Every Power Marvel's Infinity Stones Will Give Thanos

WARNING: This article contains potential SPOILERS for The Avengers: Infinity War

Exactly what powers will Thanos have when he claims the Infinity Stones in Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War? Fans of Marvel's movie universe may think they know the answers, as the Infinity Stones have been introduced one by one. Or, in the case of the Tesseract and Loki's Scepter, been revealed as the true power source of previous MCU weapons. But the villains who have wielded the Stones so far pale in comparison to a villain like Thanos. Which means the world hasn't gotten the slightest idea of what the Infinity Gauntlet can do to the Avengers once Thanos has harnessed the Stones. Luckily, we do.

The Marvel films have made some changes to the comic book versions of the Infinity Stones, particularly changing the colors of each (driving theory-spinning fans into a frenzy as a result). But based on the Infinity Stones in the original Marvel Comics, and the powers we've seen most of them display on film, some educated guesses can be made. Avengers: Infinity War or its sequel may throw some surprise powers into the mix, but for now, here's what we think fans can expect to see when Thanos gathers the Infinity Stones one by one.

There won't be any more spoilers in this Infinity Stone explanation than would be seen in reading the comics on which Infinity War is based. And even if fans have predictions on the attacks coming the Avengers' way, there is still at least ONE Infinity Stone yet to be revealed...

This Page: The Mind Stone & Power Stone

What Powers Will The Mind Stone Give Thanos?

Fans may forever debate the idea that Thanos would willingly give up an Infinity Stone he had already acquired. But believable or not, the Scepter entrusted to Loki in The Avengers was much more than a "mind control stick". It wasn't until Avengers: Age of Ultron that the truth of Loki's Scepter was revealed. It may have looked like a blue jewel doing the magic... but it was actually the yellow Mind Stone. After the fact, it was easy to see how the Infinity Stone had been used for one of its most direct, and all-purpose powers. Mainly, granting the wielder the ability to take over the minds of other beings, and have them follow orders, or give up any information or secrets they held (such as controlling Hawkeye and manipualting the rest of the Avengers in their debut outing).

In Age of Ultron, the Mind Stone was used to effectively give "life" to Vision - or some higher form of it, the film seemed to imply. In the end, he only really used to blast energy beams, but remember: it was the Mind Stone that gave Scarlet Witch her powers of mind control, hallucinations, dream invasion, and forced delusions. Add in what looks to be Vision using the Mind Stone to appear human in Infinity War, and that is one dangerous object.

Once Thanos gets his hands on it - assuming Vision doesn't survive his attack from the trailers - expect to see every one of these powers on full show. In the comics, the Mind Stone turned a moment of Thanos' wild rage into a universe-spanning wave of psionic energy. It obliterated planets and stars, and when striking Earth - at just 2% of its power - sunk Japan, the Western coast of the United States, and more. It will also give Thanos access to the thoughts, fears, fantasies, and dreams of Marvel's heroes - which can be twisted with help from the other Infinity Stones.

What Powers Will The Power Stone Give Thanos?

The Power Stone was introduced to the MCU in Guardians of the Galaxy. While posing a threat itself, the Power Stone helped establish some general ideas about all the Infinity Stones (too powerful for most to wield, and one of a set of concentrated "singularities"). It is, as its name implies, exceptionally powerful. Powerful enough to wipe out worlds, as shown in Guardians. Beyond that, the actual attacks or powers offered aren't that complicated.

The Power Stone amplifies any strengths of the wielder, meaning Thanos would be even stronger than he already is. It also grants control over all "power" in the Marvel Universe - a gift which will come in handy when cosmic heroes use their own power/energy/mystical attacks against him (effectively reduced to nothing, if he wishes). But the most interesting effect of the Power Stone is the boost it provides to every other Infinity Stone in the Gauntlet. For example: pair the Power Stone with the Mind Stone and Thanos can not only invade the minds of his enemies but enter the mind of every living being in the universe.

So yeah, the Power Stone is... powerful.

What Powers Will The Space Stone Give Thanos?

First, it was known as the Cosmic Cube of Captain America: The First Avenger, sought after by Red Skull and used to create energy weapons for HYDRA (and later, S.H.I.E.L.D.). In The Avengers, it was called by a more refined name, becoming the Tesseract; not just an energy source, but an object that could open portals/doorways across millions of miles. And finally, it was revealed to be an Infinity Stone at heart - the Space Stone, to be specific. Suddenly, its ability to transport villains and an alien army from across the universe made perfect sense. Because the first power granted by the Space Stone is immunity to the rules of space and distance in all forms.

In its simplest functionality, it would allow Thanos to teleport anyone or anything wherever he chooses - including himself (explaining his arrival out of a portal in his first Infinity War trailer). Unleashing an army onto Earth would take little more than a thought, and combining these abilities with other Infinity Stones makes for even more terrifying attacks (which we'll get to soon). Still, transportation is likely to be the main use for Thanos in Infinity War - and may actually explain how Hulk makes it back to Earth, if Loki sent him there before turning the Space Stone over to Thanos.

