Adam Warlock vs. Thanos: Who Wins the Fight? (MCU & Comics)
Adam Warlock and Thanos are two of the most powerful characters in the Marvel universe, and their paths have crossed many times in the comics. Both characters possess god-like powers and abilities, making them near-invincible in battle. But when it comes to a one-on-one fight, who would come out on top? Both have wielded the Infinity Gauntlet, and both have an understanding of the Universe on a completely different level. When it comes to a battle between Adam Warlock and Thanos, who wins?
Thanos wins in a fight against Adam Warlock. He has superior strength, speed, and stamina, and one might argue that his powers and abilities outclass those of Adam Warlock as well. Even though the two met in the memorable Infinity Saga showdown, It was not Warlock that put an end to Thanos’ conquest. It was Nebula or, depending on how you look at it, the Infinity Gauntlet itself. In terms of raw power in the MCU, Thanos would also overpower Adam Warlock. Victory is possible only if he manages to outsmart him, as the Avengers did during the Endgame.
I understand that this might be a sensitive battle due to the general opinion that Adam Warlock has what it takes to take on Thanos and walks away victorious. But through the careful analysis of our heroes in terms of powers, abilities, speed, durability, strength, and intelligence, we’re going to show you why we came to our conclusion and why Adam Warlock could never overcome the Mad Titan. If you’re interested in our reasoning, stay with us and keep reading!
Powers and abilities
Thanos can harvest, utilize, and absorb energy at nearly the highest level. He can manipulate magnetic, elemental, cosmic, and soul energies. With his unique mastery over time and space, he could take down the strongest characters in the Marvel Universe. Alone. Thanos can manipulate souls and minds.
He can utilize a unique skill to manipulate matter and control biological processes. No stone is left unturned when Thanos is close by. He is especially gifted in mystic matters. Although no one would exactly call Thanos a great magician, he is quite capable of dealing great damage with curses and spells.
In the MCU, it’s similar as it is clear that no single being, character, or entity can stand in Thanos’ way without being defeated. Having access to two stones made Thanos the strongest being in the Universe – this was a comment made by Bruce Banner. Gamora, on the other hand, commented that Thanos with three stones equals a threat they cannot stop. In the end, Thanos had access to all six stones.
With all six Infinity Stones in his possession, Thanos gained control over reality. He could manipulate time, energy, space, and even souls. He was near-omnipotent and could wipe out half the Universe with a snap of his fingers. This is considered one of the most deadly and destructive feats possible.
Adam Warlock was created to be the epitome of human perfection, with special physiology and connection to the Soul Gem, making him one of the most powerful beings in the Universe. He can manipulate cosmic and elemental energies and quantum magic to manipulate space-time.
He can also create energy constructs for various purposes. He’s a powerhouse when it comes to energy projection. We can expect his powers in the MCU to be similar to those in the comics, even though his origin story may be slightly different and the substitute for the Soul Gem is not yet clear. Still, from the trailers and photos, it is seen that he has a gem on his forehead.
Even though Thanos is afraid of Warlock, and even though Thanos was once ultimately defeated by Warlock (although it was not a true defeat in a sense), it wasn’t because Thanos was overpowered. He was merely outsmarted. This point goes to Thanos.
Points: Adam Warlock (0:1) Thanos
Strength and Stamina
The full extent of Thanos’ strength is unknown, and he has many feats to prove it, both in the comics and the MCU. He managed to take down and overpower the strongest that Marvel could throw at him with his physical strength alone. Thanos lifted the Galactus Engine and recovered it from the depths of Ego, the Living Planet. He likewise managed to destroy an entire planet by charging into it. His unique deviant physiology likewise produces no fatigue toxins. This means that he has near-unlimited stamina at his disposal.
Even in the MCU, Thanos displayed incredible strength feats. He snapped Loki’s neck with one hand. He crushed Tesseract without getting harmed. He was seen overpowering, throwing, and steamrolling the strongest Avengers. Unaided by anything by his physical strength.
Despite being ranked as a class 4 in terms of strength, Adam Warlock has demonstrated the ability to increase his strength to a level of class 40. He has shown incredible strength, able to manipulate heavy objects and hold his own in battles against some of the strongest characters in the Marvel universe. He has been able to lift and throw characters like Thor and Hulk with ease.
