Ranking the most powerful characters in Marvel Earth-616. I will be updating this. Looking for feedback: Who am I missing? Do you agree with the ordering? What key battles should be here [issue numbers]?
- One-Above-All [Multiverse]
- Heart of the Universe
- Living Tribunal
- Infinites [Cosmic Beings]
- Phoenix Force
- Enigma Force
- Abraxas [Multiverse]
- Cosmic Pantheon of Abstract Forces: Infinity [Entity] [Earth-616], Oblivion [Earth-616], Death [Cosmic Entity], Eternity [Earth-616]
- Franklin Richards [Earth-616]
- Celestials
- Extremely Powerful Mystical Beings: Vishanti, Octessence, Shuma-Gorath [Earth-616], Zom [Earth-616]
- Galactus [Earth-616]
- In-Betweener [Earth-616]
- Scrier [Cosmic Being] [Earth-616]
- Watchers
- He Who Remains
- Time-Keepers
- Cosmic Cube: Shaper of Worlds [Earth-616], Kubik [Earth-616]
- Stranger [Cosmic Being] [Earth-616]
- Demiurge [Earth-616]
- Atum [Earth-616] [Demogorge]
- Dormammu [Earth-616], Umar [Earth-616]
- Other Elder Gods
- Odin Borson [Earth-616], Zeus Panhellenios [Earth-616]
- Mephisto [Earth-616], Other Hell Lords, Nightmare [Earth-616]
- Other Godheads [See, for example Council of Godheads [Earth-616]]
- Entities with abilities that potentially reach the Multiverse: Thomas Lightner [Earth-616] [as Nth Man], James Jaspers [Earth-616], Merlyn [Otherworld], Roma [Earth-616]
- Weaker Entities with Ability to affect Reality: Job Burke [Earth-616], Rex Randolph [Earth-616]
- Lesser Abstract Forces: Lord Chaos [Earth-616] / Master Order [Earth-616], Seven Friendless, Unbeing [Earth-616], Origin [Earth-616], Sire Hate [Earth-616], Mistress Love [Earth-616]
Work in progress...
| Name | Powers / Key Victories | Weaknesses / Key Defeats |
| One-Above-All [Multiverse] | Responsible for the existence of all life in the Multiverse and possibly beyond. [1] | None. |
| Heart of the Universe | Thanos used its power to defeat the Living Tribunal [2]. | |
| Living Tribunal | Absolute power over the multiverse. | Defeated by Thanos with Heart of the Universe [2]; Possibly killed. [3] |
| Infinites [Cosmic Beings] | Captured Eternity. [4] | |
| Phoenix Force | Universe altering powers. See, for example, Jean Grey. | Team of Avengers and X-Men [5]; Defeated by Cyttorak in his own dimension. [6] |
| Enigma Force | An aspect of which is the uni-power, manifesting itself as the guardian and protector of Eternity. See, for example, Uni-Power Hosts. | |
| Abraxas [Multiverse] | Antithesis to the cosmic entity Eternity [Earth-616]; Defeats Uatu [Earth-616]. [7] | Defeated by Mr. Fantastic with the Ultimate Nullifier. [8] |
| Cosmic Pantheon of Abstract Forces | ||
| * Infinity [Entity] [Earth-616] | Empowered Quasar to defeat Maelstrom. [9] | |
| * Oblivion [Earth-616] | An aspect of Oblivions power manifested itself as the Chaos King [10] and Maelstrom. [9] | |
| * Death [Cosmic Entity] | Apparently, chased out of realm by the Chaos King [Oblivion]. [11] | |
| * Eternity [Earth-616] | Captured by Infinites, [4] and Nightmare. [12] | |
| Franklin Richards [Earth-616] | As an adult, defeated two Celestials [13], and as a child, easily defeated Mephisto in Mephisto's Realm. [14] Immortal. [15] | |
| Celestials | Unaffected by attack from Odin, Zeus, and Vishnu. [16] | Defeated by Franklin Richards. [13] |
| Extremely Powerful Mystical Beings | ||
| * Vishanti | Summoned the Living Tribunal. | Unable to defeat Shuma-Gorath. |
