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Summary
Many of the most impressive display of power in theMarvel Cinematic Universehave been carried out by characters that do n’t have any world power whatsoever . Since Marvel Studios kicked off the MCU with 2008’sIron Man , the franchise ’s superhuman , enhanced and technologically - innovative heroes have been front - and - shopping centre in almost every adventure . However , many of theMCU ’s most potent charactersdon’t have any superpowers at all , and have furnish the MCU with some of its greatest bit over the last 16 years , with these sometimes being even more impactful as they prove even ordinary humans can expose the mightiness of a superhero .
One of the strongest facet of the MCU ’s development since 2008 has beenMarvel Studios ' excellent world - construction , and this has gone hand - in - bridge player with introducing a superfluity of regular human eccentric inhabiting the human race of enhanced heroes and villains . While the ilk of Steve Rogers ' Captain America , Asgardian God of Thunder Thor , Bruce Banner ’s Hulk and Master of the Mystic Arts Doctor Strange have showcased incredibly powerful abilities , theMCU ’s average humanshave also delivered their own feat of strong point and quick - thinking . Both heroes and villains , Marvel Studios ' human characters have contributed to some of the MCU ’s most thrilling moments .
A consistent Marvel theme is that valorous actions make someone a zep , not great power , and these characters evidence even everyday people can be great .

10Harley Keener Incapacitates Savin With A Flash Bomb
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Back in 2013’sIron Man 3 , Robert Downey Jr. ’s Tony Stark engage the help of Harley Keener , portrayed by Ty Simpkins , after finding himself stranded in Tennessee . Keener helped the armored Avenger in his fight against Aldrich Killian ’s Extremis - invest soldiers , and in getting even , Stark give Keener advice on how to care with bullies . This lead to Keener ’s show of strength when taken jailed by Savin , one of Killian ’s henchmen , asKeener ignited a flash bomb , distracting the villain and give up Stark to disable him . This was an incredibly rewarding second , perhaps teasingHarley Keener ’s hereafter as an MCU Hero of Alexandria .
9Yinsen Sacrifices Himself For Tony Stark
Iron Man (2008)
Marvel Studios ' first bouncy - action project , Iron Man , mark the origin story of Tony Stark ’s titular Iron Man , but he could n’t have done it alone . After being deal enwrapped by theTen Rings in Afghanistan , Stark worked with Shaun Toub ’s Ho Yinsen to make the miniaturized electric discharge reactor and the first Iron Man suit , using scraps from Stark Industries weapons . Yinsen ’s greatest feat of forte , however , came when he pick out to give his lifeto ensure Stark had enough time to become up and escape the cave , paying the ultimate cost to give the earthly concern one of its most beloved superheroes .
Shaun Toub reprised the role of Ho Yinsen in the opening consequence of 2013’sIron Man 3 , where he attend a talk given by a drunk Tony Stark at the Bern 2000 league in Bern , Switzerland , in 1999 . He advert to this event inIron Manafter the pair became Ten Rings captives together .
8Peggy Carter Saves Captain America’s Life
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
During Steve Rogers ' final blast on the Red Skull ’s compound in 2011’sCaptain America : The First Avenger , there was a moment where Chris Evans ' topnotch soldier was corner by a HYDRA soldier armed with flamethrower . Thanks to the entree ofHayley Atwell ’s Peggy Carter , however , Captain America ’s life was saved , and subsequently , the Red Skull was defeated and the reality ’s goal was prevented . This was a very powerful moment for Carter , whose edition has gone on to be a foundation of the MCU’sWhat If … ?stories , with her actions allowing Steve Rogers to carry through the globe and become an Avenger .
7Yelena Belova Takes Down General Dreykov’s Helicopter
Black Widow (2021)
Although 2021’sBlack Widowhad its problem , the Phase 4 project score the strong insertion ofFlorence Pugh ’s Yelena Belova , the foster baby of Scarlett Johansson ’s Natasha Romanoff . Yelena had also been raised in the Red Room , yet helped her sister take down the organization after come apart free from General Dreykov ’s mind ascendancy . Yelena sure enough expected to sacrifice herself by jam her stave into the engine of Dreykov ’s helicopter , but this would have been a small monetary value to pay for taking out the villain . Thankfully , Yelena hold out , making this one of her most muscular moments - despite wily visual effects .
