Which Marvel metal is stronger?

In the Marvel Universe, some heroes and villains have shown off their skills and literally fought over metal. Particularly the oft-mentioned alloys found both in hidden African countries and among openly angry Canadians. We are of course talking about the ancient and mystical Vibranium and the slightly more manufactured Adamantium, which was the key to the development of the feared Weapon X, aka Logan or Wolverine, aka the ball of Fastball Special.

Although both can be used for good or evil depending on which metalworker you talk to, the most important debate that has raged for years is this: which of these two popular materials is the strongest? With both expert care and almost unimaginable force, one can bend to the will of the wearer when necessary, but when push comes to shove, which hero would most want to hold the fort – the one in a suit made of one metal or another is manufactured? Does he have a personal cutlery set and can “flick” it at any time? Well, after an intensive evaluation and a deep dive into other Marvel metals that could potentially hold their own against the two most talked about types, the winner might actually surprise you, buddy.

There’s no question that Vibranium is a big deal in the Marvel Universe, especially the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is the element that plays a large role in the Black Panther’s arsenal and was also used to create Captain America’s star-spangled shield. However, when it comes to basic requirements such as density and durability, adamantium is far stronger than vibranium.

Debuted in “Avengers” #66 in 1969, as Ultron used it as metal to create a new bodyAdamantium is a virtually indestructible substance that can withstand the strength of some of Marvel’s most powerful characters (more on that later). It can withstand a nuclear blast and cut through almost any substance, depending on the strength of the person wielding it. The best version you can get is True Adamantium, which covers Wolverine’s bones and allows him to be so good at what he does (even if what he does isn’t very pretty).

Unfortunately, although this metal can be reproduced, it also comes with disadvantages. The biggest problem is that it is largely a one-off material. Once formed into some form, it cannot be altered, which explains why it is used to create so many blades, tailored suits, and claw covers. If you want something a little more customizable, your best bet is to head to Wakanda and get hold of the metal that’s been used in some of the Marvel Universe’s most famous weapons. Of course, this only applies if a Wakandan king gives the green light.

Adamantium may be a strong and durable metal that can take a beating and keep ticking, but so is the coveted Vibranium. The difference with the Wakandan-based substance is that it can be used for a variety of purposes beyond just giving the local hero retractable, cat-like claws. Formed from a meteorite that struck Earth a million years ago, Earth is now the only remaining place to contain the metal, which has technological and energy manipulating properties. In one of its most basic uses, it is used in Wakandan weapons as well as the Panther Habit (the suit worn by T’Challa). The key trick of the Prince’s iconic outfit is that it can absorb different types of energy and redirect it as a method of defense or attack. Additionally, it has a variety of Vibranium weapons that give the Panther an advantage over a variety of enemies.

In addition to the Panther’s legendary threads, Vibranium has also been applied to all sorts of notable items in the Marvel Universe. Not only did Hawkeye use it in his arrowheads, but it was also mixed to make reinforced concrete for the foundations of Avengers Tower. Most notably, Vibranium is actually mixed with a version of Adamantium called Proto-Adamantium, which led to the creation of Captain America’s shield, making it one of the most powerful weapons on the planet. It is this versatility that makes Vibranium more powerful in different ways.

Superheroes not getting along is commonplace in comic book history, but how do the weapons of both parties fare in the rare case that Asgard’s greatest protector has to go head to head with the Prince of Wakanda? While Wakanda is home to an otherworldly metal that features in T’Challa’s entire arsenal, its strength against the God of Thunder’s iconic weapon has fluctuated over the years, sometimes struggling to withstand the hammer as well as it does could take a hit. Mjolnir itself is made from Uru, which is described in the comics as metal ore from the first existing moon and, in both the MCU and the main comic universe, swung at Captain America’s shield, leaving some scratch marks.

In the comics, just like in the MCU, Cap’s shield was able to stop Mjölnir, although not without causing shockwaves from the impact. As for adamantium in its purest form, it has been recorded that both substances are seemingly equivalent, thanks to an occasion where Wolverine and Thor threw down. In “Wolverine vs. Thor”, the former was hypnotized by Loki to attack the God of Thunder, Logan’s claws couldn’t even scratch the surface of Mjolnir while Thor remained on the defensive. At the same time, Thor also did not damage Wolvie’s claws, proving that neither metal could hit the other.

Wolverine may be at odds with a Norse god, but it’s proven he’s no match for the master of magnetism. If there’s a downside to the sturdy and sophisticated metal coating on Logan’s bones, it’s that Magneto can easily separate them from them like squeezing a tube of toothpaste, as shown in “X-Men” #25. and it’s a while before he gets back into comics. When it comes to Vibranium, however, things get a little unclear and, just like many shiny substances under Erik Lensherr’s control, bend in different directions.

On the occasions when Magneto and Black Panther faced off, the metal-loving mutant admitted that he was unable to get a bead on T’Challa’s suit because of the vibranium it contained, but was seen using other objects made from vibranium, such as in other matters the doors are apart. For example, in the case of Captain America’s shield, there was an opportunity in Super Villain Team-Up #14 where Magneto was able to stop and give it back to the super soldier and his allies. But there were also cases where Magneto openly admitted his inability to manipulate the Frisbee, feared by evildoers around the world. Perhaps this all depends on which shield Cap throws, though, because while the original version was made of an adamantium variant (which would explain his control over it), other versions were pure vibranium. We’ll have to wait for some clarity (from a safe distance) whenever Magneto arrives in the MCU to find out how things will be handled there.

While the MCU may eventually settle the debate over which metal is truly the strongest, in Marvel Comics there’s a recently discovered competitor who turns others into aluminum foil and turns it into one of Tony Stark’s slickest suits. In “The Invincible Iron Man” #15, the techie used Mysterium, a metal obtained from the White Hot Room, where mutants fled after the fall of Krakoa.

When fighting a reconstructed Wolverine corpse (these are everywhere these days), the adamantium claws not only fail to cut open Stark’s new suit, but they also twist against it like dry spaghetti. Given that Adamantium is proven to be the strongest in terms of density and durability, bending so easily against this new metal completely pushes it out of the top spot and should make it clear to the feisty Wolverine that he now has more than just Magneto to worry about have to do.

Well admittedly, considering Logan only just made his way into the MCU via Deadpool & Wolverine and so is Adamantium He is rumored to be involved in Captain America: Brave New World. There’s a chance that the metal best used for slicing and dicing could be the hardest metal on the chopping block for at least one universe in the future.