Few battles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have left as strong an impression as the brief but powerful confrontation between Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, and Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. For a moment, it seemed as though Wanda alone could defeat the Mad Titan, forcing him into a desperate position. But could she have truly won the battle without help?
In Avengers: Endgame, Wanda Maximoff overpowered the Mad Titan, forcing him into a desperate retreat. Without the Infinity Stones, Thanos struggled against her Chaos Magic. Had she fully unlocked her potential, she could have defeated him outright, proving she’s one of the MCU’s strongest heroes.
In this deep dive, we explore Wanda Maximoff’s immense abilities, the tactical prowess of Thanos, and whether she had the power to defeat him single-handedly.
The Scarlet Witch’s Power Level
Wanda Maximoff’s powers originated from her exposure to the Mind Stone, which enhanced her latent abilities and granted her telekinesis, energy manipulation, and mind control. However, WandaVision later reveals that she had inherent magical abilities from birth, which were amplified by the Infinity Stone. By the time she fully embraces her identity as the Scarlet Witch, she surpasses most Avengers in raw power.
Her abilities include:
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Chaos Magic: The ability to manipulate reality itself, which she fully realises in WandaVision and later refines in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
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Telekinesis: Powerful enough to lift and throw massive objects, restrain Thanos, and even crush Vibranium-based structures effortlessly.
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Energy Manipulation: Allowing her to project deadly blasts, create force fields, and disintegrate enemies with concentrated energy.
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Mind Manipulation: As seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron, she can invade minds, create illusions, and manipulate her opponents' perception of reality.
By the time we see her in Endgame, Wanda has significantly grown in power. Her mastery over Chaos Magic, which she later refines in WandaVision, puts her in a category far beyond most superheroes. Her transformation into the Scarlet Witch marks her as a cosmic-level entity capable of reshaping reality, rivaling even the strongest beings in the MCU.
Wanda vs Thanos: A Breakdown of Their Fights
Infinity War: Wanda Holds Her Own
In Avengers: Infinity War, Wanda already proves herself formidable. Despite having to divide her attention between Vision and the approaching Black Order, she manages to hold back Thanos while simultaneously destroying the Mind Stone. Few heroes could manage such a feat under similar pressure.
However, Thanos ultimately defeats her, using the Time Stone to reverse Vision’s destruction, showcasing the overwhelming advantage provided by the Infinity Gauntlet.
Endgame: Wanda’s True Power is Revealed
By Avengers: Endgame, Wanda is no longer holding back. In one of the most defining moments of the battle, she single-handedly overpowers Thanos, lifting and crushing him with raw force. The Mad Titan, despite being an expert combatant, is helpless in her grip and is forced to call for an airstrike to escape—an act of desperation that speaks volumes about Wanda’s strength.
This moment raises a major question: if not for Thanos’ last-minute strategy, could Wanda have finished him off?
The full extent of Wanda’s power is later demonstrated in WandaVision, where she creates an entire alternate reality, reshaping a town and resurrecting Vision through sheer force of will. This proves that had she fully tapped into her Scarlet Witch abilities during Endgame, she might have obliterated Thanos effortlessly. Her ability to warp reality, manipulate minds, and unleash devastating magical attacks suggests that she was already one of the MCU’s most powerful figures, even before embracing her true potential.
Could Wanda Have Defeated Thanos Alone?
To answer this, we must consider several key factors:
1. Wanda’s Control Over Chaos Magic
In Endgame, Wanda’s abilities are impressive, but she has not yet unlocked her full potential. By WandaVision, she becomes the Scarlet Witch, an entity foretold to be more powerful than the Sorcerer Supreme. Had she reached this level of power earlier, she might have dismantled Thanos with ease.
2. Thanos Without the Infinity Stones
Thanos’ strength comes from two main sources: his own physical prowess and the Infinity Gauntlet. When fighting Wanda in Endgame, he does not have any of the Infinity Stones, meaning he is reliant solely on his own combat ability and weaponry. Despite his formidable nature, the fact that he resorted to calling for reinforcements suggests Wanda could have won in a one-on-one duel.
3. Strategic Considerations
Thanos is not just a brute force villain; he is a tactician who has bested entire planets through strategy. In a prolonged battle, he may have found a way to counter Wanda’s abilities, perhaps using advanced weaponry or psychological tactics. While Wanda has immense power, she lacks the combat experience and tactical mind that Thanos possesses.
The Role of the Infinity Stones
Had Thanos been in possession of the Infinity Stones, the battle would have been vastly different. The Gauntlet grants him control over time, space, and reality itself. Even Wanda’s powerful abilities might not have been enough to overcome such a cosmic advantage.
However, if Wanda had reached her full Scarlet Witch potential (as seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), she might have countered even the Infinity Stones. In the comics, her reality-warping abilities have rewritten existence itself, meaning that, at her peak, she could theoretically neutralise Thanos’ power.
Conclusion: Who Would Win?
So, could Wanda have defeated Thanos alone? The answer depends on several variables:
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At her Endgame power level: She had a strong chance but might have struggled against Thanos’ experience and physical durability.
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With her WandaVision Chaos Magic unlocked: She would likely have been powerful enough to defeat Thanos with ease.
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Against a fully equipped Thanos with the Infinity Gauntlet: This would be a more challenging battle, but a fully realised Scarlet Witch might still have the upper hand.
Ultimately, the MCU strongly suggests that Wanda was among the most powerful beings in existence. If she had been given more time to hone her abilities before Endgame, she very well could have defeated Thanos alone—sealing her place as the true powerhouse of the Avengers.
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