Summary

TheMarvel Cinematic Universehas seen its heroes fight battles against all style of antagonists , and the franchise has established a issue of rules to follow so as to hold up an skirmish with a villain . Since the origination of the MCU , the franchise has introduced a wealth of characters adapted from the stories of Marvel Comics . key to most comic book narrative – and therefore also themovies of the MCU- is the struggle between good and evil ; between a hero and a villain . However , with so many potent and life-threatening antagonist , it ’s become unmortgaged that fighter may not always survive these battles .

When take care close at the many different social function that a hero and baddie have confront off in the MCU , a model of rule begins to take shape . TheMCU flick timelinehas established a handful of tenets for subsist an encounter with a powerful baddie , with each installment in the franchise offering up a potential object lesson about how such battles can be bring home the bacon ( or at least survived ) . With that in mind , here are 10 rule for last an MCU scoundrel that have become clean-cut over the first 33 movie in the franchise .

10Earn Their Respect

Thanos vs Iron Man - Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The stop ofAvengers : eternity Warsaw Thanos defeat the Avengers and use the Infinity Gauntlet to defeat one-half of all life in the existence . However , over the course of the Infinity Saga , Tony Stark had proven a repeat thorn in the Mad Titan ’s side , from the events ofThe Avengersall the direction through to their conflict on Titan inInfinity War . This pick up Thanos opt to leave Stark animated , even after beat up Iron Man in their competitiveness , becauseIron Man had realise the regard of the villain for his resource and pertinacity . Even though the villain won on that occasion , Iron Man live to fight down another day .

9Hide

Kraglin In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Though Kraglin may not be the most important hero among thecast ofGuardians of the Galaxy Vol . 3 , he actually demonstrated a novel proficiency for surviving an encounter with a powerful adversary . WhenAdam Warlock assault the Guardians on Knowhere , Kraglin choose to hidefrom the brawny Sovereign being rather than face him direct on . Even after unlocking the power of Yondu ’s arrow to attack Warlock , Kraglin hides , managing to keep off a trouncing when the weapon has no effect . It may be a cowardly tactics , but it sure as shooting prevented Kraglin from getting injured or killed during Adam Warlock ’s attack .

8Go To The Boss

She-Hulk vs HulkKing - She-Hulk (2022)

She - giant : Attorney at Lawintroduced a fresh and interesting dynamic to theTV shows of the MCU , with the titulary sub regularly breaking the fourth paries in line with her risible leger appearances . The ego - aware nature of the show consider the eponymous Cuban sandwich adopt an interesting approach to her showdown with HulkKing . Rather than front the villain with heftiness , She - Hulk rather used her brains , climbing out of the show and going flat to see KEVIN , the AI supposedly in tutelage of Marvel Studios . After complain to the boss about the end of her show , She - Hulk is able-bodied to dissolve everythingwithout an troy ounce of bloodshed .

7Be Willing To Break Your Own Bones

Black Widow vs Dreykov - Black Widow (2021)

Black Widowsaw the MCU finally explore the entrancing backstory of Natasha Romanoff , explaining the nature of the conditioning require in her education and the horrific conditions she was recruit in . The write up ’s epic conclusion sees Romanoff confront her former headmaster Dreykov , who is protect from harm by the pheromone - based conditioning he subjugate Natasha to . However , for defeat the villain , Black Widow ’s endingsees the herobreak her own olfactory organ to override the conditioning , allowing her to at last confront the man who tormented her for eld . It ’s a powerfully symbolic act , bear witness exactly how much Romanoff was willing to suffer to stop Dreykov .

6Keep Your Emotions In Check

Shang-Chi vs The Mandarin - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Shang - Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringssaw the titular hoagie look off against his own father , Xu Wenwu , the Mandarin . The dyad ’s showdown first end with Wenwu killing his son , only for the wedge to be revive by the Great Protector . Their subsequent fight sees Shang - Chi finally make headway the upper hand over his father , only to learn that all alongthe villain had been manipulate by the Dweller - in - dark using the emotional leverage of Wenwu ’s late wife . The moral to be learned is to keep a grip on emotional situation , particularly where family involve , as fail to do so was what ultimately led to Wenwu ’s dying .

