How Powerful Captain America Is With Mjolnir Compared To Thor

Just how powerful is Captain America with Mjolnir? In Avengers: Endgame, MCU fans were treated to seeing Captain America finally wield Mjolnir in his battle against Thanos and subsequently gain the powers of Thor for a short period of time. This battle poses an interesting question about just how powerful Captain America becomes in this moment. Does the Star-Spangled Avenger temporarily become more powerful than the God of Thunder himself, boosted by his super-soldier status, or is Captain America still not as powerful as Thor? There is much to ponder here, from their fighting styles to how they each catch Mjolnir.

As part of the climactic final act of Avengers: Endgame, Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man face off against Thanos in a bid to delay him finding the Infinity Stones that are buried with Hawkeye beneath the rubble of the Avengers facility. At a pivotal moment when all hope looks lost for Thor, a hand reaches down to claim Mjolnir before hurling the mighty hammer towards Thanos. The pitcher is none other than Steve Rogers, as Captain America is revealed to be worthy, paying off an arc that started back in Avengers: Age of Ultron. What follows is an exemplary display of Thor’s powers by Captain America, with the super-soldier utilizing thunder, lightning, whirlwind moves, and his own Vibranium shield to brawl against the Mad Titan.

However, does wielding Mjolnir mean that Cap and Thor are equally as powerful? And if not, how powerful is Captain America compared to Thor when he’s wielding the hammer? There is certainly something to be said about the inscription on Mjolnir itself and how it might affect what Captain America is able to achieve while he is holding the hammer. Mjolnir certainly bestows Captain America with the powers of Thor, but how would the former stack up against the latter, especially given Thor’s fluctuating power levels throughout the MCU?

First of all, one must examine the inscription that is carved into Mjolnir and interpret its meaning. The most accurate reading of this comes from Odin himself in the first Thor movie. Odin recites the inscription after banishing Thor to Earth following a brash journey to Jotunheim, saying “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” This then poses a second, possibly even more potent, question: what is the power of Thor? There are several key powers that Thor displays throughout his time in the MCU thus far, both with Stormbreaker and Mjolnir, and some of these can be seen when Captain America takes possession of the hammer.

Most notably, audiences see Captain America utilize Thor’s mastery of lightning and electricity, raining it down upon Thanos in their fight. Does that mean Captain America is as powerful as Thor with Mjolnir? An interaction between Thor and Odin during Hela’s assault on Asgard in Thor: Ragnarok reveals that Mjolnir was only ever intended to be used as a conduit for Thor’s true power, suggesting this is what Captain America inherits most predominantly, rather than the Asgardian’s physiology, durability, strength, or ability to fly. While Captain America is able to emulate Thor’s most recognizable power, it does not necessarily mean that the super-soldier has the strength to match the Asgardian, especially with his growing power level throughout his MCU character arc.

As impressive as it was to watch Captain America lift Mjolnir and use it to bring ruin down upon Thanos temporarily, the Star-Spangled Avenger is still a far cry from the power of his Asgardian teammate. Thor’s power level remains well above Captain America’s and is boosted by the arrival of his newest weapon, Stormbreaker. Now able to channel the Bifrost and teleport throughout the cosmos, Thor remains far more powerful than Captain America, despite his initial worries back in Avengers: Age of Ultron.