Marvel: Strongest X-Men

Highlights

• Marvel’s X-Men feature powerful mutants with unique abilities, facing challenges from both humans and foes.
• Elixir, Bishop, and Cable are among the strongest X-Men with diverse powers and remarkable feats of strength.
• Characters like Storm, Wolverine, and Magneto showcase impressive abilities and great potential within the X-Men universe.

Marvel Comics introduced the X-Men as a group of powerful mutants who stepped up and saved civilization despite the fact many humans were not appreciative of them. The X-Men featured a wide array of powers that led them to be strong in many different ways. But which X-Men are the strongest?

Some have super strengths, while others have amazing healing abilities and adamantium shells on their skeletons. Still, others could control people’s minds or the weather. While strength can be measured in a number of ways, the strongest X-Men always rose to the occasion to help when the world needed them.

Updated on May 4, 2024, by Ben Painter: The X-Men are making a bit of a renaissance as of late, with the Avengers taking the place of the most popular Marvel Comics team. The mutant team has returned to the spotlight in the Disney+ series X-Men ’97, and many members are slated to appear in the next Marvel Cinematic Universe entry, Deadpool & Wolverine. The X-Men made their bow in 1963, and there have been a lot of members since then, but there have been several powerful ones that have shown just how strong mutants can be. This update adds five more X-Men members who are considered the strongest.

20 Elixir

Greatest Show Of Strength: Bringing 16 Million Mutants Back From The Dead

• First Appearance: New Mutants (Vol. 2) #5 (October 2003)
• Powers: Biokinesis, healing, regeneration, resurrection, self-resurrection, life-force manipulation, genetic detection, death touch

As an Omega-level mutant, Joshua Foley has elite control over his powers. There are no limits to his healing powers, and he is able to resurrect and heal his fellow X-Men in the field. Elixir has shown it can cure diseases completely, such as the mutant-killing legacy virus and m-pox.

His control over cells at a molecular level can work the other way, as he can perform a ‘Death Touch,’ which can turn his opponent’s bodies against them. This power has even been shown to work on powerful foes and even demons. Elixir can even resurrect himself. The mutant is a powerful ally but an even bigger threat. Elixir deserves some love in the mainstream.

19 Bishop

Greatest Show Of Strength: Absorbing A Psionic Blast From The Powerful Mutant Onslaught

• First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #283 (October 1991)
• Powers: Energy Absorption, Accelerated Healing, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Speed, Superhuman Stamina, Enhanced reflexes and Senses, Superhuman Endurance, Near-Invulnerability, Psionic Resistance, Energy Conversion, Concussive Blasts, Energy Resistance, Poison Resistance

Lucas Bishop was born in a dystopian future where mutants were outlawed by society; he found himself in the present day and joined the X-Men. Bishop can absorb different types of energy, including magic and psychic energy. He can redirect it as a concussive blast or store the energy inside of him, which increases all of his attributes.

There is seemingly no limit to the amount of energy that he can store, the more he has, the more powerful he becomes which is why he has earned the status of an alpha-level mutant.

18 Cable

Greatest Show Of Strength: Breaking The Silver Surfers Surfboard

• First Appearance: New Mutants #86 (December 1989)
• Powers: Telepathy, Psychometry, Illusions, Telepathic Cloak, Mind Link, Telepathic Camouflage, Mind Control, Precognition, Psionic Shield:, Psionic Blasts, Astral Projection, Mental Detection, Telekinesis, Technoactive Manipulation, Intuitive Aptitude, Matter Transmutation, Psionic Spikes, Size Increase, Regeneration and Healing, Force Field, Concussive Blasts, Tactile Telekinesis, Flight, Teleportation, Time Traveling:Techno-Organic Physiology, Superhuman Endurance, Superhuman Speed, Superhuman Agility, Superhuman Dexterity, Cybernetic Eye, Cybernetic Arm, Cybernetic Restoration

Cable is the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor (Jean Grey’s genetic clone) and was infected with a techno-organic virus and sent into the future to be saved. Nathan Summers eventually became the time-traveling soldier known as Cable. He inherited his mother’s powerful telepathic and telekinesis powers and has been shown to hold his own against some of Marvel’s most powerful.

