The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of powerful magic users, from Sorcerer Supremes to literal gods. Magic has been around in the MCU for quite some time, first making the initially grounded series into a more fantastical one with the introduction of Thor in his own eponymous film. Since then, the different schools of MCU magic have been expanded upon with the introduction of Doctor Strange and the mystic arts, and is set to do so once more in the wake of Agatha All Along‘s new magic users.

It can be difficult to determine which magic users are more powerful than others in the MCU as a whole. Some beings, such as Asgardian gods and witches, are born with magical abilities, whereas others have to meticulously hone their skills in the mystic arts with rigorous training and study. Every magic user in the MCU can alter reality around them, but the extents of their abilities to do so cap out are very different places.

10

Kaecilius

A Dangerous Sorcerer Who Almost Summoned Dormammu

Another villain that’s essentially just an evil version of the hero, Kaecilius might not be the most memorable villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, Madds Mikkelsen’s brief tenure as the zealous, nihilistic magician called forth some phenomenal cosmic powers. Kaecilius was a veritable expert of the mystic arts, capable of summoning all sorts of powerful arcane weaponry, understanding important artifacts, and summoning a legion of dangerous sorcerers at his beck and call.

Kaecilius nearly succeeded in summoning the Dark Dimension’s ruler, Dormammu, to the physical realm, a testament to his understanding of the MCU’s magical world. With some backup, he was also able to defeat the Ancient One, the previous Sorcerer Supreme and centuries-old magic practitioner. Still, without his influence from Dormammu and cult-like followers, it’s unlikely Kaecilius would’ve gotten as far as he did in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, suggested a more modest level of magical power.

9

Wong

The Current Sorcerer Supreme For Good Reason

In his introduction in Doctor Strange, Wong is mostly played for laughs as a studious traditional magic practitioner at Kamar-Taj who clashes with the arrogant new recruit, Dr. Stephen Strange. However, in later appearances, he truly comes into his own as a powerful magician in his own right, nearly matching Doctor Strange in mystic art mastery. It’s for this reason that Wong becomes Sorcerer Supreme in Stephen’s absence following the Blip, and holds on to this title even after he returns.

Wong has shown to be able to handle himself in a fight, surviving the hectic final battle against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame and holding his own against Emil Blonsky, a.k.a. Abomination, in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. However, Wong is unwilling to bend some of the same rules Dr. Strange is when it comes to his reverence for magic, limiting his potential with strict adherence to tradition. He also lacks any particular magic abilities that other sorcerers haven’t been able to replicate.

8

Baron Karl Mordo

Has No Morals To Hinder His Pursuit Of Magic Power

On a similar level of power to Wong is none other than Baron Karl Mordo, Dr. Strange’s one-time ally and future enemy. Studying closely under the Ancient one at Kamar-Taj, Baron Mordo boasts an incredibly strong magical foundation, not to mention an expertise with unique magical artifacts other sorcerers aren’t willing to use. Hiding under his friendly exterior is also a certain level of ruthlessness that makes him even more dangerous, willing to break magical taboos to accomplish his goals.

As if all that weren’t enough, Baron Mordo also boasts a unique form of magic more specific to him. Mordo is able to absorb the magical energy from his opponents, making him a particularly frightening foe for any fellow magic user to go up against. Ultimately, in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, he isn’t able to compete with Stephen Strange’s mastery over the mystic arts.

7

The Ancient One

One Of The Oldest Magic Users On Planet Earth

The teacher of both Wong, Baron Mordo, and Stephen Strange himself, the Ancient One’s reputation certainly proceeds her. Several centuries old, the Sorcerer Supreme has long been a defender of the mystic arts, having studied them for generations and inspired countless sorcerers to take up the practice of magic. She’s demonstrated time and time again why her name was so venerated among the sorcerer circles at Kamar-Taj.

Being so old, the Ancient One has had the time to study nearly every form of magic that exists, using the untold years of her long life to master even the most obscure of mystic arts. One of her most impressive feats is her mastery of the mirror dimension, a kaleidoscopic reality-warping force that can confuse and confound lesser magicians. However, the Ancient One can still be overwhelmed by multiple magical attackers, as is discovered by Kaecilius when he manages to get a lucky strike against her in an unfair fight.

6

Agatha Harkness

An Ancient Witch Well-Versed In Dark Magic

Much like the ancient one, Agatha Harkness is a centuries-old woman who has utilized a long life in order to master a great deal of powerful mystic arts. Unlike the Ancient One, however, Agatha doesn’t limit herself to traditionally accepted spellcasting, utilizing dark magic for her own twisted goals. She’s even able to destroy the rest of her coven sisters on her own when they turn on her, weaponizing her natural-born witch’s powers of magical absorption.

