Every Marvel Movie To Include The Infinity Stones (& How They're Used)

The Infinity Stones have been central to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's overarching story and have been featured many times over during its historic twenty-two film run. Throughout this epic and aptly named Infinity Saga, Kevin Feige and his team over at Marvel continued to expand the capabilities of each stone and, in so doing, the possibilities of their expansive and sprawling universe.

According to Wong in Avengers: Infinity War, the ancient history of the stones is tied to the very creation of the universe itself. "At the dawn of the universe, there was nothing, then boom," Wong describes. "The big bang sent six elemental crystals hurtling across the virgin universe. These Infinity Stones each control an essential aspect of existence." The six Infinity Stones - Space, Mind, Reality Power, Time, and Soul - are all dangerous in their own right, but when combined with each other, are capable of much devastation; the bounds of which will be tested by Thanos throughout the film, culminating in his universe-altering Snap.

With such significant McGuffins littering the MCU, it is important to track them throughout their cinematic histories in order to better understand just how powerful they can be. Here is a list of films in which an Infinity Stone is seen and how its power manifested.

Captain America: The First Avenger

In the context of the MCU, the first Infinity Stone introduced is the Space Stone. Able to give the user complete power over space and dimension, the blue gem has the ability to create portals, covering vast distances with ease. These portals seem to have a nearly limitless capabilities, as stone holders seem to hop from planet to planet instantly at will.

Unlike its comic book counterpart, the Space Stone is initially housed in the Tesseract, a luminous and blue cosmic cube that fans began to track in Captain America: The First Avenger. In the origin film, the dastardly Red Skull discovers the Tesseract hidden away in an ancient chapel in Tønsberg, Norway. Due to the Norse iconography adorning the church temple walls, it is clear that the Tesseract (and the Space Stone within it) have a history with Asgard and Odin, but details as to how such an important relic made its way to Earth are scarce. After stealing the Tesseract, the Red Skull is able to harness its power and convert it into powerful weaponry on behalf of HYDRA. In the final altercation between Cap and the Red Skull on board a plane carrying these weapons of mass destruction, the Tesseract burns its way through the craft and lands in the ocean. In the film's epilogue, Howard Stark finds and reclaims it on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D, with whom the Tesseract and Space Stone would remain for several decades, save for the brief span of years in the ownership of Kree scientist, Mar-Vell (more on that later).

The Avengers

Way back at the end of the MCU's Phase 1, the opening shots of The Avengers, MCU fans were treated to the sight of another incredibly powerful Infinity Gem: the Mind Stone. The Mind Stone is yellow in color and has the ability to control minds, allowing the user to have complete control of those in their thrall. Throughout the film, the stone is housed in Loki's scepter and he is seen to control people by touching them in the chest with its tip. Loki ends up enlisting many people (primarily S.H.I.E.L.D. agents) using this method of mind control. As if that weren't formidable enough, the stone is also shown to influence the minds of others who are in near proximity, as demonstrated by the heated argument between the Avengers while in the presence of the scepter.

Interestingly, Thanos gives Loki scepter and Mind Stone in The Avengers, as revealed in the post-credits scene. A pervasive theory suggests that Thanos actually used the stone to control Loki from the time he handed it over to him. If true, perhaps fans can finally let Loki off the hook for some of the destruction that took place in New York. The Space Stone also makes a return in the film. Still in the custody of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Tesseract is being studied by Erik Selvig who hopes to convert the cosmic power as sustainable energy. Much of the plot centers around Loki using the Tesseract (and the Space Stone within) to open a portal to outer space, allowing the vast Chitauri army access to Earth.

Thor: The Dark World

The next stone introduced in the MCU was the Reality Stone. Red in color and, unlike the other stone, able to change its form from solid to liquid and to gas, the Reality Stone has the ability to manipulate matter regardless of logic and scientific law. A Reality Stone-wielding Thanos will later put it simply: "Now reality can be whatever I want," making this particular product of the Big Bang almost limitless in terms of possibility.

