(5-7 minute read)
We're back ladies and gentlemen. DNAnalytics here to give you a ranking of the strongest Superhero Duos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This means any two Avengers that are close and have fought side-by-side together. Who is the strongest Avenger pair? Let's find out.
This ranking aims to determine the most powerful pair of superheroes based on 5 criteria on a 5 point scale:
⚔Strength - physical or cosmic strength
🏃Speed - reaction time and general speed in battle
👊Endurance - how hard they can get hit and keep moving forward
🧠Intellect - overall IQ and combat knowledge
👥Chemistry - how well each hero complements the other
For reference, a perfect score of 25 out of 25 would be two Thanos's, each with 3 Infinity stones, so kind of impossible for anyone on this list to top that. Yes there might be spoilers but after $2+ billion in the box office, I'm going to guess most fans have seen Endgame already.
Dialogue From Ant-Man and The Wasp
HOPE VAN DYNE: What took you so long?
SCOTT LANG: Sorry, I had to come up with a name for my ant. I’m thinking Ulysses S. Gr-Ant. You like it?
HOPE VAN DYNE: Hilarious.
Score: 13 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 3/5
🏃Speed: 3/5
👊Endurance: 2/5
🧠Intellect: 2/5
👥Chemistry: 3/5
Starting last on this list but definitely not least, Scott and Hope buzz in at #8. Ant-Man plays a key role in Avengers Endgame, but he doesn't really have any real combat experience, and although he has a master's degree in electrical engineering, Hank Van Dyne is the real genius mastermind behind the scenes. If it weren't for Michael Douglas' character, Scott would still be in jail, and even with Hank, Scott frequently needs to rely on his allies to help him through rough patches.
The 3/5 strength mostly comes from Super Ant-Man when he grows to 60+ feet tall, but other than that he's not that powerful. In comes Hope, which automatically boosts the duo's speed to 3/5 because of her flying suit and also adds a little more to strength. Overall though these two are safely out of the top 5.
From Avengers: Endgame
NATASHA: I don't judge people on their worst mistakes.
CLINT: Maybe you should.
NATASHA: You didn't.
CLINT: You're a pain in my ass, you know that?
Score: 15 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 3/5
👥Chemistry: 4/5
Probably the closest ones to being normal human beings, Natasha and Clint make it to #7 due to their strong chemistry, mobility, and secret agent skills. These two may not look as powerful as a Thor or Captain Marvel, but they're a tough duo to take down. You can see how stealthy Hawkeye was when he was under Loki's mind control, slipping through security easily while Black Widow always finds a way to hold her own without any powers.
Unlike other supers, these two have a screw loose somewhere, which makes them dangerous. Natasha had a very rough, undisclosed childhood while Clint's despair quickly turned into a raging bloodbath during Endgame. In both close combat and stealth tactics, Natasha's skillset is actually very similar to Clint's, which helps with chemistry because they can understand each other's strengths and limitations. They know what they can and cannot do in a battle against super-freaks. This tough pair fights its way to #7.
From Avengers: Endgame
FALCON: Cap, it's Sam. Can you hear me?
CAPTAIN AMERICA: ...
FALCON: On your left.
Score: 16 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 4/5
🏃Speed: 4/5
👊Endurance: 3/5
🧠Intellect: 2/5
👥Chemistry: 3/5
These two patriots stand tall at #6, earning 16 total points, half of those points coming from their Strength and Speed. Have you seen how the films show Cap running? They make him look like if Usain Bolt could keep up his top speed (27 mph) indefinitely. Cap can outrun cars and throw his giant shield as if it were a baseball. Add to that Falcon's jetpack and aerodynamic combat skills, you would probably have a really frustrating time catching or defending yourself against these two.
In terms of Endurance, Sam brings this score down a little because he can't really do anything once his wings go, and once he's grounded, he's pretty much just a guy with a gun. Cap on the other hand "can do this all day" and fights like there's no tomorrow, so a score of 3 out of 5 as a duo should make sense. Then there's Intellect which is pretty limited outside of each of their trainings in the military, and there's not enough evidence to give them any score higher than 2 out of 5. Lastly, I would say the chemistry is there, given their war experiences, but these two haven't fought together long enough to deserve a stronger score. Cap and Falcon slide into 6th, just outside the top 5.
From Avengers: Infinity War
KING T'CHALLA: Up, General. Up! This is no place to die.
OKOYE: Kumkani?!
