Phase 4 Introduces A Weapon More Powerful Than Mjolnir & Gungnir

Warning: Spoilers ahead from Moon Knight episode 2!

Through Moon Knight episode 2, “Summon the Suit,” Phase 4 of the MCU has introduced a weapon more dynamic than Mjolnir and Gungnir, two objects made prevalent by the Thor movies. Though the Moon Knight suits take the spotlight in the follow-up episode following Oscar Isaac’s Steven Grant (and Marc Spector), another object brings along intrigue. This object, of course, is just the newest in a handful of already established weapons that have a long history in Marvel Comics and the MCU.

Alongside Captain America’s shield and Iron Man’s various suits, Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, is the most notable object connected to the original Avengers team. Passed down by Odin, the hammer was forged from Uru, but more importantly, it was enchanted, meaning only someone deemed worthy could wield it and its immense powers. The mystical object gave Thor a bevy of abilities such as flight, electricity summoning, and energy manipulation while also acting like a super-charger for some of the God of Thunder’s born powers as an Asgardian. Gungnir, another historical Asgardian weapon, was also crafted from Uru but in the form of a spear. Despite acting as a fellow powerful enchanted weapon that enhances powers, Gungnir has been seen as a symbol in the MCU, considering the person in possession was usually in power, as reiterated in Thor: Ragnarok. It also allowed its user to control the Destroyer, showing that both weapons went hand-in-hand.

Though the original versions of both Mjolnir and Gungnir have been destroyed in the MCU, they remain two of the most powerful historical artifacts in the franchise. That said, Phase 4 of the MCU seems to be introducing yet another weapon with a mystical history in the form of Arthur Harrow’s staff. As seen in Moon Knight, Ethan Hawke’s character uses an object known as the Staff of Ammit. The staff harnesses the power of Ammit/Ammut, an Egyptian goddess known to judge people to deem if they are worthy to keep living. In Moon Knight episode 1, Arthur put the staff’s potential on display as it swung back and forth while morally judging members of his followers. The second episode, “Summon the Suit,” takes the staff’s power up a notch by showing that it’s still linked to Ammit’s powers, proving that the Staff of Ammit could be a more formidable artifact than Mjolnir and Gungnir.

Before Arthur shares the truth regarding the Staff of Ammit, Steven identifies the object as just a cane. Arthur quickly corrects him, clarifying that the staff was a gift to Ammit’s first Avatar. More importantly, the staff contains “a tiny sliver of her power,” which Arthur now possesses. Unlike Mjolnir and Gungnir, which were crafted and enchanted, the staff contains a direct power source from a mystical entity, making the weapon more dangerous. Without any offensive capabilities like energy projection or blasts, Arthur is capable of draining the life of a human by simply holding the staff near the victim.

Moon Knight episode 2 also presents this new Phase 4 weapon as a way to summon creatures of the underworld. With a purple hue glowing from the handle, Arthur taps the staff to the ground, allowing supernatural entities to break through. More specifically, Arthur summons the help of another jackal, a beast that only Steven/Marc can see. The staff’s powers are rooted in magic like previously seen weapons, but its link to Egyptian gods and goddesses, particularly those with dangerous motivations, makes Arthur’s staff a force to be reckoned with. It’s very likely that Moon Knight has only scratched the surface with the staff and Ammit’s magic, which doesn’t bode well for anyone going up against Arthur Harrow.

New episodes of Moon Knight release Wednesdays on Disney+.

About The Author

Kara Hedash
(1751 Articles Published)

Kara Hedash is a features editor and writer for Screen Rant. From time to time, she dives into the world’s most popular franchises but Kara primarily focuses on evergreen topics. The fact that she gets to write about The Office regularly is like a dream come true. Before joining Screen Rant, Kara served as a contributor for Movie Pilot and had work published on The Mary Sue and Reel Honey. After graduating college, writing began as a part-time hobby for Kara but it quickly turned into a career. She loves binging a new series and watching movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to hidden indie gems. She also has a soft spot for horror ever since she started watching it at too young of an age. Her favorite Avenger is Thor and her favorite Disney princess is Leia Organa. When Kara’s not busy writing, you can find her doing yoga or hanging out with Gritty.

More From Kara Hedash