What are Thanos's Powers?

[Darkshadow]

No Cosmic Cube. No Infinity gems (stones). What is Thanos capable of with no universal level enhancements?

He would seem to be capable of vast, inherent physical strength, and I guess he can project energy bolts of unknown origin. He also seems to have an inherent level of cosmic knowledge.

How does one differentiate his inherent Deviant powers from his artificially enhanced power? And what makes him such a universal threat? Surely there are more capable threats than the perpetual comic book seller?

[PhoenixThanos]

Thanos has cosmic powers able to shoot beams from his hands though I have seen him shoot beams from his eyes as well, he is very powerful in strength above both Thor and Hulk level, he also has telepathic powers and can teleport.
I feel it his more his knowledge that makes Thanos such a threat.

[Darkshadow]

Thanos has cosmic powers able to shoot beams from his hands though I have seen him shoot beams from his eyes as well, he is very powerful in strength above both Thor and Hulk level, he also has telepathic powers and can teleport.
I feel it his more his knowledge that makes Thanos such a threat.

I'm not sure he has power above Hulk, but rather better tactical skill than a deranged Hulk. His teleportation ability is a function of his "Chair", not his physical ability.

Thanos is a Reed Richards level genius, but other than his te⁹leportation chair, whats it done for him?

[Jabare]

I question what Reed Richards level genius means these days.

Thanos should be above Hulk. Creatively, there is nothing wrong with villains outclassing heroes. I know over the years Hulk has become this unbeatable behemoth that can just overpower anyone if he's angry enough

Thanos can shoot energy beams from his hands, despite some writers forgeting this or just going for MCU synergy.

[xcoijoi]

Supergenius with a multiversal knowledgebase of facts. Physically, except in the mcu, can handle the stress of Infinity Gauntlets, or the Heart of the Universe. Can hold off Galactus, at least for a few moments.

[Jabare]

woah woah woah, maybe a very hungry and weakened Galactus

[mace11]

Thanos (Earth-616)

Powergrid

Intelligence -6
Strength -7
Speed - 3/7 -Teleporter
Durability -6
Energy Projection -6
Fighting Skills -4

Powers

Titanian Eternal Physiology: By far the strongest and most powerful Eternal from Titan, Thanos is a superhuman mutant whose massive, heavy-bodied form was born with the capacity to synthesize cosmic energy for certain personal uses. The mad titan has increased his powers through bionic amplification, mystical enhancement and as a result of being resurrected by Death itself. He was deemed a Category 1 Life Ender by the Nova Corps, to have an "universal" threat level and to have been a one-time reality ender.Being seemingly categorized as a Cosmic-level threat, being sent by the Shi'ar Imperial Guard to the core cell of a galactic gulag.



Superhuman Strength: Thanos possesses vast superhuman strength the full limits of which aren't known. Death has increased his strength beyond their original limits to levels rivaling or surpassing those of the physically strongest Eternals. He has proven capable of fighting Thor even when Thor had the Power Gem. His strength is so vast that he has been able to defeat the likes of the Silver Surfer, punch away an attacking Hulk,physically subduing with ease Beta Ray Bill and Ronan the Accuser (as well as casually breaking apart the latter's Universal Weapon) and, most impressively, tango with the mighty Tyrant. He was also able to beat in melee fight the Hulk power-enhanced Annihilus. Thanos can also augment his strength with his cosmic energy when needed.Thanos was also able to lift the Galactus Engine and recover it from the depths of Ego the Living Planet, destroy a planet in a battle with Drax (in his first incarnation), he was even able to fight hand-to-hand with a Phoenix Force empowered Thane with amped with the God Quarry. Thanos punched Thane into the planet they were fighting above and destroyed it by charging through him.


Superhuman Agility: Despite his great size, Thanos' agility, balance, and bodily coordination are enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete. His agility is roughly equal to that of the average Eternal.He was able to dodge a Power Gem enhanced Champion of the Universe.

