Power levels have fluctuated a lot in the MCU, but the introduction of the X-Men means they're going to have to be more consistent. Starting in WandaVision, the existence of mutants in the MCU will finally be addressed throughout Phase 4 and beyond. Whether they're created by Scarlet Witch's reality-warping abilities, brought by Doctor Strange through the multiverse, or revealed to be hiding in plain sight all along, the Children of the Atom will soon populate the MCU.

Before the arrival of the X-Men, enhanced individuals in the MCU had very distinct origins. From scientific experiments to mystical herbs and radioactive bites, the extent of superpowers varies depending on the nature of their origin and the skills of the heroes that possess them. That's why a billionaire in a metal suit of armor could defeat an alien warlord while a Gamma-irradiated monster was beaten to a pulp by the same villain, or why Hawkeye, a man with a bow and arrow, can fight alongside the peak-human Captain America and the Norse god Thor.

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However, the abilities of the most powerful MCU characters have suffered from an evident downgrade once they're introduced. Seemingly almighty characters like Vision, who could destroy Ultron in a matter of seconds, or Captain Marvel, who could slice through Thanos' ship like a knife through hot butter, needed to be weakened in order to keep the fight even. Of course, Vision was caught off-guard by Corvus Glaive and Captain Marvel was hit in the face by the Power Stone, but with so many superpowered beings suddenly inhabiting the universe, the MCU may run out of convenient circumstances to explain why a character like Magneto or a Phoenix-possessed Jean Grey doesn't just kill everybody and take over the world.

Vision, Smart Hulk, and Phoenix Jean Grey

The reason why the MCU has compromised the established characters' power levels is because each movie needs to keep the stakes high in order to sell the drama. After all, Avengers: Infinity War wouldn't have been nearly as exciting if Vision had immediately phased through Thanos' chest and crushed his heart. Mutants are fundamentally tied to their powers - it's literally in their genes - so, taking their natural abilities away from them or downplaying their capacity would come off as a more clunky and transparent way to prolong a film's conflict. Tropes like the "mutant cure" plot also require mutants to have been established for a long time, and they would still feel out of place.

One way the MCU could keep the fight balanced once mutants are introduced to the film universe is to not go overboard with their powers in the first place. This would also highlight the unique abilities of Omega-level mutants, such as Scarlet Witch and Franklin Richards. What's essential is that, in a universe where everybody and their dog could have superpowers, the X-Men could stand out as heroes in a way that's both logical and dramatic.

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