The range of theMarvel Cinematic Universeis immensely impressive. It’s a world that consists of down and dirty street fighters, sorcerers, warriors in technological armor, and alien assassins. This variety is reflected in its fighting. The battles range from intense hand-to-hand combat to CGI spectacles of magic and energy.
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The fights can be as intimate as one-on-one wrestling matches or as vast as a chaotic battlefield that determines the fate of the entire galaxy. Whatever it may be, the MCU never fails to deliver amazing action. Here’s a list of some of the best fights the franchise has to offer.
Updated by Santiago Raya Martínez on June 23, 2025: The MCU has no shortage of iconic action scenes. This list has been updated to include even more of these memorable fights, whether it’s hero Vs. villain or two heroes pitted against each other.
17Captain Marvel Vs. Thor
In the very brief interaction they had at the beginning of Avengers: Endgame, It was obvious there was some sort of mutual spark of respect between Captain Marvel andThor,two of the MCU’s best characters. Unfortunately, due to the way the MCU unfolded, the two of them never got to clash.
So obviously the animated series What If…? was a perfect opportunity to see these two powerhouses go head-to-head. The episode itself was mainly comedic and a breather before the finale, but this fight almost made the lackluster story worthwhile.
16Hulk Vs. Abomination
A lot of fans don’t rank The IncredibleHulkhigh up on a list of MCU films, but its climactic final battle showed early on that the MCU had potential. In contrast to the Hulk film from Universal Studios, this movie had no problem putting the Green Goliath in an all-out slugfest across the streets of New York City.
It showed that CGI truly had the potential to merge the real world with these fantastical creatures in a way that every massive punch could be felt in the audience.
15Iron Man Vs. Thanos
The entire battle betweenThanosand the Avengers was something special. EvenDoctor Strange’s one-on-one clash with Thanos was epic in every way. However, it was whenIron Mantook Thanos on by himself that the conflict reached a new level. Since Thanos had the Infinity Gauntlet, Iron Man was wildly overwhelmed.
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But, that didn’t stop him from putting up a hell of a fight and even drawing blood from Thanos. Of course, this led Tony to receiving a near fatal injury, but it earned Thanos' respect and gave Iron Man the fuel he needed to have his revenge five years later inone of the MCU’s saddest moments.
14Ultron Vs. Multiverse Avengers
When What If…? first started, it wasn’t quite clear where the overall direction of the show was headed. By the end, it all came together in spectacular fashion as the multiversal Avengers took on an Ultron with all Infinity stones.
This kind of crazy collision of characters probably wouldn’t work in live action, but the over-the-top animated nature of the series fit perfectly with this larger-than-life battle. It not only allowed familiar characters to fight in slightly different styles; it also gave Ultron more power than he ever had in his original film.
13Ant-Man Vs. Yellowjacket
In the early years of the MCU, Ant-Man was a film with a little bit more of a comedic tone than movies past. But that didn’t mean its villain would be any less terrifying. Yellow Jacket was basically an Ant-Man suit on steroids, and Corey Stoll wore it with a menacing intensity.
Ant-Man was way out of his league while in this battle. However, being minuscule meant a fighter was able to get creative with the oversized world around him. This made for a very interesting and entertaining fight and is heavily underrated in the MCU.
12Spider-Man Vs. Mysterio
There are actually two different fights between Spider-Man and Mysterio in Far From Home, and each of them was amazing and could easily qualify for this list. The first wasn’t even technically a fight as Mysterio completely dominated Spider-Man from beginning to end.
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His illusions wrapped Spider-Man in a nightmare filled with anxiety that ended with Spider-Man getting clobbered by a speeding train. In the rematch, Spidey finally learned to trust his spider sense and essentially fought Mysterio blindfolded. The character growth alone between the first fight and the second shows Spider-Man’s potential as a hero andhow Mysterio can never be trusted.
11Doctor Strange Vs. Kaecilius
Technically, Doctor Strange and Kaecilius weren’t the only ones involved in this fight, as they each had allies helping them out. Still, it was an incredible fight with stakes involving the entire fate of the universe. After Kaecilius blew up the Hong Kong sanctum, the Dark Dimension was starting to invade Earth.
To stop it, Doctor Strange rewound time and undid the entire destruction. But, Kaecilius didn’t give up. He broke free from the spell and the fight between the good sorcerers and the bad took place as the entire city was moving in reverse around them.
10Thor Vs. Loki
Thor has had an incredible journey in the MCU, traveling the Nine Realms as their protector, joining the Avengers to save Earth multiple times, and eventually becoming a Guardian of the Galaxy. His beginnings, however, are those of heartbreak and family drama.
In his first appearance on the big screen, Thor must face his own brother, Loki, in a heartbreaking battle that scarred both the Bifrost and the God of Thunder. Ending with the death of Loki at his brother’s hands, the scene’s impact eventually fell short due to the numerous deaths of The God of Mischief.
9Thanos Vs. Iron Man/Thor/Captain America
In the comics, Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man are considered the prime Avengers. They also form the bedrock of the Avengers in the MCU, so it’s extremely fitting to see them alltake on Thanosat the same time. To make things more interesting, Thanos doesn’t have his Infinity gauntlet in Endgame, so the battle is much more grounded and brutal than when they battled the Mad Titan in Infinity War.
It’s hard to say exactly who won. They all had some good shots at Thanos and couldn’t take him down, but Captain America was fully ready to keep going until the bitter end. One thing’s for sure though — fans definitely came out on top watching it.
8Black Panther Vs. Killmonger
An exhilarating encounter between two cousins, both heirs to the throne of Wakanda, but only one worthy of it. For most, Killmonger is one of the most compelling and well-written villains in the MCU, and this encounter with T’Challa shows his strength and power in a ruthless way.
The fast drums, agile cinematography, and unique choreography of the fight, when added to the performances of the actors on screen, make an engaging sequence that keeps the audience excited throughout. Even so, it lacks the fantasy superheroes can bring to the big screen.