The true limits of Cable’s powers were not showcased in Deadpool 2 but the Ryan Reynolds-led movie did give fans a taste of what the mutant can do. Cable did not find a cure for his virus and instead keeps it at bay using his powers, some may argue that his greatest show of strength is surviving each day against a virus that would kill him if not for his telekinetic powers.

17 Magik

Greatest Show Of Strength: Living And Mastering The Demon Inhabited Dimension Of Limbo

• First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (April 1975)
• Powers: Teleporting through dimensions via ‘stepping discs’, Sorcery

Made popular by Anya Taylor-Joy in the New Mutants movie, Magik is a powerful mutant with the ability to teleport to a dimension known as Limbo. There, she can reappear on earth where or when she chooses. In Limbo, she is the sorcerer supreme and her powers there are limitless.

Magik has shown to be insanely powerful throughout her appearances in the comics, becoming a host of the Phoenix force, going toe-to-toe with Dormmamu and besting the demon Belasco. The same person who kidnapped her and raised her in Limbo.

16 Deadpool

Greatest Show Of Strength: Defeating The Entire Marvel Universe Twice

• First Appearance: New Mutants #98 (December 1990)
• Powers: Healing Factor, Increased Human Attributes

Deadpool is a relatively new character in comic book terms, first appearing in the ’90s, but he has certainly grown to become one of the most popular comic characters. Largely thanks to Ryan Reynolds putting the character correctly into the mainstream.

Although known for his solo work, Deadpool has appeared as a member of the X-Men, the Merc With A Mouth has a healing factor greater than Wolverine’s. Being able to heal himself from a single cell. Wade Wilson has tangled with the strongest foes, defeating Thanos and even outsmarting him by using the infinity gauntlet. Deadpool’s strongest ability is the fact he knows he is in a comic book, which he uses as his greatest weapon.

15 Nightcrawler

Greatest Show Of Strength: Teleporting A Full Moon Back Into Orbit

• First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (April 1975)
• Powers: Teleportation, wall-crawling, flexible bone structure, camouflage, prehensile tail, night vision, superhuman agility, superhuman reflexes

His real name may be Kurt Wagner, but in the Munich circus, he was known as the Amazing Nightcrawler. Wagner possessed superhuman speed and agility, and he was able to teleport almost anywhere. He was perfect for stealth missions and daring rescues.

In the films, Nightcrawler first appears working for Stryker before joining the X-Men after they were able to subdue him. He would help Professor X’s team in the original trilogy. A younger version would appear in later X-Men films, including saving Jean Grey at the beginning of Apocalypse.

14 Colossus

Greatest Show Of Strength: Defeating The Unstoppable Juggernaut

• First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (April 1975)
• Powers: Metal mimicry, superhuman strength, superhuman stamina, superhuman durability, peak human speed

Colossus is a giant of a mutant with enough strength to throw Wolverine around like a rag doll. Colossus was, at times, shown to be capable of lifting up to 100 tons, easily making him one of the physically strongest mutants. In the comics, Colossus can stand toe to toe with The Thing and Hulk.

Two versions of Colossus found their way into movies. In the original trilogy, he was tasked with protecting the kids when Stryker’s crew invaded the school. But in the Deadpool films, he appeared far more comics-accurate even if he really didn’t get time to shine.

13 Beast

Greatest Show Of Strength: Used His Intelligence To Cure The Legacy Virus

• First Appearance: X-Men #1 (July 1963)
• Powers: Genetic atavism, superhuman strength, superhuman speed, superhuman stamina, superhuman durability, superhuman agility, superhuman reflexes, regenerative healing factor, superhuman senses, razor-sharp claws and fangs, genius intelligence

What happens when one of the greatest brains in Marvel also gets muscles, strength, and fur? Dr. Hank McCoy becomes Beast. Debuting in the first issue of X-Men, Beast is the perfect mixture of brawn and brains. He is as smart as Professor Xavier while being as strong as, if not stronger than, Wolverine.

In the films, he starts as just a regular, intelligent human until he takes a serum that he thinks will make him a more valuable member of the team. He does become a more physically valuable member but also turns into a blue, furry beast as well.

