When Marvel dropped the Avengers: Doomsday cast back during that marathon livestream, the web melted down. One of the biggest reveals? A team of old-school X-Men from the Fox movies is officially making their way into the MCU. It’s something fans have waited decades for, and now it’s finally happening—mutants and Avengers on the same battlefield.
But it prompts an entertaining question: if these seven X-Men were present in the first Avengers movie, how effective would they actually have been against the OG roster of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, and Black Widow? Time will tell.
7. Beast
Hank McCoy brings brains and brawn, but against the Avengers, he’d likely find himself in more of a supporting position. Sure, he could beat up Hawkeye and Black Widow, but Iron Man’s technology and Cap’s super-soldier determination would keep him at bay. And as for brains, Stark and Banner aren’t exactly slouches. Beast is smart, tough, and dependable—but not a difference-maker in this situation.
6. Mystique
Raven Darkhölme’s shapeshifting isn’t so much about raw strength and more about psychological manipulation. She would be able to infiltrate, impersonate, and sow distrust within the team effortlessly. The Avengers tend to get flummoxed by manipulation, and Mystique would be able to feed on that disorder. Nevertheless, once the fists begin to fly, her gimmicks only take her so far against gods and gamma monsters.
5. Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler’s teleportation makes him the perfect disruptor. Picture him BAMF-ing all over the battlefield, striking out of nowhere, and vanishing before people can even see him. He’s fast, slippery, and could give the majority of the Avengers headaches. That being said, although he’s amazing at guerrilla-style fighting, he doesn’t quite possess the firepower to turn the battle himself.
4. Gambit
Remy LeBeau at last gets his MCU time, staff, and explosive cards at the ready. Gambit excels with wild fighting—dirty fighting, trick shots, and suave bedlam. He might easily overwhelm Black Widow and Hawkeye and give Iron Man serious headaches. But Thor and Hulk? His smile only takes him so far. Nevertheless, Gambit’s attacks full of energy would make him one of the more lethal X-Men on the team.
3. Cyclops
Don’t underestimate Scott Summers. His optic blasts can blast enemies to the ground, his tactical sense is razor-sharp, and he’s a born leader. Under Cyclops’ command, the X-Men automatically become more effective and efficient. Against the Avengers, his blend of raw firepower and battlefield tactics might be the deciding factor.
2. Magneto
Fewer heroes can equal Erik Lehnsherr’s destructive capability. Metal everywhere? That is his sandbox. Cap’s shield, Hawkeye’s arrows, Widow’s equipment, and especially Iron Man’s armor would all be weaknesses for him. Even Thor’s hammer would be an interesting standoff. Hulk could be the only Avenger who’d be able to stand against him, but Magneto alone could almost dismantle the team.
1. Professor X
At the pinnacle, there’s Charles Xavier, the strongest telepath in the Marvel cinematic universe. While Magneto overwhelms from the outside, Xavier can take apart the Avengers from the inside. With a mere thought, he could transform their strengths into liabilities—disabling, disorienting, or just plain controlling them.
Picture the destruction of Hulk rampaging out, of Cap questioning himself, or of Tony stuck in the middle of a fight. In a battle of wits, the Avengers would not even know they had lost until it was too late.
So there you have it—seven X-Men who will be seen in Avengers: Doomsday, ranked on how much destruction they might have wrought if they’d been a part of the MCU since day one. Mutants or Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is something that fans have been arguing about for decades, and come 202,6 we’ll finally see that dream become reality at the movies.