Undoubtedly one of the most beloved characters in X-Men history, Rogue’s story has fascinated readers as she’s journeyed from villain to hero, with a few stops in between, serving alongside numerous mutant teams over the years. Beginning her career with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, having been raised by Mystique and Destiny, the southern belle tormented everyone from the Avengers to her fellow mutants before she found her true home in the X-Mansion.
What makes Rogue so unique is her incredible power-absorption abilities. Able to drain powers from humans, heroes, and mutants alike by simply touching them, she has long struggled with her conflicted feelings about hurting those she makes physical contact with. Having gradually learned how to use this ability to her benefit and control the powers of others, Rogue has borrowed from countless heroes, villains, and Gods to confront her enemies and increase her advantage in battle. Let’s take a look at the ten strongest powers Rogue has ever absorbed.
10 10. The Ability Of A Super Soldier
Before joining The X-Men, Rogue battled for evil. First appearing in Avengers Annual #10, Rogue immediately displayed the true might of her absorbing powers as she faced off against the Avengers, taking control of their powers.
Although she lacked Steve Rogers’ pure and noble heart at this time, she did adopt Captain America’s peak physical perfection and his expert combat skills, giving Earth’s mightiest heroes the run-around. Combined with his heightened invulnerability, she was near impossible to stop. It’s not often the Avengers are bested, and Rogue’s introduction cemented herself as a true force to be reckoned with, no matter whose side she was on.
9 9. The Incredible Power Of The Hulks
Rogue’s already a pretty strong fighter who can hold her own in combat, but she’s occasionally drawn on the gamma-irradiated powers of Bruce Banner and Jennifer Walters to give her a more powerful edge, allowing her to literally smash the competition.
Although they both give her immense strength, there are some differences in absorbing Hulk and She-Hulk’s powers. When channeling Hulk’s mean green energy, Rogue needs to get angry for the powers to fully work. That's not too dissimilar from the difficult relationship Hulk sometimes has with Bruce. Just like Jennifer, Shulkie’s abilities are much easier for Rogue to use and control. Nevertheless, when she channels these destructive powers, she can do some incredible damage.
8 8. The Force Of A Weather Goddess
Storm’s powers are vast and varied, with recent events suggesting she might be one of the strongest mutants in existence. Although the weather goddess has shared her powers numerous times – sometimes as allies, sometimes as enemies – it’s clear Rogue hasn’t mastered all of Storm’s abilities.
While conjuring high winds, summoning sleet, or casting thunderstorms can be massively helpful in battle, the biggest impact Storm’s powers had on Rogue came in Uncanny X-Men #185. Storm offered her powers to the young runaway in an attempt to earn her trust and help her practice controlling great power. She believed that letting Rogue see the world through nature’s lens would give the troubled woman a new perspective – and it worked.
7 7. The Psi-Energy Of A Deadly Assassin
A deadly combatant with telekinetic powers, Psylocke’s powers are versatile and formidable. Not only is she highly trained in martial arts, but she has such great psionic powers that she can form a telekinetic katana from pure psi-energy. Able to project illusions and with limited telepathic powers, she’s been known to single-handedly defeat long-time X-Men villain, the Shadow King. It’s no surprise, then, that Rogue has borrowed Psylocke’s abilities in times of need.
Rogue has used Psylocke’s powers multiple times to great effect, going so far as to use the psychic sword in X-Men Legacy #232 to help defeat Proteus, a reality-warping entity made up of psionic energy.
6 6. The Ionic Powers Of Wonder Man
Created by Baron Zemo and the Masters of Evil, Wonder Man was intended to be a weapon used for infiltrating the Avengers. Unfortunately for the evil brood, his heroic nature won and he used his astounding abilities for good. Composed completely of ionic energy, he has incredible superhuman strength – considered to be Class 100 – and stamina. Able to fly at top speeds and to see in the dark with infrared vision, he’s a hero on both Earth and in the wider galaxy. Thanks to his ionic body, he’s virtually immortal, with his body reforming whenever he’s injured.
In Uncanny Avengers #21, Rogue was able to absorb Wonder Man’s extensive powers. He became fully entwined with the young mutant, and Rogue kept his psyche and abilities in her body for years.
5 5. The Control Of Solar Energy
Wonder Man isn’t the only hero Rogue has absorbed into her for a considerable period of time. During a trip to Japan, she accidentally took a portion of Sunfire’s abilities as he appeared to be dying. Newly able to absorb solar energy, she could conjure and release the intense solar fire, blast powerful bursts of flame and heat energy at enemies, and cloak her entire body in a fiery glow.
This energy also allowed her to fly at high speeds, the energy propelling her along like a rocket with total control. Of course, being surrounded by flame and heat gave her immunity to intense high-temperatures and radiation. Sunfire’s powers created a ruthless and hot-headed Rogue, so perhaps it’s for the best that her control of these abilities was short-lived.
4 4. The Power Of A God
When it comes to superpowers, the Asgardian God of Thunder has no qualms about rushing into battle to show off his strength and ability. That’s why he was a bit embarrassed as Wonder Man scoffed at his defeat when Rogue stole his abilities and leveled the playing field when fighting for villainy in Avengers Annual #10.
Although she didn’t absorb the worthiness to wield Mjolnir, Rogue significantly weakened Asgard’s champion, making herself stronger and near invulnerable in the process. Thor’s incredible energy has given Rogue a considerable boost in strength and power over the years – and it’s not every mutant who can boast they’ve held the powers of a literal god.
3 3. The Ability To Manipulate Metal
One of Earth’s most powerful and dangerous mutants, Magneto and Rogue have a long and complicated history that sees them as allies, enemies, and even a romantic couple. She’s therefore been known to absorb his powers on more than one occasion, and usually with different intentions each time.
An alpha-level mutant, Magneto’s powers allow Rogue to manipulate magnetism and electromagnetic energy, allowing a tremendous grip over almost everything on Earth. From bending metal to projecting force-fields to flight, his powers are near unlimited. He’s so powerful that Rogue once gained some of his powers without any impact on Magneto at all, making them a fearsome team when they fought together.
2 2. The Unstable Magic Of Scarlet Witch
Wanda Maximoff has incredible, near unlimited magic abilities, making her one of the most powerful – and most feared – sorcerers in the entire Marvel Universe. Able to cast hex bolts, channel Chaos Magic, and alter reality, she’s been both a friend and foe to mutantkind, once going so far as to strip mutants of their powers.
Despite Wanda’s immense power, Rogue has never been able to use the magical abilities. Wanda argues that this is due to Rogue’s lack of imagination. Considering how unstable her power can be, perhaps it’s for the best that Rogue has never mastered the art of conjuring spells at Scarlet Witch’s level.
1 1. The Might Of Ms. Marvel
Perhaps Rogue’s most notorious act of absorbing power, the young mutant completely drained Ms. Marvel of all her abilities while working as a villain. Holding on for too long, Carol Danvers’ powers and personality found a new home within Rogue’s body, putting Carol in a coma.
Granted superhuman strength and reflexes, she became a fierce combatant. She was able to fly and had a strong resistance to telepathic probes. But perhaps most useful was Ms. Marvel’s “seventh sense,” allowing Rogue to detect incoming attacks, and even predict where Nightcrawler would appear as he teleported. With Carol’s personality actively trying to take over Rogue’s body from the inside, she is eventually stripped of Carol’s powers and psych. But while she had the powers of Ms. Marvel at her fingertips, Rogue became one of the most powerful women in the entire Marvel universe.