Thor is undoubtedly one of the strongest beings in the Marvel Universe, and he is one of the key members of the Avengers. Along with his fellow Asgardians, Thor possesses a set of rare superpowers and abilities, many of which cannot be replicated by anyone else. Much of that is due to his trusty hammer Mjolnir.
In Kenneth Branagh's Thor, Odin says, "Whoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor." However, in Thor: Ragnarok, the God of Thunder learned the powers came from within him. While fans have already seen Thor use a few of his powers, the vast majority of his abilities have eluded the big screen, and most of his powers remain unknown to casual moviegoers.
Updated on July 11th, 2022, by Shawn S. Lealos: The story of Thor continues in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Thor: Love and Thunder in 2022. This sees the God of Thunder in what looks like retirement, as he allowed other warriors to continue their battles while he sought peace. However, Thor is pulled out of retirement when he has to battle Gorr the God Butcher, and it will take all his powers and friends to beat this evil killer. With Thor back for another adventure, it will be interesting to see if the MCU gives him some more powers, as his comic book counterpart has a lot of powers that movie fans have still never witnessed.
Superhuman Longevity
Thor is not a young man. While he looks youthful, he said he was actually 1,500 years old in the MCU. This is close to the comics, as in those he is between 1,500 and 1,800 years old and has been around for a very long time, including fighting to protect Earth centuries before the age of heroes began.
This is because Thor has superhuman longevity. This is part of his existence as a god, where he has self-sustenance, and his body doesn't need the same things as a human to grow older. As Odin shows, the gods will eventually grow old, but for Thor, that still appears to be a long time away.
Super Breath
Thor has a power that he almost never uses, but it is a fun one anyway. Just like Superman over in DC, Thor has the power of super-breath. This was actually shown for the first time in Journey Into Mystery #86 (1962) by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, and Artie Simek.
In this issue, a villain known as Zarrko tries to shoot Thor with a gun that would send him to another dimension. To stop this, Thor uses his super-breath, which is described as "hurricane force."
The Odinforce
The MCU has shown Odin go into his Odinsleep in order to rejuvenate and recharge his powers, but the movie didn't go too far into describing this outside of that. What Odin was recharging was his Odinforce, which is the all-power than allowed him to rule over Asgard and protect the Nine Realms with almost unlimited godlike powers.
When Odin stepped down and turned the throne of Asgard over to Thor in the comics, the God of Thunder received the Odinforce. Like his father, this gives Thor immense powers outside of his normal powerset, but it also requires him to use Odinsleep to keep them charged up.
Cosmic Pyrokinesis
Thor also has a power known as Cosmic Pyrokinesis. This is a new one and is based on a retcon to the origin of Thor, one that he discovered when the Phoenix Force returned to Earth seeking a new host and forced Earth's heroes to fight each other for the privilege. This is when Thor learned that the Phoenix was his real mother and not Frigga.
Along with the knowledge that Phoenix was his mother, he added a new power to his repertoire. This was the Cosmic Pyrokinesis, which allows Thor to generate cosmic flames similar to Phoenix and then utilize it as a weapon similar to his lightning.
God Blast
It's without a doubt that Thor, the God of Thunder, is one of the strongest beings in the Marvel Universe. But, beyond his brute strength, he relies heavily on his inherent powers to achieve victory. For a long time, Thor's powers were channeled through his mystical hammer Mjolnir. Due to a series of rather harrowing events, Doctor Strange found it necessary to bind Thor's lifeforce with Mjolnir.
The two became virtually one and the same. Therefore, if Mjolnir were damaged, so would Thor, and vice versa. While that could be considered a bad thing, it's not all bad. By being bound to the hammer, Thor can accurately use his ultimate power, the God Blast, a destructive blast force that can destroy and kill practically anything, including immortals.
Super Speed
Thor is a god, and when wielding Mjolnir, he can travel at ludicrous speeds. But how fast is he, exactly? In some versions, Thor is not only one of the strongest characters in the Marvel Universe, but he is also one of the fastest, which is evident by his ability to travel faster than the speed of light. Moving that fast has allowed Thor to take down Quicksilver, one of the fastest X-Men characters.
