Many Marvel fans have debated which Marvel superheroes are stronger than others. These conversations focus on characters who specifically have super-strength instead of just being incredibly powerful. Fans can argue The Phoenix would beat The Hulk, but they rank differently when looking at pure muscle.

While Marvel's strength scale can sometimes help settle arguments, it also comes down to the impressive feats of strength seen in the comics. Several similarly powered heroes like the Hulks and all the Spider-themed heroes can boast the same strength scale. This sometimes makes it difficult for fans wondering "Who is the strongest Marvel superhero?"

Updated on December 17, 2023 by Jordan Iacobucci: This list has been updated to fit CBR standards and enhance readers' experience.

30 Captain America Possesses Enhanced Strength

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Captain America Comics #1

Joe Simon & Jack Kirby

1941

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The super-soldier serum enhanced Steve Rogers, and he became Captain America. The serum pushed Steve's body to the peak of human physical potential, making Cap the strongest a human could be without becoming superhuman.

Major Strengths:

  • Can lift approximately 1 ton consistently
  • Captain America can further increase his strength by training
  • His other strengths include his ability to inspire others and his leadership skills

Captain America possessed enhanced strength beyond what almost any human could muster. It didn't always compare to other super-strong heroes, but that never bothered Captain America. He still wrestled the strongest villains and heroes with his superior fighting skills, intelligence, and years of experience leading the Avengers.

29 Black Panther Has Enhanced Strength And Senses

Black Panther from Marvel Comics

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Fantastic Four #52

Stan Lee & Jack Kirby

1966

The heart-shaped herb found in Wakana gave Black Panther his super strength. T'Challa, as well as the other Black Panthers, acquired strength that rose just above peak human potential. This meant T'Challa and other Black Panthers could lift about 100 pounds more than Captain America.

Major Strengths:

  • Can lift approximately 1 ton consistently
  • The heart-shaped herb also enhanced his senses
  • His armor elevates him to Class 5 strength

It might not be much, but it came in handy for the Black Panther on several occasions. His Vibranium-laced suit further increased his strength, allowing him to take on powerful villains who would normally be way above his strength class.

28 Wolverine's Muscles Continually Grow Back Stronger Than Before

Wolverine snarls while wearing his yellow and brown costume

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Incredible Hulk #180

Len Wein & Herb Trimpe

1974

Surprisingly, Wolverine is actually much stronger than Black Panther and Captain America. Wolverine's power scales are improved thanks to his adamantium skeleton. Wolverine's strength limit may be less defined, but he's proven capable of handling close to two tons.

Major Strengths:

  • Can lift up to two tons consistently
  • Wolverine is the best there is at what he does
  • His claws are made from one of the planet's strongest metals

Wolverine's Adamantium skeleton prevents his bones from breaking under the pressure of immense weight. His healing factor also contributes to his enhanced mutant strength by allowing his muscles to grow back stronger every time they break down. Ultimately, Wolverine's physical strength can increase each time he heals.

27 Beast Has Ferocious Might

Hank McCoy as the X-Men's Beast

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Uncanny X-Men #1

Stan Lee & Jack Kirby

1963

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Hank McCoy was easily the strongest of his fellow founding X-Men, and he possessed plenty of agility and intelligence as well. With his mutant animal muscle, The Beast could lift upwards of 10 tons and he pushed past this limit when needed.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 10+
  • His genius intellect led to his further mutations
  • His strength makes his claws even more deadly

The Beast is a super genius and knows how to maximize his strength in various ways. He's gone through multiple secondary mutations throughout his life and grows stronger from each transformation. This means Beast's true upper limits of strength aren't set in stone.

26 Jessica Jones Boasts Flight And Super Strength

Jessica Jones in her office in Marvel Comics

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Alias #1

Brian Michael Bendis & Michael Gaydos

2001

Jessica Jones' powers may have changed over the years, but her strength remains rather consistent. She can lift around two tons but has occasionally handled 25 tons, placing her in a much higher tier. Jessica's super strong versus just having enhanced strength. Her most shocking moments have also proved her strengths aren't just physical.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 25+
  • Can lift cars and other vehicles with minimal effort
  • The upper limits of her strength have yet to be tested

Jessica Jones' ability to fly makes her even stronger since it adds some velocity to her punches and some lift to her strength. Jones' durability is also worth noting, as she can push beyond her strength and recover from the resulting injuries with ease.

