For years, Thanos (Josh Brolin) has been the ultimate big bad of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a cosmic tyrant whose name alone sends shivers down spines. But here's the thing: the Mad Titan isn't actually the most powerful character in Marvel's cinematic pantheon. In fact, a handful of beings—heroes, villains, and cosmic entities alike—could wipe the floor with him. As the MCU gears up for its next major threat, Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) in Avengers: Doomsday, it's worth remembering that power scales exist beyond Thanos. If these characters can handle him, they might just be the key to stopping Doom.
Wanda Maximoff: The Scarlet Witch
When Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) finally got her one-on-one rematch with Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, she didn't just fight him—she dismantled him. Fueled by grief over Vision's (Paul Bettany) death, Wanda unleashed her chaos magic with terrifying precision, nearly tearing Thanos apart. The Mad Titan was so overwhelmed that he ordered his own ship to fire on the battlefield, hoping to escape her wrath. What makes Wanda so dangerous isn't just her raw power, but her willingness to go for the kill without hesitation. She's shown she'll do whatever it takes, whether ripping Ultron's (James Spader) heart out or taking on America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). Thanos may have called himself inevitable, but he looked genuinely scared when facing the Scarlet Witch.
Alioth: The Void's Guardian
In Loki, we meet Alioth, a trans-temporal entity that guards the Void at the end of time. This creature doesn't just destroy—it consumes entire realities, feeding on time and space itself. Alioth's power is so immense that even the Time Variance Authority fears it, and its true capabilities remain a mystery. Thanos, for all his Infinity Stones and brute strength, would be nothing more than a snack for this cosmic beast. Alioth operates on a scale that makes the Mad Titan look like a minor nuisance.
Carol Danvers: Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) made her MCU debut with a bang, and it was clear from the start that she was operating on a different level. Her powers, derived directly from the Space Stone, give her strength, energy projection, and flight that rival the Scarlet Witch's chaos magic. In Endgame, Carol took Thanos's headbutt without flinching and held her own against him, even restraining him twice. If not for the Infinity Gauntlet's snap, she might have ended the fight right there. Under the right circumstances, Captain Marvel could absolutely defeat Thanos—and she's proven she's not afraid to try.
Dormammu: The Dark Dimension's Ruler
First appearing in Doctor Strange, Dormammu (Benedict Cumberbatch) is an immortal, unkillable entity from the Dark Dimension. He's so powerful that Doctor Strange couldn't beat him with force—only by trapping him in a time loop. Dormammu can manipulate magical energy endlessly, bestow power on others, and even bend reality to his will. Thanos might have the Infinity Stones, but Dormammu's power is on a whole other plane of existence. In a straight-up fight, the Mad Titan wouldn't stand a chance.
Arishem the Judge
From Eternals, Arishem the Judge (David Kaye) is the Prime Celestial, a being who created the first sun and brought light to the universe. He's the originator of cosmic law and wields the Power Cosmic, giving him abilities like matter manipulation, telepathy, and even life creation. Arishem's power is so vast that he could simply erase Thanos from existence with a thought. For him, dealing with the Mad Titan would be child's play.
Uatu the Watcher
Uatu, the Watcher, is a cosmic observer who has seen the rise and fall of countless civilizations. While he's sworn not to interfere, his power is immense—he can manipulate time, space, and reality itself. In What If...?, Uatu (Jeffrey Wright) has shown he can bend the multiverse to his will. Thanos, even with all his might, is just one of many threats Uatu has witnessed. If he ever decided to act, the Mad Titan would be nothing more than a footnote in cosmic history.
Other Cosmic Heavyweights
Beyond these, there are other beings who could take down Thanos: the Living Tribunal, who judges all of reality; the Beyonder, who can reshape universes; and even the Celestials as a whole. The MCU has only scratched the surface of these cosmic entities, but as the franchise expands, we're likely to see more of them. With Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, it's exciting to think about which of these powerhouses might step up to face Doctor Doom. If they can handle Thanos, they might just be the ones to save the multiverse.
For more on Marvel's cosmic side, check out our take on X-Men '97 reviving a forgotten power and Wonder Man's cancellation and Marvel's streaming issues. And if you're curious about other rankings, we've got the ultimate ranking of historical adventure films.
