10 Hugely Powerful MCU Scenes Where Superheroes Didn"t Use Any Powers

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Throughout the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the franchise has delivered several powerful scenes in which its heroes didn"t use any powers. Since the very beginning of the MCU’s movie timeline, the franchise has been adapting the characters and stories from Marvel Comics to the big screen. Though the MCU may have taken a few narrative detours from strict comic accuracy, the franchise has still delivered a number of incredibly powerful moments involving its heroes.
Interestingly, despite all of the powers displayed by heroes in the movies of the MCU, some of the franchise’s most powerful moments don’t involve outlandish abilities at all. Instead, these stand-out scenes actually show heroes tapping into their most selfless and resilient characteristics for the greater good, all without using the enhancements that so often overshadow their individual natures. With that in mind, here are 10 hugely powerful MCU scenes where the heroes didn’t use any powers.
10 T’Challa Fights Killmonger For The Crown Black Panther (2018) Black Panther"s dramatic scenes are a key part of its widespread popularity. When it comes to powerful moments of drama, few are as significant to the movie’s plot as the first battle between T’Challa and Killmonger, in which the latter challenges the former to claim the throne of Wakanda. As part of the traditional ritual, T’Challa is forced to face the villain after being stripped of his powers.
Seeing the hero fight valiantly against his cousin only to be defeated is a brutal and powerful moment. Despite being near death and unable to use his abilities, T’Challa is able to pick himself up and face Killmonger once again, proving his heroic nature through resilience and dedication to his people. As such, the fight between T’Challa and Killmonger is an incredibly powerful scene, despite neither character using any powers.
9 Tony Stark Meeting His Father In The Past Avengers: Endgame (2019) When it comes to scenes that defined Iron Man’s MCU story, many memorable moments of him using his powerful Stark tech to overcome villains stand out. However, there are also scenes in which he uses none of his incredibly powerful equipment that still manage to resonate deeply. One such scene comes during Avengers: Endgame’s time heist, when Stark unexpectedly encounters his own father while in the past. The pair share a heartfelt chat about fatherhood and family, giving Tony some much-needed closure on his relationship with his late father.
The scene is powerful for its emotional impact, but also for its importance to Tony Stark’s overall MCU story. It offers the hero the emotional resolution he had been lacking, and that had served as his final insecurity to overcome. Learning of his own father’s imperfections and concerns, Stark is able to overcome some of his longest-standing obstacles without the use of his impressive suits and their abilities.
8 Steve Rogers Jumps On The Grenade Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) Despite being early in Captain America’s MCU story, one of his most defining scenes didn’t involve the use of his super soldier abilities. After being selected as a potential candidate to receive Doctor Erskine’s serum, Steve Rogers struggles to physically match his fellow recruits. However, during an impromptu test of the soldiers’ resolve, Rogers throws himself onto what he believes is an active grenade in order to shield his comrades from the blast.
Seeing Steve Rogers throw himself into harm’s way to protect others is what ultimately earns him his place in the super soldier program, and leads him to become Captain America. In a courageous and heroic display of his own selfless tendencies, Rogers proved his value without using any of his abilities. As such, it’s a powerful scene that perfectly outlines what makes Rogers such an inspirational hero within the MCU.
7 Rocket’s Origin Story Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) Whether Rocket possesses any actual powers within the MCU is subject to debate, as he is an enhanced being by nature. However, one of the character’s most powerful scenes involves his loss of innocence, which serves as a key part of his backstory. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 shows how Rocket was created by the High Evolutionary, and how he befriended several others of the villain’s animal experiments while in captivity. However, upon learning that they’re considered failures, all but Rocket are killed by the High Evolutionary.
The scene’s emotional power makes it one of the most memorable in the MCU. Rocket’s grief and anger at losing his only friends along with his innocence is more than just a defining moment for the character, but a devastating emotional blow to the MCU’s audience, too. Considering the power of the scene doesn’t have anything to do with Rocket’s enhanced intelligence, it stands out as a deeply powerful and upsetting moment in MCU history that doesn"t involve the use of any hero"s abilities.
6 Scarlet Witch Gives Up Her Children Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) The MCU has seen Wanda Maximoff lose her family on multiple occasions, with it being the most considerable contributor to her villain turn. However, the last time might just be the most powerful, as it immediately precipitates her death. After spending the movie scouring the Multiverse for a reality in which she can step into her children’s lives, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ ending sees Wanda forced to give up on being reunited with her sons.