25 Spider-Man Possesses The Proportional Strength Of A Spider

Spider-Man from Amazing Fantasy #1000

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Amazing Fantasy #15

Stan Lee & Steve Ditko

1962

Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider to become the powerful Spider-Man. He gained the proportionate strength of a spider, making Spider-Man a surprisingly powerful hero. The strongest known spider is the jumping spider, which can lift 170 times its own weight. Applied to Spider-Man, it means he can easily lift around 12-15 tons.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 25+
  • His strength was enhanced even further by the Venom symbiote
  • He habitually pulls his punches when fighting to protect his foes

However, the "proportionate strength of a spider" isn't always a hard rule. Spider-Man has lifted upwards of 25 tons in the comics. He's proven he can push himself to lift well over his regular class when needed. His incredible strength and spider-like agility make him a tough target, and some of Spider-Man's most impressive costumes have further enhanced these abilities.

24 Luke Cage Can Punch Through Walls And Has Unbreakable Skin

Luke Cage uses super strength

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Hero for Hire #1

Archie Goodwin & George Tuska

1972

The former Avenger and current Mayor of New York Luke Cage still has plenty of strength behind his punches. Along with his unbreakable skin, Luke possesses some impressive strength that allows him to lift around 50 tons on a regular basis.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 50+
  • His strength initially earned him the name Power Man
  • Training with Iron Fist taught him how to use his strength

The ability to toss around construction equipment or ground planes as they attempt to take off doesn't make Luke Cage one of Marvel's strongest heroes, but it remains an impressive accomplishment. While Luke Cage isn't weak, there are plenty of super-strong heroes who can outclass him.

23 Drax The Destroyer Overpowers The Competition

Drax readies for battle in comics

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Iron Man #55

Mike Friedrich & Jim Starlin

1973

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One doesn't get a nickname like "The Destroyer" without being known around the galaxy for destruction. Drax's super-strength is pretty useful for destroying things. Drax's alien body has the strength, superhuman durability, and accelerated healing needed to kill Thanos. His strength makes him a valuable member of the Guardians of the Galaxy's best rosters.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 50+
  • Arthur Douglas' original resurrection as Drax was his most powerful form
  • Drax has also mastered the alien martial arts known as Dwi Theet

Drax also has a special aura that activates in times of great need. This aura creates a protective shield and increases Drax's physical strength. In fact, it even provided Drax with enough might to rip out Thanos' heart. This aura puts Drax above some of his fellow heroes when it comes to strength, but it's not something he can always rely on in battle.

22 Vision Can Alter His Density

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Avengers #57

Roy Thomas & John Buscema

1968

The Vision has several powerful abilities, including density manipulation. This ability further enhances his artificial body's super strength. When Vision increases his density, his max strength limit goes up to 50 tons. He can even push himself past these limits, but it risks destabilizing his own body.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 50+
  • His body has been rebuilt with advanced technology that enhanced his strength
  • He was temporarily merged with Wonder Man, which further increased his strength

Vision has a lot of abilities that further elevate him above other heroes, especially when used in combination with his super-strength. His flight and solar beams both augment his physical strength exponentially. He can even absorb additional energy to further enhance those abilities.

21 America Chavez Channels Energy To Boost Her Attacks

Miss America from the comics

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Vengeance #1

Joe Casey & Nick Dragotta

2011

Miss America, otherwise known as America Chavez, is a young superhero with a plethora of powers. These include flight, super speed, invulnerability, the power to travel through the multiverse, and super strength. One of the strongest characters America Chavez beat in the comics was Loki, which reveals just how powerful she is.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 50+
  • She can channel energy into her legs and feet for a power stomp
  • Ms. America can throw tanks to the Moon according to Loki

Asgardians are incredibly strong on their own, and America nearly beat the trickster god. Loki isn't as strong as his brother and can only lift around 50 tons, which means Chavez might not be at Thor's level yet. However, America Chavez's ability to increase her strength ranks her high among Marvel's strongest heroes.

