The Overlooked Most Powerful Guardian of the Galaxy Revealed

Even eight years since joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe through the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, I firmly believe that the team’s most formidable member continues to be underestimated. With no official announcement of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4” from Marvel Studios, fans are using this pause in their MCU presence as a chance to revisit their past adventures. Given that the Guardians have been a part of the MCU since Phase Two of the Infinity Saga, their extensive history provides ample material for reflection.

While the freshly assembled Guardians of the Galaxy squad promises thrill, it’s essential to acknowledge why the original team was adored by fans. Not only did the three movies earn a spot among Marvel Cinematic Universe’s top trilogies, but their endearing personalities, unbreakable family ties, and impressive abilities kept viewers hooked for nearly a decade from the debut of Guardians of the Galaxy to the anticipated release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. When it comes to their powers, I firmly believe that one member of the team often goes unnoticed as one of the MCU’s most powerful entities.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Team Has Some Majorly Powerful Members In The Movie Trilogy

Some Of The MCU’s Strongest Heroes Come From The Guardians

Throughout the three films of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series, some extraordinarily potent heroes have graced the team. Star-Lord, having been brought up by the Ravagers, demonstrates a multitude of skills, and this is excluding his Celestial powers, which were unveiled in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.” Groot, another formidable member, has shown his strength through protecting the team from a colossal spaceship wreck in the initial film, regenerating as a sapling, and maturing to craft the mighty weapon called Stormbreaker.

Characters such as Gamora, Nebula, Drax, and Rocket are formidable assassins and warriors within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their might isn’t always on par with other characters mentioned, but they make up for it with their skills. Rocket, in particular, relies more on his sharp intellect and weapon expertise rather than raw physical strength. However, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 introduced Adam Warlock as a team member, who is renowned for his immense power in both the MCU and comics, making him one of the strongest heroes across the universe. Clearly, the Guardians have never been short on brute force.

Mantis’ Power Level Is Way Higher Than It Might Initially Appear

Mantis Has Some Incredible Feats Of Strength In The MCU

Although many formidable heroes have graced the Guardians’ roster throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), I strongly contend that Mantis may be the most potent among them. Yet, she is frequently underestimated as a powerful team member, with her fellow guardians receiving more recognition than her. However, Mantis has demonstrated remarkable power in the MCU, not just in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy but also in other films such as “Avengers: Infinity War.

Among the impressive accomplishments, we find instances such as putting powerful antagonists like Ego from “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and Thanos in “Avengers: Infinity War” to sleep. Both Ego and Thanos are formidable adversaries within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it’s likely that without Mantis, they might not have been subdued as effortlessly. The initial strategy by the Guardians to overcome Ego heavily relied on Mantis’ unique ability to keep him asleep. However, it was only when Peter Quill unleashed his Celestial powers that this plan shifted.

Regarding Thanos, some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s mightiest heroes such as Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain Marvel, and Thor couldn’t stop the Mad Titan during his reign. However, in “Avengers: Infinity War”, Mantis managed to restrain Thanos temporarily, allowing others to take off the Infinity Gauntlet. Had it not been for Star-Lord’s emotional outburst, Mantis could have played a crucial role in defeating Thanos with less bloodshed than was ultimately required.

The MCU Has A Secret Reason For Mantis’ Powers Being Overlooked

The Hero Would Be Too Overpowered Otherwise

Although Mantis demonstrates impressive abilities within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she is frequently underrated compared to other potential top heroes such as Scarlet Witch, Thor, Captain Marvel, and Doctor Strange. However, there is a purpose behind this in the MCU. To put it simply, Mantis’ powers might knock out most villains too easily, resulting in battles and films concluding more swiftly than desired for engaging storytelling. In other words, her abilities had to be toned down for narrative reasons.

To prevent Mantis from becoming a plot device that solves problems conveniently, the Marvel Cinematic Universe established a code of ethics for her to limit her use of her powers on people. While there were instances, such as against Ego and Thanos, where it was necessary to bend these rules, they kept Mantis integrated with the Guardians without making their enemies too easily manipulated and guaranteeing an easy victory every time. In essence, the films portray Mantis’ extraordinary abilities in a way that serves the narrative rather than overshadowing it.

2025-06-06 17:49