12 Cyclops

Greatest Show Of Strength: Became The Phoenix And Held His Own Against Wolverine

• First Appearance: X-Men #1 (July 1963)
• Powers: Optic blast, trajectory bending, spatial awareness, energy resistance

While Cyclops isn’t going to go toe to toe physically with a lot of other mutants, his command of his powers makes him a formidable opponent for any foe. He emits optics blasts through his eyes which can cut through solid material.​​​​​

Much like Iceman, Cyclops was one of the original students of Professor X. His demeanor and command of his powers made him an ideal leader for the earliest iteration of the X-Men.

11 Iceman

Greatest Show Of Strength: Turned Light Itself Into Ice

• First Appearance: X-Men #1 (July 1963)
• Powers: Thermokinesis, cryokinesis, hydrokinesis, molecular moisture conversion, molecular moisture inversion, ice clone generation, cryokinetic perception, cellular replacement

Bobby Drake may not be physically as strong as other members of the X-Men, but he more than makes up for it with his ability to turn anything into ice. In the comics, Iceman was one of the original X-Men, joining the team as a teenager and honing and perfecting his skills. Eventually, he learned how to absorb enough water to make ice clones.

In the films, he is already at the school when Rogue shows up, and he often steps up to help the four main film characters, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Cyclops, and Storm. He’s shown to still be helping the team through the events of Days of Future Past.

10 Storm

Greatest Show Of Strength: Becoming The Goddess Of Thunder

• First Appearance: Giant-Size X-Men #1 (April 1975)
• Powers: Weather manipulation

Much like Iceman, what Storm lacks in physical strength, she makes up for with her ability to control the weather. She can harness any kind of weather event and use it as a weapon. From something as simple as summoning wind to throwing lightning bolts, if it’s connected to weather, Storm is unstoppable.

In the films, Ororoe Munro is mostly sidelined despite these epic powers. She is able to use them to stop Toad in the first film, complete with a terrible pun, but most of the rest of the time, she isn’t allowed to show off her immense powers. Storm is a threat not to be taken lightly.

9 Wolverine

Greatest Show Of Strength: Defeated The Entire X-Men At Once

• First Appearance: Incredible Hulk #180 (July 1974)
• Powers: Regenerative healing factor, retractable claws, superhuman acute senses, superhuman strength, superhuman speed, superhuman stamina, superhuman durability, superhuman agility, superhuman reflexes, animal empathy

Logan is easily the most famous X-Men mutant. He is a skilled fighter with a unique healing ability and extra strength added by the adamantium shell on his skeleton. Wolverine is essentially unkillable, having survived for more than a century. However, he comes up just short in other areas where certain mutants like Professor X, Jean Grey, and Magneto are stronger.

In the films, he is almost always the protagonist, leading the team into battle as he can destroy most objects with his claws. In the second film, he’s shot in the head and still survives. It’s no wonder he was the character given a spinoff trilogy.

8 Magneto

Greatest Show Of Strength: Reversed Earth’s Magnetic Pull

• First Appearance: X-Men #1 (July 1963)
• Powers: Magnetism manipulation, telepathic resistance, astral projection

Although he is most famously known as being the mortal enemy of the X-Men, Max Eisenhardt or Erik Lehnsherr has joined his fellow mutants as a member of the team on many occasions, even becoming headmaster of the school.

As an Omega-Level mutant, he has shown immense strength and a mastery of his abilities, his control of magnetism has been shown to move metal light years away, hold together a celestial, and control the entire magnetic field of the year. With this control of his powers, there are no limits to what he can do. Magneto’s goal is for mutants to be the dominant species on Earth and he will stop at nothing to make that happen.

7 Rogue

Greatest Show Of Strength: Absorbing The Powers Of Every X-Men And Avenger To Take On A Celestial

• First Appearance: Avengers Annual #10 (August 1981)
• Powers: Power, life force, and memory absorption

Rogue is a mutant whose true strength can’t be measured. She can absorb other mutants’ powers just by touching them. That’s on top of her ability to fly and her super physical strength. In the comics, she has proven to be as powerful as Colossus and can destroy Sentinels with a single punch.

In the original X-Men trilogy, Rogue absorbs Wolverine’s mutant healing ability when he accidentally impales her with his claws while having a nightmare. She absorbs his powers and almost kills him in the process. Few mutants can match that kind of power.

