MCU: How Powerful Odin Is Compared To Thor & Loki

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) are the heartthrobs of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but based on how powerful their father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) is, it’s no wonder that he is called “The Allfather.” Since his appearance in the first Thor film, the opulent king of Asgard is already on his path of retirement to Valhalla, having ruled the Nine Realms for millennia. Still, he stands strong until his sons are mature enough to deal with the duties that come with being the overlords of the most important kingdom in the universe so he can pass on the torch to the next generation of Asgardian gods, affirming they’re more powerful and fitting to the task than he is. But is that true?

Right after his father Bor (Tony Curran) dies, Odin handles the Asgardian throne with the confidence of an experienced king. Despite multiple threats from all corners of the universe looking to take him down, Odin carries Asgard to greatness. It’s only until King Laufey (Colm Feore) and the Frost Giants attack the Earth that Odin loses his right eye – his only significant injury – and even then, it’s because he lowers his aggression to keep the peace among the Nine Realms. His plan works, but time inevitably catches up to him as he passes away at the right time for Thanos (Josh Brolin) to profit from his absence and unleash chaos throughout the universe.

Due to his royal lineage, a lifetime of constant combat, and the mystical Odinforce within him, Odin’s physiology is more advanced than the rest of the Asgardians – even Thor and Loki. This means that he’s naturally stronger, faster, more durable, and his lifespan is extended to more than five thousand years. As powerful as Thor is, he still fails to defeat his sister Hela (Cate Blanchett) when she returns to Asgard in Thor: Ragnarok, where she gets crushed by the enormous fire demon Surtur. In contrast, Odin never struggled to fight either villain. In his prime, he single handedly defeated Hela and used his magic to lock her away for as long as he lived. He also permanently injured Surtur, who doesn’t even flinch when Thor, Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), and Hela try to stop the demon from destroying Asgard.

Thousands of years later, Odin’s fighting skills in his war against the Frost Giants are still on par with Thor’s when he finally faces Surtur and his minions. Considering their respective age in those moments, Thor can only say he surpasses his father’s power level when he acquires the Stormbreaker, and while Mjolnir and Stormbreaker are more powerful than Odin’s spear Gungnir, the latter possesses an unmatched variety of enchantments, like transforming matter and controlling the Destroyer.

Meanwhile, Loki doesn’t stand a chance against his adoptive father. Although he can shake off a brutal beating by the Hulk in The Avengers, his talent for deceit always makes up for his lack of physical prowess. At the end of Thor: The Dark World, he takes advantage of Odin’s senility to cast a spell, impersonate him, and steal the Asgardian throne, but he can’t keep up the charade for long. By comparison, Odin’s cunning and war expertise lead him to keep his reputation as the greatest warrior and ruler of the Nine Realms for thousands of years, even with a variety of opposing forces conspiring against him. Odin also outsmarts Thor and Loki by keeping Hela and Loki’s real origin a secret for no fewer than fifteen centuries, which further proves how his wit substitutes his physical strength over time.

There’s no denying Thor is destined to become the most powerful member of the Asgardian royal family while Loki keeps cheating death until the end of time, but Odin’s track record of strength and wisdom preserve him as one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It would have been interesting to see him at the height of his power fighting Thanos and his army. Unfortunately, age ultimately made the difference.

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