Most Ruthless Marvel Characters, Ranked

Who She Is: Wanda MaximoffWanda Maximoff, a Sokovian ex-pat, tried to help Ultron defeat the Avengers after she and her brother escaped Baron Strucker's HYDRA facility. She joined the Avengers later, after seeing Ultron's plans clearly. Then, she accidentally took over the New Jersey suburb of Westview with her reality-warping powers while in a fugue state.Wanda's fugue state started after her partner Vision died by Thanos's hand.Her experience in the Westview Anomaly showed Wanda the scope of her chaos magic. She used this magic to try and force a universe where the children she manifested in Westview still exist.

Why She's So Ruthless: Wanda's unflinching use of magical force stems both from the traumatic experiences she lived through and the intoxicating magnitude of her chaos magic powers.Wanda uses magic forcefully because of the trauma she faced and the huge power of her chaos magic.

Her Most Ruthless Act: Single-handedly executing the Illuminati of Earth-838 in bloody fashion.Wanda single-handedly executed the Illuminati of Earth-838 in bloody fashion.

Is She Secretly A Softie? No. If anything, Wanda spent years hiding the true depth of her savagery in the MCU. She was able to find peace for a spell when traveling with Vision, but the experience of first destroying Vision's Mind Stone, watching him be brought back only to be killed by Thanos, getting Blipped, and then experiencing a false family life in Westview tore down any gentle layers she had left.Wanda hid the true savagery of her actions in the MCU for years. She found a spell's peace while traveling with Vision. But destroying Vision's Mind Stone, watching him return only to be killed by Thanos, getting Blipped, and then living a fake family life in Westview broke down her gentle sides.

Who She Is: HelaHela is the Goddess of Death and Thor's sister. After a thousand years of imprisonment, she returns to Asgard following her father's death to seize the Asgardian throne.

Why She's So Ruthless: Hela has no issue with taking the life of anyone or anything that gets in her way. She ravages Asgard in her quest for power, leading to the destruction of the city itself. She is also strong enough to crush Thor's hammer with her bare hands.Hela does not hesitate to kill anyone or anything blocking her path. She ravages Asgard seeking power, destroying the city itself. She also crushes Thor's hammer with her bare hands.

Her Most Ruthless Act: She takes out an entire Asgardian legion by herself.She took out an entire Asgardian legion by herself.

Is She Secretly A Softie? No.No.

Who He Is: ThanosThanos is an alien from the planet Titan. His mission involves grabbing the Infinity Stones and wiping out half of all life in the universe.

Why He's So Ruthless:Thanos wiped out half of all life, killing many heroes along the way. He will do anything to hit his goals, including throwing his own daughter off a cliff.

His Most Ruthless Act: Throwing his daughter, Gamora, off a cliff in his quest for the Soul Stone.Thanos threw his daughter, Gamora, off a cliff while hunting for the Soul Stone.

Is He Secretly A Softie? Yes. Thanos has a soft spot for his daughter, which is why he is successfully able to attain the Soul Stone. He sees his quest as an act of mercy rather than a brutalization of the universe.Thanos has a soft spot for his daughter. This lets him get the Soul Stone. He views his quest as an act of mercy, not brutalizing the universe.

Who He Is: UltronUltron is a rogue AI Tony Stark built to defend the world from alien threats.

Why He's So Ruthless: Ultron quickly becomes sentient and breaks out of his original mission parameters, choosing to wipe out humanity instead.Ultron quickly became aware and broke out of his original mission. He chose to wipe out humanity instead.

His Most Ruthless Act: Ultron slays the HYDRA commander Baron Strucker and uses his blood to write the word "PEACE" on the wall of his jail cell.Ultron killed the HYDRA commander Baron Strucker. He used Strucker's blood to write "PEACE" on the jail cell wall.

Is He Secretly A Softie? No.No.

Who He Is: DormammuDormammu is an ancient inter-dimensional being and ruler of the Dark Dimension.

Why Dormammu is so ruthless:Dormammu wants power. He seeks to enslave every dimension in the multiverse, wiping out trillions to do it.

