The Infinity Stones are most recognizable embedded within Thanos’ Infinity Gauntlet, custom-built by the dwarf Eitri to channel the awesome power of all six stones at once. But it shouldn’t be overlooked that the Stones have had a long history of use in the MCU by many others before him, trapped in various containment devices like the Eye of Agamotto, the Tesseract, and Loki’s staff. Whether used separately or all at once, characters in the MCU have utilized the Infinity Stones to wickedly powerful effect throughout the series’ first multi-phase saga.

10Ronan Dismantles Xandar’s Defenses With One Touch Of The Power Stone

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

The first villain to directly wield the Power Stone, Ronan the Accuser sought to destroy the entire world of Xandar with a simple touch of the purple artifact housed within his hammer. Though Star-Lord and the rest of the Guardians may have been miraculously able to prevent him from doing so, an earlier showing at the beginning of the battle for Xandar suggested it was very possible, as the galactic tyrant vaporizes a planet-wide defense matrix with a simple tap. The extent of Xandar’s defenses may not have been specified, but considering the planet was the capital of the Nova Empire, it says something that the stone was able to crumble its protection so easily.

9The Tesseract Creates A Massive Portal For The Invasion Of New York

Avengers (2012)

Containing the cosmic power of the Space Stone, it’s no wonder that the Tesseract was able to become perhaps the single most powerful form of locomotion in the entire MCU. Among feats like teleporting Red Skull to Vormir and allowing Loki to escape, the Space Stone sent an entire army of vicious Chitauri warriors hurtling across space and time to participate in the invasion of New York. While plenty of other forms of interplanar travel are possible in the MCU, the Tesseract’s ability to act as a mass mode of transport is still unrivaled.

8Thanos Uses The Reality Stone To Trick The Guardians On Knowhere

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Perhaps the single most powerful Infinity Stone, Thanos got a lot of mileage out of the Reality Stone in his encounters with the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy before being able to fill out the rest of his gauntlet. After ruthlessly prying the Reality Stone from the hands of the collector, Thanos was able to use it to conjure an elaborate illusion, baiting the Guardians into attacking and allowing him to kidnap Gamora. Not only that, he was able to use the stone to effortlessly ward away their attacks, turning Drax and Mantis into inanimate objects and turn Star-Lords gun into a harmless bubble blower.

7The Mind & Space Stones Create Three Of The MCU’s Most Powerful Heroes

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain Marvel (2019)

It says a lot that the mere presence of the Infinity Stones is enough to create beings of immense power, with three of the strongest heroes in MCU canon being created as a direct result of their influence. The Mind Stone is responsible for the creation of Vision, who has had many impressive power displays, and enhanced Scarlet Witch’s latent powers to be deadly on a multiversal scale. Not to be outdone, exposure to the Space Stone created Captain Marvel, one of the consistently strongest Avengers ever.

6Eson the Searcher Destroys A Planet With The Power Stone

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Though only technically appearing via flashback, the celestial Eson the Searcher showed off one of the most destructive displays of power in the entire MCU. Using the Power Stone contained within his mighty staff, Eson laid waste to an entire planet, razing it to the core while eliminating an entire alien civilization living on its surface. It’s possible that Eson’s incredible constitution as a Celestial allowed him to withstand the Stone’s power easily, performing such formidable acts with little consequence.

5Thanos Throws A Moon At Iron Man

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Destroying an entire celestial body with one use of the Power Stone is certainly impressive, but Thanos was able to take things one step further by using one as a weapon itself. Becoming frustrated with the spacefaring heroes’ efforts to stall his advance, Thanos uses the power stone to rip apart massive chunks of Titan’s moon, sending them raining down upon Iron Man and his teammates. Though the heroes were able to mirculously avoid the brunt of this attack, it speaks to the awesome abilities of the aptly-named Power Stone.

4Doctor Strange Holds Dormammu Captive With The Time Stone

Doctor Strange (2016)

An ancient, multi-dimensional entity and lord ruler of the Dark Dimension, Dormammu is a supreme being with little to fear. Yet despite being one of the most powerful villains in the MCU, Dormammu was still helpless against the all-consuming power of the Time Stone, creatively wielded against him by Dr. Strange. Dormammu’s inability to escape the strength of the Time Stone’s loop speaks to its true power as an encompassing fundamental force of the universe, undeterred by even the strongest of outside actors.

3Thanos Uses All 6 Stones To Remove Half Of All Life In The Universe

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

The most infamous use of the Infinity Stones, Thanos’ snap is still one of the most iconic moments in movies in general, let alone the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With a mere snap of his fingers, Thanos instantly eradicated half of all life in the universe, fulfilling his mad ambitions at long last. This horrific act needs little explanation, but still speaks to the staggering power of the Infinity Stones if nothing else.

2Hulk Uses All 6 Stones To Resurrect Half The Universe

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Destroying half of all life in the universe is certainly a jaw-dropping display of power. But bringing that same population back to life is even more impressive, which Bruce Banner managed to do when he donned the Infinity Gauntlet for himself and revived half the universe, despite them having been dead for five years. Though the effort nearly killed him, it speaks volumes to Hulk’s own endurance that he was able to withstand the uncompromising cosmic forces that coursed through his body as the Stones fulfilled his request.

1Ultron Sees The Watcher And Nearly Kills Him With The Power Of The Stones

What If… ? (2021)

While Avengers: Age of Ultron seemed to waste Ultron’s potential, What If… ? realized it by depicting an Ultron that got his hands on the Infinity Stones. Not only is Ultron able to succeed at conquering all life in the Universe, demonstrating some of the most overwhelming feats of might along the way, but he’s able to nearly break the fourth wall by discovering the presence of Uatu The Watcher, a multiversal being in his own right. As if that weren’t enough, Ultron nearly kills The Watcher with the power of the Stones, throwing galaxy-scale attacks at him in some of the most dizzying displays of power in the entire MCU.