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The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, bringing beloved IP from Marvel Comics to the big screen and television. But there is perhaps no more hyped character to enter the MCU later this year than Robert Downey Jr.‘s iteration of Doctor Doom. After shocking the world that he would be returning to the MCU following his run as Iron Man, Doom will be a central player in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. So, is there anyone in the MCU or beyond with enough strength to defeat him?
We are going to discuss 10 individual heroes, allies, or teams strong enough to stop Doom. We will examine mystical, intellectual, and brute strength, as strength comes in various forms. This list is not entirely a predictor of what might come in Avengers: Doomsday. In fact, not all of these characters will be featured in the film. We are looking at precedents from previous films, comics, and series, as well as their potential given their resumes and powers. If anything does come true, well, then it just means we were right all along!
1
Captain Marvel
For a long time, the MCU lacked female-forward solo projects. That is, until Carol Danvers arrived, introducing the world to Captain Marvel on the big screen. A former United States Air Force pilot, she gained superhuman abilities after absorbing the Tesseract’s energy from a destroyed light-speed engine. As a Human-Kree hybrid, she protects the cosmos, having already been a key player in the defeat of Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the threat of Doom looming, her previous resume is likely to be a reason why the villain might fear her.
The best way to describe her powers is as a living battery. When she absorbs an immense, overwhelming amount of energy, she enters her Binary state, which allows her to manipulate stellar and cosmic energies. With flight at the speed of light on her ability card, Captain Marvel is a formidable opponent. Because she possesses vastly superior speed, flight capabilities, durability, and raw energy projection, she might have the upper hand in a no-prep battle. If he has time to prepare, she might have to defeat Doombots before she gets to final boss mode. He has a history of neutralizing heavy-hitting heroes through magical preparations, but Captain Marvel could swoop in with a blitz without warning. Though Brie Larson’s appearance in Avengers: Doomsday is unconfirmed for now, the epic team-up would be in great hands if she’s on the roster.
2
Doctor Strange
Let’s face it, we’d kill to see a Doctor versus Doctor showdown. But who would prevail? A former world-renowned neurosurgeon, Stephen Strange became the Sorcerer Supreme and Earth’s primary protector against mystical threats. A major player in the multiverse, which made some fans mad, Doctor Strange ultimately unlocked new magical abilities, such as dream-walking, and developed a third eye while protecting America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) from the corrupted Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Now with Doctor Doom as the next immediate threat, Doctor Strange emerges as an even more powerful player. Despite not appearing in the epic cast rollout, Benedict Cumberbatch will be returning for Avengers: Doomsday.
With genius intellect and a strong ability to master the mystic arts, Strange’s encyclopedic knowledge and disciplined combat style give him the decisive edge in a direct, magic-focused confrontation. And let’s face it, with Strange as the leader of the roster, magic is very likely on the table. Strange has a history of success, which will work well to his advantage. Especially in duels of sorcery. Strange may have his studies on his side, but Doom has a penchant for hacking magic, which could throw Strange off kilter. Doom’s ego and determination are legendary. The intrigue of a Doom and Strange showdown is a potential draw from the comic source material, the Time Runs Out and Secret Wars comicstorylines. If those come to fruition, the biggest shock will be that in those storylines, Strange becomes one of Doctor Doom’s most trusted allies. It’s the MCU, so anything is possible!
3
Fantastic Four
OK, this might be a bit of a cheat since Doctor Doom is the most notorious primary villain of The Fantastic Four. Plus, we’ve seen them defeat him in both film iterations before they entered into MCU. So, the answer is an obvious yes, but let’s dissect the MCU quartet of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) on their strength against Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. No matter the iteration, The Fantastic Four is one of the strongest super teams in Marvel. Their unmatched teamwork, unparalleled intellect, and deep, unbreakable family bond make them unstoppable. They each bring a specific, highly tactical power — stretch and reform a body, invisibility, engulf a body in flame, and superhuman strength — that make them become a unified force.