For nearly all of the Thor: The Dark World (where the stone is first introduced), the gem assumes its liquid form, known as "the Aether." Coveted by the Dark Elves from ancient times, the Aether has the ability to change all matter into Dark Matter, forcing Asgardian King Bor (Odin's father) to hide it away. But when Jane Foster accidentally discovers and absorbs the reality-bending power of the stone, the new Dark Elven leader, Malekith, goes after it. The Aether is eventually extracted from Jane and, now in its solid stone form, the stone is given to the Collector at the end of the film. The Space Stone also makes its reappearance and is used (off-camera) to help restore the Bifrost before being locked away in Odin's private vault.

Guardians of the Galaxy

The Power Stone makes its first appearance in The Guardian's of the Galaxy. This purple Infinity Stone does pretty much what it says on the tin: it gives the wielder incredible and augmented power including, but not limited to: invulnerability, power absorption, enhanced strength, energy manipulation, and energy blasts. After Celestial Eson the Searcher's tenure with the stone (which he largely used for a campaign of ruthless destruction), it was hidden away on the planet Morag. After Peter Quill a.k.a. Star-Lord acquired the stone, he was pursued by Thanos' henchman Ronan the Accuser. Unsatisfied with handing the Power Stone to his employer, Ronan made a play to take it for himself, hoping to destroy the relatively democratic planet of Xandar.

Like all of the other Infinity Stones, the Power Stone is not able to be held by any normal being and even Peter Quill, who will later be revealed as half-Celestial, needs the help of the other Guardians to contain its energy. After Ronan is defeated, the Power Stone is given to the Xandarian government for safekeeping. However, the destructive gem is later stolen by Thanos off-camera in the events directly preceding Avengers: Infinity War.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

The Mind Stone is back and at the center of the action in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Displaying even more impressive properties this time around, Loki's scepter is shown to have been used to empower the Maximoff twins Wanda and Pietro, granting them psionic abilities and superspeed, respectively. Once the Avengers recover the lost item, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner experiment with its AI-like structure to create "a suit of armor around the world." But this peaceful utilization of the Infinity Stone is interrupted by the accidental creation of Ultron, who frees the stone from the scepter in order to help create a more advanced physical form for himself. However, Ultron's masterplan is ultimately foiled and Tony and Bruce are able to create Vision instead, embedding the Mind Stone in his forehead in order to power him.

Doctor Strange

The emerald Time Stone first enters the MCU in Doctor Strange. Giving the stone-holder the ability to rewind and fast forward time, trap enemies in time loops, look into the past and future, age and de-age a person, and travel through time, this mysterious object is incredibly formidable. Within the confines of the MCU, the Time Stone is associated with the mystic arts and is typically safely possessed by the Sorcerer Supreme by encasing it within the Eye of Agamotto.

In Doctor Strange, the titular hero stumbles upon the stone and its properties while reading the Book of Cagliostro during his studies at Kamar-Taj, using it to recreate ripped pages from the book. In the wake of the Hong Kong Sanctum's destruction, the Dark Dimension began overtaking Earth and Doctor Strange was able to use the stone to keep the Dark Dimension's overlord Dormammu trapped within it by creating a time loop - proving that the stone's power is effective even in locations considered "beyond" time. At the end of the movie, the relic remains encased within the Eye of Agamotto and Strange, the New Sorcerer Supreme, is tasked with its protection.

Thor: Ragnarok

While no new Infinity Stones appear in Thor's third solo installment, a trip to Odin's royal vault would certainly prove fruitful to most MCU fans. After not being seen for several films, the Tesseract (still containing the Space Stone) is on display, earning a "not bad" remark from Hela when considering its power. However, Loki secretly recollects the Tesseract during the destruction of Asgard, bringing it onboard the escape craft. The decision is an eventful one and Loki's acquisition of the Space Stone comes to a head in Infinity War's opening minutes.

Avengers: Infinity War

This MCU mother-of-all-crossovers sees the entrance of the series' final and best hidden Infinity Stone: the Soul Stone. While much of the mechanics surrounding the Soul Stone are still mysterious (even after the completion of the larger Infinity Sage), the gem appears to be able to steal, control, and manipulate alive or dead souls. Additionally, it appears to have the ability to create some sort of pocket dimension, as seen in the post-Snap scene with Thanos and a young Gamora.

Hidden away for some time on the ominous planet Vormir, the stone is protected by the time and space displaced Red Skull, who claims that in order for someone to safely possess the stone, they must be willing to sacrifice what they love. The Mad Titan, though distressed, is quick to throw his daughter Gamora off the side of a cliff to her death and is immediately granted access the stone and its powers.

