New Powers Doctor Strange Could Have In Multiverse of Madness

Confirmation that Benedict Cumberbatch’s MCU character will be more powerful than he was in his previous live-action appearances means that he could develop new abilities ahead of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. He already had an impressive arsenal of magical spells at his disposal, but his list of weapons could grow exponentially in Phase 4. After all, there’s no telling how much training he’s been undergoing in the years that have gone by.

Marvel will get two chances to showcase the Sorcerer Supreme’s improved capabilities in Phase 4. First up for the hero is Spider-Man: No Way Home, where he’ll team up with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker in an adventure that will involve the multiverse and villains from Sony’s other two Spider-Man franchises. It’s quite probable that whatever unfolds in the upcoming Spider-Man film will lead directly into the following Phase 4 installment: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This MCU team-up will put Doctor Strange in the lead role, with Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) presumably serving as one of his main allies.

What threat Strange will be up against in his second solo outing hasn’t been revealed, but some details have been discussed. Recently, Loki and Doctor Strange 2 writer Michael Waldron made some interesting comments about Doctor Strange’s power level. According to him, Strange is “at the height of his powers” in The Multiverse of Madness, which has been attributed to his experiences with Thanos in the last two Avengers movies. Strange being more powerful than ever in Phase 4 lends Marvel an excellent opportunity to lean more heavily into Strange’s abilities from Marvel Comics.

Time Travel

Doctor Strange has already exerted some degree of control over time in the MCU by creating time loops and looking into possible futures, but he hasn’t actually traveled to different periods and places in the timestream yet, even though he certainly can in Doctor Strange comics. He can also restore time-displaced individuals to their proper place in the timeline by plucking them from the past or future and putting them back where they belong.

Time travel was seemingly taken off the table for Strange by the destruction of the Time Stone in Avengers: Endgame, but artwork for the new movie once again makes it a possibility. Somehow, Doctor Strange will be wearing the Eye of Agamotto, which houses the MCU’s version of the Time Stone. As for how that could be, Doctor Strange could acquire it from a different timeline. If the TVA can get their hands on multiple Infinity Stones, Strange should be able to accomplish the same task. If so, Doctor Strange can visit any era of his choosing.

Mind Powers

Doctor Strange can magically influence minds weaker than his own in Marvel Comics. By sending psionic blasts from his mind to another, Doctor Strange can induce hypnotic trances, instill opponents with fear, probe their thoughts, communicate telepathically with allies, immobilize people completely, and wipe their minds. His most memorably use of the latter ability was when he purged all knowledge of Spider-Man’s identity after it was learned by the public. He can also overcome the wills off sorcerers with similar powers, since his are typically greater than his peers. And due to his expertise with mind powers, Doctor Strange isn’t susceptible to the same tricks. Others have attempted to telepathically manipulate Strange, but to no avail. Strange can effortlessly resist telepathic intrusions.

Related: MCU Theory: Doctor Strange 2 & WandaVision’s Real Villain (Not Mephisto)

Banishment

As someone who is entrusted with protecting the Earth from magical threats, it’s not surprising that the comic book version of Doctor Strange has it within his power to banish other beings from this dimension. In the past, the character has been seen exiling demons and other magical creatures back to where they come from. It’s a rather simple of way of disposing of a character that would normally be a challenging adversary. Depending on what Doctor Strange has to fight in the next two movies, this ability might become a necessity. It may not work against the main villain, but it could serve him against minions.

Magic Draining

Banishment is one quick solution to dealing with a powerful enemy, but it’s not the only fast route to victory for Doctor Strange in the comic books. Another tactic that he’s employed on several occasions is magic draining. Somewhat similar to how the Ancient One was drawing power from the Dark Dimension in the MCU, Doctor Strange can siphon the magical energies of his foes. This serves two purposes; it weakens his targets and empowers himself. If battling a being created with magic, he can sometimes deplete it of all its power. It’s possible that Strange can use this method against fellow sorcerers like Baron Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

Phasing

Not unlike the Vision, Doctor Strange can phase through walls and other solid objects. What separates this ability from Vision’s is that he can induce a state of intangibility on anyone he chooses. In other words, he can phase enemies through walls in an effort to render them harmless. This power is relatively minor in comparison to others, but could come in handy in certain combat situations.

Demons of Denak

The MCU’s Sorcerer Supreme has weaponized several of his classic spells, including Winds of Watoomb, the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, the Bolts of Balthakk, and more. One that hasn’t been touched on yet is Demons of Denak, a powerful spell born from the magic of an evil entity. The Demons of Denak spell unleashes invisible claws that can tear creatures and objects into pieces. If utilized in the MCU, it could prove to be devastating to anyone who opposes him.

Flames of the Faltine

The Flames of the Faltine is an old favorite of Doctor Strange’s that dates back to Strange Tales #150 in 1966. This powerful blast of magical fire is the perfect weapon for the character to use when he’s on the offensive. Strange using it as much as he does in the comics makes sense, given the scale of its power. The fact that it comes from Dormammu’s race is indicative of how potent it can be. Doctor Strange could have avoided it thus far in the MCU for the same reason that he criticized the Ancient One for drawing energy from the Dark Dimension, but there’s a chance he could be forced to make use of it in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.