While there is no quantifiable way to determine how fast Thor is, he once said that, on Earth, he can travel at supersonic speeds, but in space, he could travel around the Sun and across the universe in a matter of seconds. That is all probably due to Mjolnir's power transcending both time and space. Yes, Thor once traveled through time.
Transformation
Fans of Branagh's Thor movie will remember that Odin sent his son to Earth - powerless - to teach him some humility and once again become worthy of Mjolnir. The same thing happened in the comics, albeit with some differences. For one, Thor came to Earth without any memories of Asgard and, instead, was given the identity of a medical student named Donald Blake.
After a series of events, Donald Blake happened to come across Mjolnir disguised as a walking stick. When he slammed it on the ground, he transformed into the god Thor - complete with the looks and powers of the Thunder God. For years, Thor would continue his medical practice and use the hammer to transform between the mortal Donald Blake and the god Thor, but, eventually, he gave up his alter-ego and returned home to Asgard.
All-Tongue
Being an Asgardian god and the protector of the Nine Realms, Thor's job must involve conversing with drastically different races, many of which speak different languages. While it's easier for filmmakers to have everyone speak English, so that audiences can keep track of the dialogue, in the comics, Thor speaks every language from all of the Nine Realms.
Well, sort of. He speaks whatever language he wants. However, with the Thor power of the All-Tongue, whoever he's speaking to will automatically hear him in their native language.
Invulnerability
Being an Asgardian/Elder God hybrid (akin to that of a demigod), Thor has been granted immunity to all of Earth's diseases and infirmities, as well as extreme heat and subzero temperatures. In addition to his immunity, Thor is virtually invulnerable.
Not only is his skin impenetrable to human weaponry and tools, but he also has flown into the center of the Sun (as well as other stars), withstood the weight of planets, resisted blasts from Odin, Celestials, and the Asgardian weapon Destroyer, and has survived - unscathed - the blast from the Doomsday Bomb.
Superhuman Senses
When thinking about a superhero with superhuman senses - someone who can hear people miles away or see things no one else can see - people think about Superman. Which makes sense, but the fact is, not many people realize that Thor's superhuman senses far outmatch that of Superman's. Once again, thanks to Thor's Asgardian/Elder God physiology, Thor's senses are heightened to an unprecedented level.
Thor was able to take down Quicksilver, who was moving faster than the speed of light, due to his ability to track objects at FTL speeds. Additionally, Thor can see objects that lie on the edge of the solar system. As for sound, Thor has claimed to be able to hear cries from the other side of the world.
Superhuman Healing
As everyone knows, Thor is the God of Thunder - which comes with a few perks. For one, he's nearly invincible. But do not mistake him being nearly invincible for him being invulnerable. He can be harmed, and, if the circumstances are right, even killed, though that is nigh-impossible.
Like several other characters in the Marvel Universe, Thor possesses superhuman healing in addition to his near invulnerability. While he cannot regrow a lost limb, like Deadpool, he can regenerate rather quickly, similar to Wolverine, just not quite so quick. Thor's powers are not unlimited and required time to be replenished.
Earth Control
In the early 2000s, due to a series of rather complex events, many Asgardians found themselves trapped inside the bodies of ordinary humans. And that's where they remained until Thor returned from his deep sleep - after first breaking the Ragnarok cycle - and built a new Asgard above Oklahoma. When Thor returned, he was essentially reborn and discovered his power over the Earth, making him one of the most powerful Asgardian gods.
After accepting his Elder God heritage, not only could Thor summon the weather, but he could also control parts of the Earth, and even create chasms spanning across the continent as well as causing earthquakes. In times of need, when weapons and brute strength are not the answer, perhaps ravines separating Thor from his enemies becomes necessary.
Mind Resistance
Thor has an indomitable will, but his mind is far stronger than most people realize. In addition to having a mind-body relationship with his trusty hammer Mjolnir, Thor has a natural ability for mind/mental resistance. However, that's not to say he hasn't been mind-controlled before.