His most ruthless act:He takes out Dr. Strange repeatedly while the two are stuck in a time loop.

Is he secretly a softie?No.

Who Erik Killmonger is:He is a Wakandan extremist and cousin to King T'Challa.

Why Erik Killmonger is so ruthless:Erik Killmonger was a former NAVY Seal. He fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, taking countless lives without mercy across continents. His single aim was the throne. He even tried to take down King T'Challa to gain the crown and fight the whole outside world.

His most ruthless act:Killmonger ends his girlfriend after she is taken hostage without hesitation.

Is he secretly a softie?No.

Who General Dreykov is:General Dreykov was a Soviet holdover. He headed the Red Room, a program he designed to kidnap and brainwash young girls into assassins. Dreykov ran the Red Room for decades until he died.

Why General Dreykov is so ruthless:Dreykov cares about the lives he ruined. He cares, but in a terrible way. Dreykov seems to enjoy the pain he causes, especially to young women.

His most ruthless act:Wenwu buried Natasha Romanoff’s mother in an anonymous grave, then used it as a joke.

Is he secretly a softie?:No.

Who Xu Wenwu is:Wenwu spent thousands of years building an empire in the shadows. With the Ten Rings, he got strength and eternal life. Wenwu took what he wanted, using brutal force the moment resistance appeared.

Why Xu Wenwu is so ruthless:If you lived as long as Wenwu, small things like empathy or mercy lose value. Wenwu had one goal: amass power. People and nations became just things he could ignore or destroy on his path to glory.

His most ruthless act:Wenwu walked into a gambling parlor with his son and physically fought underworld toughs who killed his wife. When the last syndicate member said he could not find his boss, Wenwu sprayed his head at close range—again, with his young son right beside him.

Is he secretly a softie?After conquering for centuries, Wenwu found peace with his wife, Ying Li. He gave up the Ten Rings and started a family. His emotions showed, but his wife's tragic end brought back his ruthlessness, setting him on an even darker path for revenge.

Who Aldrich Killian is:The CEO of Advanced Idea Mechanics, a rival to Stark Industries.

Why Aldrich Killian is so ruthless:Aldrich Killian develops and boosts himself using a compound called "Extremis." He gives it to his private troops to create his own forces. Killian also invents a fake extremist group, led by a fake Mandarin, to hide his real plans.

Aldrich Killian's most ruthless act.He takes out. He takes out Maya Hansen in cold blood and then tries to cook Rhodey out of the Iron Patriot suit.

Is he secretly a softie?No.

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Who she is:Yelena Belova is a Black Widow. The Red Room trained and conditioned her to hit targets with high efficiency. She lived under General Dreykov's chemical control but permanently shut down both him and the Red Room after regaining her free will.

Why she is so ruthless:Unlike her sister, Natasha Romanoff, Yelena has few moral worries about using deadly force. She does not hesitate to kill anyone who threatens her or her family, and she does not worry much about damage on the path to her aims.

Her most ruthless act:She buried an entire prison facility and dozens of people under multiple avalanches because she shot a rocket launcher at a guard doing his job.

Is she secretly a softie?Yes. Yelena has a soft spot for her sister, her family, and even Don McLean's music. She does not try hard to hide this.

Who he is:Adrian Toomes is a former salvage company owner who became a supervillain. With his coworkers' help, Toomes starts salvaging alien Chitauri tech to build powerful weapons he plans to sell for profit.

Why he is so ruthless:Toomes becomes more unstable as his underground business succeeds. His limits on himself blur in his quest for money.

His most ruthless act:He threatened and then tried to take out Peter Parker after finding out he is Spider-Man on the night of homecoming while Parker is on a date with Toomes's daughter.

Is he secretly a softie?Yes. Adrian Toomes is a humble father and businessman. He gets caught up in his underground plan and forgets what he fights for: his family's safety.

Who she is:Brunnhilde, known as Valkyrie, is an Asgardian and the last surviving Valkyrie warrior. She fought with Thor many times.

Why she is so ruthless:Valkyrie is one of Asgard's greatest fighters. She matches the most skilled galaxy fighters and beats Loki in a one-on-one fight.

