How Powerful Sam Wilson Will Be As Captain America

Sam Wilson’s acquisition of the Captain America mantle at the end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier poses an ineludible question: how powerful will he be as the new Sentinel of Liberty? The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has highlighted the difference between those who seek justice and those who want power for the sake of power. The series has also established Sam Wilson’s intent to protect the Captain America legacy without copying Steve Rogers. Without Steve’s enhanced abilities, Sam will also have to take a new approach to Captain America’s physical challenges.

Steve Rogers was the ideal Captain America because of his humble character and compassionate spirit, but he really needed the super soldier serum to achieve everything he did. Before receiving the serum and the Vita radiation in Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve could barely jog or do any push-ups. With the serum, Steve Rogers went from a “90-pound asthmatic” to a superhero capable of stopping a helicopter with one hand and outrunning the Wakandan Army. Sam Wilson has made it clear that he doesn’t want the super soldier serum, so how will his physical skills compare to his predecessor’s?

Related: What’s In Falcon’s Wakandan Box From Bucky: New Wings Or Captain America Suit?

Sam is a former Air Force pararescue airman with plenty of experience handling the EXO-7 Falcon winged jetpack. He was able to hold his own against the Winter Soldier and a whole S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier on his first superhero adventure. And once he joined Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the flying Avenger “Falcon” could keep up with Crossbones, Ant-Man, Spider-Man, and even Iron Man. Sam Wilson earned himself the rank of superhero without having any superpowers, and he has recently fought on the same level as super soldiers like the Flag-Smashers, Bucky Barnes, and John Walker in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Because of his training and preferred combat technique, Sam will likely rely on his agility for both attack and defense more than Steve Rogers. And considering Falcon’s mechanized wings are a part of Sam’s Captain America suit, he will certainly find more creative ways to put them to good use. Throw the Captain America shield and an upgraded Redwing into the mix and Sam will have many more options than Steve Rogers ever had. One of Sam’s potential weaknesses fans have pointed out is his lack of protective headgear, but since Steve Rogers also didn’t have it — and probably couldn’t survive a shot in the head without it — Sam Wilson’s fighting style actually gives the new Captain America better protection than Steve Rogers.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has proved that superpowers don’t make the hero; values do. John Walker only met defeat with the suit and shield, and even with the super soldier serum, he still got beaten up by Sam and Bucky. Bucky is still powerful enough to defeat Steve Rogers, John Walker, and Karli Morgenthau, but his self-control keeps him from reverting to the Winter Soldier. It’s safe to say that though Sam is not as strong, he could easily become a better Captain America than the world could have ever imagined.

More: Sam Wilson’s Bucky Speech Confirms He’s Avengers 5’s Best Leader