The consequences of the Avengers' battle with Thanos will play out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for years. We've already seen the effect of Captain America and Iron Man's absence on those they left behind, as well as the chaos that resulted when the missing half of the population returned following Endgame's Blip.

What's yet to be seen is how the Mad Titan's Snap affected the supernatural corners of the MCU. Those elements are just starting to emerge, with Doctor Strange taking on a greater role, and Agatha Harkness confirmed to return in her own WandaVision spinoff. The Snap could lead to the rise of the undead in the MCU, and the long-awaited debut of their chief rival, Blade.

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How Thanos' Snap Empowered Marvel's Vampires

Thanos about to Snap in Avengers: Infinity War

Thanos' snap famously eliminated half of all life in the universe. That massive loss of created newfound unity among the survivors, but it also led to a near collapse of society. Cities fell into disrepair as those left behind were taxed to their limits. With humanity in survival mode, and many of its champions gone, some things inevitably fell by the wayside.

One population that would not have suffered from those consequences is vampires. They aren't technically alive, so the Snap wouldn't have cut their ranks in half. Already natural predators of humanity, vampires would have grown stronger in a post-Snap world. It's difficult to imagine who would oppose them, given that efficient vampire hunter Doctor Strange was among those lost for five years. The surviving Avengers would be too busy trying to hold the planet together to be aware of any supernatural threats -- and they wouldn't be in a position to do much about them anyway.

The zombie outbreak in What If...? shows the kind of havoc undead can wreak upon the Marvel Universe. That alternate-reality story took place before the Snap, and simply took its heroes unaware. While zombies can cause large-scale damage, transforming Earth into a hellscape, they're the opposite of cunning. A coordinated group of vampires easily could have consolidated power during the five years between the Snap and the Blip, with the world none the wiser. Their serious threat to humanity would have to draw some opposition. Fortunately, Marvel has the perfect candidate for that role.

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How The Snap Created The Need For The MCU's Blade

Mahershala Ali, sporting a trim suit and a black pair of sunglasses

Although vampires would undoubtedly have the upper hand on humanity as they muddled through the effects of the Snap, there has to be a reason why they weren't able to take over society in five years. The best candidate for keeping vampires in check is obviously Blade, whose MCU debut remains on the horizon, despite recent questions regarding its release date.

There's an outside chance Blade will make his MCU debut in Hawkeye, given he's one of the characters who used the Ronin identity. If nothing else, he might take an interest in the Tracksuit Draculas, if the show makes them literal vampires. A more logical debut for the Daywalker would have him operate on the fringes of the MCU, waging a war against the undead in secret.

That's not to say there isn't precedent for Blade's mission hasn't led to him being a part of the wider Marvel Universe. After working with other versions of the team over the years, Blade became a full-fledged member of the Avengers when the team was caught in the middle of a civil war between two factions of vampires, one led by Dracula. He could play a similar role in the MCU, if the next incarnation of the team stumbles upon a vampiric threat that strengthened following the Snap.

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