Spider-Man: No Way Home contained a secret, subtle Easter egg to Doctor Strange's most powerful mystical relic - the Wand of Watoomb. When Marvel introduced magic into the MCU back in 2016's Doctor Strange, they were aware they were taking something of a risk; after all, their entire universe was built on a foundation of pseudo-science. They worked with a number of scientists - including quantum physicists - to create a model of magic they felt worked well with the shared universe, and thankfully the effort paid off. But, while viewers mostly focused on the magic wielded by Doctor Strange and the Sorcerer Supreme, the film was also notable for introducing the idea of mystical relics - notably the Wand of Watoomb.

In the comics, the Wand of Watoomb is one of the most powerful mystical artefacts ever made, capable of storing and releasing magical energy. It has near-unlimited potential, and according to the sorcerer Xandu, it is "the most powerful weapon in all necromantic lore." That's an exaggeration, but not much of one, giving a sense of just how powerful the Wand of Watoomb really is. The MCU's version of the Wand of Watoomb is briefly seen in Doctor Strange, with Wong choosing it when he prepares to defend the Hong Kong Sanctum from Kaecilius and his Zealots. Although Marvel actually filmed this action sequence, it was cut from the final film so as to streamline the narrative - meaning the Wand of Watoomb has never been seen in use in the MCU.

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Spider-Man: No Way Home contained a subtle nod to the Wand of Watoomb as well - so subtle most viewers would miss it. When Doctor Strange's spell goes badly wrong, he restrains it in a device called "La Macchina di Kadavus." Named in Latin, perhaps indicating the age of the magical relic, this doesn't exist in the comics. But the name - which clearly refers to the sorcerer Kadavus, who presumably created it - is a deep cut into comic book lore. There, he created an enchanted crystal that was bound to the Wand of Watoomb, capable of focusing its energies. It was frequently sought by the dark sorcerer Xandu, who was obsessed with the Wand of Watoomb.

On the face of it, this is only an amusing Easter egg. But it's worth noting the MCU has already developed similar Easter eggs from Doctor Strange into major plot-points; that film featured the Book of Cagliostro, another deep cut into comic book lore that was expanded upon in Marvel's What If...? episode 4. There, a twisted version of Doctor Strange discovered the Library of Cagliostro, unlocking secrets of the dark arts that had never been seen before. In the same way, Marvel could well choose to build further on their nod to Kadavus going forward.

This is especially interesting given the Wand of Watoomb is actually a multiversal object in the comics, capable of opening portals between the dimensions. The Masters of the Mystic Arts could therefore find the Wand of Watoomb useful in  Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, helping them to explore the multiverse and learn more of its secrets before all reality is destroyed. The subtle nod to Kadavus and the Wand of Watoomb in Spider-Man: No Way Home could turn out to be more important than viewers think.

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