Bob Sharen and Tom Orzechowski

Emma Frost has two latent mutant abilities: one more powerful than the other. Her secondary mutation is the ability to turn into an organic, flexible diamond form, which makes her almost invulnerable. While this is a nice power for situations requiring a defensive approach, it strips her of her most powerful abilities.

Emma Frost is a telepath on par with Professor X. She can use this power to control almost any situation and manipulate anything to her whims. Her telepathic abilities led to the X-Men's war with the Inhumans, making her one of the strongest telepaths on Earth.

2 Hope Summers

Codename: Hope

• First Appearance: X-Men Vol. 2 #205 (November 2007), by Mike Carey, Chris Bachalo, Tim Townsend, Brian Reber and Cory Petit

Hope Summers is probably the most powerful mutant on the planet. She was the first mutant born after M-Day, and the power of her birth caused Cerebra to explode. When Cable saved her as a baby, he took her into his care, believing she was the mutant messiah. However, there was another timeline where her birth started the apocalyptic future Bishop lived through.

With both timelines out there, it was clear Hope was one of the most powerful mutants in the world. Cable took and raised her in the future, meaning she was also a deadly and skilled fighter when she returned. Hope is an Omega-level mutant who can mimic the powers of anyone near her in their most powerful form.

1 Jean Grey

Codenames: Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix

• First Appearance: X-Men #1 (July 1963), by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Paul Reinman, and Sam Rosen

Anyone who has read X-Men comics from the start has watched Jean Grey transform from a mutant with a limited gift of telekinesis to one of the most powerful mutants. She was always powerful; however, Professor X knew how dangerous she could become, blocking her mind from accessing her potential. However, everything changed when Jean Grey bonded with the Phoenix Force.

Using the Dark Phoenix's powers, Jean wiped out an entire star and killed billions of people in the blink of an eye. Even without her Phoenix powers, Jean is one of the world's most powerful telepaths, eclipsing Professor X and Emma Frost.