Adamantium Vs. Vibranium: Which Is the Strongest Metal in Marvel Movies?
Marvel films have introduced both Adamantium and Vibranium. But when compared, which metal is stronger?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has done an incredible job building on comic-book lore. This has included the chance for fans to see Marvel’s in-universe types of metals make the leap onto the big screen. Given that they have played such an important role in the source material, establishing these concepts in the movie adaptations was equally as vital. Of course, this brings up the discussion of adamantium vs. vibranium and which metal is stronger.
From Wakanda’s supply of vibranium to Wolverine’s adamantium-laced skeleton, Marvel’s fictional metals are undoubtedly a powerful asset. Both of those metals are nearly indestructible in comics and films. However, only one can be considered the strongest, with vibranium vs. adamantium being one of the most hotly debated battles among fans.
Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on January 15, 2024: Introduced in Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther became one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most popular heroes. Before the MCU, however, one of the biggest Marvel heroes was Wolverine by way of Fox’s X-Men movies. Black Panther and Wolverine respectively wielded vibranium and adamantium, making many fans question which hero would come out on top in a battle. The answer isn’t exactly simple, due both to the properties of the metals and the heroes themselves.
Vibranium’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Vibranium originated from a meteor that crashed to Earth millions of years ago, in both the comics and the films. The resulting radiation mutated the plants and soil in its vicinity, producing the energizing Heart-Shaped Herb that gives each Black Panther his or her powers. While Killmonger destroyed all the Heart-Shaped Herbs, Shuri managed to create a new version in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. When mined with sonic technology, the metal inside the herb can be used for architecture, clothing, weapons, and other items, serving as a testament to how adaptable the substance is.
Vibranium’s natural properties also allow it to absorb kinetic energy, stopping any projectiles in its tracks. And because of its durability, vibranium is deemed the strongest metal on Earth. Although it is strong, the metal does have a few minor limitations. As Black Panther‘s final fight scene highlights, sonic technology can weaken vibranium and warp both T’Challa and Killmonger’s suits. Vibranium can also be damaged by weapons of the same material, as shown when Black Panther scratches Captain America’s shield in Captain America: Civil War. Extraterrestrial metals can even cause severe damage to vibranium, which was demonstrated in Avengers: Endgame when Thanos’ double-edged sword breaks apart Cap’s shield.
Adamantium’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Both the comics and the films establish adamantium as a man-made alloy. It has many forms in the comics, with the earliest being used as a hybrid metal with vibranium to make Captain America’s shield. However, there is only one version of the metal in the films.
Adamantium is at its most malleable when superheated and left in a liquid form. William Stryker developed it, and he explains in X2: X-Men United that it’s virtually indestructible when cooled. Once hardened, it isn’t nearly as malleable but can withstand almost all forms of pressure and heavy impacts. In addition, it’s bulletproof and can slice through other metals like a knife through butter.
Those elements make the metal as deadly as it is indestructible, but it isn’t perfect. Adamantium is highly susceptible to Magneto’s abilities, and he can even bend it to his will, a feat otherwise impossible to do. As showcased in The Wolverine, the Silver Samurai’s superheated blade can slice off all six of Logan’s claws.
The film proves that while the average enemy doesn’t have the means to weaken adamantium, it isn’t an impossible task, making it more vulnerable than other near-indestructible metals.
Is Vibranium Stronger Than Adamantium
In the comics, the metals have clashed more than once, and more often than not, adamantium can damage vibranium, including Cap’s shield. However, vibranium can also take more prolonged hits thanks to its durability. For now, it’s not confirmed if Cap’s shield is a hybrid, but this could explain why it was so easily scratched.
Nevertheless, when comparing the films, vibranium has proven far more durable and adaptable than adamantium. Adamantium is denser, but it can still succumb to extreme heat, while vibranium’s only true weakness is sonic waves and itself. By lacking easily accessible counters, vibranium easily takes the crown as the stronger metal in the Adamantium vs. Vibranium debate.
Black Panther vs. Wolverine
The question of vibranium vs. adamantium evolves into the idea of whether Wolverine can beat Black Panther. In the universe of the Fox X-Men movies and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, both heroes have been portrayed as particularly resilient opponents. It’s easy to assume that the victor is decided by whoever wields the strongest metal in the Marvel Universe. It’s not that simple, however, as adamantium vs. vibranium is far too simple a concept to encapsulate the two fighters.
Both Black Panther and Wolverine are highly trained fighters, with Logan having decades of training and experience in this regard. While Black Panther might be able to commune with ancestral spirits in the astral realm, he can’t outright emulate their training, let alone live it. Evening the score is Black Panther’s advanced vibranium suit, which can absorb and redirect kinetic energy. Arguably, this might be enough to counteract Wolverine’s blows, especially since his adamantium skeleton is already somewhat weak against vibranium. Both fighters’ sets of skills would pave the way for them both to get in hits, however, and it’s through this that Wolverine might prevail.
After all, Wolverine’s greatest power is his healing factor, and in X3: The Last Stand, this allowed him to survive material evaporation from Phoenix. It can be argued that this was a stronger version of the “dusting” that happened to many MCU heroes, including Black Panther. If his healing factor can undo such devastating attacks that would have effortlessly killed other beings, it should also allow Wolverine to last long enough to defeat Black Panther. This actually makes the adamantium vs. vibranium debate somewhat irrelevant. After all, even if his adamantium claws are cut off, his inner bone claws can constantly heal as well as the rest of him.
Will Adamantium Be Introduced In the MCU?
So far, vibranium has been the main metal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it was introduced long before Black Panther. That’s not been the case for adamantium, however, with the supposed strongest metal in Marvel Comics still being absent in the MCU. It was, of course, present in the world of the Fox X-Men movies, but that was a separate continuity. Most likely, adamantium has yet to be introduced in Marvel Studios’ shared universe since the X-Men are seemingly only now being introduced. Even then, this ties into the current Multiverse Saga and involves Fox’s X-Men instead of new takes on the characters.
There have been rumors that the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World will feature adamantium in some way. If so, it may be leading up to the debut of the MCU’s own version of Wolverine. If that ends up happening, it will likely revive the adamantium vs. vibranium debate, allowing fans to see how the two metals might fare against each other on the big screen. There are distinct advantages that vibranium has over adamantium, but if the latter is bonded to the skeleton of Wolverine, even the strongest metal in the Marvel Universe doesn’t need to factor into why Logan is the best there is at what he does.