Score: 17 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 4/5
🏃Speed: 4/5
👊Endurance: 3/5
🧠Intellect: 2/5
👥Chemistry: 4/5
The King of Wakanda charges in at #5, earning 18 solid points when combined with General Okoye's fierce loyalty and bravery to her king. The duo is strongest in terms of strength, speed, and chemistry. Similar to Cap, the Black Panther can outrun cars but even better is his cat-like reflexes, making him a deadly predator and most likely the best hand-to-hand combatant in the MCU. Then there's Okoye who is simply brutal with her spear and moves like Black Widow, making her a very powerful ally next to T'Challa.
Endurance is still a good score, but Okoye is only human and while the Black Panther suit is tough, it's not strong enough to defend him against the bigger threats in the franchise like a Thanos punch to the face. Meanwhile, Okoye and T'Challa are both products of Wakanda technology, but its T'Challa's sister who carries most of the brains in the family, which is why we're not able to give more points to Intellect. The duo's other shortfall is that they need to close distance to do any sort of damage, making them heavily reliant on close combat to be effective. This disadvantage isn't really reflected in any of the five criteria, but it is something to keep in mind. Wakanda's finest leaders make it to the top 5 at #5.
From Captain America: Civil War
VISION: If you do this, they will never stop being afraid of you.
SCARLET WITCH: I can't control their fear, only my own.
Score: 18 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 5/5
🏃Speed: 3/5
👊Endurance: 2/5
🧠Intellect: 4/5
👥Chemistry: 4/5
Both of these guys have had scenes where they've looked like the most powerful heroes in the world. Wanda has an amped-up version of telekinesis, where she can not only move enormous objects with her spells but also throw these red balls of energy. Didn't she almost kill Thanos too? Vision meanwhile shoots lethal beams out of his forehead, flies, phases through people, and has super strength. So yeah, 5/5 for Strength for sure, maybe even 6/5.
In terms of speed, these two can both fly and propel themselves at different speeds. While this benefits their combat ability to gain the higher ground, it doesn't seem to carry over into their reflexes. Vision and Wanda both couldn't detect the ambush from Thanos' servants, which is pretty disappointing if you ask me, and they both essentially lost to them in battle. Intellect and Chemistry scores are stronger: Vision was Tony's all-knowing AI, Jarvis, but now as an android with an infinity stone, he gets the added benefit of cosmic knowledge, claiming the stone can "speak" to him. And it goes without saying that Wanda and Vision definitely have chemistry - a lot of it. Jarvis and Wanda unite to make it to #4.
From Avengers: Endgame
DOCTOR STRANGE: Is that everyone?
WONG: What, you wanted more?
Score: 20 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 5/5
🏃Speed: 3/5
👊Endurance: 2/5
🧠Intellect: 5/5
👥Chemistry: 5/5
It starts to get real serious once the scores hit 20 and to start us off in the top 3, we have Wong and the Doc.
Doctor Strange holds some of the most insane powers in the MCU, creating unexplainable waves of magic out of nothing, and even being able to create portals to other worlds. This Master of the Mystic Arts look like if Harry Potter could use The Force. You could even make the argument that Strange could have beaten Thanos had he not had 4 Infinity stones at his disposal.
So we're giving Strange and Wong a perfect score on Strength but also on Intellect and Chemistry. Intellect is a no-brainer considering this man can see into the future when he carries the Time Stone, was a surgeon in real life, and now knows about a whole new mystic world. The Chemistry score makes sense when you think about how both heroes share very similar powers like portals and shields but also share very similar battle methods and values, culminating into a strong partnership.
Unfortunately for their fans, I don't have them as #1 and you'll see how they fall short on Speed and Endurance. Their speed is heavily reliant on their hands working and making spells quick enough. Without their hands they're toast and if they ever get seriously injured, they're not going to last long. The Masters of the Mystic Arts will still strongly defend their #3 spot.
From Spider-Man: Homecoming
SPIDER-MAN: This is all I have. I'm nothing without this suit!
IRONMAN: If you're nothing without this suit, then you shouldn't have it. Okay?? God, I sound like my dad...
Score: 21 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 4/5
🏃Speed: 4/5
👊Endurance: 3/5
🧠Intellect: 5/5
👥Chemistry: 5/5
Okay this is definitely, 100%, my favorite MCU duo, so let me explain why these two are so high on this list. First of all Spider-Man is very strong, and nerds can attest to Spider-Man's strength in the comics where he can essentially out-lift Cap. You can see flashes of it during the Washington Square Park battle in Infinity War when he caught a punch from Thanos' giant thug and during the airport fight in Civil War when he effortlessly caught Bucky's metal arm swing. At the same time, Ironman was going toe-to-toe against Bucky AND Cap and could hold his own against Thanos for longer than most heroes. It also helps that he just always has an unlimited arsenal of insane weapons and technology far beyond our time.
