The Marvel Cinematic Universe began its journey with a man in a suit in Iron Man. Most of the first chapter of the MCU focused on scientific advancement and heroes on Earth. With the introduction of Thor, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and much later, the Inhumans on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the universe expanded.
Now, there are more than 30 alien species inhabiting the MCU. As the Guardians traveled to different planets, like Xandar, and Thor faced the Contest of Champions on Sakaar, the faces and abilities of the different beings became more colorful and more powerful. There’s quite the range of power when the aliens are examined side by side.
There are only a few species that we’ve omitted from this list, only because we don’t actually know what they are capable of just yet. Beings like Arcturans, Aakons, Easiks, Krylorians, Rainers, Sneepers, and Xeronians are known to fans because of their place in comic book history or supplemental materials for the movies, but we don’t know enough about them to rank them against the power of other species in the case of the MCU versions.
We’ve done our best though and nabbed (almost) Every Alien Species In The MCU, Ranked From Least To Most Powerful.
Honorable Mention: Skrulls
Ever since fans heard the rumor that Skrulls would appear in Captain Marvel, the alien species loomed over the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They will make their MCU debut in Captain Marvel’s movie, but we don’t know how close they will be to their comic book counterparts.
The Skrulls were part of one of the biggest Marvel events: Secret Invasion. As a race of shapeshifters, they had the technology to replace a Skrull’s memories and abilities with those of the person they became. Many heroes were captured and replaced by the Skrulls over years in the comics. We’ll see if the same turns out to be true for the movies.
Xandarians
The residents of Xandar kick off our list with a pretty low placement because they aren’t an innately powerful race. Instead, they’re more like technologically advanced human beings.
Outside of the group developing impressive space travel and containment units for Infinity Stones, we haven’t seen much from them in the way of power. They did provide the homebase for the Nova Corps, but even that peacekeeping force has been all but wiped out. Unlike the others on this list, this group doesn’t exhibit any special powers, so calling them “powerful” would be a stretch.
Sakaarans
The name of this Marvel alien race might not ring any bells, but if you’ve seen any of the MCU movies set in outer space, chances are, you’ve seen a Sakaaran.
Resembling insects, Sakaarans aren’t known for being the most intelligent of the aliens we’ve seen so far. They make up for that in their sheer determination and their ability to follow orders. Most of the time they’ve been on screen, they’ve been doing just that, as soldiers. Sakaarans often work for another alien race, even as members of their army - the Kree. Their home planet also provided the base for the Contest of Champions.
Drax’s Race
No, Drax isn’t the name of an alien species (as far as we know). Drax is, however, an alien whose origin we don’t quite know yet. While he was artificially created in the comics, that doesn’t appear to be true in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
His planetary origin is unspecified, but we do know Drax is incredibly strong and durable. He can survive being digested by an Abilisk and he might even be able to hold his own against a Thanos who doesn’t have the Infinity Stones. No, we don’t really think he can actually become invisible. It’ll be interesting to see if there are anymore beings like Drax lurking in the MCU.
Luphomoid
The only Luphomoid Marvel fans met in the movies (so far) is Nebula. Noticeable because of the blue hue of their skin, they aren’t to be confused with Centaurians or Kree.
Nebula is an extremely skilled and strong individual. From the comics, we know strength is something inherent in the Luphomoid DNA. Most of Nebula’s other traits, like putting her bones back into place and withstanding serious falls, are a result of Thanos “enhancing” her to be a better fighter. She is the last of her kind in the comics, so it’s unlikely we’ll see more Luphomoids in the movies to learn more of their skills.
Vrellnexians
Inspired by an obscure comic book race of beings, the Vrellnexians appeared in the fifth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. with a different look. They looked more like monsters kids would fear than the “roaches” that gave them their nickname.
Weakened by human-wielded weapons, these insect-like creatures still packed quite the punch. Incredibly fast and able to climb up smooth surfaces, they existed in a sealed off section of a space station because they dried out their prey like spiders. They also overran the Earth in a post-apocalyptic future. It’s their large numbers that gave them the advantage though.
Lem
Like many of the alien species in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we only see one example of the Lem. This one comes to the audience as a member of the Ravagers in the Guardians of the Galaxy series.
Unlike most of the other members of this list, the Lem actually exhibits some real “power” in the form of magic. Like Doctor Strange, this being is able to access sorcery and draw his spells in midair. We don’t know exactly how powerful his magical abilities are, though, which is why we haven’t placed him higher on the list.
Rocket’s race
Known in the comics as a Halfworlder, Rocket was artificially created. While some of his origin story might be true for the MCU as well, we don’t know just how much yet. We’ll consider Rocket-Not-A-Raccoon as a whole new alien species (for the time being) as a result.
As one of the smallest aliens we see in the franchise, and one who doesn’t have any superpowers, Rocket might not seem all that powerful at first glance. He can master just about any weapon or spacecraft, though, he’s quick on his feet, and he’s an effective fighter, so we can’t count him out.
Zehoberei
Fans got a brief glimpse of the Zehoberei on their home planet during the events of Avengers: Infinity War. They appeared in a flashback sequence of Gamora’s childhood with good reason: Gamora is likely the last of her people.
The Zehoberei seemed like a primarily peaceful people, but Thanos’ followers made quick work of them. Gamora shows us the potential the species had for strength, speed, and skill. In fact, in the comics, her strength and speed are the result of biology rather than training by Thanos. Given Gamora’s ability to best her comrades like Nebula and Rocket, it seems like a good idea to rank her people a bit higher.
