Every Crime Scarlet Witch Has Committed In The MCU

Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) may be an Avenger but, unfortunately, the Scarlet Witch is more widely known in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the numerous crimes she committed. WandaVision even revealed that Wanda is classified as a terrorist by S.W.O.R.D. Although she has fought alongside Earth's Mightiest Heroes and helped save the universe from Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Endgame, and Scarlet Witch has a shockingly long rap sheet as an internationally wanted criminal.

Wanda and her twin brother Pietro Maximoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) were introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron as orphaned teenage Sokovian nationals who gained their powers via Hydra's experiments with the Mind Stone. True to their Marvel Comics roots, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver were villains before they had a change of heart and joined the Avengers against Ultron (James Spader). However, Pietro died in Age of Ultron's climactic battle, which left Wanda alone in the world. Maximoff emigrated to the United States and lived with the Avengers in their compound. After a year as one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Wanda made a crucial mistake during a mission in Lagos, Nigeria that caused the deaths of many civilians and 11 relief workers from Wakanda. Wanda's tragic accident led to an international uproar and, in response, the United Nations ratified the Sokovia Accords, which placed the Avengers under UN supervision. Since the Sokovia Accords were named after her home country and were implemented because of Wanda's actions, in a way, the Accords are named after Scarlet Witch.

Wanda Maximoff was placed under house arrest by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) but she escaped alongside Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) and joined up with Steve Rogers, who refused to sign the Sokovia Accords. However, Team Cap was captured by Team Iron Man in Berlin, and Wanda was imprisoned in the Raft before Rogers broke her out. Wanda then lived off the grid with Cap, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), and their Secret Avengers for two years before they assembled in Wakanda to take on the alien invasion of the Black Order, who were coming for the Mind Stone in the forehead of Vision (Paul Bettany), who was Wanda's love. When the Avengers were on the cusp of victory, Thanos (Josh Brolin) arrived and killed Vision for the Mind Stone before he used the Infinity Gauntlet to wipe out half of all life in the universe. Wanda was among the billions of souls dusted by Thanos' snap.

Resurrected by Smart Hulk's (Mark Ruffalo) use of the Avengers' own Infinity Gauntlet, Wanda fought alongside all of Earth's superheroes and defenders, and Scarlet Witch nearly killed Thanos herself. After the Avengers' ultimate victory, Wanda attended Tony Stark's funeral, and that was the last time she was seen before the events of WandaVision. This is also the bulk of Wanda's known acts as a superhero and an Avenger. However, despite her heroism, Wanda Maximoff has committed even more crimes and violations of the Sokovia Accords. Fans know Wanda has proven to be a good person who has tragically endured a devastating amount of personal loss but objectively looking at her actions, it's not hard to see why S.W.O.R.D. and the many law enforcement agencies in the MCU consider Scarlet Witch to be a criminal and terrorist.

Hydra Recruit Who Fought The Avengers in Age of Ultron

Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) hypnotizing Tony Stark at HYDRA research base in Sokovia in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Wanda and Pietro Maximoff were radicalized by Hydra as teenagers in Sokovia after their parents were killed when they were 10. After exposure to the Mind Stone thanks to Hydra's "miracles" program, the Maximoff twins gained superpowers, and Wanda manifested telekinesis and telepathy, although her powers rapidly evolved. One of her first super crimes was invading Tony Stark's mind and preying on his trauma and greatest fears by showing him a vision of the Avengers killed by an alien invasion. This vision directly led to Stark building Ultron, which he intended to be a "suit of armor around the world". Instead, Ultron evolved into a global threat who tried to use Sokovia itself to cause an extinction-level event.

Ultron's Henchwoman in Avengers: Age of Ultron

Pietro and Wanda Maximoff on a street in Sokovia in Avengers: Age Of Ultron.

After the Avengers routed Hydra from Sokovia in Age of Ultron, Wanda and Pietro joined up with Ultron, who promised the twins they would get to kill the Avengers. The Maxmioffs accompanied Ultron to Johannesburg, South Africa, where they stole the Vibranium supply of Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis). When the Avengers arrived to stop them, Wanda used her powers to invade the minds of Captain America, Black Widow, and Thor (Chris Hemsworth), planting visions in the Avengers' psyches that incapacitated them like she did Tony Stark. Scarlet Witch also violated Bruce Banner's mind, which directly led to Hulk rampaging in Johannesburg and needing to be stopped by Iron Man in his Hulkbuster armor.

