WARNING: Spoilers for Avengers: Endgame.
Even though the final battle against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame was a team effort, some of Earth's Mightiest Heroes brought unique elements to the fight that ultimately led to his defeat. And, with such a unique variety of skillsets to work with, there was no shortage of talent included to end the decade-long Infinity Saga.
In the final act of Avengers: Endgame, Thanos brings his final battle to Earth, unleashing his army on the few surviving Avengers. At the nick of time, however, countless portals open up on the battlefield, courtesy of Doctor Strange, reintroducing all of the previously fallen heroes from Avengers: Infinity War. With the fate of the universe resting on this fight, Thanos nearly gets the upper hand, until Tony Stark one-ups him at the last second, stealing the Infinity Stones for himself, snapping away Thanos and his army, and saving the day. That said, even though Iron Man might have earned himself the MVP award, there were plenty of other heroes who played integral roles in Thanos' defeat leading up to Tony's final move.
As celebratory as the team's victory might have been, it was hardly without its share of setbacks, struggles, and losses. It also lends a lot of its success to pure chance, seeing as Avengers: Endgame might have never played out the way it did had a rat not unceremoniously (and accidentally) brought Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) back from the Quantum Realm. Here is a list of the most important Avengers in beating Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.
- Ant-Man: One of the key moves in reversing Thanos' snap in Avengers: Endgame was time travel, allowing the Avengers to build a time machine, find the Infinity Stones scattered through time, and use them with Tony's handmade Infinity Gauntlet. Without Ant-Man and Hank Pym's technology, this would have never been possible.
- Black Widow: Retrieving the Soul Stone requires a sacrifice - a life for a life - as Thanos discovered in Avengers: Infinity War. And, in Avengers: Endgame, it's no different. Black Widow ultimately wipes the red from her ledger when she sacrifices her own life to let Clint retrieve the Soul Stone in exchange for saving the universe.
- Hulk: Considering snapping half the universe out of existence nearly killed Thanos, the Avengers knew better than to let just anyone snap the universe back to life. So, given his strength, Hulk was really the only suitable character up for the challenge (especially since Thor wasn't emotionally capable at the time).
- Captain America: Most battles require brute strength, which Captain America more than brought in the showdown against Thanos. Never one to stay down in a fight, Captain America's significance in Avengers: Endgame's final fight is taking a lone stand against Thanos, despite the odds. He's always said that he "can do this all day," and it's in this fight that he more than lives up to his word.
- Hawkeye/Black Panther/Spider-Man: One the key necessities in defeating Thanos in Avengers: Endgame was keeping his hands off the Infinity Gauntlet for as long as possible. Thankfully, the team had characters as agile and quick as Hawkeye, Black Panther, and Spider-Man, all of whom do an admirable job keeping their hands on the gauntlet and out of enemy hands.
- Scarlet Witch: With someone as strong as Thanos, brute strength and keeping him as overpowered as possible is a necessity. Thankfully, the Avengers have Scarlet Witch - a character more than capable (as she proved) to go toe-to-toe with the Mad Titan. In fact, it's Scarlet Witch who nearly defeats Thanos herself.
- Captain Marvel: Not unlike Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel is borderline unstoppable. So, in terms of any one character having a fair fight when it comes to fighting Thanos, it's Captain Marvel. In Avengers: Endgame, she doesn't budge an inch when Thanos attacks her (until he uses the Power Stone), which definitely speaks to her physical abilities.
- Iron Man: Still, when all is said and done, Iron Man is the most pivotal piece on the Avengers: Endgame chessboard. It's his decision to snap Thanos away that wins the war and saves the universe, despite the fatal toll it takes.
- Doctor Strange: Before Avengers: Endgame was even released, Doctor Strange helped pave the way to defeating Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. With the ability to see into the future, he sets the stage for the Infinity Saga's final battle, making the first move by handing over the Time Stone to Thanos.
Even though the Avengers are powerful enough on their own, they proved once and for all in Avengers: Endgame that their individual skills are what define them. What's more is that it's not just their superpowers that give them the upper hand, but the core elements of being human (or alien). The MCU has always been about coming together for the greater good, and this goal has been more than satisfied in the final fight against Thanos.
