How Powerful Is Doctor Strange Really? Reddit Weighs In
The comics-inspired, superhero-packed Marvel Cinematic Universe has a mild issue with power continuity, particularly when it comes to the magic users. For instance, the trickster god Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his adoptive mother, Frigga (Rene Russo), exclusively displayed illusory magic in the "Thor" films, but when it came time for Loki to helm his own Disney+ series, he could suddenly blast collapsing skyscrapers into a new ZIP code. It was stunning to witness, even if it didn't align with the previously provided information.
And in fairness, the limits that contain witches, wizards, sorcerers, and gods are rarely concrete in any story — this isn't an issue to be laid solely at Marvel's feet. Nonetheless, their cinematic flexibility has made fans curious, and with "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" just beyond the horizon, all questions are falling on the shoulders of one Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), the Sorcerer Supreme and the protagonist of the MCU's first horror film (via Fandango).
During his time on-screen, Strange has accomplished incredible feats of CGI, but what exactly are his powers, and can their magnitude be quantified? As always, Reddit had thoughts, and we're going to share some of them with you.
Strange's tactical mind and magical items are his greatest advantage
In r/marvelstudios, Redditor u/felixfactor37 asked, "How powerful is Strange?" Along with their query, u/felixfactor37 also listed some of Strange's achievements, such as effortlessly capturing Loki in the Sanctum Sanctorum (a mystical fortress where sorcerers set up shop) during the events of "Thor: Ragnarok" and trapping the Dark Dimension's ruler, Dormammu (Benedict Cumberbatch ... yes, he played both), in a time loop during the events of "Doctor Strange."
As mentioned before, Doctor Strange is the Sorcerer Supreme. In the comics, this means either he's the greatest in magical technique or he possesses the lion's share of the realm's magical ambient energy — or both. Based on his rapid ascension to leadership, Strange is not only a quick study but also innately loaded with max magic stats. That being said, a great deal of his strength comes from the tools he wields. Redditor u/JuliousBatman, whose additions were upvoted enough to be considered the prevailing consensus, stated, "The Time Stone gives him all sorts of hax. Without it, he's just a (incredibly skilled) wizard."
So is Doctor Strange like Batman, that is to say, just a man without his utility belt? Well, not exactly. Like Batman, Strange is smart. Redditor u/neoblackdragon noted that the Sorcerer Supreme uses his tactical skill to best greater enemies: "All Strange did was teleport Loki before he could react. It never seemed like his powers contained him by being more powerful. ... He stop [sic] Dormammu by being smart. ... It's the power of the stone that lets him do this. Not his own innate power."
There was no consensus on the extent of abilities. Most agreed that Strange is highly skilled but that his successes are better attributed to his mind and his arsenal, rather than his inherent magical strength.