Doctor Strange proved he is capable of greatly expanding his powers and abilities in a recent episode of the What If...? animated series. The comic book version of the Sorcerer Supreme also has a vast array of powers that aren't only limited to magic. With his intellect, fighting skills, and mystical talent, Doctor Strange is one of the most powerful Marvel superheroes.
Stephen Strange first appeared in Strange Tales #110 in 1963, co-created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. He very quickly opened the door to the mystical and cosmic side of the young Marvel Universe, establishing himself as one of its most powerful players facing some of its most potent threats.
His Ego
It might be odd to think of a person's ego as being an asset, but for Doctor Strange, his self-assuredness has proven valuable time and again. His confidence in himself and his abilities drove him to seek out a magical remedy for his damaged hands in the first place and guided him through his rigorous training in both magic and martial arts.
Without his ego, Doctor Strange would likely have given up at a number of points, and the world would have been without one of its most powerful guardians against enemies beyond comprehension. It does get him into trouble sometimes, as it did when he confront Wanda Maximoff in her grief during the House Of M storyline, leading to her hardening against any outside influence.
Intelligence
An accomplished surgeon and a lifelong student, Doctor Strange is one of the smartest people in the Marvel pantheon of superheroes. His intelligence is one of his strongest powers, with his hunger and appreciation for knowledge aiding him in learning the art of magic.
His memory is key in employing the many hundreds of complex spells he routinely uses in the course of fighting evil, as well as reasoning the best strategy in battles against major opponents. Sometimes, it's not acting at all; he sat out the superhero conflict in the Civil War comic book crossover.
Martial Arts
Most fans think of Doctor Strange as a premier magician, but he's actually also one of the best martial artists in Marvel Comics. While studying magic at Kamar-Taj, he also studied a variety of different styles of martial arts including kung fu and judo.
He's also an expert in using a variety of weapons like swords, though he very rarely ever does so. Though Doctor Strange primarily leans on his magic in terms of defense, he has proven his skill as a hand-to-hand combatant during the times he was without his powers, as was the case in the late '80s.
Flight
Doctor Strange has the ability to fly, though it's not a product of his magical ability, necessarily. Thanks to the Cloak of Levitation, a mystical artifact he wears as the Sorcerer Supreme, he is able to fly and levitate. The cloak is one of his most powerful mystical assets and can fly at the high end of subsonic speeds.
The Cloak of Levitation can operate independently of Doctor Strange and fly on its own, though it does need a little bit of magical energy to get started. Without it, the Cloak is not able to function and Strange couldn't fly unless he used a powerful spell.
Energy Blasts
One of Doctor Strange's most powerful offensive capabilities is the use of energy blasts. He can generate magical bolts of energy of indeterminate yield against enemies small and large. He's used them against the Undying Ones, his Phase 3 MCU opponent Dormammu, as well as megalithic threats like Shuma-Gorath.
In some instances, such as Doctor Strange #386, he is able to destroy entire planets with them. Though the energy blasts are often his go-to in battle, he has to be extremely disciplined with them considering the firepower he potentially can deliver.
Phasing
On numerous occasions in Marvel Comics, Doctor Strange has been shown to be intangible, with the ability to phase through walls, streets, and other solid objects. He's also used this power to extract demonic parasites from his own body as well as others.
His phasing power is likely on par with some of the most powerful variants of Kitty Pryde, as both characters in some forms can phase through to other realities. Connected to his ability to phase through matter is his power to become completely invisible.
Astral Projection
Doctor Strange is one of the most powerful Marvel Comics magicians and he proved that with his ability to astrally project. Strange can transmit his essence in an astral form from his physical body, which can then travel virtually anywhere he wants to.
His astral form is also invisible and intangible, without any physical limitations or vulnerabilities. While in this form, Doctor Strange can travel in space and is extremely fast, up to the speed of thought, as was seen in Defenders #29 when the team took on the alien Badoon alongside the original Guardians of the Galaxy.
Time Manipulation
In the MCU, Doctor Strange relies on the Eye of Agamotto and its hidden Time Stone for power over time. In the comics, he uses complex magic to manipulate time. Doctor Strange is able to slow down or even stop time in some cases. He is also able to travel through time.
Doctor Strange needs a lot of power and concentration to affect time, so he uses this power rarely. A benefit of defeating Death in battle was an increased lifespan which gives him even greater reach into time.
Dimensional Travel
One of Doctor Strange's greatest powers is the ability to travel between dimensions. This makes him uniquely suited to the burgeoning multiverse in the MCU, and it's been key in expanding the horizon of the Marvel Universe in the comics.
Strange has been able to travel via magic to the Dark Dimension, the home of Dormammu and his sister Umar, as well as the hell dimension of Mephisto. He can also explore barely understandable planes of existence, where he first discovered some of Marvel's most powerful cosmic beings, like Eternity.
Cosmic Awareness
Along with his ability to travel between different dimensions, Doctor Strange has achieved cosmic or universal awareness. This allows him to sense events in other realms and realities, as well as anticipate threats like invasions from major supervillains Dormammu or Shuma-Gorath.
This is greatly enhanced by the Eye of Agamotto, an ancient artifact of immense power that is connected in magic to the Orb of Agamotto. Doctor Strange gained the Eye and its power from Eternity when the cosmic entity deemed him worthy of its power.