Every Vibranium Invention In The MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is filled with various weapons and advanced technology, and here is everything that has been created using vibranium. Marvel Studios waited until 2018 to take audiences to Wakanda, but the fictional, technologically advanced African nation has been making a mark on the MCU for years. Tony Stark proved to be the chief weapons creator at first, following in his father’s footsteps. His skills as an inventor saw him create the potentially Asgardian-inspired Iron Man armor and fashion several weapons, accessories, and luxuries for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to use. Tony did all of this without the best resource in the MCU, vibranium.

Marvel comic fans knew of the importance vibranium could play in the wider MCU long before Black Panther hit theaters. The MCU planted the seeds for T’Challa and other Wakandans to join since almost the very beginning, and the use of vibranium is one of the ways this was done. Vibranium is a deadly weapon, being stronger than steel but much lighter in weight, and able to completely absorb vibrations. The 2018 solo film began with an explanation of how the rare and incredibly strong metal arrives on Earth in the first place. A meteor containing the element crashed on Earth millions of years in the past. It was after this that the vibranium changed aspects of the environment around Wakanda. The Wakandans began mining the metal sometime after, and they (and others) used its unique properties to make a variety of items.

Now that Wakanda is no longer a secret, the prominence of vibranium has continued to rise in the MCU. Marvel Studios wasn’t shy about using the metal before bringing Black Panther into the franchise, and there should be plenty of opportunities for characters to use vibranium moving forward. Still, there are already multiple weapons and other inventions that were made possible in the MCU thanks to it. Here’s how the MCU has used vibranium as a resource to create inventions so far.

Captain America’s Shield(s)

The first vibranium invention featured in the MCU is Captain America’s near-indestructible shield. Steve Rogers quickly grew accustomed to carrying a shield as part of the Captain America uniform even before he began saving the world. When it came time to give him a shield that would actually protect him, Rogers noticed a silver, light-weight shield Howard Stark wasn’t showcasing. Howard created the shield using some vibranium, and it became a staple of Captain America’s MCU look. Steve used the red, white, and blue vibranium shield in World War II and picked it up again 70 years later to become an Avenger. He gave it up for a few years after Captain America: Civil War, and it wasn’t long after he got it back in Avengers: Endgame that Thanos broke it in half.

Another vibranium Captain America shield emerged at the end of Avengers: Endgame too. After Steve went back in time and to another reality to live a life with Peggy Carter, he returned to the main MCU timeline to give Sam Wilson the Captain America shield and title. This shield has some new markings on it, but it is still made of vibranium. It isn’t clear exactly who made this version of the Captain America shield. Sam will continue to wield it, though, as the MCU moves forward after The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

Ultron-3

Avengers: Age of Ultron showed the iconic Marvel villain transform his physical form multiple times, including building a vibranium body for himself. Ultron quickly evolved past his makeshift Iron Legion form and created a giant metal body to primarily inhabit. It wasn’t long after this that he devised plans to acquire some vibranium to make himself an even stronger body, known as Ultron-3. Ultron unveiled his new look right before the Battle of Sokovia, which may introduce Doctor Doom. It proved to be plenty strong, as it took the combined power of Iron Man, Thor, and Vision to cause some damage. Ultron left his vibranium body on Sokovia after Scarlet Witch ripped out a key part of the mechanics.

Vision

Vision joined the MCU in Avengers: Age of Ultron, too, and is partially made of vibranium as well. Ultron originally designed him to be his final host body, but the Avengers intervened and took the android away from him. Ultron was the one who understood that he could use vibranium to create Vision’s body, with the Mind Stone powering it. The vibranium was combined with Helen Cho’s Regeneration Cradle to build Vision’s synthezoid body. Vision’s powers extend far beyond the benefits of what vibranium provides, but it certainly doesn’t hurt that his body is made of the nearly indestructible metal.

Black Panther Suits

The Black Panther suits are also made entirely of vibranium. The MCU hasn’t explored when Wakanda created the first Black Panther vibranium suit, but they have certainly become more powerful over time. Black Panther’s original suit in Captain America: Civil War is bulletproof and fitted with retractable vibranium claws. It is also designed not to restrict movement and absorb various types of attacks thanks to the unique properties of vibranium. In Black Panther, Shuri revealed that she upgraded the Black Panther suit in some major ways too. The latest version of the suit uses nanites so it can instantly materialize from a Wakandan necklace. It can now also charge the suit with kinetic energy absorbed by the vibranium through any hits. The wearer can then release the energy in their own attacks.