As seen in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Reed’s unmatched intellect is stronger than ever. Leading the team, with a now-not-pregnant Sue, they are as formidable as ever. They now have to take Doom down by exploiting his massive hubris and obsession with proving his superiority. The only massive cog in the plan is the now-famous mid-credit scene in which Doom interacts with Franklin. We’re all waiting with bated breath to know how that will affect the future. Perhaps it’ll be baby Franklin who will take down Doom one day in the MCU. Doom might need him to save a dying universe. Nevertheless, in a show of force, The Fantastic Four have the ultimate advantage as a team. Reed might defeat him in a battle of the brains, but the quartet as a whole would need to unite for victory.
4
Hulk
There is literally no one on the MCU roster who is stronger than Bruce Banner, better known as the Hulk. One of the more intriguing characters in the MCU, given his cinematic history beginning with Edward Norton in The Incredible Hulk, only for Mark Ruffalo to save the day as the character, despite never receiving another solo film. Regardless, whereas the Hulk is extraordinarily strong, Banner is extraordinarily brilliant. Following an accidental exposure to high levels of gamma radiation, Banner is a physicist with the ability to transform into a massive, green-skinned rage monster. His journey in the MCU has showcased Banner’s ability to control his rage, but as seen in the trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, something or someone is tampering with that control. Unfortunately, Ruffalo has confirmed that the Hulk will not be back in Avengers: Doomsday, so we’re left to speculate how he might fare against Doctor Doom.
The Hulk remains one of the most unique heroes in Marvel. The adrenaline and psychological stress caused by anger act as a trigger, and Doom is quite a triggering individual. But without a top-out, the Hulk’s potential can be limitless. At maximum fury, his physical blows generate shockwaves that retain his status as the strongest one there is. Even in advanced armor, Doctor Doom is touchable against the mean, green fighting machine. Doom is a mortal human who is penetrable. Even with extraordinary prep, nothing will wear down the Hulk in a drawn-out physical battle of attrition. In the comics, there have been times in which Doom is victorious in battle, including Incredible Hulk Vol. 3 in 2011. But once Hulk gets his hands on Doom’s technology and smashes it, it’s all over. Though, wouldn’t it be a coup if it’s Doom controlling Hulk in the Spider-Man movie to set up the December flick?
5
Iron Man
Maybe the Doctor vs. Doctor isn’t the battle we want; it’s Downey Jr. vs Downey Jr. Rather, Iron Man vs. Doctor Doom. The MCU wouldn’t be what it is today had it not been for the first Iron Man film. Beginning as a billionaire playboy, Tony Stark’s near-death experience led him to become the armored superhero. He wasn’t just a solo entity — he was a leader and mentor, shaping the future of the Avengers forever. At this point, it’s no longer a spoiler; Stark wielded the Infinity Stones to erase Thanos and his invading army, an action that successfully saved the universe but resulted in his own death from severe gamma radiation. So, unless we get something super twisty, we won’t see a Downey Jr. double-trouble moment.
Now, to the hypothetical. Iron Man was always a force to be reckoned with, but in the MCU, he grew even stronger. At the heart of the suit is a miniature, self-sustaining nuclear fusion reactor that directly powers the suit’s life support, weapons, and mobility. His supersuits have enhanced over time, evolving to defeat the enemy of the moment. So, as Iron Man leverages his raw engineering capabilities, technology will overpower mystic powers. His suits have also served as perfect vessels for greater flight maneuverability and stealth capabilities, so agility is an advantage for Iron Man compared to Doom’s bulky suit. Doom is adaptable, but Iron Man is famous for anticipating threats. Had it not been for a personal sacrifice, Stark would be the man who could never be killed. And he would be strong enough to take down Doom.