Superhuman Reflexes: Thanos' reaction time is enhanced to a level that is beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete. Like his agility, his reflexes are about average for an Eternal.


Superhuman Stamina: Thanos' musculature produces almost no fatigue toxins during physical activity. As a result, he has nearly superhuman stamina in all physical activities.

Nigh-Invulnerability: Before his "death", Thanos possessed an impressive degree of resistance to physical injury, even compared to other Eternals. After his resurrection, Death increased his ability to resist injury to a much greater degree and he is now nigh-invulnerable.[citation needed] He has withstood, at point-blank range, planet-destroying attacks without any harm.[citation needed] He has withstood blasts from the Silver Surfer to point-blank range - unharmed. He withstood a battering from an enraged, Power Gem-wielding Thor with nothing but a bloody nose.He possesses such an incredible resistance to injury that he has been shown to survive point-blank blasts from Odin, and Galactus. Thanos has withstood three full screams from Black Bolt, one at point-blank range, without any significant damage, survived being subjected to an artificial 2-light year wide black hole, and withstood being stabbed in the chest by Wolverine's Adamantium claws without exhibiting any discomfort.

Immortality: Thanos, like all Eternals, is immortal in the sense that he is immune to all known diseases and infections and is immune to the effects of aging. Thanos is banned by Death itself from entering its realm, rendering him truly immortal. He is able to die but he will always return, no matter the severity of any injury.


Regenerative Healing Factor: Despite his extraordinary durability, it is possible to injure Thanos. Like all Eternals, however, Thanos is capable of regenerating damaged tissue with much greater speed and efficiency than a human being. His healing powers aren't as developed as those of some Eternals. Some Eternals are capable of regenerating any destroyed tissue. Given the circumstances of his death at the hands of Drax the Destroyer during the Annihilation event, Thanos is unable to regenerate missing organs, such as a heart.


Energy Manipulation & Control: Energy Manipulation & Projection: Thanos has displayed great versatility in the use of his energy projection abilities. He has demonstrated the ability to project pure energy as a concussive force, "magnetic" energy, infrared heat-beams from his eyes,and disruptor beams, unilaterally striking separate targets with his optic blasts,as well as using his mental link to his techno-mystical chair to form vastly powerful energy shields, barriers, and force-fields.The exact extent of Thanos' energy projection abilities are unknown, but his blasts have been capable of knocking down the likes of the Hulk and Thor , and to temporarily defeat four alternate incarnations of the Silver Surfer with a simple casual blast. He was also able to graze Galactus armor and blast the Devourer of Worlds off his feet and send him across the moon. By collaborating with the In-Betweener they together released the latter from his prison created by Master Order and Lord Chaos.


Telepathy: Telepathy: Thanos possesses psionic abilities. His mind is invulnerable to most forms of psychic attack. Thanos has demonstrated the ability to successfully defend himself against psychic assaults from Moondragon, and Mantis.[citation needed] He also managed to shut down the Maker's mind, turned the Fallen One into his herald[ made the Hulk attack his fellow Avengers,and forced Conner Sims (the Anti-Man) to destroy his surroundings. Thanos also once attempted to destroy the mind of Drax the Destroyer with a powerful psychic attack called the Time-Mind Sync Warp, that plunges the victim's mind into a psychedelic dimension of insanity, causing death or incapacitation.


Matter Manipulation & Control: Thanos has demonstrated some ability to manipulate matter on the atomic level, similarly to Earthborn Eternals. On one occasion, he turned the Skrull Skragg, into stone.He also used his matter manipulation ability on Moondragon to purge the muscle controlling parasites implanted by Annihilus from her body.

Curse Casting: Thanos seems to be at least partially skilled in magic, evidence being him cursing Deadpool to be unable to die.


Flight: Thanos has shown that he is capable of flying.

Mystic Capabilities: Thanos is skilled in magic, as he has cursed Deadpool with immortality.


Teleportation: Thanos can teleport himself across unknown distances through his link with his techno-mystical transport chair. When stranded in space with Terraxia, he could neither fly, nor teleport to his rescue, presumably because his chair got destroyed in the struggle before.

