The Marvel Cinematic Universe began its journey with a man in a suit in Iron Man. Most of the first chapter of the MCU focused on scientific advancement and heroes on Earth. With the introduction of Thor, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and more, the universe expanded. Now, there are more than 30 alien species inhabiting the MCU. As the Guardians traveled to different planets, like Xandar, and Thor faced the Contest of Champions on Sakaar, the faces and abilities of the different beings became more colorful and more powerful. There’s quite a range of power when the aliens are examined side by side.
There are only a few species that can’t be ranked yet, only because the audience doesn’t actually know what they are capable of just yet. Beings like Arcturans, Aakons, Easiks, Krylorians, Rainers, Sneepers, and Xeronians are known to fans because of their place in comic book history or supplemental materials for the movies, but there isn’t enough about them in the MCU to rank them against the power of other species. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has come a long way from just one man in an iron suit trying to save the day. The franchise features alien species regularly now in Avengers movies, the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, etc. There will only be more on the way as Captain Marvel takes Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan to space in The Marvels and the Guardians of the Galaxy return for a third chapter. More projects set in space means the audience will likely be seeing a lot more of the alien species present in Marvel Comics joining the MCU very soon.
Honorable Mention: Those Beings Now Outside The MCU Timeline
As a result of the MCU originally being divided into a TV and movie universe, just how the original Netflix, ABC, Freeform, and Hulu series fit into the current continuity of the MCU is up in the air. That means there are alien species that appeared in shows like Runaways and Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. that might not technically be part of the current MCU. Vrellnexians, Chronicoms, Xartans, and Gibborim could all still appear in the MCU at some point, but it’s not clear if these existing versions of the characters are still considered part of the main timeline, or simply part of the larger multiverse.
Vrellnexians
Inspired by an obscure comic book race of beings, the Vrellnexians appeared in the fifth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. with a different look. They looked more like monsters kids would fear than the “roaches” that gave them their nickname.
Weakened by human-wielded weapons, these insect-like creatures still packed quite the punch. Incredibly fast and able to climb up smooth surfaces, they existed in a sealed-off section of a space station because they dried out their prey like spiders. They also overran the Earth in a post-apocalyptic future. It’s their large numbers that gave them the advantage though.
Chronicoms
As a synthetic race of beings, the Chronicoms are more like robots, but they do have an artificial intelligence system that allows them to learn and grow rather than simply perform the same tasks over and over. They’re powerful enough to travel from their distant star system all the way to Earth, and resourceful enough to blend in.
Chronicoms perform the role of anthropologists for the universe. Their role is to observe and record information about different species. Enoch of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. got to play a more active role for the human race, as he helped Fitz find a way to survive traveling to the future to help save his friends and prevent a catastrophe.
Xartans
A rather obscure creation for Marvel Comics, the Xartans got new life in the MCU thanks to the Hulu series Runaways. The alien being fixated on Karolina Dean in season 2, Xavin, hails from Xartan.
Xavin has some pretty interesting abilities. In addition to being able to shapeshift (they take turns appearing as Karolina, Gert, and Nico while living with the Runaways), Xavin can also “beam” images into someone’s brain. It provides a nifty–if invasive–way for them to tell a story.
Gibborim
When fans first began watching Marvel’s Runaways, they might have believed the Church of Gibborim was simply a nice comic book Easter egg to the giants that gave PRIDE their influence and wealth. Instead, the series used the Gibborim name to describe the beings that are Karolina Dean’s family.
Karolina’s mother is human, but her father is one of the Gibborim. The Gibborim are beings of light, which might not sound particularly powerful, but think again. They can inhabit host bodies and manipulate the spectrum of light in various ways. Those ways involve accelerating healing, laser beams, flares, and flight.
Xandarians
The residents of Xandar kick off those in the main timeline with a pretty low placement because they aren’t an innately powerful race. Instead, they’re more like technologically advanced human beings.
Outside the group developing impressive space travel and containment units for Infinity Stones, the audience didn’t see much from them in the way of power. They did provide the home base for the Nova Corps, but even that peacekeeping force has been all but wiped out. Unlike the others here, this group doesn’t exhibit any special powers, so calling them “powerful” would be a stretch.
Outriders
The Outriders aren’t alien beings in the sense that they were born and thrived on a planet other than Earth. There really isn’t a legacy or a culture for them. They were created by Thanos and the Children of Thanos in his spaceship instead.