What will Marvel do with Yelena Belova now that Hawkeye is over ? Here are the best options for Florence Pugh ’s MCU character and her future .
6Phil Coulson Throws A Final Punch At Loki
The Avengers (2012)
One of the most aroused and marrow - turn casualties of the MCU ’s Phase 1 was Clark Gregg ’s Phil Coulson , though his death in 2012’sThe Avengersdid revolutionise the team to band together to take on Tom Hiddleston ’s Loki . Before die out , however , Coulson managed to get one final shot at Loki , blast the God of Mischief through a wall with the weapon created from Asgard ’s Destroyer . This cathartic moment saw Coulson fix one last cut at Loki , though he would return away soon after - and his subsequent career inAgents of SHIELDmay not in reality be canyon to the MCU .
5Wilson Fisk’s Kingpin Almost Bests Daredevil In Battle
Daredevil (2015)
In continuative with the acquittance ofEcho , Marvel Studios mix Netflix’sDefenders Sagainto the MCU ’s timeline on Disney+ , suggest the events of the Marvel Television shows may be MCU canon . This could admit Daredevil and Kingpin ’s battle inDaredevilseason 1 ’s finale , which see the rivals engage in a beastly and strong-growing free-for-all in Hell ’s Kitchen . Matt Murdock ’s enhanced green goddess propose he ’d best Wilson Fisk in this battle , and even though he did , Kingpin sure enough held his own . Granted , Fisk is immensely hard , but he has no superhuman abilities , create him holding his land against Daredevil even more impressive .
4Killmonger Defeats T’Challa In Ritual Combat
Black Panther (2018)
Black Panthersaw Michael B. Jordan ’s Erik " Killmonger " Stevens travel to Wakanda to drum out his full cousin , the late Chadwick Boseman ’s T’Challa , from the throne , hop to practice Wakanda ’s advanced resources to start a planetary race warfare . Killmonger try out his mightiness during his challenge for the Wakandan throne , even though T’Challa had also been unclothe of his Black Panther powers , as the villain easily defeat his full cousin , throwing him from the drop and into the waters below . Killmonger would later be trump byT’Challa ’s Black Panther , but this was still an acute and emotional showing of force from the hardened soldier .
3Katy Shoots The Dweller-In-Darkness
Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
Phase 4’sShang - Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsintroduced Simu Liu ’s Shang - Chi and Awkwafina ’s Katy to the MCU . While Shang - Chi became a original of martial humanities in Ta Lo , Katy was given a crash course in archery , and put her new skills to good use when the Dweller - in - swarthiness attacked . Moments away from consuming the soul of the Great Protector , and therefore becoming unstoppable , the Dweller - in - Darkness was get the better of by Shang - Chi with the help of Katy ’s precise intent . Both Shang - Chi and Katy have been tantalise as newAvengers members in the MCU ’s future , though neither has been seen since 2021 .
2Baron Zemo Uses His Intelligence To Divide The Avengers
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Many villains have tried to destroy the Avengers since their organization in 2012’sThe Avengers , but only one has actually win . Daniel Brühl ’s very humanBaron Helmut Zemosucceeded in driving the Avengers aside during 2016’sCaptain America : Civil War , using only espionage proficiency , his advanced intelligence agency and the Avengers ' own paranoia . The final nail in the casket was Zemo ’s acquisition of a tapeline depicting Sebastian Stan ’s Bucky Barnes , a.k.a . the Winter Soldier killing Tony Stark ’s parents in 1991 , proving villains do n’t demand strong-arm intensity to take on the Avengers , but need only use their own incredible effectiveness against themselves .
Despite lead various iterations of the Thunderbolts team in Marvel Comics , Daniel Brühl ’s Zemo has not been include on the first line - up of the team in Marvel Studios ' upcomingThunderboltsproject , though there is speculation he will be making a surprisal show .
1Sam Wilson Becomes Captain America
The Falcon & The Winter Soldier (2021)