6
Jean Grey
There are many beloved characters in the X-Men, but constantly at the top of that list is Jean Grey. Why? Her story is simply incredible, often serving as a central storyline in comics, TV series, and films. While the entire X-Men team could defeat Doom together, Jean Grey likely could do it on her own. Jean Grey tapped into her mutant powers as a teen before being brought to Professor Xavier (James McAvoy/Patrick Stewart). He honed her skills until she went all Dark Phoenix, exposing just how vast and powerful her abilities were. Her powers include telepathy, telekinesis, and cosmic pyrokinesis. She is an Omega-level mutant and serves as the primary host for the god-like cosmic entity. Her innate psionic mastery allows her to harness cosmic energy effortlessly, making her the quintessential and most formidable host for the Phoenix Force. Jean Grey was first portrayed on the big screen by Famke Janssen in the original X-Men films, before Sophie Turner portrayed the role in the prequel films.
The truth is, there are very few individuals that Jean Grey cannot take down. Just with her simple skills, she can bypass Doom’s armor and anything he might throw her way. Tapping into Phoenix, he’d be completely dismantled. When you can control life, death, and cosmic energy, there’s no denying her unstoppable force. There will be quite a few X-Men arriving in the MCU for Avengers: Doomsday, including Cyclops (James Marsden), Beast (Kelsey Grammer), and Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming). Jean Grey is not on that roster. Janssen has stated Marvel “made a mistake” not bringing her back for the film, but as disappointing as it is, she might just be too strong for a plausible story.
7
Loki
Once upon a time, Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) brother was known as the God of Mischief. After the second season of Loki, he’s ascended to the role of God of Stories. Needless to say, Loki’s arc within the MCU was utterly fascinating. From villain to anti-hero to savior of the timelines, Loki has run the full gamut. He is highly trained in illusion casting, projection, duplication, and telekinesis. He can shapeshift. His combat prowess is stronger than his stature. Whether in his villain era or during his multiverse adventures, Loki’s skill set has been on full display. His hybrid physiology is one of the lesser-reported assets, but it’s why he is the way he is. His magical toolkit is icing on the cake.
A Loki versus Doctor Doom battle would be a top-tier fight night. Loki possesses god-level magical reality-warping and time manipulation that would give Doom a headache. By mastering time-slipping, Loki can jump across time and space to navigate the multiverse at will, giving him traversal capabilities that even powerful beings can’t pursue without technology. The truth is, no one is more deceptive than Loki. He can fight Doom in the shadows, taking on any shape he wishes, driving Doom into a vulnerable position. After a triumphant finale, it appeared that Tom Hiddleston’s tenure was finite. That’s not the case, as his Loki will be back and likely play a crucial multiversal role against Doom. Though his screen time may be minimal, that doesn’t mean it can’t be monumental.
8
Scarlet Witch
Fans loved Wanda Maximoff during the Infinity Saga. They adore her post-WandaVision, even when her dark side emerged as Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. With one of the most fascinating journeys of any MCU character, the character now known as Scarlet Witch remains one of the strongest individuals across any timeline. Originally a HYDRA test subject from Sokovia, her latent witchcraft was amplified by the Mind Stone, leading her to become a grieving Avenger who reshaped reality and eventually succumbed to the corrupting influence of the Darkhold. Scarlet Witch is a Nexus Being capable of spontaneous alterations to reality. From chaos magic to reality warping, with energy manipulation in between, her powers are deeply tied to her mental state. Whether grief, trauma, or desperation, once those emotions are activated, she’s unmovable. Doom is destined to tap into one of those.
Now that Scarlet Witch’s powers are fully unlocked, her limitless, unstructured power can overwhelm even Doom’s greatest defenses. Her primary advantage is the ability to manipulate reality instantaneously. At her peak, she doesn’t just fight; she breaks and rewrites the fundamental rules of the universe. Since they’re both magic users, she may have a match with Doom, but Chaos Magic is something difficult to defend. The only locale in which Doom would have an upper hand, with the employment of magical wards, an army of Doombots, and planetary-scale weaponry, is his home nation of Latveria. As much as we’re eager to see who would be victorious in this showdown, whether Elizabeth Olsen will appear in Avengers: Doomsday is still uncertain. There had been rumors that if Scarlet Witch does appear, she’d be on Doom’s side, but given her history, she always finds her way back to the light.