In terms of speed, Tony (through his sensors) and Spider-Man (Spidey Sense) both have ways of detecting incoming threats, making for very high reflexes. And let's not forget that no one in this universe is smarter than Mr. Tony "I created a new element not on the Periodic Table" Stark. Parker is also very bright for his age both in IQ and in battle, so intellect should be a perfect score. For Chemistry, the two heroes have a near father-son relationship, fought together, and complement each other's strengths really well, which is something I definitely think is underestimated. Genius in a hyper advanced suit of armor with a naturally athletic and strong superhero just checks a lot of boxes for "strongest superhero duo".
The only piece these two fall short in is endurance because a few big hits from a hammer, shield, or laser can really slow their effectiveness. We know Tony can take a tremendous beating, but he and Peter are still humans in armor with no real combat training prior to their superhero roles. I'll say Tony and the kid have earned this #2 spot and even deserve a fighting chance for #1.
From Avengers: Endgame
VALKYRIE: You know I'd make a lot of changes around here.
THOR: I'm counting on it. Your Majesty.
Score: 22 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 5/5
🏃Speed: 4/5
👊Endurance: 5/5
🧠Intellect: 4/5
👥Chemistry: 4/5
Not only do these two have hundreds of years of combat experience and training, a single hit from Thor's hammer or axe would end most of the other Avengers on this list. If a demi-god with lightening coursing through his veins and a goddess on a flying unicorn came charging at you at their speed, you'll want to get the hell out. Thor beat the Hulk during Thor: Ragnarok, so let's not forget that.
These two deserve perfect scores on both Strength and Endurance when you think about it. Both were bred as warriors and have fought countless threats bigger than Earth's mightiest heroes. Their Intellect is not so much IQ as it is from their knowledge of the universe and the art of war. Chemistry as Asgardians would work well as they defeated two armies on two different planets together in Thor: Ragnarok. The Strongest Avenger? I'd say so. Add Valkyrie and you also get the strongest Avenger duo. Asgard #1.
We're back ladies and gentlemen. DNAnalytics here to give you a ranking of the strongest Superhero Duos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This means any two Avengers that are close and have fought side-by-side together. Who is the strongest Avenger pair? Let's find out.
This ranking aims to determine the most powerful pair of superheroes based on 5 criteria on a 5 point scale:
⚔Strength - physical or cosmic strength
🏃Speed - reaction time and general speed in battle
👊Endurance - how hard they can get hit and keep moving forward
🧠Intellect - overall IQ and combat knowledge
👥Chemistry - how well each hero complements the other
For reference, a perfect score of 25 out of 25 would be two Thanos's, each with 3 Infinity stones, so kind of impossible for anyone on this list to top that. Yes there might be spoilers but after $2+ billion in the box office, I'm going to guess most fans have seen Endgame already.
#8. Ant-Man (Scott Lang) and The Wasp (Hope van Dyne)
HOPE VAN DYNE: What took you so long?
SCOTT LANG: Sorry, I had to come up with a name for my ant. I’m thinking Ulysses S. Gr-Ant. You like it?
HOPE VAN DYNE: Hilarious.
Score: 13 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 3/5
🏃Speed: 3/5
👊Endurance: 2/5
🧠Intellect: 2/5
👥Chemistry: 3/5
Starting last on this list but definitely not least, Scott and Hope buzz in at #8. Ant-Man plays a key role in Avengers Endgame, but he doesn't really have any real combat experience, and although he has a master's degree in electrical engineering, Hank Van Dyne is the real genius mastermind behind the scenes. If it weren't for Michael Douglas' character, Scott would still be in jail, and even with Hank, Scott frequently needs to rely on his allies to help him through rough patches.
The 3/5 strength mostly comes from Super Ant-Man when he grows to 60+ feet tall, but other than that he's not that powerful. In comes Hope, which automatically boosts the duo's speed to 3/5 because of her flying suit and also adds a little more to strength. Overall though these two are safely out of the top 5.
#7. Hawkeye (Clint Barton) and Black Widow (Natasha Romanov)
NATASHA: I don't judge people on their worst mistakes.
CLINT: Maybe you should.
NATASHA: You didn't.
CLINT: You're a pain in my ass, you know that?
