These Are the 10 Coolest Mutant Powers in the Marvel Universe

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The X-Men have one of the most stacked rosters in all of comics,featuring an endless array of mutants gifted with unique abilities. Whether it’s Wolverine’s amazing healing factor or the Scarlet Witch’s power to reform the fabric of the universe, the mutant gene allows for incredible possibilities. Indeed, it might not be an overstatement to say the X-Men are the most badass characters in Marvel.

Since the arrival of the X-Men in the MCU gets closer by the day in Avengers: Doomsday, we wanted to use our mutation to make a list that singles out the absolute best mutant powers in the Marvel Comics universe. No ranking is necessary for these mutant talents because we’d all empty our bank accounts to have any one of these powers. From healing factors that would save you from hospital lines to reality-warping abilities that would make you effectively a god on Earth, these are the coolest X-Men powers ever.

10

Teleportation

Quicker and More Eco-Friendly

Teleportation, the ability to move through space instantly into a new spot of your choosing, would be an amazing power to have. In the famous opening to X2: X-Men United, Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) gives a memorable demonstration by instantly avoiding security while taking on numerous Secret Service agents while entering the White House. His mastery of the power made him untouchable in combat, and it is still one of the best scenes in an X-Men movie.

With the power to be anywhere instantly, there would be no more wasted time on travel. The old saying is, “It’s the journey, not the destination,” but that was said by people who couldn’t blink their way across miles in a heartbeat. With teleportation at your disposal, the daily commute is a thing of the past, and you could be at work instantly. Ok… so that might not be the most fun example, but the power is still really good.

9

Shape-Shifting

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

The power to alter the physical form has long been a power on display in Marvel comics, most notably from the iconic X-Men villain Mystique. However, the power isn’t always used for evil, with Morph shape-shifting as part of the X-Men inX-Men: The Animated Series. It’s not the mutant gift that will clear out a room in a fight, but when used intelligently, the power to shape-shift could be used in a variety of ways.

Trying on different lifestyles sounds like the ultimate fantasy for anyone who has ever wondered about life as a celebrity. However, as much fun as it would be to pass yourself off as someone else and experience life through the eyes of a stranger, there could be a drawback of losing your identity while pretending to be multiple other people. That’s why it’s extremely important to pretend to be one specific billionaire for the majority of your time so that it’s easier to keep the lies straight.

8

Power Absorption

Borrow Someone Else’s Power in a Pinch

With one touch, Rogue can drain the life force of anyone, which also includes the superpowers of the person she’s targeting. It’s a cool power to have, but also a dangerous one, because touching the person for too long can have lethal results. The reason Rogue can fly in the comics is that she permanently absorbed the powers of Carol Danvers, AKA Ms. Marvel, almost killing her in the process.

As fans of Marvel Comics can attest by watching Rogue’s struggles with intimacy, the ability to absorb power through touch has its drawbacks, but it also brings with it incredible advantages. Sampling another character’s power, even for a few moments, would be an incredible rush, and it’s ideal for going head-to-head in a fight with an opponent who is stronger than you.

7

Weather Manipulation

The Five-Day Forecast Is What You Say It Is

A highly coveted mutant power is the ability to manipulate the weather, possessing complete control over the creation of anything from tornadoes to scorching-hot conditions. Most famously, Ororo Munroe, codename Storm, has shown off her mutant power of weather control ever since she was recruited by Professor Xavier in Giant X-Men number one. Storm is one of the strongest X-Men on the roster, and her weather powers make her a valuable asset on any team.

With mastery of such an ability, one could change the course of what crops are grown and where, and stop natural disasters from wiping out unprepared cities. Weather manipulation is a power to use carefully because there could be any number of unintended consequences of disrupting natural weather patterns. On the fun side, using gusts of wind to make yourself fly is a nice bonus, but hopefully, it will look more graceful than when people go indoor skydiving.

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6

Kinetic Acceleration

A Quick Charge for Explosive Results

With kinetic acceleration as a power, the user can touch any object, charging it with increased kinetic energy until the item glows brightly before exploding. The power is most commonly associated with X-Men’s Remy LeBeau, or Gambit, who charges playing cards before expertly flinging them at his target. Briefly, in the comics, Gambit’s power allowed him to charge an object without touching it, but the most common use of the ability is through direct contact.

