X-Men is a superhero franchise following the lives of mutants who use their powers for good. Based on the classic comics by Stan Lee, the first of which was published in 1963, the first X-Men film came out in 2001, thus kick-starting a catalog of beloved films over the following two decades. Overall, The X-Men comics franchise has spanned almost six decades, beginning with the comics and drifting to other forms of media from films to TV shows and even video games on numerous consoles. While the last movie in the franchise was 2019’s X-Men: Dark Phoenix, the most recent trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness seemingly introduced Professor X — and, by extension, the mutants — into the MCU fold, which is something fans have been hoping for ever since news broke about Disney’s purchase of 21s Century Fox (the studio who owns the rights of X-Men characters).

Among many things, the X-Men franchise is best known for its diverse range of characters and powers. From Jean Grey’s telekinesis to Magneto’s ability to manipulate metal, the X-men’s mutants are full of powerful characters. That said, not all powers are created equal, and some mutants are naturally far more powerful than others. With the mutants poised to make their return to the big screen in the MCU, it’s time for a closer look at the strongest X-Men characters in the franchise’s movie history.

8 Negasonic Teenage Warhead / Ellie

Negasonic Teenage Warhead, known for her badass name as expressed by Deadpool in Deadpool, has the ability to generate explosions from the force generated in her body, some strong enough to destroy a grounded helicarrier. On top of this, she also has a superhuman level of speed, strength, and reflexes and even the ability to warp reality. While she is a relatively new addition to the X-Men franchise, she has power that is comparable to some veteran X-Men like Storm.

7 X-23 / Laura Kinney

Making an appearance in Logan is Laura or X-23, a clone of Logan created by Sarah Kinney who named the girl Laura as a part of The Transigen Project. Laura was trained to be a weapon, having only two adamantium claws in each hand rather than three like Logan. She also has one claw in each foot. Despite her young age, Laura’s power is comparable to that of Logan’s as she manages to fight numerous foes without assistance. Despite this, Laura is still a child and still wants what children want: fun clothes and cool sunglasses. While many would like to see a return of Laura, there has been no talk of a spin-off.

6 Mystique / Raven Darkholme

Raven, who goes by Mystique, is one of the unique mutants in the X-Men universe. Not only is it visibly clear that she is a mutant, but in X-Men: First Class we see how hard Raven works to maintain a “normal” appearance, despite it being exhausting for her to maintain. Mystique’s ability to shape-shift into anyone flawlessly makes her just as dangerous as Magneto, as she manages to trick her victims into doing things willingly rather than doing it by force. Portrayed by Rebecca Romjin and Jennifer Lawrence, Mystique is a staple character when one thinks of the X-Men franchise.

5 Magneto / Erik Lensherr

After facing the harsh cruelty of the Nazis in war-torn Germany and watching his mother killed in front of his eyes, Erik Lensherr learned how his power could be honed through strong emotions. Magneto has the ability to manipulate all forms of magnetism, making him an especially dangerous adversary for Wolverine especially, as Magneto is able to control Wolverine’s entire adamantium-laced body. His powers appear limitless as not only can he manipulate metal, but he can send out EMPs, force fields, and can even shut down electronic devices. While Magneto’s intentions were initially pure, it eventually warped into a hatred of humankind for their history of abuse of mutants.

4 Wolverine / Logan

     Via: GQ

The only hero on this list to be portrayed by a single actor, Hugh Jackman, Logan AKA Wolverine is a mutant born with excess bones in hands that protrude out like claws, which were later altered with adamantium being grafted to his bones to turn him into a weapon. Logan was born in 1832, but his aging appears to be non-existent; he is over 180 years old, but he physically looks no older than his mid-thirties in Logan, due in large part to his regenerative abilities that both slow his body’s natural aging and heal any wound inflicted upon him. While Logan initially showed no interest in being a part of the X-Men, he eventually gave in, realizing that he could do more good with them. Wolverine makes his final stand in Logan; after so long, the adamantium has finally worn down his ability to heal, and after he completes his last mission, he succumbs to the poisoning.

3 Storm / Ororo Monroe

     20th Century Fox

Storm, also known as Ororo Monroe and known for her white hair, is able to control the weather. Storm is a massively neglected character as her powers are legendary, able to blow anyone away with the storms she brings. In the comics, Storm also had a relationship with Black Panther until the two joined the X-Men and the Avengers, respectively, which may be revealed in Black Panther 2. Storm meets an unfortunate end in X-Men: Days of Future Past being stabbed by a sentinel and thrown off a cliff. Of course, with the success of their mission, that timeline is avoided entirely, and she is last seen alive and teaching at the Xavier Institute.

2 Phoenix / Jean Grey

Phoenix, also known as Jean Grey, is a powerful telepathic whose telekinetic powers were so frighteningly strong that Professor X was forced to put psychic dampers on her mind to help control her dark side so that she would not hurt herself or others. Jean succumbs to the Phoenix Force, the power of creation and life itself, after a near-death experience, amplifying her power tenfold and turning her dark.

1 Professor X / Charles Francis Xavier

Played by Sir Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy respectively, Professor Charles Francis Xavier, or simply Professor X, is arguably the most powerful of any X-Men in the entire franchise. Professor X is an exceptionally powerful telepath who can read and control the minds of others around him. While Professor X only uses his powers for good, his power is so strong that it is even considered to be quite dangerous to even put to use. Professor X is also the founder and leader of the X-Men and the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters in which he housed and taught mutants to hone and control their powers. Professor X is also known for his long-standing feud with Magneto with whom he was once friends. Professor X seemingly meets his unfortunate end in Logan, killed by Logan’s clone X-24. That said, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness seems to have brought his character back in a trailer that introduces The Illuminati for the first time in the MCU.