As a result, the Outriders are essentially cannon fodder. They are the seemingly endless supply of foot soldiers that Thanos and his allies can use to battle their foes. It’s their huge numbers that provide them with an edge in a fight rather than specific skills or powers, and there isn’t much else known about them. They appeared in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, but since the defeat of Thanos, they haven’t been seen in the MCU again.
Sakaarans
The name of this Marvel alien race might not ring any bells, but for audience members who have seen any of the MCU movies set in outer space, chances are, they’ve seen a Sakaaran.
Resembling insects, Sakaarans aren’t known for being the most intelligent of the aliens seen so far. They make up for that in their sheer determination and their ability to follow orders. Most of the time they’ve been on-screen, they’ve been doing just that, as soldiers. Sakaarans often work for another alien race, even as members of their army – the Kree. Their home planet also provided the base for the Contest of Champions.
Kylosians
Drax is an alien whose origin the audience doesn’t get to know much about despite his time in the MCU. While he was artificially created in the comics, that isn’t true in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
His planetary origin is Kylos, a planet targeted by Ronan The Accuser. It’s not clear if Drax is stronger than the average Kylosian or not since there haven’t been more of his people in the MCU. Drax is incredibly strong and durable. He can survive being digested by an Abilisk, and he might even be able to hold his own against a Thanos who doesn’t have the Infinity Stones.
Luphomoid
The only Luphomoid Marvel fans met in the movies (so far) is Nebula. Noticeable because of the blue hue of their skin, they aren’t to be confused with Centaurians or Kree.
Nebula is an extremely skilled and strong individual. From the comics, fans know strength is something inherent in the Luphomoid DNA. Most of Nebula’s other traits, like putting her bones back into place and withstanding serious falls, are a result of Thanos “enhancing” her to be a better fighter. She is the last of her kind in the comics, so it’s unlikely there will be more Luphomoids in the movies to learn more about their skills.
Lem
Like many of the alien species in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans only see one example of the Lem. This one comes to the audience as a member of the Ravagers in the Guardians of the Galaxy series.
Unlike most of the other alien species in the MCU, the Lem actually exhibits some real “power” in the form of magic. Like Doctor Strange, this being is able to access sorcery and draw his spells in midair. It’s not clear exactly how powerful his magical abilities are, though, which is why he isn’t ranked any higher.
Rocket’s Race
Known in the comics as a Halfworlder, Rocket was artificially created. While some of his origin story might be true for the MCU as well, fans won’t know more until the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 unfold.
As one of the smallest aliens seen in the franchise, and one who doesn’t have any superpowers, Rocket might not seem all that powerful at first glance. He can master just about any weapon or spacecraft, though, he’s quick on his feet, and he’s an effective fighter, so he can never be counted out.
Zehoberei
Fans got a brief glimpse of the Zehoberei on their home planet during the events of Avengers: Infinity War. They appeared in a flashback sequence of Gamora’s childhood with good reason: Gamora is likely the last of her people.
The Zehoberei seemed like a primarily peaceful people, but Thanos’ followers made quick work of them. Gamora shows the audience the potential the species had for strength, speed, and skill. In fact, in the comics, her strength and speed are the results of biology rather than training by Thanos. Given Gamora’s ability to best her comrades like Nebula and Rocket, it seems like a good idea to rank her people a bit higher.
Skrulls
The Skrulls seen in Captain Marvel were a race of people who could no longer go home. Persecuted by the Kree, they did have some strong fighters and weapons users, but overall, they were more like the average human being – except for one big factor. Skrulls are able to shapeshift into other beings. They can change their face, their voice, and their entire body to imitate someone else. Talos is especially adept at this, spending a significant amount of time pretending to be his friend and ally Nick Fury.
In the comics, Skrulls had also developed technology that allowed them to imitate the powers of other beings, which is part of what made them such a successful invasive force when they tried to take Earth as their new home planet. While that hasn’t happened in the MCU yet, it very well could in the upcoming Disney Plus Secret Invasion series.
Kronans
Kronans look like piles of rocks, and they are just as tough. Fans might think they got their first introduction to the beings in Thor: Ragnarok, as Korg befriended the title character, but that’s not actually true.
One very large Kronan appeared in the first Thor movie during the sequence demonstrating Thor’s prowess on the battlefield. The Warriors Three backed off from the fight, allowing Thor to use Mjolnir to take the enemy on. That’s quite a formidable opponent if it takes a god-like weapon to stop him in his tracks.