Wakanda

In addition to the Black Panther suit, the entire foundation of Wakanda is built on the use of vibranium. The element improved the ground and plants in Wakanda shortly after the meteor crashed on Earth. Wakanda posed as a third-world country to hide the fact that vibranium was so useful to them, allowing them to become the most technologically advanced nations in the world in secret. They built the cities in Wakanda using the metal and mined the remains of the meteor for centuries to enable this progress. Wakanda, the MCU’s replacement for Iron Man, used vibranium to create its camouflage barrier, generate electricity, and even other aspects of Wakandan clothing. It appears that most of the advancements Wakanda has made in the MCU come as a result of having vibranium, meaning the element is responsible for creating what the country eventually becomes.

Wakanda’s Weapons

Vibranium’s importance in Wakanda means it is also the main component of most of their weapons. The Dora Milaje’s spears are made of the rare metal, and the rest of their suits and armor presumably come from it. Shuri, who should become an MCU hero in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also used vibranium to create her panther gauntlets and outfit rhinos with armor. One known ancient vibranium weapon was created and put in an art exhibit until Erik Killmonger stole it. Even the ships that Wakanda has utilize vibranium to make them among the most advanced ariel vehicles on the planet.

Klaue’s Arm

Another invention to come from vibranium is Ulysses Klaue’s arm. The weapons dealer lost his left arm in Avengers: Age of Ultron while dealing with Ultron. When he returned in Black Panther, Klaue had used some of the vibranium he previously stole to craft a high-tech arm for himself. It looks as real as possible but secretly holds a canon inside.

Bucky’s New Winter Soldier Arm

Vibranium is also responsible for creating the metal arm that Bucky Barnes has had for decades. Hydra crafted the original metal arm to make Bucky an even deadlier killing machine as the Winter Soldier. It is believed that his original arm was made out of titanium, even though T’Challa’s vibranium ring magnetizes to it in Captain America: Civil War. Bucky eventually lost this arm thanks to Iron Man. After spending time in Wakanda to become White Wolf, the Wakandans gave Bucky a new vibranium arm equipped with some new abilities and fail-safes.

Sam Wilson’s Captain America Wings

Sam Wilson gave away one vibranium defense accessory at the beginning of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but he ended the Disney+ show with a second. In addition to regaining possession of the Captain America shield, the Wakandans made him a new Captain America suit. It is confirmed that Sam’s new Captain America suit has vibranium wings. Even though the suit is not made with Shuri’s nanotechnology (as far as we know), the rest of the suit may also be laced with vibranium to give Sam some added protection.

Iron Man’s Arc Reactor?

There is also a question about whether or not Tony Stark used vibranium to create his new arc reactor in Iron Man 2. The movie explains that Tony recreated an element that Howard Stark discovered in the past but didn’t have the technology to create. Tony doesn’t give the element a name, but the Iron Man 2 novelization does. The book says that the element is, in fact, vibranium. The canonicity of the novelization is questionable, though, and leaves this as a major lingering question. If Tony did create the vibranium element in the MCU, it is possible that he then used it in different inventions as well.

About The Author

Cooper Hood
(5615 Articles Published)

Cooper Hood is a news and feature writer for Screen Rant. He joined Screen Rant in late 2016 following a year-long stint with MCU Exchange, which came after first developing an MCU blog of his own. He graduated college in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Media & Public Communication, with a minor in Media Production. Cooper’s love for movies began by watching Toy Story and Lion King on repeat as a child, but it wasn’t until The Avengers that he took an invested interest in movies and the filmmaking process, leading him to discover the world of film journalism. Every year Cooper looks forward to seeing the latest blockbusters from the likes of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, but also loves the rush to catch up on Oscar films near the end of the year. When he isn’t writing about or watching new releases, Cooper is a fantasy football obsessive and looking to expand his Blu-Ray collection – because physical media is still king! Follow Cooper on Twitter @MovieCooper.

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