One of the biggest mysteries surrounding Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the power level of the titular weapons, particularly in comparison to Mjolnir. Teasers for the upcoming film have so far suggested that Mandarin's rings are indeed stronger than Thor's hammer, which may be surprising for some. After all, throughout the early phases of the MCU, Mjolnir was virtually indestructible, having been forged from Uru (a metal ore from the first moon to ever exist) and imbued with Asgardian magic. That it took Hela, an actual Asgardian goddess, to destroy it in Thor: Ragnarok is further testimony of how strong Mjolnir is.

How the Ten Rings' powers work in the MCU remains to be confirmed. That being said, their comics history is complex and even reminiscent of Mjolnir's in that they, too, were not made on Earth and, what's more, possess cosmic properties. Of course, it isn't clear yet how much of the Rings' comic origins will translate into Shang-Chi. However, judging from the Rings' display of strength enhancement, energy projection, and elemental manipulation in the trailers so far, it's certain that they will be like nothing ever before seen in the MCU.

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If it feels like Shang-Chi is overpowering the Ten Rings, that's because it needs to. The reality is that Shang-Chi, in addition to the titular hero's origin story, functions as a sort of course-correct for the MCU, essentially fixing Iron Man 3's fake villain twist that whittled down Mandarin and the Ten Rings to a simple punchline. In the comics, the rings were actually alien technology created by the Makluans, an alien dragon-like species, and contained the souls and powers of legendary cosmic warriors. Furthermore, Mandarin became a formidable foe after he acquired the rings and trained himself to unlock and master each individual power. From this perspective, the Ten Rings literally outnumber Mjolnir in terms of abilities and power levels.

Shang-Chi teaser Ten Rings more powerful than Mjolnir

 

Though it's unlikely that Shang-Chi will delve into or even include the Ten Rings' Makluan comics backstory, the current phase of the MCU has exponentially expanded its scope of the mystical and the cosmic. Naturally, Mjolnir is no longer paradigmatic of magic and power in the way that it was during the MCU's more grounded phases. In fact, the upcoming Eternals film will introduce a power that can melt Thor's hammer. Evidently, the lines between gods, galactic beings, and (super)humans are becoming blurrier as the MCU grows. The power of the Ten Rings, in a way, serves as the perfect bridge between martial arts expert Shang-Chi and his more mystically inclined counterparts.

This isn't to say that Thor or Mjolnir are relics of the MCU past. If anything, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings presents an opportunity for the God of Thunder and his hammer to advance in the MCU. Thor proved himself to be one of the strongest Avengers throughout the Infinity Saga; however, the MCU Phase 4 has shown that there are indeed stronger beings out there. The power of the Ten Rings compared to Mjolnir is evidence of this. As a result, Thor needs to be challenged in order for the MCU to further develop his character and perhaps unlock Mjolnir's other big power. Ultimately, the introduction of new heroes and villains means returning characters must grow as well.

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