Abilities

Super-Genius Intelligence
Skilled Unarmed Combatant
Mystical Knowledge: He also has great knowledge of arcane and mystical lore.

https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Thanos_(Earth-616)

[JudicatorPrime]

No Cosmic Cube. No Infinity gems (stones). What is Thanos capable of with no universal level enhancements?

He would seem to be capable of vast, inherent physical strength, and I guess he can project energy bolts of unknown origin. He also seems to have an inherent level of cosmic knowledge.

How does one differentiate his inherent Deviant powers from his artificially enhanced power? And what makes him such a universal threat? Surely there are more capable threats than the perpetual comic book seller?

Without going into a laundry list, Thanos is easily one of the most powerful Eternals, even possibly outmatching a Prime Eternal in cosmic energy wielding ability. He further supplemented his physical abilities. In one of his early appearances he is seen fighting both Thor and Thing and easily holding his own. Eternals also have psionic powers to some degree and Thanos has those to varying degree. Even without the IG, Heart of the Universe, or other omnipotence granting devices, Thanos is easily one of the most powerful beings in existence. His genius just makes him even deadlier.

[JudicatorPrime]

woah woah woah, maybe a very hungry and weakened Galactus

To be fair, Galactus gets jobbed anyway most of the time. But yes, Thanos should be able to beat a starving Galactus. After all, part of King Hyperion’s backstory is killing several alternate reality versions of Galactus. If King Hyperion can do it, Thanos can do it.

[K7P5V]

I'm not sure he has power above Hulk, but rather better tactical skill than a deranged Hulk. His teleportation ability is a function of his "Chair", not his physical ability.

Thanos is a Reed Richards level genius, but other than his te⁹leportation chair, whats it done for him?

I know, right?! Thanos should be basking in the glow of victory a million times over.
But according to Adam, an unforeseen "mental block" prevents The Mad Titan from achieving success.

[JudicatorPrime]

[center]I know, right?! Thanos should be basking in the glow of victory a million times over.
But according to Adam, an unforeseen "mental block" prevents The Mad Titan from achieving success.

That’s pretty much true for Dr. Doom, too. They always gain ultimate power only to relinquish it in some foolish fashion or other. It’s not a character flaw inasmuch as a storytelling standard. Evil is not meant to permanently carry the day.

[kilderkin]

Imo he always looks like a herald of Galactus power set but higher, between them and skyfather level on his base stats

His intelligence is vast as is his plot stick and plot armour

[kilderkin]

To be fair, Galactus gets jobbed anyway most of the time. But yes, Thanos should be able to beat a starving Galactus. After all, part of King Hyperion’s backstory is killing several alternate reality versions of Galactus. If King Hyperion can do it, Thanos can do it.

Fair point

Galactus - cosmic jobber

[The Cool Thatguy]

I question what Reed Richards level genius means these days.

Thanos should be above Hulk. Creatively, there is nothing wrong with villains outclassing heroes. I know over the years Hulk has become this unbeatable behemoth that can just overpower anyone if he's angry enough

Thanos can shoot energy beams from his hands, despite some writers forgeting this or just going for MCU synergy.

No, Thanos shouldn't be above Hulk, thematically speaking.

Hulk is a rampaging monster, at his most basic. He's not a hero, even if his goals are moral more often than not.

Thanos should be just a little tougher than Thor. If they're going to establish Thanos as a guy who likes to fight, and they have, then he ought to be within range of the strongest heroes around.

Instead, he's always a league above, and his love of battle is just an excuse to let him slap around heroes.

His real power is plot armor.

[Alan2099]

That’s pretty much true for Dr. Doom, too. They always gain ultimate power only to relinquish it in some foolish fashion or other. It’s not a character flaw inasmuch as a storytelling standard. Evil is not meant to permanently carry the day.

The difference is Doom will later blame it on a Doombot, while Thanos will claim that he MEANT to loose and that he learned his lesson and will never do anything like that again (until next time he does.)