Chitauri
As the first of several armies the heroes of the MCU face, the Chitauri appear in The Avengers when an Infinity Stone opens a portal to space above Tony Stark’s building. Acting like a nameless, faceless horde of enemies from any action movie, the Chitauri are actually more powerful than you’d think.
Not only are they intelligent enough to create a means of space travel, but they’ve also developed enough weapons (and have control of large animals) that allow them to mount an invasion force. Their technology is so advanced it becomes a hot-button issue in the MCU, informing criminal activities on both Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Dark Elves
As one of the oldest species in the universe, Dark Elves have an incredibly long lifespan. They can live for at least 5,000 years, known thanks to the reappearance of Malekith in Thor: The Dark World after a skirmish with Asgard thousands of years before the events of the movie.
Not only do some of the Dark Elves have the ability to use magic, but they are also incredibly strong and agile. They can go toe to toe with an Asgardian (though perhaps not Thor) and live to tell the tale.
Centaurians
It’s not clear why so many of the aliens that frequent the MCU have blue skin, but the Centaurians, like the Luphomoids and the Kree, do as well. The most visible is Yondu, the space pirate and leader of the Ravagers.
Because he’s the primary example of a Centaurian, much of what fans know about the species comes from him. He’s strong, though not super strong like an Asgardian. Where his power comes in is in the form of his specialty weapons. Yaka arrows (the ones that obey whistled commands) were created and used by the Centaurians. He took out a whole battlefield with just one.
Frost Giants
Larger than the average humanoid and with a penchant for cold, this group earned the name “Frost Giants” from the Asgardians. Yet another species with blue skin and super strength, they seek to stand out from the rest.
The Frost Giants attempted to conquer Earth and invade Asgard a few times. Their stamina, strength, and incredibly long lifespans aided them in their quest, but they never found themselves victorious. One notable member of the group? That would be Loki, though his magic doesn’t come from his connection to his Frost Giant father Laufey. The most “magic” seen from Frost Giants is their ability to manipulate ice into weapons.
The Vanir
The Vanir live not far from Asgard and have extremely close ties to the Asgardian people. Take Hogun, for example. He traveled to Asgard and decided to stay, becoming one of the Warriors Three and doing his part to protect the realm.
Despite having similar strength and stamina to the Asgardians and the Frost Giants, the Vanir don’t rank as high here as Asgardians themselves. Why? Because Asgardians have shown the ability to manipulate magic and other elements. The Vanir appear to be a less magically inclined–or even technologically inclined–people. They rely on Asgard for protection and continue to make their homes in yurts in the woods.
The Sovereign
.jpg)
Created specifically for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the Sovereign are modeled after the comic book scientists who created the character Adam Warlock. They operate under the idea that they are superior to everyone else, and they nearly have the technology to prove it.
Everyone in the Sovereign is created by genetic design with no births occurring “naturally.” This provides for a race of people with gold skin and seemingly the same levels of intelligence, strength, and agility. They are a fearsome people, but mostly because they have numbers on their side. When their resources and population are depleted, they aren’t quite as powerful.
Pluvians
Pluvians appear so high here for one simple reason: their capacity to survive. Though their bodies appear delicate, the evolution of the species makes them uniquely suited to survive in harsh conditions.
Silicon rather than carbon-based like humans, their bodies can appear to be made of crystal. In fact, the MCU’s Martinex in the Ravagers even looks like he’s sculpted out of glass. In the comics, this alien species also evolved with the capacity to channel heat and energy through their crystalline bodies.
Abilisks
The Abilisks are one of the few non-sentient life forms with as much power as the heroes in the MCU. It takes five Guardians of the Galaxy to bring one down – and one has to get eaten to do it.
Abilisks eat sources of energy, like batteries. The also have the ability to shoot beams of matter out of their mouths, have incredibly durable and thick skin, and rows of sharp teeth. If that wasn’t enough to convince fans of their power, Abilisks are also a trans-dimensional being. They’re one of the few entities that can move between dimensions without any help at all.
Mantis’ Race
Comic book fans were surprised that Mantis (a human who ends up with special abilities in the comics) was an alien in the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 storyline. While fans don’t know where she’s from, or whether the rest of her species has the same abilities, her skills land her in the top alien species in the MCU. Of course, some of her power might be the result of her Celestial bloodline as well.
Mantis is empathic. Her power doesn’t simply end with reading people’s emotions, though, as she can also influence them. With a simple touch, she can make someone suffer from exhaustion so that she can put them right to sleep.
