Within Marvel Comics, there was a point where mutants weren’t hard to come by. There were plenty of mutant talents to choose from, with powers ranging all over the spectrum from telepathy, elemental control and manipulation, shape-shifting, fire control healing factors and diamond skin, just to name a few. However, there were many events including M-Day and the Terrigen cloud that turned the lives of the mutants upside down. Despite that, the mutants within the pages of Marvel Comics continue to entertain readers and fans with new stories and new mutations that are even more powerful; with the number of Omega-level mutants and Omega-level potential mutants continuing to grow. Even with a vast array of powers to choose from, narrowing this list down to 20 was a difficult task.
Of course, not every mutant that is powerful can have a part in this list, but there are some that stood out against their mutant comrades and it was a wonder how they’d not been seen on-screen in some capacity before. Even with the many X-Men films and television shows (such as The Gifted and Legion), we’ve seen our fair share of mutants on-screen over the last few years. That being said, there are still some very powerful mutants that have not graced audiences with their on-screen presence. Hopefully, it won’t be a long wait before they have their big on-screen moments. So, without further ado, here’s a list of some of Marvel’s most powerful mutants that we’ve yet to see on the television or in the movies.
20 FORGE
Forge may not be the most powerful of the other mutants on this list, and perhaps, many wouldn’t consider him powerful in general. However, the powers he possesses have always been helpful to his X-Men teammates, making him a powerful asset in the mutant world.
With the ability of intuitive genius, Forge is able to understand and visually see the energy within various technologies and machinery. Due to this, he can conceive and design any tech that comes to his mind, and can also understand the functions of any technology in his view. This, coupled with his expert military training, make for a powerful opponent.
19 MADDIE (“THE WEAPON”)
Not too much is known about Maddie, but she is an Omega-level mutant. Also known as, “The Weapon,” Maddie has the ability to teleport, but her powers are much different than those of fellow teleporting mutant, Nightcrawler. When Maddie teleports to other living beings other than herself, their bodies cannot handle the strain and can perish within seconds.
Of course, this was a power that others wanted to exploit, namely: GenForm Entreprises. The corporation wanted to weaponize Maddie, and while they succeeded in capturing and experimenting on her, she got her revenge in the end. After Maddie found Agent Hart, one of the GenForm lackeys who subjected her to the enduring experimentations, she teleported his heart from his chest.
18 ELIXIR
Joshua Foley, aka Elixir, is another Omega-level mutant on the list and also an Omega-level healer. Armed with Biokinesis, Elixir is able to biologically control the genetic makeup of his bodies, as well as the bodies of others. Not only can he change someone’s body on a biological level, he can also heal them and sense their life force.
Elixir also has something deemed the “death touch,” meaning he can alter someone’s physiology to riddle them with disease, make their organs crash, or cause massive swellings and internal damage, ending the person in seconds. This is what makes Elixir one of the most powerful mutants we’ve yet to see on-screen.
17 MIMIC
It must be interesting and probably fun to be able to mimic the power set of the mutants around you. Having pin-balled back-and-forth between hero and X-Man, to a villain with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and back again, Calvin Rankin, aka Mimic, is able to imitate the powers and skills of those within a certain range of him. Not only does this apply to mutations, but the abilities of regular humans as well. Due to this, Mimic is able to use the powers and/or abilities with the same level of proficiency as the individual he copied the powers from.
Over time, Mimic developed permanent powers from the likes of Cyclops, Beast, Professor X, and others, making him quite a powerful mutant. It’s a surprise we’ve yet to see him on-screen, but with the Disney/Fox merger, perhaps the wait won’t be long.
16 STRYFE
Stryfe is the clone of Nathan Christopher Summers, aka Cable. Raised by his adoptive father, Apocalypse, Stryfe is an Omega-level mutant with all the abilities as his clone, Cable: specifically his Omega-level telekinesis. On top of the telekinesis, Stryfe also boasts various forms of telepathic abilities, as well as genius-level intellect and genetic augmentation.
Since we have seen Cable in live-action, it would be great to see just what Stryfe could do against the X-Men and his clone. Much like his brother, Stryfe is a masterful combatant. So, a fight between the two of them would hopefully be something of epic proportions on the big screen.
15 PROTEUS
The son of Joseph and Dr. Moira MacTaggert, Kevin MacTaggert, or Proteus, is a mutant with the ability to warp realities. His power is so strong that his body burns out quickly, and therefore, he needs a host body to keep himself sustained. Not only can Proteus warp reality, he can also teleport between realities and has a vaguely human form comprised solely of energy.