It is uncertain to what extent this strength will be portrayed in the MCU version of Adam Warlock, but it is unlikely that he will surpass the strength of characters like Thanos.
Points: Adam Warlock (0:2) Thanos
Speed
Despite his bulky frame, Thanos repeatedly proved that he could reach speeds faster than light. He is capable of flying, he can teleport, and his combat reflexes are nearly unmatched. In some instances, Thanos proved himself to be omnipresent.
In the MCU, Thanos has demonstrated a remarkable ability to react quickly to various attacks, as seen in his ability to catch Thor by surprise, dodge all of Hulk’s strikes, and show great agility even when fighting against opponents who are much smaller than him. His speed feats in the MCU are nowhere near those in comics, but still, the same can be said for any other character.
Adam Warlock can move at high speeds, potentially reaching the speed of light if conditions allow it. He can fly by canceling Earth’s gravity and teleport himself instantly when needed. He can cover vast distances, reflected in his quick reaction time and movements in combat. We’re not exactly sure how much this will translate to MCU, but we can be sure that Thanos and Warlock’s speeds would be evenly matched.
Points: Adam Warlock (1:3) Thanos
Durability
Thanos is highly resistant to all forms of injuries. His Eternal physiology makes him immune to poisons, diseases, and toxins. Even if something manages to damage Thanos, his extremely fast healing factor will take care of it rather quickly. In some instances, Thanos was barred from dying by Death herself. Even if something manages to kill him, it’s only a matter before he returns to life again.
Speaking of MCU, we’ve seen how durable Thanos was when he managed to wield the Infinity Gauntlet without serious consequences. This means Thanos absorbed and tanked enough force to power an entire continent for a week.
Adam Warlock is highly invulnerable himself. He managed to tank hits from some of the biggest Marvel powerhouses in the comics, and his unique physiology makes him highly resistant to most forms of damage. Just like Thanos, Warlock has a trick up his sleeve, likewise. If Warlock is damaged seriously, he can always retreat to his cocoon and regenerate completely. Warlock also resurrected himself after dying on numerous instances.
We’ve seen the cocoon in the trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and we can expect he will also use it for regenerative purposes.
Due to that, the point goes to both of them.
Points: Adam Warlock (2:4) Thanos
Intelligence
Thanos is known for his exceptional intelligence and ability to predict outcomes. From a young age, he was recognized as one of the most intelligent beings among Eternals, if not the most intelligent. He was able to anticipate the collapse of his home planet, Titan, due to overpopulation. Additionally, he used his keen perception and calculated thinking to evaluate the actions and motivations of those around him.
Adam Warlock is likewise extremely intelligent, able to comprehend reality completely differently. Warlock managed to outsmart Thanos in several instances, which is why the point goes to him.
Points: Adam Warlock (3:4) Thanos
Combat Skills
Thanos is an expert in combat, in all kinds of fighting styles, and with all kinds of weaponry at his disposal. He has mastered using weapons, such as his double-edged sword, and has defeated some of the strongest martial artists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He defeated Hulk in hand-to-hand combat and quickly overpowered Black Panther. It is difficult to defeat Thanos when he is not using weapons, but when he is armed with blades, it is almost impossible to stop him.
In the MCU, we’re likely to see Adam Warlock using combat skills on a higher level, but in the comics, he is nowhere near the level that Thanos is. Warlock never had to “learn how to fight” simply because he has plenty of other cosmic powers at his disposal, with the help of which he can overpower even the strongest entities.
With everything said, Thanos is among the most lethal fighters in the known Universe, and the point goes to him.
Points: Adam Warlock (3:5) Thanos
Adam Warlock vs. Thanos: Who would win?
Thanos would overpower Adam Warlock in every case, both in the comics and the MCU. His powers, abilities, and physical attributes are on a different scale. In the instances where Warlock defeated Thanos, he was never alone, and it was never due to him being the stronger between the two. We’re still yet to see how Adam Warlock will be presented in the MCU, but we’re confident enough that he will not be able to surpass the Infinity Gauntlet Thanos any time soon.