Having survived under the radar for so long, part of what makes Agatha so powerful is her sense of patience, able to bide her time waiting for the perfect moment to reveal herself. It says a lot that she’s willing to infiltrate the world of the Scarlet Witch in an attempt to face her and absorb her mighty chaos magic. That being said, Agatha bites off more than she can chew with the Scarlet Witch, crumbling when put up against a truly reality-warping magic user.

5

Hela

Known As The Goddess Of Death For Good Reason

As powerful as magical humans can be, the latent magic of Asgardian gods often tends to dwarf their potential. Enter Hela, the outcast goddess of death and hidden daughter of Odin whose magical affinity was strong enough to bring Asgard to its knees. As an Asgardian god, Hela had many inherent magical powers, including weapon manifestation and necromancy, hand-crafting her own private army of re-animated soldiers.

It’s worth noting that Hela was powerful enough for Thor to be outmatched by her, even after realizing his own inherent magical powers as the God of Thunder. However, Hela was still able to be sealed away by Odin, and couldn’t stand up to the fury of the fire giant, Surtur. Drawing her power from Asgard itself, Hela was still able to single-handedly shatter Mjölnir, making her one of the most potent magical threats the MCU has ever faced.

4

Odin

The All-Father And King Of Asgard

Speaking of Asgardians, only the father of the nation could qualify as the single Asgardian god more powerful than Hela (at the time of her emergence, anyway). Father of Hela, Loki, and Thor, Odin’s legacy and combat record speaks for itself. Uniting the realms in an overwhelming bid for conquest before sealing away his dangerous daughter, few magical beings could ever hope to stand up to Odin.

Odin is so powerful a magic user that he has his own fundamental mystic force named after him, the Odinforce. By manipulating his own life force’s magical and cosmic energy, Odin could create reality-altering spells such as the one that enchanted Mjolnir and sent Thor hurtling to Earth to teach him a lesson of hubris. While he was ultimately done in by his utterly ancient age, Odin’s magical affinity was strong enough to persist even in death, giving his son visions in spirit form.

3

Doctor Strange

The True Master Of The Mystic Arts

It may seem strange that a normal human such as Doctor Strange could rank higher than ancient witches and Asgardian gods. Yet Stephen Strange is such an unfettered prodigy when it come to magic, he easily outclasses most supernatural beings in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Mastering magic at an unprecedented rate with his photographic memory and perfect recall, Doctor Strange ascends to Sorcerer Supreme at unheard of speeds, mastering even profane and forbidden forms of magic along the way.

While Doctor Strange boasts many powerful spells, he’s so much more than a repository of arcane knowledge. Strange is capable of casually crafting universe-altering spells of his own, as seen in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and was essentially the sole reason the Avengers were able to form a plan against Thanos. In What If…? and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it’s revealed that an evil-motivated Doctor Strange could be an incredibly alarming threat to the entire multiverse, hinting at his true potential.

2

Loki

From Illusory Magician To Fundamental Force Of The Universe

Originally, Loki was a passing magician, but far from the most powerful of Asgard’s gods. Relying on illusory magic taught to him by his mother, Loki was able to confuse his enemies with deceit, but ultimately relied on dextrous blade work to finish the job. However, in his own self-titled streaming series, Loki’s magical powers gain a dramatic upgrade, making him one of the single strongest magic users in MCU history.

At first, season 2 of Loki sees the God of Mischief simply add some powerful time-travel magic to his repertoire, hurtling through the sacred timeline while struggling to control his powers. After centuries of subjective years, Loki is finally able to get a grasp on his powers, and uses them to become even more powerful. Taking his place as a living Temporal Loom and the God of Stories, Loki’s magic extends into the very fabric of time itself, becoming an inscrutable aspect of reality and a profoundly powerful magical god.

1

Scarlet Witch

Chaos Magic Trumps All

Few characters have grown consistently more powerful in their time with the MCU as Scarlet Witch. Wanda Maximoff’s MCU timeline begins with her activating her latent chaos magic powers via exposure to an Infinity Stone, resulting in a potent catalyst for her world-altering powers. In WandaVision, she’s able to overwrite reality with her own will without even realizing it, controlling minds, bringing back the dead, and even creating totally-new beings.

By the time of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda has honed her chaos magic to be even more terrifying. She’s able to effortlessly solo the combined strength of the powerful Illuminati, and nearly managed to steal the ability to warp universes from America Chavez. If it wasn’t for her own guilty conscience, Scarlet Witch could’ve easily brought the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe to its knees in subjugation.