Because Gambit usually sticks to small objects to charge, the power might seem less effective against larger enemies, but in episode five of X-Men ’97, Gambit reaches the peak of his abilities. Facing a towering sentinel that is destroying Genosha, Gambit is able to use his kinetic powers to charge and detonate the behemoth, saving the lives of the remaining mutants running for safety.

5

Technopathy

Strike Up a Quick Conversation with an ATM

A mutant power not as commonly talked about is technopathy, or the ability to communicate with and/or manipulate technology. It’s like being the ultimate hacker on steroids, with the mutant gift allowing instant access to the most complicated piece of equipment or computer interface. Mutants like Madison Jeffries, codename Box, could transfer his consciousness into machines and communicate with any mechanical device.

Especially in an era where society has become wholly reliant on technology, the ability to speak directly to and manipulate technology would give the user a skeleton key to any device in the world. Whether it’s remotely controlling a car or gaining access to nuclear codes, nothing would be off limits. With this level of communication between yourself and machines, you could finally throw away the Post-it note on your computer screen with all the passwords written on it.

4

Healing Factor

Better Than an Apple a Day

Many mutants have the ability to recover from wounds at a faster rate than humans, but characters with an accelerated healing factor, like Wolverine, can rebound from life-threatening injuries within minutes. In X-Men: The Last Stand, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is able to even withstand the destructive power of the Phoenix, slowly inching towards his love Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), even as her powers continue to tear him apart.

It may not be as flashy as some of the other powers, but a strong healing factor would be a life-changer for anyone lucky enough to have it. Sure, you could still feel pain, but knowing that any accident or sickness is a momentary inconvenience would make expensive hospital bills a thing of the past. An extended life span isn’t too shabby either, especially if you don’t have a lifelong blood feud with someone like Sabretooth.

3

Matter Manipulation

Be the Human 3D Printer You Always Wanted to Be

A rare mutant gift to possess is the ability to manipulate matter, granting the user control over matter at a subatomic scale to turn opponents into dust or create any object of their choosing. Famously, the overpowered villain Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) used his mutant ability to dispatch his enemies in X-Men: Apocalypse. With a wave of a hand, Apocalypse could make opponents disintegrate into dust or merge with solid walls to die a slow and painful death.

The ability to alter anything at a molecular level, to create something from nothing, is one of the most incredible and useful powers that could be helpful every moment of the day. Matter manipulation is one of those mutant gifts that is so powerful it’s only limited by the imagination of the user that wields it.

2

Mimic Any Power

Possess Any Power at Will

While certain mutants are given one power to be proud of, characters like Mimic, real name Calvin Rankin, have their choice of the entire spectrum of mutations. There is a limitation to Mimic’s power, with a requirement that the mutant he wishes to copy must be within a certain proximity to work. This means that if Calvin were working within a team, he would have everyone’s power at his disposal.

Having the ability to mimic another power is like a genie granting you the ability to wish for more wishes. Even if sticking to the limitation that the person you’re mimicking must be within proximity, that’s still an amazing ability to have at your disposal. Of course, that’s dependent on living in a world where people have superpowers, because having your boss’s ability to take credit for your work isn’t nearly as exciting.

1

Altering Reality

Make the World Into Whatever You Want It to Be

A mutant power that is a true game-changer is the ability to shape reality and alter all aspects of existence. This power is generally associated with Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, who has caused massive changes within the Marvel universe by using her gift. Movie-goers got a taste of how powerful Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) could be in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness when she ripped through the Illuminati without breaking a sweat.

While certain powers are inherently categorized by how they would be helpful in a fight, especially in regard to the world of comic books, the ability to alter reality is wasted in combat. Having access to create any form of existence is like having cheat codes to life, where nothing is off limits because you set the parameters of what is able to exist. Those powers in the wrong hands are the worst-case scenario, leading to things like the majority of mutants being blinked out of existence.

NEXT: These 10 Mutants Would Be the Ideal Lineup for the X-Men’s MCU Debut

“}]] The X-Men are some of the most powerful beings in Marvel, but some abilities, like shape-shifting and reality manipulation, are far cooler and badass.  Read More