The Master of Magnetism has gone by many names over the years, but as Magneto, he has been both bitter enemy and loyal team member of the X-Men. Hickman's House of X/Powers of X event has once again brought Magneto into the world of the X-Men, as one of the leaders of the new mutant nation on Krakoa.
Hickman's HoX/PoX event also wasted no time in declaring which mutants were officially Omega-level, which is a classification of mutants that determines their power potential. Magneto was officially deemed an Omega-level mutant, and fans who have seen some of his greatest feats over the years weren't surprised at all. But what were some of those feats? Today we are going to examine a few of Magneto's most powerful moments that earned him his Omega-level mutant status.
10 RIPPED THE ADAMANTIUM OUT OF WOLVERINE
In one of Magneto's most high-profile attacks on the X-Men, the Master of Magnetism was driven past the breaking point when Wolverine attacked him with his adamantium claws. Not willing to suffer his attacks anymore, Magneto decided on a final solution during the "Fatal Attractions" storyline.
Using his control over metal, Magneto destabilized the adamantium that was covering Wolverine's bones and forced it out of his body through his open wounds and pores. Wolverine's healing factor would save his life but also revert him to a more bestial form. This moment would be one of Magneto's greatest moments of weakness, which allowed for the birth of the Onslaught entity.
9 TOOK OUT AN ENTIRE AVENGERS TEAM
During Magneto: Dark Seduction, Magneto was operating at reduced power levels and working alongside his daughter Polaris. Even with reduced power, he still managed to destroy the entire city of Carrion Cove, which held a device that was able to restore him to full strength.
Once he was returned to his usual power levels, he would face off against the Avengers and neutralize them almost immediately. He stopped the Avengers dead in their tracks by shutting down Iron Man's armor and reversing the iron in the rest of the team's blood, winning the battle with ease.
8 ALMOST STARTED WORLD WAR III
During that same confrontation with the Avengers, Magneto used some of his classic methods to hold the Avengers (and the world) hostage. Magneto used his abilities to take control of over 30 satellites, which he moved over the top of heavily populated cities.
Magneto threatened to bring the satellites down on the respective cities, which would not only cause unspeakable damage but could potentially launch a third world war. Thankfully, Magneto's demands were met and the satellites were returned to their normal orbits.
7 CREATED A GLOBAL EMP
Following years of threats from the mutant, the United Nations voted to pass what was called the "Magneto Protocols." This initiative created an EM mesh around the planet, between Magneto and his orbiting headquarters, restricting him from returning to the Earth.
As retaliation for this attempt to block him from his native home, Magneto unleashed a worldwide electromagnetic pulse, which shut down all technology across the entire Earth. While the damage was fixed, Magneto's message that he could still reach out and "touch" the Earth with his abilities was heard loud and clear.
6 EM SHIELDS WITHSTOOD A NUCLEAR BLAST
Magneto's control of the electromagnetic forces of Earth can be used in a number of ways offensively, but has just as much defensive utility too. Magneto is almost always surrounded by a protective electromagnetic shield that can repel almost any force or energy directed at it.
He can focus on building a stronger shield when needed, too. He has, on more than one occasion, used his EM shields to survive the blast from a nuclear warhead, and even used his shields to protect a team of X-Men and Avengers from the same type of atomic detonation.
5 THREW THE AVALON SPACE STATION DEEP INTO SPACE
Magneto has set up shop in space a few times, desiring to leave behind the human race (which believes hates and fears his kind) forever. Magneto's first Earth-orbiting headquarters was known as asteroid M, though it was destroyed a few times over. Magneto rebuilt his home using parts from Asteroid M and Cable's former hidden base known as Graymalkin.
Magneto christened his new home Avalon and welcomed all mutants to live there with him, though his invitation was not without conflict. During a battle with the X-Men, Professor Xavier took control of Magneto's mind and used his abilities to hurl the enormous Avalon space station out into deep space, far away from the Earth. Technically, this is still Magneto's power!
4 SAVED SAN FRANCISCO FROM AN EARTHQUAKE
When the Uncanny X-Men moved their base of operations to San Francisco and set up the mutant island known as Utopia, Magneto was one of their most powerful members and sat on Cyclops' Extinction Team. The X-Men were dedicated to working with their new city as heroes, to show that mutants and humans can coexist.
When Magneto learned that an earthquake was set to hit the Greater Bay Area in minutes, he magnetically fortified every metallic building to protect them from the earthquake. he also used the metallic deposits in the Earth's mantle to help restrain the earthquake, saving the city, limiting damage, and endearing himself and the X-Men to the people of San Francisco.
3 REBUILT AND HELD TOGETHER A DYING CELESTIAL
During the X-Men's time in San Francisco, the city dealt with the remains of a fallen cosmic body known as the Dreaming Celestial. As the Celestial started to break up into Micro-Celestials that would eventually destroy the planet, Magneto was forced to intervene to hold the cosmic being together.
He used his electromagnetic abilities to act as the Dreaming Celestial's missing nervous system, and eventually became the skeleton holding the Celestial together. The effort was so taxing on him, he admitted that if the X-Men didn't find another solution soon, his brain would have turned to liquid from the effort.
2 PULLED THE BREAKWORLD BULLET BACK TO EARTH
The Breakworld Bullet was a planet-sized bullet made of a unique alien metal that was fired at the Earth during Joss Whedon and John Cassaday's Astonishing X-Men. The Earth was saved by Kitty Pryde, who phased into the bullet and made it immaterial like her, so it wouldn't physically touch the planet. Unfortunately, Kitty was trapped in the bullet and seemingly lost to the X-Men.
When Magneto decided to abandon his dream of mutant superiority and work alongside the X-Men, his former enemies were doubtful. So, as an act of good faith, Magneto began meditating. He was able to reach out across the cosmos, find the Breakworld Bullet, pull it back to Earth, and save Kitty Pryde's life. Needless to say, he was welcomed into the X-Men's fold.
1 REVERSED EARTH'S MAGNETIC POLES
While the mainstream Magneto has certainly done some incredible things that have earned his Omega-Level status a few times over, there is one more overpowered feat we've seen from another iteration of him, during an event known as Ultimatum.
The Ultimate Universe saw its version of Magneto attempt to destroy the world instead of taking it over, following the horrific deaths of his children. To do this, Magneto managed to reverse the Earth's polarity with the aid of Thor's hammer Mjolnir, which caused flooding, massive global catastrophes, and led to the death of almost the entire Ultimate line of heroes. Here in the real world, such a feat may not have such devastating effects, but comic books do enjoy being dramatic!