This being the culmination of so many plots revolving around the Infinity Stones, all the others play their part in the action, as well. The Power Stone is shown to have been taken from Xandar prior to the film's first scene. The Space Stone is stolen from Loki shortly before Thanos kills him, enabling him incredibly quick transportation. The Reality Stone is taken from the Collector off-camera and Thanos uses it to lure Gamora into a trap, ultimately kidnapping her. In a dramatic turn of events, the Time Stone is given to Thanos by Doctor Strange, the stone's fervent protector. Finally, the Mind Stone, still resting in Vision's forehead, is protected by the Earth-bound Avengers (his lover Wanda chief among them), but only until Thanos violently removes it. Throughout the film, it appears as though the acquisition of multiple stones produces deadlier and more effective attacks, as though the stones give each other more and more power. This, of course, is most evident when the complete set of Infinity Stones are powerful enough to wipe out fifty percent of sentient life in the universe.

Captain Marvel

This '90s throwback origin story never mentions the Infinity Stones, but fans certainly recognized the Tesseract, which makes its appearance in the film's final act. It is revealed that Carol Danvers' former mentor Wendy Lawson was secretly the Kree scientist Mar-Vell who, prior to her death at the hands of Yon-Rogg, hoped to harness the Tesseract's energy to create a light speed engine - and, thus, allowing for the escape of Skrull refugees. It is also revealed that Carol received her own power after the engine exploded, connecting her power to the Space Stone in a similar way that Wanda is tied to the Mind Stone. The Tesseract, borrowed by Mar-Vell under the guise of Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., was eventually returned to Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. after the events of Captain Marvel.

Avengers: Endgame

While much of Infinity War's plot revolved around Thanos' mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, this heart-pumping Avengers finale sees the surviving heroes assuming that task - but with an interesting twist. After it is revealed that the victorious Thanos used the power of the stones to destroy themselves, the downtrodden Avengers eventually orchestrate a "Time Heist," in which they go back to different moments in the MCU's history in order to bring the stones from the past and into the present, using them to bring back their fallen comrades and the rest of the world.

The Soul Stone is acquired by Clint after Natasha sacrifices herself on Vormir. Nebula and Rhodey find the Power Stone on the oceanic planet Morag before Peter Quill could get to it. Thor and Rocket revisit the time of Thor: The Dark World in order to extract the Aether/Reality Stone from a possessed Jane Foster. The remaining Avengers return to the epic 2012 Battle of New York. Once there, Bruce Banner convinces the Ancient One to turn over the Time Stone under the condition that all of the Infinity Stones will be re-integrated back into the timelines from which they were taken. After a fierce Cap vs. Cap brawl, present-day Steve Rogers is able to take Loki's scepter and the Mind Stone embedded within it. However, the Time Heist goes a bit awry when Loki teleports the Space Stone out of the time-hopping heroes' grasp, forcing Steve and Tony to go back further into time to acquire it. Landing in the sixties, the two men acquire it from an earlier iteration S.H.I.E.L.D.

Once all of the stones were successfully amassed, Tony, Rocket, and Bruce constructed their own technological gantlet to contain their power. After it was determined that Bruce would be able to withstand the massive amounts of Gamma radiation released when using all of the Infinity Stones at once, the Avengers were able to reverse Thanos' decimation - allowing for all of the Snapped heroes to enter the final fray. The stones proved to be too much for Tony, however, as with a final and courageous act sacrificed he himself in order to defeat a time-displaced Thanos and his extensive army.

The Infinity Saga may be over and Marvel may be looking to explore other corners of the universe (and it's other comics-related McGuffins), but this may not be the last time the Infinity Stones play a role in the franchise's larger story. With surviving MCU heroes still able to access powers derived from the Infinity Stones, new additions to the franchise like WandaVision and Captain Marvel 2 (to say nothing of the Celestial-centric Eternals film) may well go into more depth when describing their history and various capabilities. The Infinity Saga's creators can certainly be proud of how their utilization of Infinity Stones helps to bring the MCU - and its impressive roster of heroes - together.

Next: Every MCU Character Who Wielded An Infinity Stone (Besides Thanos)