Score: 15 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 3/5
🏃Speed: 3/5
👊Endurance: 2/5
🧠Intellect: 3/5👥Chemistry: 4/5
Probably the closest ones to being normal human beings, Natasha and Clint make it to #7 due to their strong chemistry, mobility, and secret agent skills. These two may not look as powerful as a Thor or Captain Marvel, but they're a tough duo to take down. You can see how stealthy Hawkeye was when he was under Loki's mind control, slipping through security easily while Black Widow always finds a way to hold her own without any powers.
Unlike other supers, these two have a screw loose somewhere, which makes them dangerous. Natasha had a very rough, undisclosed childhood while Clint's despair quickly turned into a raging bloodbath during Endgame. In both close combat and stealth tactics, Natasha's skillset is actually very similar to Clint's, which helps with chemistry because they can understand each other's strengths and limitations. They know what they can and cannot do in a battle against super-freaks. This tough pair fights its way to #7.
#6. Captain America (Steve Rogers) and Falcon (Sam Wilson)
FALCON: Cap, it's Sam. Can you hear me?
CAPTAIN AMERICA: ...
FALCON: On your left.
Score: 16 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 4/5
🏃Speed: 4/5
👊Endurance: 3/5
🧠Intellect: 2/5
👥Chemistry: 3/5
These two patriots stand tall at #6, earning 16 total points, half of those points coming from their Strength and Speed. Have you seen how the films show Cap running? They make him look like if Usain Bolt could keep up his top speed (27 mph) indefinitely. Cap can outrun cars and throw his giant shield as if it were a baseball. Add to that Falcon's jetpack and aerodynamic combat skills, you would probably have a really frustrating time catching or defending yourself against these two.
In terms of Endurance, Sam brings this score down a little because he can't really do anything once his wings go, and once he's grounded, he's pretty much just a guy with a gun. Cap on the other hand "can do this all day" and fights like there's no tomorrow, so a score of 3 out of 5 as a duo should make sense. Then there's Intellect which is pretty limited outside of each of their trainings in the military, and there's not enough evidence to give them any score higher than 2 out of 5. Lastly, I would say the chemistry is there, given their war experiences, but these two haven't fought together long enough to deserve a stronger score. Cap and Falcon slide into 6th, just outside the top 5.
#5. Black Panther (T'Challa) and General Okoye
KING T'CHALLA: Up, General. Up! This is no place to die.
OKOYE: Kumkani?!
Score: 17 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 4/5
🏃Speed: 4/5
👊Endurance: 3/5
🧠Intellect: 2/5
👥Chemistry: 4/5
The King of Wakanda charges in at #5, earning 18 solid points when combined with General Okoye's fierce loyalty and bravery to her king. The duo is strongest in terms of strength, speed, and chemistry. Similar to Cap, the Black Panther can outrun cars but even better is his cat-like reflexes, making him a deadly predator and most likely the best hand-to-hand combatant in the MCU. Then there's Okoye who is simply brutal with her spear and moves like Black Widow, making her a very powerful ally next to T'Challa.
Endurance is still a good score, but Okoye is only human and while the Black Panther suit is tough, it's not strong enough to defend him against the bigger threats in the franchise like a Thanos punch to the face. Meanwhile, Okoye and T'Challa are both products of Wakanda technology, but its T'Challa's sister who carries most of the brains in the family, which is why we're not able to give more points to Intellect. The duo's other shortfall is that they need to close distance to do any sort of damage, making them heavily reliant on close combat to be effective. This disadvantage isn't really reflected in any of the five criteria, but it is something to keep in mind. Wakanda's finest leaders make it to the top 5 at #5.
#4. Vision (Jarvis) and Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff)
VISION: If you do this, they will never stop being afraid of you.
SCARLET WITCH: I can't control their fear, only my own.
Score: 18 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 5/5
🏃Speed: 3/5
👊Endurance: 2/5
🧠Intellect: 4/5
👥Chemistry: 4/5
Both of these guys have had scenes where they've looked like the most powerful heroes in the world. Wanda has an amped-up version of telekinesis, where she can not only move enormous objects with her spells but also throw these red balls of energy. Didn't she almost kill Thanos too? Vision meanwhile shoots lethal beams out of his forehead, flies, phases through people, and has super strength. So yeah, 5/5 for Strength for sure, maybe even 6/5.
In terms of speed, these two can both fly and propel themselves at different speeds. While this benefits their combat ability to gain the higher ground, it doesn't seem to carry over into their reflexes. Vision and Wanda both couldn't detect the ambush from Thanos' servants, which is pretty disappointing if you ask me, and they both essentially lost to them in battle. Intellect and Chemistry scores are stronger: Vision was Tony's all-knowing AI, Jarvis, but now as an android with an infinity stone, he gets the added benefit of cosmic knowledge, claiming the stone can "speak" to him. And it goes without saying that Wanda and Vision definitely have chemistry - a lot of it. Jarvis and Wanda unite to make it to #4.