6 Vulcan

Greatest Show Of Strength: Strong Enough To Manipulate The Nova Force

• First Appearance: X-Men: Deadly Genesis #1 (November 2005)
• Powers: Energy manipulation, superhuman strength, superhuman durability, psionic resistance

The younger brother of Cyclops and Havoc, Vulcan, is much more powerful than both of them, being an Omega level mutant with unstoppable energy-based powers.

Gabriel Summers was artificially born on the Shi’ar throne world as a pregnant Katherine Summers had the child ripped out of her and artificially aged. He found his way to Earth and eventually joined up with the X-Men, but his first mission went astray, and he found himself adrift in space. He was awakened by M-Day and set out on a quest of vengeance; he destroyed all those who opposed him and claimed the throne of the Shi-ar empire. Vulcan deserves some play as a major X-Men villain on the big screen.

5 Kid Omega

Greatest Show Of Strength: Become The Host Of The Phoenix Force

• First Appearance: New X-Men #134 (November 2002)
• Powers: telepathy, telekineses, psychic intelligence

Quentin Quire is one of the strongest and most powerful telepaths, telekinetics, and psions in the Marvel Universe; he was even powerful enough to become an avatar of the Phoenix force and eventual host.

With psychic powers to rival those of Professor X and Jean Grey, Kid Omega is, as his name suggests, an Omega-level mutant, and his strength is often overlooked due to his young age. As a newer character, he has not been given much play outside the comics, but there is no questioning the power that he has at his disposal.

4 Legion

Greatest Show Of Strength: Creating And Ending The Age Of X

• First Appearance: New Mutants #26 (December 1984)
• Powers: Power manifestation, each personality has a different set of powers.

Legion, David Haller, is the child of Professor Charles Xavier, so there is no wonder that Legion possesses immense power. The level of his strength comes from the fact his powerset is completely unpredictable, which can be very dangerous.

As a sufferer of dissociative identity disorder, Legion’s powers change depending on which personality is present and they are seemingly unlimited. Some of his personalities possess unlimited power. His most famous one is The Legion (Personality 005), who have the power to manipulate time and reality. Arguably the strongest X-Men due to this fact.

3 Darwin

Greatest Show Of Strength: Becoming The Lord Of Death

• First Appearance: X-Men: Deadly Genesis #2 (December 2005)
• Powers: superior adaption

Darwin’s, as his alias suggests, powers are evolution, he can evolve and adapt to anything that is thrown at him, tamer examples are he grows gills when underwater, develops night vision when in the dark, and has fireproof skin when exposed to fire.

There are no limits to what Darwin can survive as his body adapts to anything, he has survived Hela’s death touch and survived in the vacuum of space. Despite being shown as one of the strongest X-men in the comics, he somehow managed to die in X-Men First Class, which was very disappointing for fans, perhaps he will be redeemed in the MCU.

2 Professor Charles Xavier

Greatest Show Of Strength: Defeated The Omega-level Mutant Proteus

• First Appearance: X-Men #1 (July 1963)
• Powers: Telepathy

The man who brought the X-Men together and who lent the first letter of his last name for the name of the team is one of the strongest comic book characters ever. At first glance, he doesn’t look like he would be that powerful, but his telepathy and telekinesis make him stronger than almost every other member of the team.

Professor X can get into people’s minds and speak to them without ever moving his mouth. He can also control other people and use them to communicate with his target. Very few mutants can prevent the Professor from reading or controlling their minds.

1 Jean Gray

Greatest Show Of Strength: Rewrote The Universe In The Future

• First Appearance: X-Men #1 (July 1963)
• Powers: Empathy, telepathy, telekineses, psychic energy manipulation, self resurrection

While early Jean Gray seems to be a simple telepath, her use of the Phoenix Force would turn her into the most powerful member of the X-Men and the most powerful mutant Marvel has ever introduced. As Phoenix, Jean Gray can fly, make force fields, and control other mutants. And, as the Dark Phoenix, these powers are even stronger, making her very lethal.

The films have tried to tackle the Phoenix storyline twice with questionable results. Both X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Dark Phoenix brought this version of Jean Gray to the screens. However, the quality of these stories is left up to the viewer, as some people loved these versions, and others hated them.