20 Groot Can Increase His Size And Strength

Groot with Rocket Racoon On his Arm

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Tales to Astonish #13

Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, & Jack Kirby

1960

Groot is one of the strongest members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Groot's tree-like body is denser and stronger than most superheroes on Earth, which grants him great strength. This strength can increase exponentially as he changes his size and shape, another powerful ability his plant body grants him.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 100+
  • Groot was originally a monster who fought the Hulk
  • He has healing abilities and a genius-level intellect

Even though Groot can consistently lift 100 tons, his strength is essentially limitless. Since he can increase his size and effortlessly regenerate parts of his body, Groot can multiply his strength with ease. Even without relying on changing his size, Groot's base form outclasses some of Marvel's most powerful heroes.

19 Captain Avalon Can Increase His Strength During Battle

Brian Braddock as Captain Avalon

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Captain Britain #1

Chris Claremont & Herb Trimpe

1976

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Unlike Captain America, Captain Britain's powers are a huge upgrade from peak human physicality. Initially, Captain Britain's costume acted as a conduit for inter-dimensional energy, which gave him his powers. He gained incredible speed, superhuman durability, flight, and super strength. Captain Britain could lift around 90 tons while wearing his conduit suit.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 100+
  • Braddock can also enhance his senses using the same energy that increases his strength
  • His strength is partially based on his confidence so he can increase it when needed

Brian Braddock eventually gained access to his abilities without the Captain Britain suit, and his sister later took up the mantle. Braddock earned new powers with the Sword of Might and became Captain Avalon. His strength continued to increase, as did his connection to the mystical Otherworld that empowered him.

18 Sasquatch Has Taken On The Hulk

Sasquatch from Alpha Flight

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

X-Men #120

Chris Claremont & John Byrne

1979

Walter Langkowski was a gifted scientist who experimented with Bruce Banner's gamma research. He unknowingly opened a portal to the Realm of the Beasts, which transformed him into a powerful new form known as Sasquatch. He joined the first powerful roster of Canada's Alpha Flight and remained with the team when they were revamped as a galactic defense force.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 100+
  • His original form was of the Great Beast known as Tanaraq
  • He dropped in strength when he possessed Doc Samson

Sasquatch's incredible strength allowed him to battle with other powerful characters, like the Hulk and the Wendigo. Langkowski underwent another change as a member of Gamma Flight, which was tasked with hunting down the Immortal Hulk. He switched bodies with the gamma-powered Doc Samson, and they became the still-powerful Walter Samson and Doc Sasquatch.

17 Iron Man Crafts Powerful Armor To Increase His Strength

Iron Man flies above New York City.

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Tales of Suspense #39

Stan Lee, Larry Leiber, & Don Heck

1963

Tony Stark is normally just an ordinary human being in good physical condition. However, when he's wearing one of his most powerful Iron Man suits of armor, his strength increases to beyond superhuman levels. Iron Man can lift over 100 tons, which is only the limit of his most basic suit.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 100+
  • The Celestial-fighting Godbuster armor is physically his strongest
  • Tony Stark's natural strength was also enhanced by Extremis

Iron Man's strength class can easily increase based on which powerful armor he's wearing at the time. Stark created his Hulkbuster armor to take on more powerful gamma-powered foes, which increases his strength and durability much more than his usual suit.

16 Giant-Man's Might Increases With His Size

Hank Pym's costumed identities

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Tales to Astonish #27

Stan Lee, Larry Leiber & Jack Kirby

1962

Hank Pym's strength is reliant on his ability to increase his size as Giant-Man. When he increases his size, his strength proportionally increases. Technicalities aside, Giant Man's strength is greater than some of Marvel's strongest heroes, and it only increases as he grows larger.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 100+ if he exceeds 100 feet
  • He is a super-genius who became Marvel's Scientist Supreme
  • His strength was further increased after merging with Ultron

Marvel's scale put Giant-Man's strength at 100 tons or more, as long as he exceeded 100 feet, which meant every foot he goes beyond that would further increase his strength. Pym later went through a tremendous change when he was forcibly bonded with Ultron. They gained incredible strength and became the most powerful member of the Pym family.