Not only is Proteus powerful, but the fact that he can use other beings as hosts like a parasite would make for some great on-screen moments if done right. Hopefully, it’s something that fans can get to see in live-action soon.
14 MONET ST. CROIX
Born in Monaco to a wealthy family, Monet St. Croix is a mutant with various abilities that make her a near-perfect human specimen. Monet has superhuman strength, speed, endurance and reflexes, as well as enhanced senses, telepathy, some telekinesis, and flight. Aside from her mutation, Monet also has genius-level intelligence, is skilled in hand-to-hand combat, and is fluent in French and English.
Monet is certainly a mutant who would be amazing to see on-screen, and she would certainly help out the X-Men in a massive way, should she finally make her live-action debut. Depending on what Marvel and Disney have in store for the X-Men, Monet would make a great addition to any team.
13 CHAMBER
Chamber is a mutant with the ability to create a biokinetic flame that emerges from his mouth. When his powers first came to fruition, Chamber permanently injured himself, disfigured the lower half of his face, and also injured his former girlfriend, Gayle.
At one point in Chamber’s history, he was de-powered; however, his powers were brought back with the use of Apocalypse’s plasma, which made Chamber a potential Omega-level mutant. Even before the change in his mutation’s status, Chamber is a force to be reckoned with and easily deserves a spot on this list of powerful mutants we have yet to see on-screen.
12 ONSLAUGHT
Onslaught was formed from combining the consciousness of two of the world’s most powerful mutants: Charles Xavier and Magneto. After one of the largest fights between the X-Men and Magneto, Professor X closed down Magneto’s mind. During this, a sentient being that homed all of Magneto’s anger and vengeance mingled with Xavier’s mind.
While the being laid dormant for years, it eventually made its presence known, resulting in a split personality with Xavier, becoming known as Onslaught. With two of the most powerful mutants essentially becoming one, Onslaught is a force to be reckoned with as he boasts all the powers of Professor X and Magneto combined.
11 MADELYNE PRYOR
It’s time for yet another clone on this list. Madelyne Pryor is the clone of Jean Grey, created by Mister Sinister. Of course, being Grey’s clone, Madelyne also had all of her abilities, including telekinesis and telepathy. While her powers manifested later in her creation, she still had Omega-level potential.
Not only does Madelyne possess the powers of her genetic-twin, but she is also a powerful sorceress. In the past, she’s been able to use her sorcery to heal wounds, and with the help of technology, raise the deceased. With all of this at her disposal, Madelyne is deserving of being included on this list.
10 EVAN SABAHNUR
The “son” of Apocalypse, Evan is a mutant who has the abilities of his genetic template/father. While he is still young, his powers have not yet reached their true potential, however, he has powers at his disposal: superhuman durability, strength, the ability to manipulate his molecular structure to shift size, become malleable, and regenerate from injuries.
With the potential to lift over 100 tons, Evan’s powers have so much potential. Once his abilities are fully formed, he will be hard to stop. This is good for his team and very bad for his enemies, but also the reason he needs to be a part of this list.
9 MATTHEW MALLOY
Matthew Malloy is an Omega-level mutant who has been compared by Cyclops to other mutants such as Legion, Phoenix, Onslaught, Madelyne Pryor, Magneto, Apocalypse, and Scarlet Witch. Being compared to powerful company like some of the X-Men’s most feared villains, Malloy can teleport, manipulate space and time, warp reality, has telepathy, and telekinesis.
Malloy’s only weakness is emotional instability. If Malloy ever loses control over his emotions, the results can be dangerous. At one point in time, Malloy managed to end Emma Frost after she frightened him at the Jean Grey School. Fellow mutant Tempus went back in time with the help of Professor X to stop the meeting of Malloy’s parents, causing him to cease to exist.
8 OYA
Idie Okonkwo, aka Oya, is a mutant with the powers of pyrokinesis, cryokinesis, and thermokinesis. One of the mutants whose powers manifested after the events of M-Day, Oya is the youngest of ‘The Lights,’ which includes other post M-Day mutants. Oya’s power manifestation wasn’t easy for the young mutant to comprehend. With the sudden arrival of her abilities, Oya burned down her village, eliminating her family in the process.
A militarized unit tried to track Oya down and end her, but she was rescued by Storm and Hope Summers before the soldiers could get to her. Without a family, Oya joined Hope, and with a plethora of power at the tips of her fingers, Oya is another powerful mutant we haven’t seen on-screen yet.
