The Significance Of Shang-Chi’s Blue & Yellow Ten Rings Powers

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

In Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, what is the significance of the Ten Rings' blue and yellow color change in the film? The Ten Rings had been in the possession of the MCU's true Mandarin (played by Tony Leung) for thousands of years, glowing blue as he wielded them as a conqueror. However, his son Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) inherited the rings in the film's final battle, leading to the change where they glowed yellow in response. Beyond being a dynamic visual cue, what is the larger narrative reason behind the color shift, and does it affect the powers of the Ten Rings themselves?

As Shang-Chi reveals, legends said that the Mandarin (also known as Wenwu) found the powerful artifacts either in a crater or within a tomb, with the true MCU origin of the Ten Rings remaining a mystery. That being said, the abilities and power they granted Shang-Chi's father were immense, giving him immortality and the ability to conquer all of his foes. Amplifying his strength and natural abilities, the Ten Rings allowed the Mandarin to manipulate the energy of the rings to create shields and extend the reach of his strikes, while also being able to remotely control the rings in the air before calling them back, among other things. They also allowed him to reach great distances and generate impressive shockwaves, all the while glowing with blue energy.

However, when the Mandarin attempted to free the Dweller-in-Darkness from its prison in Ta Lo, tricked into thinking it was his wife who was trapped instead, Shang-Chi arrived to stop him. As the battle went on, the Ten Rings started to respond and change in attunement with Shang-Chi's presence when he stole the first set of five rings from his father. Once Shang-Chi started wielding them, they glowed a yellow-orange and emitted yellow energy. Once the Dweller-in-Darkness was freed and Wenwu recognized his error, he relinquished control of all the rings to his son just before his death. Shang-Chi then used the Ten Rings to great effect, seemingly unlocking a greater power due to Shang-Chi's status as having the Heart of the Dragon, potentially explaining the change in the rings' color.

Simu Liu in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Unfortunately, the Ten Rings from the comics look quite different than those of the MCU, seeing as how they're actually rings worn on the fingers rather than the glowing bands worn on the arms of both the Mandarin and Shang-Chi like bracers. As such, there's no solid explanation for the Ten Rings color shift from the comics. However, the comic book version does display a form of sentience and telepathy, so it's possible that the MCU rings do as well and consciously recognized the change in wielders, hence the color change. It seems as though the most likely reason for the change in the movie is due to Shang-Chi having the Heart of the Dragon, matching the colors of the other weapons forged from the scales of the Great Protector. It's worth noting that in Chinese color theory, yellow is seen as the "central" color, and it's also associated with power and the yin and yang being in perfect balance–exactly the thing Shang-Chi needed to achieve to defeat his father. Blue, meanwhile, represents immortality/longevity and advancement, equally as fitting for Wenwu as yellow is for his son.

From a purely visual standpoint, the Ten Rings' change from blue to yellow serves to be visually arresting, letting the audiences know when Shang-Chi was controlling the rings against his father, as well as when they fully came into his possession after the Mandarin's death. Regardless of their color, the Ten Rings have certainly turned the warrior into a major powerhouse, making Shang-Chi a valuable new Avenger going forward in the MCU's Phase 4 and beyond. While the true origins of the Ten Rings remain a mystery, it does seem as though Shang-Chi will continue to unlock their secrets (perhaps even sooner than Shang-Chi 2), and a more concrete explanation will be provided for the color change in the MCU's future. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is now playing in theaters.

More: Shang-Chi Ending Explained: 6 Biggest Questions, Answered