Her most ruthless act:She fought death and lived to tell the story.

Is she secretly a softie?Valkyrie protects family members, no matter how hard she tries to stay detached. She wants apathy, but she cannot stop saving the day.

Who He Is: Winter SoldierSergeant James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes knew Steve Rogers since childhood. Circumstances pushed them down separate paths. HYDRA captured Bucky and experimented on him, giving him a cybernetic arm and renaming him "The Winter Soldier."

Why He's So Ruthless: He is the Winter Soldier.HYDRA brainwashed Bucky, turning him into a machine focused only on killing. He even tried to kill his best friend, Captain America.

His Most Ruthless Act: The Winter Soldier commits ruthless acts.He fired a grenade launcher at a police car while the driver remained inside.

Is He Secretly A Softie? No.Yes, though he doesn't fully know it. Bucky has affection for his best friend, Steve Rogers. Steve is the only person who pulls him out of the Winter Soldier role.

Who He Is: GrootFlora colossus is a sentient tree and a founding member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Why He's So Ruthless: Groot's ruthlessness is not specified.Unlike other Guardians, Groot avoids technology for an advantage. Groot uses brute force to overpower foes. He will impale people with his branches; this is a signature move.

His Most Ruthless Act: Groot's most ruthless act is not detailed.He talked casually with Steve Rogers while impaling three Outriders on his arm.

Is He Secretly A Softie? Not mentioned.Yes. Groot's job is to look after his best friend Rocket Raccoon and the other Guardians. He sacrifices himself and always values his loved ones.

Who He Is: VisionUltron's evil AI created Vision. Vision was built to help Ultron's plans, but the Avengers took control. Using the Mind Stone, Tony uploaded J.A.R.V.I.S. into Vision's body, making him a hero.

Why He's So Ruthless: Vision's ruthlessness is not detailed.Ultron partly made Vision, but Vision does not hesitate to brutally end his creator and peers.

His Most Ruthless Act: Vision's most ruthless act is not detailed.He fried Ultron's mind to make him stop.

Is He Secretly A Softie? Not mentioned.Yes. Though mostly AI, Vision cares for the Avengers. He tries to comfort them emotionally and physically. Vision even falls in love and sacrifices himself for Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch.

Who He Is: RoninRonin is the name Clint Barton, also Hawkeye, uses after the Snap claimed his family.

Why He's So Ruthless: Ronin's ruthlessness is not detailed.After his family vanished, Barton became a vigilante with unclear lines. He focuses on illegal killings of known criminal groups, including Mexican cartels and the Japanese Yakuza.

His Most Ruthless Act: Ronin's most ruthless act is not detailed.He impaled the Yakuza boss with his blade after already planning to end his own life.

Is He Secretly A Softie? Not mentioned.Yes. Ronin is a role Clint Barton uses. He cannot refuse a fight to restore humanity, even after his own trauma.

Who He Is: ThorThor is the Asgardian God of Thunder and calls himself the "most attractive Avenger."

Why He's So Ruthless: Thor's ruthlessness is not detailed.Thor has fought as a warrior for 1,500 years. He has seen many battles. He enjoys fighting, especially when he first sees how weak humans are. Thor gets hot-headed and often shows his anger through violent acts.

His most ruthless act was hacking the Infinity Gauntlet.He hacked the Infinity Gauntlet.He hacked the Infinity Gauntlet.Thor took off Thanos's arm. Then, he amputated the Titan's head in anger.

Is he secretly a softie?Yes. Thor protects many worlds from dangers. He is also sensitive. The God of Thunder sometimes sheds a tear.

Who he is: Rocket Raccoon.A genetically modified raccoon and a founding member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Rocket Raccoon is ruthless because of his actions.Rocket is a sadistic arms expert. He craves action in a gruesome way. He likes dismemberment. Rocket often wants the synthetic parts of amputees and disabled beings.

His most ruthless act was hacking.He claims an inmate as his and Groot's "booty."

Is he secretly a softie?Yes. Rocket does anything for the people or sentient tree he trusts. Rocket acts apathetic, but he will not stand by while others are mistreated.