To Wanda's credit, she was horrified when she probed Ultron's mind in Seoul, Korea, and she learned the android's true intentions to destroy the world. Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver turned on Ultron and joined the Avengers. Wanda even overcame her fear in the Battle of Sokovia and made a huge difference as the Avengers fought off Ultron's legions. The Avengers vouched for Wanda based on her heroism and accepted her into their ranks, especially since, with Pietro dead, she had no family left. Wanda became part of Captain America's New Avengers alongside Black Widow, War Machine (Don Cheadle), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), and Vision.

Lagos Mission Gone Wrong in Captain America: Civil War

In Captain America: Civil War, Wanda's tragic mistake in Lagos, when she used her powers to dispose of a bomb worn by Brock Rumlow (Frank Grillo), led to the deaths of numerous civilians and 11 Wakandan rescue workers. This is when the media and public sentiment turned hostile towards Wanda Maximoff, and it was actually unsafe for her to venture out in public. But while Wanda was being shellacked in the court of public opinion, what happened in Lagos was still an accident. However, the incident was the flashpoint that changed the Avengers from a private organization to one that had to follow the mandate of the United Nations or be forced to disband, so Wanda's blunder permanently changed the fate of the Avengers.

Not Signing Sokovia Accords And Siding With Team Cap in Captain America: Civil War

Captain America, Ant-Man, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, And Winter Soldier Standing Together While Wearing Their Superhero Suits From Captain America Civil War

Unlike Tony Stark, Vision, James Rhodes, and Natasha Romanoff, Wanda didn't sign the Sokovia Accords, so Stark placed her under house arrest under Vision's supervision. Escaping with Clint Barton to join Team Cap immediately made Wanda Maximoff an international criminal once again. When they refused to surrender and fought Team Iron Man in Berlin, Wanda, along with Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Sam Wilson, Barton, and Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) all became enemy combatants under the Sokovia Accords. Barton, Lang, Wilson, and Maximoff were apprehended after the battle at Berlin Airport and imprisoned in the maximum-security facility called the Raft.

Fugitive In Avengers: Infinity War

At the end of Captain America: Civil War, Steve Rogers broke Wanda, Sam, Clint, and Scott out of the Raft. However, both Ant-Man and Hawkeye cut deals with the FBI to remain under house arrest so that they could be home with their families. With no family to return to, Wanda Maximoff made no such concessions with law enforcement and she became a fugitive, living on the run all over the world with Rogers, Romanoff, and Sam Wilson. However, Wanda and Vision had romantic interludes, including in Scotland at the start of Avengers: Infinity War.

Wanda joined Cap's Secret Avengers when they returned to Avengers Compound and reconnected with James Rhodes and Bruce Banner, and their disregarding Secretary Ross' (William Hurt) order to stand down continued their Sokovia Accords violations. The Avengers were given sanctuary in Wakanda by King T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and they joined the Wakandan Army to repel the Black Order, but they ultimately lost to Thanos. Wanda was among the billions who died from Thanos' snap.

Attacked S.W.O.R.D. Headquarters Prior To WandaVision

WandaVision Episode 5 - Wanda Steals Vision's Corpse

After Wanda's resurrection and her role helping destroy Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, it's unclear whether she signed the Sokovia Accords. Regardless, WandaVision episode 5, "On a Very Special Episode", revealed that just days after Avengers: Endgame, Wanda learned that Vision's corpse was being held at S.W.O.R.D. headquarters and Scarlet Witch took matters into her own hands. Maximoff attacked S.W.O.R.D. and she stole Vision's corpse before vanishing, which is a direct violation of Section 36B of the Sokovia Accords.

Caused The Westview Anomaly In WandaVision

Wanda resurrected Vision and took over the town of Westview, New Jersey, holding 3,000 people hostage. Maximoff erected a magic barrier over the area that has been dubbed "The Hex" which distorts reality for anyone allowed to enter. Bizarrely, she also altered the reality within Westview so she and Vision could live as man and wife (and later as parents) in a TV sitcom that evolves through the decades starting from the 1950s. However, Wanda's mind control is a painful violation of everyone trapped in Westview as they're compelled to maintain Maximoff's fantasy against their wills. When S.W.O.R.D. tried to penetrate and surveil Westview, Wanda has destroyed their drones, forcibly repelled their agents, including Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and she even left the Hex to confront S.W.O.R.D., turning all of the guns on Acting Director Tyler Hayward (Josh Stamberg).

It's safe to say that no other Avenger knowingly has committed as many violations of the Sokovia Accords as Wanda Maximoff, and Scarlet Witch hasn't answered for any of these crimes in the MCU. Whatever happens next to Wanda Maximoff in WandaVision, she has a tremendous amount of felonies to answer for. Perhaps someone in Westview is an excellent attorney who can help Wanda out.

Next: Why The Sokovia Accords Are Still A Force In The MCU