9
The Defenders
Once upon a time, the quartet of Netflix Marvel shows lived in their own world. Now that they’re canonically part of the MCU, why not speculate on how The Defenders could handle Doctor Doom? Like other superteams, they’re each strong on their own, but together, they’re simply unstoppable. Comprised of Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter), and Danny Rand/Iron Fist (Finn Jones), this quartet tends to battle it out from a more street-level perspective. That’s not to say that mystics and magic haven’t opposed them; by strength alone, they each could likely toss anyone across a room. Murdock is the master tactician, Cage is the invulnerable tank, Jones is the brute force, and Rand is the heavy hitter. Initially working as solo vigilantes, their four heroes were brought together by necessity; a gritty “non-team” united to protect New York City from the ancient ninja cult, The Hand. The quartet is much rawer than The Avengers, and thus, that grit is why they might make Doom shake in his mask.
By leveraging a combination of raw, unstoppable physical power, unpredictable mystical arts, and street-level stealth, The Defenders can be victorious. How? Exploiting his fatal flaw of overconfidence. Daredevil’s radar sense would allow him to see through illusions, detect Doombots, and read Doom’s heartbeat to anticipate his physical and magical attacks. Cage’s titanium-like, unbreakable skin can absorb massive concussive blasts from Doom’s gauntlets, keeping the villain occupied in close-quarters combat. Iron Fist’s Chi-infused punch is capable of shattering mystical barriers and high-tech armor alike, directly damaging Doom where he is most vulnerable. Jones’s deductive detective skills would allow her to uncover Doom’s tactical vulnerabilities while navigating past his ego. Though we only had one full season of The Defenders, they have been popping up now that Daredevil: Born Again is a massive success on Disney+. As of now, the quartet is not going to be on the roster for Avengers: Doomsday. There’s a better chance to see them in 2027 in Avengers: Secret Wars.
10
Thor
Though his movies may have given us a range of emotions, the God of Thunder remains one of the strongest heroes in the MCU. Thor evolved from an arrogant, war-hungry prince into a compassionate king, defending both Asgard and Earth. Thor may still be a prominent figure, but, as seen in Thor: Love and Thunder, he has since adopted a child, Gorr the God Butcher’s (Christian Bale) orphaned daughter, Love. With divine biology, Thor’s skin and bones are significantly more durable than a human’s. With enchanted weaponry, Mjolnir and Stormbreaker, in hand, Thor has proven that his strength is unmatched. Beyond raw muscle, Thor has over a thousand years of combat and battlefield experience against some of the universe’s most formidable threats. Now a “Dad God,” pulling him out of that role and back into action might be Doom himself.
Thor possesses superior raw physical strength, divine invulnerability, and cosmic magical abilities that bypass Doom’s technological defenses. That said, Thor’s full capacity might depend on the cosmic storyline. Where Doom might overperform Thor is knowing how volatile the son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) can be. We’ve seen Emo Thor. He’s not a warrior by any means. Doctor Doom is cunning, which Thor is not. Doom frequently invents devices to siphon Thor’s divine energy, turning the Asgardian’s own strength into a liability. On some occasions, it’s true, it’s a toss-up, but history has proven Thor tends to come out on top. With Hemsworth back for Avengers: Doomsday, it’s been teased that the softer, vulnerable Dad God will be preparing for strength to defeat one final enemy. With that tease as well as Avengers: Secret Wars to come, Thor might be the one to make the ultimate sacrifice. What a way to go, to watch Hemsworth beat Downey Jr., the last Avenger to make a massive sacrifice!
Avengers: Doomsday
- Release Date
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December 18, 2026
- Writers
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Stephen McFeely, Michael Waldron, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
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https://collider.com/marvel-heroes-strong-enough-stop-doom/
Michael Block
Almontather Rassoul