Seeing the boys’ horror at Wanda’s actions, followed by Wanda’s own realization that she had become the villain, serves as a powerful MCU moment. Though Wanda’s abilities are what led to the moment, it’s her choice to stop using them that actually makes it such a powerful scene. Knowing that her magical strength could allow her to take what she wants does nothing to comfort her when she learns that it has turned her into a villain, making for a powerful moment of acceptance for Wanda Maximoff.
5 Black Widow Chooses To Die Avengers: Endgame (2019) As one of the few Avengers with no superhuman abilities or highly advanced equipment, Black Widow was once seen as one of the MCU’s weakest heroes. However, Avengers: Endgame proved otherwise, with Natasha Romanoff making an exceptionally courageous and heroic decision in order to help her fellow heroes. In order to gain the Soul Stone on Vormir, Natasha sacrifices her own life.
Black Widow’s sacrifice shows that she considers herself less important than the mission, and therefore less important than all the people she chooses to protect. Despite being one of the few Avengers without superhuman powers, Natasha Romanoff opts to make one of the most powerful and heroic choices in the history of the franchise. Considering the context of the scene, she does so completely selflessly, making it a powerful and devastating moment in which she proves herself one of the most heroic figures in the entire MCU.
4 Loki Stands Up To Thanos Avengers: Infinity War (2018) There are many scenes that define Loki’s MCU story, but few are as poignant as his brief appearance in Avengers: Infinity War. In the movie’s opening scene, Loki and Thor come face to face with Thanos, who seeks the remaining Infinity Stones. In a shocking turn of events, Loki stands up to Thanos, attempting to thwart the Mad Titan by attacking him. In response, Thanos chokes Loki to death, unceremoniously killing him as a reward for his abrupt heroic decision.
Loki’s sudden choice to take heroic action is a powerful moment, as it marks a clear turning point in the character’s story. However, it’s also a devastating one, as it marks the sudden and unexpected death of a beloved character. It also sees Loki attempt to be a hero without the use of his powers, as he could have theoretically used trickery to get around Thanos, but instead took the direct approach, leading to his death.
3 Yondu Dies To Save Star-Lord Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) Though the movie features a number of memorably funny moments, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is actually one of the most emotionally impactful movies in the entire MCU. The film’s story sees Star-Lord meet his biological father, Ego, and learn about the dormant power he possesses. After learning of Ego’s betrayal, the Guardians are forced to defeat him, leading to a touching scene in which Yondu sacrifices himself to save Star-Lord.
The line: “he may have been your father, boy, but he wasn’t your daddy,” brought many in the audience to tears, and remains a hugely powerful moment. Unable to do anything but sacrifice himself, Yondu opts to die to save the life of the boy he once took in to save from death at Ego’s hands. Though no abilities were used in the scene, it’s one of the most powerful in the entire MCU.
2 Peter Parker Gives Up His Identity Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) While Spider-Man: No Way Home features many Marvel characters using an array of abilities, one of the film’s most powerful moments doesn’t involve superpowers at all. No Way Home’s ending sees Spider-Man learn that his actions have caused major damage to the fabric of reality, and he swiftly reaches the conclusion that the only way to fix it is to have everyone forget him. Forced to make a judgment call in a tense moment, he chooses to say goodbye to everyone he loves.
Considering that he’d only recently lost his Aunt May, Peter opting to be forgotten by everyone is a powerful moment. He knows it means leaving his whole life behind, opting to do so for the greater good. It may not require him to use any of his spider-like abilities, but No Way Home’s ending sees Spider-Man make an incredibly powerful and selfless decision.
1 Tony Stark Sacrifices Himself Avengers: Endgame (2019) The epic conclusion of the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Endgame, stands out in the MCU for many reasons. Its ending ranks highly among them, as it forever changed the landscape of the franchise, with Iron Man meeting his shocking end in a moment of unparalleled heroism. Having gathered the Infinity Stones during the battle with Thanos, Iron Man is able to use them to end the Mad Titan’s villainy forever, sacrificing himself in the process.
Despite knowing that doing so would almost certainly mean his death, Iron Man opted to stop Thanos no matter the cost. It’s a moment in which Tony Stark used only his deep-rooted heroic nature, rather than any of his impressive technology or abilities, to save the day. In terms of emotion, drama, and significance to the franchise, Iron Man’s death is undoubtedly one of the most powerful scenes without superpowers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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