#3. Doctor Strange and Wong
DOCTOR STRANGE: Is that everyone?
WONG: What, you wanted more?
Score: 20 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 5/5
🏃Speed: 3/5
👊Endurance: 2/5
🧠Intellect: 5/5
👥Chemistry: 5/5
It starts to get real serious once the scores hit 20 and to start us off in the top 3, we have Wong and the Doc.
Doctor Strange holds some of the most insane powers in the MCU, creating unexplainable waves of magic out of nothing, and even being able to create portals to other worlds. This Master of the Mystic Arts look like if Harry Potter could use The Force. You could even make the argument that Strange could have beaten Thanos had he not had 4 Infinity stones at his disposal.
So we're giving Strange and Wong a perfect score on Strength but also on Intellect and Chemistry. Intellect is a no-brainer considering this man can see into the future when he carries the Time Stone, was a surgeon in real life, and now knows about a whole new mystic world. The Chemistry score makes sense when you think about how both heroes share very similar powers like portals and shields but also share very similar battle methods and values, culminating into a strong partnership.
Unfortunately for their fans, I don't have them as #1 and you'll see how they fall short on Speed and Endurance. Their speed is heavily reliant on their hands working and making spells quick enough. Without their hands they're toast and if they ever get seriously injured, they're not going to last long. The Masters of the Mystic Arts will still strongly defend their #3 spot.
#2. Ironman (Tony Stark) and Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
SPIDER-MAN: This is all I have. I'm nothing without this suit!
IRONMAN: If you're nothing without this suit, then you shouldn't have it. Okay?? God, I sound like my dad...
Score: 21 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 4/5
🏃Speed: 4/5
👊Endurance: 3/5
🧠Intellect: 5/5
👥Chemistry: 5/5
Okay this is definitely, 100%, my favorite MCU duo, so let me explain why these two are so high on this list. First of all Spider-Man is very strong, and nerds can attest to Spider-Man's strength in the comics where he can essentially out-lift Cap. You can see flashes of it during the Washington Square Park battle in Infinity War when he caught a punch from Thanos' giant thug and during the airport fight in Civil War when he effortlessly caught Bucky's metal arm swing. At the same time, Ironman was going toe-to-toe against Bucky AND Cap and could hold his own against Thanos for longer than most heroes. It also helps that he just always has an unlimited arsenal of insane weapons and technology far beyond our time.
In terms of speed, Tony (through his sensors) and Spider-Man (Spidey Sense) both have ways of detecting incoming threats, making for very high reflexes. And let's not forget that no one in this universe is smarter than Mr. Tony "I created a new element not on the Periodic Table" Stark. Parker is also very bright for his age both in IQ and in battle, so intellect should be a perfect score. For Chemistry, the two heroes have a near father-son relationship, fought together, and complement each other's strengths really well, which is something I definitely think is underestimated. Genius in a hyper advanced suit of armor with a naturally athletic and strong superhero just checks a lot of boxes for "strongest superhero duo".
The only piece these two fall short in is endurance because a few big hits from a hammer, shield, or laser can really slow their effectiveness. We know Tony can take a tremendous beating, but he and Peter are still humans in armor with no real combat training prior to their superhero roles. I'll say Tony and the kid have earned this #2 spot and even deserve a fighting chance for #1.
#1. Thor and Valkyrie
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| Credit to Wallpaper Cave |
VALKYRIE: You know I'd make a lot of changes around here.
THOR: I'm counting on it. Your Majesty.
Score: 22 out of 25 points
⚔Strength: 5/5
🏃Speed: 4/5
👊Endurance: 5/5
🧠Intellect: 4/5
👥Chemistry: 4/5
Not only do these two have hundreds of years of combat experience and training, a single hit from Thor's hammer or axe would end most of the other Avengers on this list. If a demi-god with lightening coursing through his veins and a goddess on a flying unicorn came charging at you at their speed, you'll want to get the hell out. Thor beat the Hulk during Thor: Ragnarok, so let's not forget that.
These two deserve perfect scores on both Strength and Endurance when you think about it. Both were bred as warriors and have fought countless threats bigger than Earth's mightiest heroes. Their Intellect is not so much IQ as it is from their knowledge of the universe and the art of war. Chemistry as Asgardians would work well as they defeated two armies on two different planets together in Thor: Ragnarok. The Strongest Avenger? I'd say so. Add Valkyrie and you also get the strongest Avenger duo. Asgard #1.