We would be remiss to leave out some of the most crowd-pleasing powers afforded by the Space Stone. In the Infinity Gauntlet comics, Thanos used the Space Stone to transform planets into weapons in a massive battle of the cosmic gods. But as satisfying as it may be for Thanos to slam the Avengers with the Moon - instantly transported onto the battlefield - it's the Space Stone's relationship to dimensional travel that may be the wild card. Thanos only tore holes into dimensions of demons and alien monsters by accident in the comics, but could do the same on film (or transport his enemies there to do battle, permanently separated from their backup).

What Powers Will The Time Stone Give Thanos?

Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange using the Eye of Agamotto

The Time Stone may be the easiest Infinity Stone to understand since it was used as a major plot point in Marvel's Doctor Strange. In the film, Dr. Stephen Strange used the Time Stone (contained inside of the Eye of Agamotto pendant) to see into the past, rewind and freeze time, and trap Dormammu in a never-ending time loop. That covers most of the abilities fans are likely to see once Thanos gets his gauntlets on it, albeit with far more precision than Dr. Strange (and perhaps no need for spells or incantations). Paired with the other Infinity Stones, Thanos having the ability to observe the past, present, and future is the first step in him changing it as he likes.

At its most powerful (again, that Power Stone comes in handy) the Time Stone grants the wielder the ability to exist in all times simultaneously. Since the Space Stone will allow Thanos to effectively be everywhere at once, as well, these illustrate the godhood the Infinity Stones can truly bestow. The Time Stone also allows Thanos to age or de-age anyone or anything he chooses. It would also make him immortal... if he had to worry about that kind of thing. For the fans eager to crack the mystery of Avengers 4's ties to time travel, this may be the explanation.

But it's the final Infinity Stones that really promise to turn the Marvel Universe on its head for years to come.

What Powers Will The Reality Stone Give Thanos?

Thor: The Dark World takes a beating among Marvel's movie slate, but it might be a good thing that the Dark Elf Malekith wasn't able to use the Reality Stone to its full potential. In fact, it's unclear if the Dark Elf leader even knew that the all-powerful Aether was actually an Infinity Stone at all. In the MCU, the Reality Stone at the heart of the liquid Aether is one of the few to actually show its sentience by selecting Jane Foster as a host. Jane didn't know how to use the Aether, though, so audiences have been kept in the dark. Which might be a good thing for the MCU as a whole, since the Reality Stone is, without question, the most explosive and game-changing weapon Thanos could ever get his hands on. What does it control? Reality itself.

Right off the bat, audiences are going to need to suspend some disbelief and scrutiny, since the power to change reality in an instant is more than a little overpowered. In The Dark World, Malekith extended the Aether out into a convergence of realms, hoping to snuff them out. In hindsight, that could be a sign of the restrictions placed on the Realty Stone in the MCU. In the comics, it allows Thanos to turn Wolverine's bones to rubber, encase Cyclops' head in an airtight box, and at its most extreme, kill half of all beings in the universe with a snap of his fingers. Thanos loses the battle to Earth's mightiest heroes? Simple, just use the Reality Stone to change reality into one where he didn't lose. You see the problems here.

There will have to be some kind of restriction placed on the Reality Stone for the movies, lest it take over the battle. That being said, it was used to make Malekith grow ten times in size in The Dark World, so perhaps Thanos will use it for more small-scale, but spectacularly clever twists in a fight.

What Powers Will The Soul Stone Give Thanos?

Soul Stone Potential Locations in the MCU

Finally, we arrive at the last Infinity Stone to still be a secret in Marvel's Universe. Plenty of theories about the Soul Stone's location have been cooked up by fans, and there is some strong evidence suggesting that Black Panther's powers are Soul Stone related. But wherever it may be hiding, the Soul Stone is the last thing Thanos needs to truly claim himself to be a god in Marvel's Universe. Because the Soul Stone doesn't just let its wielder capture or manipulate souls... it lets them return fallen souls to life.

Captain America may be strong, but what if Thanos brings Peggy Carter back to life in the midst of a battle? Not an illusion, a fantasy, or some doppelganger who looks the part. The real Peggy Carter, brought back to life just as she was when Steve went into those frozen waters. Could he resist? Could Tony Stark withstand his parents brought back to life? Thanos would have the power to bring Quicksilver back to life, or Peter Parker's Uncle Ben, or Thor's mother and father... the list goes on an on.

That mastery over death itself puts a question mark on every casualty in Infinity War, or any other MCU story. But with the Soul Stone also containing a Soulworld - a paradise where souls can move onto as a pseudo-afterlife - it's possible that at least one Marvel character would surrender for such a relief. Or Thanos could use souls only to torment, and make every death in the movie count.

Those are the powers, abilities, and reality-bending tricks that Thanos will pull off, if the Infinity Stones follow the Marvel Comics source material. And considering how all-powerful and godlike Thanos will be once his Infinity Gauntlet is filled, calling this movie Infinity War might be a bit of a joke. But we suppose Infinity Slaughter doesn't sound quite as heroic.

MORE: Avengers That Could Wield The Infinity Gauntlet

Key Release Dates

Avengers: Infinity War

Release Date:
2018-04-27