With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) arriving, it's no question that Doctor Strange is an integral part of the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Kevin Feige recently said that Doctor Strange is the new anchor of the MCU now that Iron Man and Captain America are gone.
While Doctor Strange has plenty of future left in the MCU, he's had plenty of great moments as a hero since his initial debut six years ago in Doctor Strange (2016). An argument can even be made that Doctor Strange has been the best hero in the MCU.
10 Became The Sorcerer Supreme
In Doctor Strange (2016), Stephen Strange had a great life and a promising future ahead of him as a talented surgeon. That changed when he got into a major car accident and lost the use of his hands. Stephen traveled to Kamar-Taj and studied under The Ancient One, eventually becoming the Sorcerer Supreme after a few short months.
Strange's sheer determination to be the best and to heal his hands (due to his arrogance) led him to become one of the most powerful heroes on Earth, one who soon played a pivotal role in saving the entire universe.
9 Saved The Earth From Dormammu
The Avengers receive a lot of credit for defending Earth from intergalactic threats such as Loki and Thanos' armies, but Strange saved the entire planet from becoming consumed by Dormammu in the Dark Dimension. The Avengers would've been helpless to stop Dormammu themselves.
Doctor Strange traps Dormammu in a time loop, painfully dying thousands of times, for the sake of saving the planet. The Avengers probably wouldn't have even gotten the chance to barter with Dormammu, let alone trick him into leaving the Earth alone.
8 Trapped Loki Within A Portal
In Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Thor and Loki arrive on Earth in search of their father Odin. When Loki mysteriously disappears into a magical portal, Thor is directed to the Sanctum Sanctorum to meet with Doctor Strange. Strange tells Thor that he trapped Loki in the portal, and is concerned that Loki is back on Earth after The Battle of New York.
When Doctor Strange releases Loki, Loki laments that he's been falling for thirty minutes and goes to attack Strange, who simply teleports Loki away. The Battle of New York could have been over far soon if Doctor Strange had been there.
7 Kept Ebony Maw From Getting The Time Stone
By the time Thanos' minions come looking for the Infinity Stones in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Doctor Strange has become the keeper of the time stone. Despite being caught and taken prisoner by Ebony Maw in his spaceship, Strange has no inclination of giving it up.
An extremely painful torture sequence followed, where Strange has needles placed in him one by one all over his body. Doctor Strange never cracks once. Fortunately, Iron Man and Spider-Man come to his aid and defeat Maw, but Strange bought them a lot of time by simply resisting.
6 Predicted 14 Million Outcomes To Defeat Thanos
While Tony Stark squabbles with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange was busy searching for answers to defeat Thanos. He looked into the future And out of 14,000,605 futures, Thanos was only defeated once. Those were hefty odds against a Mad Titan hellbent on destroying half of life.
Doctor Strange looking into the futures ultimately becomes the key to defeating Thanos later on, as Strange knew exactly how Thanos would eventually be defeated in Avengers: Endgame (2019) — makes Strange the MVP of the Infinity Saga.
5 Went Toe To Toe With Thanos On Titan
Not many humans could say they went toe to toe with Thanos and nearly succeeded in defeating him, but Strange's determination made him a formidable foe for the Mad Titan. Sure, Strange had magic on his side, but he gave Thanos a run for his money — frustrating the villain in the process.
Outside of Captain America and Iron Man, Doctor Strange was the only one who took on Thanos himself for a time and lived to tell the tale, albeit for a short while. It takes a lot of confidence (and maybe some arrogance) to take on the Mad Titan solo.
4 Willingly Sacrificed The Time Stone
The keeper of the Time Stone has one job: to keep it safe from evil. This is why Iron Man was shocked that Doctor Strange traded his life for the stone. Of course, Strange knew that this had to happen if Thanos was to be defeated in the long run — something Strange couldn't tell Stark at the time.
It takes a true hero to sacrifice the very thing they must protect, along with their own life, to ultimately save the entire universe. Doctor Strange put it best before he was faded to dust: "Tony, there was no other way..."
3 Brought Everyone To Defeat Thanos
Captain America wielded Mjolnir and fought Thanos, but the Mad Titan eventually overpowered Cap. After all seemed lost, hundreds of portals appeared and nearly the entire MCU showed up to fight Thanos and his army. It's the pinnacle of Avengers: Endgame (2019), and arguably one of the greatest cinematic moments of all time.
Doctor Strange used his immense power to level the playing field against Thanos, which led the Avengers to succeed in defeating Thanos once and for all. Very few heroes in the MCU have power such as that, power that can change the tide against an entire army.
2 Erased Knowledge That Peter Parker Was Spider-Man
By the time Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) came around, Strange settled into a mentor role of sorts to Peter Parker. Strange tried to aid him in making the world forget Peter was Spider-Man and inadvertently opened up the multiverse in the process. At the end of the film when Peter decides to make everyone forget Peter Parker to stop the spell, Doctor Strange can't help but feel a smidgen of sadness.
Doctor Strange has evolved throughout the MCU, and in turn, realizes Peter has as well. He looks on like a proud father knowing that Peter is making the right decision, even though it will cost everyone, including Strange himself, their memory of who Peter is.
1 Recruited Wanda Despite What Happened With Westview
In the Multiverse of Madness, Doctor Strange recruits Wanda/Scarlet Witch to aid him in exploring the multiverse and the dangers it brings to their universe. Wanda seems to think Strange is coming for her after what she did to the town of Westview during WandaVision (2021). Strange simply responds: "I need an Avenger."
This shows Doctor Strange doesn't judge Wanda on one mistake, albeit a major one. If he needs her help, he's willing to go to her and do whatever it takes to protect his universe. A true hero will do anything to save what they care most about. Only time will tell if Doctor Strange made a mistake.