| * Octessence | Cyttorak [Earth-616] resisted the Phoenix Force in his own dimension. [6] | |
| * Shuma-Gorath [Earth-616] | Unable to defeat Vishanti. | |
| * Zom [Earth-616] | Power said to far exceeds Umar. [17] | Defeated by Living Tribunal. [18] |
| Galactus [Earth-616] | ||
| In-Betweener [Earth-616] | Can alter reality on a cosmic scale. Almost defeated Galactus. [19] | Agent of Lord Chaos / Master Order, presumably subjugated by them. [20] |
| Scrier [Cosmic Being] [Earth-616] | Defeated Mephisto [Earth-616]. [21] | |
| Watchers | Alternate reality Watcher is killed by Marquis of Death. [22] | |
| He Who Remains | ||
| Time-Keepers | ||
| Cosmic Cube: Shaper of Worlds [Earth-616], Kubik [Earth-616] | ||
| Stranger [Cosmic Being] [Earth-616] | ||
| Demiurge [Earth-616] | Uses power to defeat Demogorge. [23] | |
| Atum [Earth-616] [Demogorge] | Demogorge killed many demons and Elder Gods , except Chthon and Set, who escaped. [23] | Defeated by power from Demiurge. [23] |
| Dormammu [Earth-616], Umar [Earth-616] | Combined tampered with the powers of Eternity. [24]. Imprisoned Gaea. [25] Dormammu defeats Phoenix Force powered Giraud, among other heroes. [26] | Defeated by Eternity. [27] Dormammu defeated by Magik. [28] |
| Other Elder Gods | Defeated by Demogorge. [23] | |
| Odin Borson [Earth-616] | Takes a soul away form [[Mephisto [Earth-616]]|Mephisto]]. [29] Defeated the Cosmic Control Rod wielding Annihilus [30] | |
| Zeus Panhellenios [Earth-616] | Defeated by Chaos King [aspect of Oblivion]. [11] | |
| Mephisto [Earth-616] | Defeated in Mephisto's Realm by child Franklin Richards. [14] Soul taken away by Odin Borson [Earth-616]. [29] | |
| Nightmare [Earth-616] | Captured Eternity. [12] | |
| Other Hell Lords | ||
| Other Godheads [See, for example Council of Godheads [Earth-616]] | ||
| Entities with abilities that potentially reach the Multiverse | ||
| * Thomas Lightner [Earth-616] [as Nth Man] | ||
| * James Jaspers [Earth-616] | ||
| * Merlyn [Otherworld] | ||
| * Roma [Earth-616] | ||
| Weaker Entities with Ability to affect Reality | ||
| * Job Burke [Earth-616] | ||
| * Rex Randolph [Earth-616] | ||
| Lesser Abstract Forces: | ||
| * Lord Chaos [Earth-616] / Master Order [Earth-616] | Must obey Eternity [Earth-616] and Infinity [Entity] [Earth-616]. | |
| * Seven Friendless | ||
| * Unbeing [Earth-616] | ||
| * Origin [Earth-616] | ||
| * Sire Hate [Earth-616] | ||
| * Mistress Love [Earth-616] |
I'm trying to make a more complete list than this, using it as a starting point.
- Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #6
- 2.0 2.1 Marvel Universe: The End #6
- New Avengers Vol 3 #8
- 4.0 4.1 Avengers: Infinity #4
- Avengers vs. X-Men #12
- 6.0 6.1 Uncanny X-Men Vol 2 #15
- Fantastic Four Annual #2001
- Fantastic Four Vol 3 #49
- 9.0 9.1 Quasar #25
- Mighty Thor Annual #1
- 11.0 11.1 Chaos War #2
- 12.0 12.1 Doctor Strange #182
- 13.0 13.1 FF #13
- 14.0 14.1 Fantastic Four #277
- FF #16
- Thor #300
- Strange Tales 156
- Strange Tales #157
- Silver Surfer Vol 3 #17
- Silver Surfer Vol 3 #18
- Silver Surfer Vol 3 #136
- Fantastic Four #566
- 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Thor Annual #10
- Defenders Vol 3 #3
- Doctor Strange Vol 2 #6
- Guardians of the Galaxy #34
- Strange Tales #146
- Uncanny X-Men Vol 3 #6
- 29.0 29.1 Thunderstrike #15
- Thor #405