Every Magical Spell & Ability Doctor Strange Has Used In The MCU

Doctor Strange has brought different magical spells and abilities to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and here’s every one of them he has used so far. Since 2008, the MCU has been bringing different characters from Marvel Comics to the big screen, beginning with Jon Favreau’s Iron Man, which set the basis for what would become the biggest and most successful connected universe of superheroes.

With over 20 movies and a lot more to come, the MCU has explored the stories of a variety of characters, from classics like Captain America and Spider-Man to more recent heroes like the Guardians of the Galaxy. As a result, the MCU has taken viewers to different parts of the world, planets, and even dimensions, though there’s still a lot more to explore thanks to the multiverse. One character who brought a different look at the world and its different dimensions is Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), who also brought a different type of magic to the MCU, with different artifacts and spells that make him one of the most interesting and powerful characters in this universe.

Stephen Strange was an acclaimed but arrogant neurosurgeon who severely injured his hands in a car accident, leaving him unable to operate. On his quest to find a cure, he ended up in Kamar-Taj, where he met the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), who after some hesitation, agreed to take him in and train him in the mystic arts. Strange then learned and developed different magic abilities which he got to display not only in his first solo movie but also in Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and his brief appearance in Thor: Ragnarok – and here’s every magical spell and ability he has used in the MCU so far.

Transmutation

Doctor Strange has performed transmutation a couple of times during his time in the MCU, sometimes in more impressive ways than others. Thanks to this ability, he was able to turn Thor’s cup of tea into a large mug of beer able to refill itself, and he changed his normal street clothes into his blue robes after Bruce Banner crashed through the roof of the Sanctum Santorum in Avengers: Infinity War. However, the most impressive transmutation spell Strange has used so far is the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth, seen in Avengers: Infinity War when Strange made a shield to stop one of Thanos’ power blasts, which the spell transformed into butterflies. In the comics, Hoggorth is one of many powerful beings Strange can summon through spells, and is a member of the omnipotent Vishanti, along with Agamotto and Oshtur.

Conjuration

Another magical ability that can be used for simple and complex tasks is conjuration. Examples of Strange using it can be found in Thor: Ragnarok, where he made an umbrella stand appear so Thor could put down Mjolnir, which was disguised as an umbrella, and then in Avengers: Endgame when he hid the Time Stone after removing it from the Eye of Agamotto and later made it appear between his fingers before floating it over to Thanos.

Astral Projection

Astral projection is one of the magical abilities that Strange used the most in his first solo movie. It consists of separating his astral form from his body, thus entering the Astral Dimension. This was first seen when the Ancient One pushed his astral form out of his body and then sent him through the multiverse to show him the various realities there are. Through astral projection, he was able to assist Christine Palmer when she was operating on his physical body, and he had one last conversation with the Ancient One through their astral forms.

Mirror Dimension

The Mirror Dimension is a parallel dimension that allows sorcerers to practice their abilities and fight their enemies without repercussions on the real world. This dimension is also used to contain threats, as in Doctor Strange when the Sorcerer battled Kaecilius and company, and again in Avengers: Infinity War during the Battle of Titan. Strange is also able to perform dimensional warping with the help of the Mirror Dimension, as seen when he conjured crystalline fractals to use them as a shield and absorb an energy beam from the Power Stone, all during the Battle of Titan.

Eldritch Magic Manipulation

Strange’s ability to shape and manipulate Eldritch Magic allows him to form tangible constructs of energy. The most used examples of this are the Eldritch Whips, the Tao Mandalas, shields, and barriers, and he was also able to use this magic to scan a piece of Thor’s hair and thus open a portal that took the God of Thunder and Loki to Odin’s exact location in Norway. Other notable spells included in this type of magical manipulation are the Shield of the Seraphim and the Ruby Rings of Raggadorr. The Shield of the Seraphim is a magical blockade of energy used to protect from physical harm. Wong used it in Avengers: Infinity War when Ebony Maw threw a tree at him, Strange, Iron Man, and Bruce Banner, and later Strange made the Shield to protect Spider-Man, Iron Man, and himself when crash landing on Titan. As for the Ruby Rings of Raggadorr, it’s a spell used to bind other person’s powers, and he used it to prevent Thanos from unleashing the full power of the Infinity Stones.

Portal Creation & Interdimensional Travel

With the help of a Sling Ring, Strange can open portals leading to different locations, both on Earth and the multiverse, thus traveling between dimensions. These portals can be as big as to send two or more people through them or as small as to be able to reach, grab, or leave things somewhere else. Strange has also used portal creation to redirect attacks and to transport other characters during battles, as seen once more during the Battle of Titan, where he rapidly transported Star-Lord and Spider-Man to other locations within the battlefield. As for interdimensional traveling, a great example can be found in Thor: Ragnarok, where he trapped Loki in a dimension where he was constantly falling.

Winds of Watoomb/Wind Spell

The Winds of Watoomb is a wind spell and was used by Strange when the Black Order arrived in New York in Avengers: Infinity War. There, he used it to stop the destruction caused by Ebony Maw’s ship, and he used it again in Avengers: Endgame to generate a water tornado.

Warding Spell

A simple but effective spell, this was used by Strange to protect the Eye of Agamotto from being stolen by Ebony Maw in Avengers: Infinity War. The spell burned Maw’s hand, making it impossible for anyone to take the Eye of Agamotto.

Crimson Bands of Cyttorak/Binding Spell

Another spell possible to cast thanks to the powers of an entity (in this case, Cytorrak), the Crimson Bands are red tendrils that Strange used to hold Thanos down in Avengers: Infinity War, though they didn’t stop the Mad Titan for long. Still, the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak are stronger than the Eldritch Whips, as they were able to restrict Thanos’ use of the Infinity Gauntlet for a while

The Images of Ikonn/Duplication Spell

The Images of Ikonn is yet another spell that uses the help of an entity, though in this case it’s a demon named Ikonn. The Images of Ikonn, also known as “duplication spell”, allows Strange to create duplicates of himself, which was very useful during the Battle of Titan, where he created hundreds of clones. This, however, is a spell that must be done carefully, as Ikonn, Lord of Illusions, can create extremely believable images, and if it takes control over a world, these illusions can become real.

Icy Tendrils of Ikthalon/Earth Swallowing Spell

The Icy Tendrils of Ikthalon or Earth Swallowing Spell can be seen in Avengers: Endgame during the Battle of Earth. These are blue tendrils of energy that took Thanos’ soldiers, lifted them up, and dragged them into the ground before disappearing. This spell is also possible thanks to the help of a demon: Ikthalon, who happens to be an ice demon.

Bolts of Balthakk

The Bolts of Balthakk is a spell that called the powers of Balthakk, a being of pure energy. These manifest as electrical discharges and it was confirmed by Avengers: Infinity War professional movement designer Julian Daniels that Strange used these during the Battle of Titan, and they are most likely those orange energy blasts (brighter and stronger than the Crimson Bands) he conjured while fighting Thanos one-on-one.

Sacred Sword of Vishanti

The Vishanti are a trio of supernatural, god-like entities who act as patrons for the Sorcerer Supreme and the rest of the defenders of Earth. Their power can be used to create weapons, as is the Sword of Vishanti, which Strange used to fight against Thanos during the Battle of Titan.

About The Author

Adrienne Tyler
(3269 Articles Published)

Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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