Doctor Strange's New Powers In MCU Phase 4 Explained

MCU Phase 4 gives Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) new powers, and here is every one of them. A former neurosurgeon who sustained crippling hand injuries, Doctor Stephen Strange studies the mystic arts. Initially, he only intends to heal himself, but soon discovers the alternate dimensions of magic. When The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) dies, Strange has to step up to the role of the Sorcerer Supreme, protecting the earth at all costs.

Often regarded as one of the most powerful Avengers, Doctor Strange has the power to manipulate time through the Eye of Agamotto by reverting something to its original state, looking into the future, or creating a time loop. His magical abilities—including Eldritch Magic manipulation and interdimensional travel—prove valuable in Thor: Ragnarok when he leads Asgardian brothers Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to their father Odin, and of course during the fight against Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War.

Now, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe ushers in more elaborate stories across the multiverse, there is more room for new characters and newer powers to be introduced. So far in this phase, Doctor Strange has already appeared in Marvel's What If…? episodes 4, 8, and 9, and has an important role to play in Spider-Man: No Way Home. But even before reaching the “height of his powers” in the upcoming sequel Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the character has already reached a new level, exhibited by some exciting new abilities.

Memory-Wiping Spell

Doctor Strange acting weird in spiderman no way home trailer

Doctor Strange’s ability to erase memories has long been established in the comics. When Peter Parker asks for his help following the events of Marvel's groundbreaking Civil War arc, Strange seeks the expertise of Reed Richards and Tony Stark, and the trio successfully combine magic and science to wipe everyone's memory of Spider-Man's secret identity.

In the Spider-Man: No Way Home teaser trailer released in August 2021, Peter reaches out to Strange after his identity is revealed by Daily Bugle editor-in-chief J. Jonah Jameson (JK Simmons), with an assist from Jake Gyllenhaal's Mysterio. Tired of getting hounded by the media, authorities, and even civilians, he wants to reverse Mysterio’s action, but Strange’s solution is to make the entire world forget that Peter and Spider-Man are one. Surprisingly, it seems like Strange has no problem completing this task on his own. However, when Peter realizes that the spell would also take MJ, Ned, and Aunt May’s memory of his identity, he starts interrupting Strange, who then loses focus and control.

Dark Dimension Magic

Evil Doctor Strange destroys the universe.

In What If…? episode 4, Strange is on a quest to stop his girlfriend Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) from dying, but his time manipulation ultimately proves futile and he is forced to witness the woman he loves dying over and over again. Unwilling to quit, Doctor Strange searches for the Lost Library of Cagliostro and learns Dark Dimension Magic, becoming even more powerful by absorbing (often demonic) mystical beings. Strange is successful in reaching a new level of power—now able to summon creatures from different dimensions—and brings Christine back to life, albeit it with tragic consequences.

Energy Absorption

Aside from summoning interdimensional beings, Strange also steals the power of these monsters in order to amplify his own abilities, reaching a god-like stature. He starts with a living garden gnome and eventually absorbs a six-eyed blue bird, a red dragon, and a moose, until he reaches demons and even his other half—a "good" version of Strange who opted not to mess with the flow of time, placed in the same universe by The Ancient One. An example of Doctor Strange's immense power is shown in What If...?'s season-ending battle against Ultron, when he absorbs a gigantic energy explosion caused by five Infinity Stones, and even uses it later on to oppose Ultron’s attacks.

Vishanti Protection Spell

This spell is seen earlier in What If…? episode 4, cast by Wong (Benedict Wong) to protect the Sorcerer Supreme against his own evil twin. But in episode 9, to shield the Guardians of the Multiverse, Strange himself casts a Vishanti Protection Spell, which shows as glowing runes on the heroes’ skin. The spell is so strong that even Ultron wielding the Infinity Stones finds it difficult to penetrate. Aside from physically shielding them, the protection spell also reinforces their physical attributes and weapon strength. This is evident with Black Widow (Lake Bell) beating up Ultron, Gamora’s (Cynthia McWilliams) double-edged sword and Captain Carter’s (Hayley Atwell) shield withstanding the simultaneous energy release of the Infinity Stones.

Shape-shifting

As a result of Strange absorbing mystic beings, he is now able to shape-shift into any of them, individually or combined. This monstrous appearance is seen as he resurrects Christine, and in the final What If…? episode, Strange is obviously struggling with it. Later on, he shape-shifts again, unleashing the tentacles of the terrifying Shuma-Gorath and generating enough energy to counter Ultron’s offense and proceed with the Guardians’ Infinity Crusher plan.

Resurrection

Doctor Strange and Christine hold hands outside at night in What If...?

With the help of the creatures he absorbed and the power of the Time Stone, Strange resurrects Christine in the final moments of Marvel's What If...? episode 4. Sadly, their reunion is cut short. Christine's death turns out to be an Absolute Point—uniquely different from the Nexus Events established in Loki—and Strange's actions cause his entire universe to collapse in on itself.

Immortality

As a result of tapping into the Dark Dimension and freezing himself in time, the sorcerer attains immortality. This is especially highlighted when his universe collapses, and he is doomed to spend eternity alone trapped inside a crystal. Fortunately, after being chosen by The Watcher as a member of the Guardians of the Multiverse, Strange is given a second chance to watch over Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) and Arnim Zola (Toby Jones) in a pocket dimension.

Imprisonment Spell

Doctor Strange The Watcher Pocket Dimension

In a heated battle against himself, Strange Supreme traps his "good" counterpart in a mirror dimension, forbidding his use of magic. Likewise, at the end of What If…? season 1, Strange has secured Killmonger and Zola in a pocket dimension, preventing either of them from getting the Infinity Stones and harnessing them to achieve their respective plans.

Cosmic Awareness

The Watcher and Doctor Strange in Marvel's What If Episode 4

Although Doctor Strange already has an enhanced perception of space and time, with the innumerable creatures he has absorbed, his powers reach the point of being able to hear and see The Watcher. As his universe folds around him at the end of What If...? episode 4, Strange Supreme desperately begs The Watcher to undo his mistakes. However, in a similarly desperate move, when The Watcher needs to interfere and save the multiverse, Strange can also communicate with him.

Given how powerful he is in the comics, it is unsurprising that in the coming MCU Phase 4 movies and shows, there will be allusions to his unparalleled potential, expanding this list of new powers as he goes on. After all, the details shown so far in Marvel's What If...? and Doctor Strange's role in Spider-Man: No Way Home are only the beginning.

Next: Marvel Sets Up Doctor Strange As The MCU's New Most Powerful Hero