15 Colossus Went Toe-To-Toe With The Thing

Colossus carrying a Sentinel's head from Marvel Comics

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Giant-Size X-Men #1

Lee Wein & Dave Cockrum

1975

Piotr Rasputin already possessed the physique of a champion bodybuilder. However, Colossus' metallic form made him one of the strongest Marvel heroes. His metal form wasn't a shield that covered his skin. His mutant power actually converted his entire body's cellular structure into that of a super-strong organic metal.

Major Strengths:

  • His organic steel is composed of the super-dense metal osmium
  • He nearly won an arm wrestle against the Fantastic Four's Thing
  • Colossus' strength increased exponentially as the new Juggernaut

Colossus' incredible strength class is 100+, which means he can consistently lift above 100 tons. Colossus' most ridiculous feats in the comics further prove his elevated strength class. His power increased even further when he became Cyttorak's avatar and later a host for the Phoenix Force.

14 Captain Marvel Is One Of The Most Powerful Avengers

Captain Marvel's powers radiate through her eyes and crackle from her hands.

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Marvel Super-Heroes #13

Roy Thomas & Gene Colan

1968

Carol Danvers has quite a few powerful abilities as Captain Marvel, including her Class 100+ super strength. While she can usually lift around 50 to 70 tons, her power to absorb and re-channel energy increases her strength class. Captain Marvel has become one of the most powerful members of The Avengers, both in the comics and on the big screen.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 100+
  • She can lift heavy beings like Celestials
  • Her photon blasts are also incredibly powerful

Captain Marvel has a connection to a cosmic force that allows her to tap into the nearly infinite power of a white hole. Danvers' ability to absorb energy helps her redistribute the absorbed power and add it to her own, which can skyrocket her strength to beyond 100+ tons.

13 Namor The Sub-Mariner Stood His Ground Against The Hulk

Namor holding a trident while swimming underwater in Marvel Comics

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Marvel Comics #1

Bill Everett

1939

Namor the Sub-Mariner is incredibly powerful and deserves more credit for being one of Marvel's first and strongest superheroes. His strength level is at its peak when he's underwater. Namor can consistently lift around 75 tons, but that can further increase when he is in his natural element.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 100+ when in water
  • Namor is physically stronger than any other Atlantean
  • He's stood up to powerful characters like Hulk and the Thing

Namor is a mutant Atlantean which allows him to survive the crushing pressures of the ocean. His unique hybrid physiology gives him strength far beyond other Atlanteans. Namor has beaten some of Marvel's toughest characters, but his reliability on the water holds him back when compared to other heroes.

12 Rogue Took Down The Avengers And Held Her Own Against Ares

Rogue flying in front of the other X-Men

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Avengers Annual #10

Chris Claremont & Michael Golden

1981

X-Men's resident Southern sweetheart Rogue can lift upwards of 100 tons, making her one of the most physically strong X-Men. Rogue can absorb the powers of anyone she directly touches. However, she can absorb their powers permanently if she touches them for too long. Rogue has absorbed the incredible strength of multiple heroes, beginning with Carol Danvers/Ms. Marvel.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 100+
  • She has absorbed the strength of heroes like Colossus, She-Hulk, and Wonder Man
  • Rogue can absorb multiple powers at once to increase her strength further

Rogue sits above some of the other 100-ton-lifting heroes because she can further increase her strength as needed. She can temporarily absorb the powers of those stronger than her and combine them together. Rogue can even enhance her incredible strength with Colossus' organic steel skin to propel her well past the 100+ ton strength class.

11 Nova's Strength Rivals The Silver Surfer's

Nova using his powers above Earth

First Appearance:

Created By:

Year of Debut:

Nova #1

Marv Wolfman & John Buscema

1976

The various cosmic energies of the Marvel universe are as mysterious as they are powerful, often granting infinite power. Nova was originally a member of the intergalactic Nova Corps. Richard Rider became the last Nova after the Corps' destruction. He was the final host for the source once used to power the entire Nova Corps.

Major Strengths:

  • Class 100+
  • He used the Nova Force to match Silver Surfer's cosmic strength
  • He can also manipulate gravimetric energy into powerful blasts

Nova essentially became living energy before he used some of the Nova Force to rebuild the Corps. He could use the entire Nova Force to further enhance his strength and take on cosmic threats at the cost of leaving his fellow Corpsmen weakened.