5Level The Playing Field

Doctor Strange vs Scarlet Witch - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesshosted one of the MCU ’s most substantial villain turns , with Wanda Maximoff using the great power of the Darkhold to become the Scarlet Witch . Faced with the simple fact that he could n’t match Wanda ’s power , DoctorStrange chose to apply the Darkhold himself to level the playing field . Though he adventure becoming corrupt by the Darkhold , he knew that it was his only hope of stopping the scoundrel , and opted to do so no matter the price .

4Hold Nothing Back

Captain Marvel vs Yon-Rogg - Captain Marvel (2019)

Captain Marveltold the origins of the titulary Cuban sandwich , with Carol Danvers manipulated by the Kree into doing their command . After learn the unfeigned intention of her wise man Yon - Rogg , she face him again , having never been able to overcome him without using her baron . Before they face off , he ride her , challenging her to beat him without using her abilities . Realizing she nothing to shew , Captain Marvel chooses to hold nothing back , blasting him with her cosmic power and easily winning their combat – in other words , using everything at her disposal to bar the scoundrel and inhabit to press another day .

3Don’t Be Afraid To Call In Someone Bigger

Thor vs Hela - Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Pride often proves the downfall of heroes , as they commonly have such huge great power that it ’s difficult to work on being ineffectual to overcome an opposition . Thor : Ragnaroksees the God of Thunder learn exactly that , when his sis Hela enslaves Asgard and proves herself the stronger sib . However , Thor ’s contingence design involve institute in Surtur to ruin Asgard and Hela with it , calling in an even freehanded and strong entity to win the battle for him . Though it ultimately cost him his home , it allowed Thor and his fellow Asgardians to survive .

2Persistence Is Key

Doctor Strange vs Dormammu - Doctor Strange (2016)

Doctor Strange is one of the MCU ’s most powerful magical users , and his rapid ascendancy through the ranks of sorcerers shows how capable he is . However , when come up against Dormammu , Strange had no obvious means of make headway . Instead , Doctor Strange trapped Dormammu in a time grommet and allowed the baddie to shoot down him repeatedly , effectively boring the opponent into relenting . By turn down to give up in the font of defeat again and again , Strange eventually survived the conflict through sheer force of will alone , proving that persistence can help a hero win any battle .

1If In Doubt, Just SMASH!

Hulk vs Loki - The Avengers (2012)

Back in Phase 1 of the MCU , Hulk was n’t the smartest hero in the franchise . However , when coming up on Loki armed with the Mind Stone , Hulk was still able to find a way to win : he plainly picked Loki up and break him . Facing a muscular and sound villain capable of all manner of tricks , Hulk just play to his own strengths , proving that good honest-to-god - fashioned muscle is often enough . It ’s one of the most memorable moments in theMarvel Cinematic Universeto this day for its comedic qualities , but it ’s also a lesson on surviving a battle with a villain , too .

Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter fighting in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Gorr at the Altar of Eternity in Thor Love and Thunder

Nextwave team

Chris Evans as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame and Josh Brolin as Thanos looking shocked in Avengers: Infinity War

Sean Gunn as Kraglin looking concerned after dramatic developments in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3

Black Widow standing during the confrontation with Dreykov in his office in Black Widow

Shang-Chi fights Wenwu with the Ten Rings

Jude Law as Yon-Rogg facing off with Brie Larson as Captain Marvel in the MCU

Surtur destroying Asgard in Thor Ragnarok

Doctor Strange fights Dormammu in the Dark Dimension

Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk smashing Tom Hiddleston’s Loki in The Avengers (2012)

Marvel Cinematic Universe