Over the course of his many years, Thor has fought and defeated several telepathic mutants and resisted the music from Ares, a mind-attack from Glory, and a mind blast from Super-Beast, and he has resisted the gravest of Loki's spells. While Thor is no Charles Xavier or Jean Grey, he's managed to resist even their mind attacks, although he ultimately gives in. Thor's mind is not impenetrable, but it is much more difficult for someone on Marvel's Earth to penetrate than a cosmic entity.
Mind Powers
In addition to having superior mind/mental resistance compared to his fellow Avengers and Asgardians, Thor has shown the capacity to counteract mind blasts and even assume control of other beings. For example, in a series of storylines in the 1980s, the Asgardian Goddess of Death Hela cursed Thor, making him immortal but also brittle.
After defeating the Midgard Serpent in battle, Thor's body was basically inoperable, so he mentally took control of the Destroyer and forced Hela - upon pain of death - to remove his curse. Thor has even shown the ability to alter one's memories, such as having been able to make Jane Foster forget that she was ever kidnapped by Loki. He calls this Thor power the Gift of Forgetfulness
Self-Sustenance
Asgardians are capable of going for extended periods of time without eating, drinking, or sleeping. For instance, if Thor was on a deserted planet, he'll be able to survive for a long period of time. And if he was lost somewhere in deep space, he'll still be able to survive because he can go without air for an extended duration, incomparably longer than humans.
But that doesn't mean he doesn't need food. Everyone needs food, even the gods, which is why they tend to have large-scale feasts from time to time. The extent of Thor's ability to remain self-sustained varies, but it has been said that he once fought the Frost Giant army for almost a year without sustenance or rest.
Superhuman Stamina
Being an Asgardian/Elder God hybrid, Thor's physiology is unique; he has powers and abilities far greater than the Warriors Three or that of his brother, Loki. One thing Thor shares with many of his fellow Asgardians and Avengers teammates is his stamina. Like his fellow Avenger, Captain America, Thor possesses superhuman stamina.
However, Thor can significantly outlast Captain America's endurance, which is evident in his aforementioned battle with the Frost Giants which lasted over nine months. The actual extent of his power is undefined. Although Thor can fight for considerably longer than most beings, he still requires time to rejuvenate.
Warrior's Madness
There have been countless battles in comic books and movies with the heroes pitted against a superior or overwhelming force. How they manage to survive against overwhelming odds and declare victory is something that can be attributed to various factors. Thor is one of those heroes who possess such an ability, one where if used can be detrimental not only to his enemies but to his friends as well.
The Thor power in question is known as Warrior's Madness. In battle, Thor can enter into the Warrior's Madness, which temporarily increases his strength and stamina; however, it also puts him in a state of berserker rage. He will attack anyone who gets in his way, including his friends. When used, this Thor power makes him the most powerful Avenger, by far.
Master Combatant
It's no secret that Thor is one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe, having been bred and trained to be a war god. He has fought and defeated countless enemies over his many years to protect the Nine Realms, just as his father, Odin, did before him. But it's how Thor fights that is remarkable.
As a warrior, Thor has utilized various weapons. His weapon of choice is the mystical hammer Mjolnir, but his opponents should be warned that the God of Thunder is also capable of expertly wielding swords, maces, and axes, among other things. And, if need be, he is profoundly skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
Teleportation
When characters have been around for decades, sometimes it's nice to spruce things up with variations and minor reboots. That is what Marvel had in mind when they launched the Ultimate Marvel Universe in 2000. On Earth-1610, the majority of Marvel's main characters received updated and re-imagined versions. Here, Thor relies considerably less on Mjolnir for his powers and is shown to be a rather arrogant and unwilling warrior.
Most of Thor's powers do not come from Mjolnir but is rather channeled through it, which is why his power in the Ultimate Universe has been drastically reduced. However, this is an offset, for, in this universe, he's able to teleport with the aid of rune magic. It is said that he can travel great distances - across the cosmos and in between different dimensions. The extent of Thor's power, however, is unknown.