7 MISTER SINISTER
Also known as Nathaniel Essex, Mister Sinister is a mutant who has been around for centuries. A former geneticist and biologist, he was genetically mutated/altered by Apocalypse, which granted him unique abilities. Mister Sinister is able to heal himself, shape-shift on a cellular level, use telepathy (including mind control and mental immobilization), and has superhuman strength, stamina, durability, and reflexes.
Being functionally immortal, Mr. Sinister provides an interesting character in the realm of mutants and the X-Men. He’s been a thorn in their sides for years and with his powerful qualities, he was an easy choice to make this list. With many rumblings of his live-action debut over the years, hopefully, fans will finally get to see it soon.
6 RACHEL SUMMERS
Rachel Summers is the daughter of Scott Summers and Jean Grey from an alternate timeline. As she was born from her mother and the Phoenix Force merging, Rachel inherited her mother’s powerful penchant for telepathy and telekinesis, as well as the ability to tap into the Phoenix Force.
Classified as an Omega-level mutant, Rachel is also one of the strongest empaths that currently exists in the pages of Marvel Comics. She can alter, manipulate, and control the feelings of others. With so much power at her disposal, coupled with hand-to-hand combat training from Nightcrawler and the ability to pick locks from Storm, here’s hoping we get to see Rachel unleash her full potential in live-action one day soon.
5 VULCAN
The son of Christopher (Corsair) and Katherine Summers, Gabriel Summers was born to the Majestor of the Shi’ar, D'Ken. Having captured Gabriel’s parents while Katherine was still pregnant, D’Ken eliminated Katherine in retaliation for Corsair trying to escape. With her body incubated, the baby was grown to full term, and thus, the child known as Vulcan came into being.
An Omega-level mutant, Vulcan has the ability to absorb and manipulate energy. Vulcan can also fly and use the energy of his body to heal his own injuries. In addition, Vulcan can also siphon the powers of other mutants and is resistant to psionic attacks. All of these powers gives him a rightful spot on this list.
4 QUENTIN QUIRE
Quintavius “Quentin” Quirinius Quire, aka Kid Omega, is a former student of The Xavier Institute and one of Professor Xavier’s most-prized pupils. A powerful telepath, Quentin is also an Omega-level mutant and a future version of himself was also a host for the Phoenix Force. In addition to his telepathy, Quentin also has telekinesis and psychic intelligence.
While a character of Kid Omega appeared briefly in X-Men: The Last Stand, the audience never saw the character as we know the him from the X-Men comics. So, it would be great to see the fully-fledged Quire on screen soon.
3 FRANKLIN RICHARDS
The son of Fantastic Four members Reed Richards and Sue Storm, Franklin is a mutant whose powers manifested during his toddler years due to the cosmic radiation that had altered his parents’ genes. Technically an Omega-level mutant, Franklin was described by the Celestials as being beyond Omega classification and an Alpha-level mutant. Due to this, Reed believed that his son’s powers should be considered “high threat level.”
Franklin possesses telepathy, can generate energy into bio-blasts, can manipulate the molecules of matter and energy (even on a cosmic scale), and has superhuman durability. Franklin also has some latent powers that have yet to be unleashed. When he taps into his full potential, he will be one of the most powerful mutants we’ve yet to see on the big screen.
2 HOPE SUMMERS
The adopted daughter of Nathan Summers (Cable), Hope was the first new mutant that was born after the events of M-Day. Another Omega-level mutant, Hope has the abilities to mimic the powers of others nearby her, stabilize the X-Gene, and can make herself undetectable through the use of a device that Cable taught her to build.
Hope’s only limitation with her power mimicry is that while she can copy the powers of other mutants, she cannot copy the powers of other metahumans. Regardless, Hope is a powerful mutant, and in the past, she has been shown with a flaming aura akin to that of the Phoenix Force. All of this is enough to give Hope a spot on this powerful list.
1 NATE GREY
Knowing that any offspring of Jean Grey and Scott Summers would be powerful, Mister Sinister artificially created Nate Grey using DNA from Grey and Summers hoping to create a powerful telepath and telekinetic to use against Apocalypse. Nate is not only an Omega-level mutant, but he’s also classified as an Omega-level threat and an Alpha-Psi.
In conjunction with his telepathy, Nate is also able to tap into the astral plane, create telepathic illusions, alter memories, control minds, and manipulate both energy and matter. It’s no wonder Nate was recently revealed to be Marvel’s most powerful mutant.