Chronicoms
As a synthetic race of beings, the Chronicoms are more like robots, but they do have an artificial intelligence system that allows them to learn and grow rather than simply perform the same tasks over and over. They’re powerful enough to travel from their distant star system all the way to Earth, and resourceful enough to blend in.
Chronicoms perform the role of anthropologists for the universe. Their role is to observe and record information about different species. Enoch of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. got to play a more active role for the human race, as he helped Fitz find a way to survive traveling to the future to help save his friends and prevent a catastrophe.
Watchers
The Watchers, as their name implies, are very good at observation. In fact, they are very similar to Chronicoms in that they aren’t supposed to interfere - at least, that’s the rule in the comics.
For the MCU, we’ve only seen them once so far. The group appeared in a credit scene with Stan Lee for a cameo. He told them about some of his adventures while they sat on a rock somewhere in space. The Watchers remained silent and imposing, so we don’t know exactly what their power in the movies involves. If they’re anything like their comic book counterparts, though, if they decide to do more than observe life, everyone better watch out.
Kronans
Kronans look like piles of rocks, and they are just as tough. Fans might think they got their first introduction to the beings in Thor: Ragnarok, as Korg befriended the title character, but that’s not actually true.
One very large Kronan appeared in the first Thor movie during the sequence demonstrating Thor’s prowess on the battlefield. The Warriors Three backed off from the fight, allowing Thor to use Mjolnir to take the enemy on. That’s quite the formidable opponent if it takes a god-like weapon to stop him in his tracks.
Chitauri
As the first of several armies the heroes of the MCU face, the Chitauri appear in The Avengers when an Infinity Stone opens a portal to space above Tony Stark’s building. Acting like a nameless, faceless horde of enemies from any action movie, the Chitauri are actually more powerful than you’d think.
Not only are they intelligent enough to create a means of space travel, but they’ve also developed enough weapons (and have control of large animals) that allow them to mount an invasion force. Their technology is so advanced it becomes a hot button issue in the MCU, informing criminal activities on both Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Xartans
A rather obscure creation for Marvel comics, the Xartans are getting new life in the MCU thanks to the Hulu series Runaways. The alien being fixated on Karolina Dean in season two, Xavin, hails from Xartan.
Xavin has some pretty interesting abilities so far. In addition to being able to shapeshift (she takes turns as Karolina, Gert, and Nico while living with the Runaways), Xavin can also “beam” images into someone’s brain. It provides for a nifty, if invasive, way for her to tell a story. She lands close to the middle of the pack here only because we haven’t seen much of her power in use just yet.
Dark Elves
As one of the oldest species in the universe, Dark Elves have an incredibly long lifespan. We know they can live for at least 5,000 years thanks to the reappearance of Malekith in Thor: The Dark World after a skirmish with Asgard thousands of years before the events of the movie.
Not only do some of the Dark Elves have the ability to use magic, but they are also incredibly strong and agile. They can go toe to toe with an Asgardian (though perhaps not Thor) and live to tell the tale.
Gibborim
When fans first began watching Marvel’s Runaways, they might have believed the Church of Gibborim was simply a nice comic book Easter egg to the giants that gave PRIDE their influence and wealth. Instead, though, it appears the series has used the Gibborim name to describe the beings that are Karolina Dean’s family.
Karolina’s mother is human, but her father is one of the Gibborim. The Gibborim are beings of light, which might not sound particularly powerful, but think again. They can inhabit host bodies and manipulate the spectrum of light in various ways. Those ways involve accelerating healing, laser beams, flares, and flight.
Centaurians
We don’t know why so many of the aliens that frequent the MCU have blue skin, but the Centaurians, like the Luphomoids and the Kree, do as well. The most visible is Yondu, the space-pirate and leader of the Ravagers.
Because he’s our primary example of a Centaurian, much of what we know about the species comes from him. He’s strong, though not super strong like an Asgardian. Where his power comes in is in the form of his specialty weapons. Yaka arrows (the ones that obey whistled commands) were created and used by the Centaurians. He took out a whole battlefield with just one.
Frost Giants
Larger than the average humanoid and with a penchant for cold, this group earned the name “Frost Giants” from the Asgardians. Yet another species with blue skin and super strength, they seek to stand out from the rest.
The Frost Giants attempted to conquer Earth and invade Asgard a few times. Their stamina, strength, and lives that last thousands of years aided them in their quest, but they never found themselves victorious. One notable member of the group? That would be Loki, though his magic doesn’t come from his connection to his Frost Giant father Laufey. The most “magic” we’ve seen from Frost Giants is their ability to manipulate ice into weapons.
The Vanir
The Vanir live not far from Asgard and have extremely close ties to the Asgardian people. Take Hogun, for example. He travelled to Asgard and decided to stay, becoming one of the Warriors Three and doing his part to protect the realm.
Despite having similar strength and stamina to the Asgardians and the Frost Giants, the Vanir don’t rank as high here as Asgardians themselves. Why? Because Asgardians have shown the ability to manipulate magic and other elements. The Vanir appear to be a less magically inclined, or even technologically inclined, people. They rely on Asgard for protection and continue to make their homes in yurts in the woods.
The Sovereign
Created specifically for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the Sovereign are modeled after the comic book scientists who created the character Adam Warlock. They operate under the idea that they are superior to everyone else, and they nearly have the technology to prove it.
Everyone in the Sovereign is created by genetic design with no births occurring “naturally.” This provides for a race of people with gold skin and seemingly the same levels of intelligence, strength, and agility. They are a fearsome people, but mostly because they have numbers on their side. When their resources and population are depleted, they aren’t quite as powerful.
