The Marvel Cinematic Universe is built on the backs of heroes who have achieved huge victories in a variety of settings. From dance battles that help save the universe to all-out warfare, many of the heroes and villains have seen intense combat throughout the sixteen years since the MCU began.

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Though one-on-one fights make up many of the major conflicts seen throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, some bigger battles have proven some of the most significant moments in the history of the massive, interconnected universe. These bigger conflicts have created some historical cinematic moments, and they will be remembered for a long time.

10 The Battle of New York

Put Earth On The Galactic Stage

• Seen In The Avengers (2012)

The first huge conflict in the MCU came during the first huge team-up. The Avengers, both an enormous film for the MCU historically and the mighty moment when Earth was declared a force on an inter-galactic scale, saw the Avengers coming together after their own squabbles to face off against Loki and the Chitauri army given to him by Thanos.

This battle is one of the best-remembered third acts in the MCU, having become a famous historical event known to everyone in the world. If the Avengers had not won this battle, Thanos would have taken Earth, subjugated all of humanity, and gotten the infinity stones much earlier than he did, but with nobody to try and stop him or bring everyone back.

9 The Battle At The Triskelion

Almost Killed Off Every Hero

• Seen In Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

One of the most significant conflicts in the MCU took place in the Captain America sequel. Set in modern-day and seeing Steve Rogers trying to deal with life out of his own time, much of the focus of this film was actually on him trying to help Bucky remember him. However, the final conflict itself came down to Alexander Pierce attempting to kill millions of people, all of whom could be threats to Hydra.

Not only would their winning have destroyed the MCU, due to all the superheroes at the time and probably many that have been introduced since being killed, but it also would have resulted in Hydra probably taking control of the whole world. Fortunately, Captain America, teaming with Falcon, Black Widow, and Nick Fury managed to convince SHIELD loyalists to help them stave off the threat.

8 Battle of Xandar

Stopped Ronan’s Rampage

• Seen In Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Guardians of the Galaxy was the first time that fans got a deeper look into the intergalactic side of the MCU, since the Thor movies had up to that point focused almost entirely on Asgard and Earth. This final battle, featuring the whole Nova Corps joining with the Guardians to try and stop Ronan from using the power stone to destroy the planet, was massive in scale.

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Not only did the Guardians' victory halt the plans of Thanos and result in him taking much longer to gather the stones, but it also got rid of Ronan, who could have provided almost as large a threat as Thanos. If he had successfully destroyed Xandar, Ronan likely would have moved on and used the power stone to demolish other planets as well.

7 Battle of Sokovia

Led Directly To The Avengers Breaking Up

• Seen In Avengers: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Another huge-scale conflict that ended a large team-up movie, the Battle of Sokovia, took place between the Avengers and many, many Ultron bots that the villain created. Though the fight itself wasn’t much of a problem for the combined might of the Avengers compared to some challenges they faced, they did lose the newly added Quicksilver to an attack by the main Ultron body.

Additionally, this battle taking place at all resulted in massive ramifications for the team. The Sokovia Accords that split the Avengers were a direct consequence of this battle, and it was another clear potentially earth-ending event if the Avengers hadn’t managed to stop the city from falling back to Earth.

6 The Airport Battle

Brutal Hero vs Hero Conflict

• Seen In Captain America: Civil War (2016)

One of the most spine-chilling battles that have taken place in the MCU, the airport battle was an Avenger vs Avenger conflict, as Captain America and Iron Man came to blows, alongside most of the other major heroes in the franchise, over the Sokovia Accords and whether they should be signed.

The final battle in Civil War came down to just Captain America and Iron Man, but this bigger battle was hugely memorable. The heroes fighting each other, the coldness with which they acted towards each other, the maiming of War Machine, and, of course, the proper introduction of Spider-Man into the MCU at last, were all causes for celebration among fans.

5 The Destruction Of Asgard

Thor Makes A Tragic Sacrifice

• Seen In Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

After the first two Thor movies saw relatively contained final battles, the third act of Ragnarök saw Thor, Loki, Hulk, and Valkyrie returning to Asgard to engage in a battle for the city against Hela. Due to the horrific consequences of what Hela could do with the city at her disposal, Thor chose to let Surtur destroy Asgard entirely instead.

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This brutal sacrifice, the escape of the Asgardian people to Earth, and the loss of Thor’s eye were all highlights of this conflict. Asgard had been a significant location in the MCU up to that point, so its complete destruction felt in itself like the end of an era.

4 The Wakandan Civil War

Set The Stage For Infinity War

• Seen In Black Panther (2018)

Though bigger battles were coming to Wakanda, the final act of Black Panther still feels like it had significant ramifications for the entire MCU. The return of T’challa and his loyalists' battle against the forces of Killmonger made for a conflict unlike anything else seen throughout the entire MCU.

This final battle is regarded by fans as one of the best in the MCU. But the warmongering ways of Killmonger contradicted the peaceful entrance on the world stage that T’challa followed this conflict with, which was a significant difference for the MCU’s Earth. A direct consequence of this was T’challa allowing the Avengers to bring the fight against Thanos to Wakanda, the only place that could hold off his forces as well as they did.

3 The Battle of Wakanda

Ended With The Snap

• Seen In Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

The one major battle that the Avengers unquestionably lost, they were always going to struggle in their unpreparedness against the forces of Thanos. Wakanda and the defenses it had, as well as an entire army, helped the meager few Avengers that had gathered, but it was never going to be enough once Thanos arrived with so many infinity stones already in his possession.

The Avengers were mostly just trying to buy time, and they succeeded to a degree, but Vision was still caught up to and badly wounded. Despite Thor’s timely arrival, beating back the armies of Thanos, it wasn’t enough and Thanos himself arrived to gather the last infinity stone and decimate the entire universe.

2 The Avengers' Final Stand

The Battle For The Universe

• Seen In Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The most sizable and incredible battle in the entire MCU to date, the final stand in Endgame was the culmination of over ten years of build towards the final showdown with Thanos. After the three most important heroes in the entire MCU fought with the Mad Titan, they received backup as his armies landed in the form of thousands.

From the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj to the forces of Wakanda, an incredible army was assembled to stand against the united forces of Thanos. This enormous battle saw few major casualties, apart from Iron Man and Thanos, but nevertheless, it reshaped the MCU and finished an entire chapter, leaving the MCU somewhat directionless for a time.

1 Wakanda vs Talokan

Conflict Of Land And Sea

• Seen In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

One of the most recent huge conflicts in the MCU came in the form of the first actual country vs country battle seen throughout the franchise. Talokan, the underwater nation, attacked Wakanda in its weakened state, resulting in the death of Queen Ramonda. In vengeance, her daughter Shuri declared war on Talokan.

The ensuing battle, featuring an attack on a Wakandan ship by the underwater people, and an individual fight between Shuri and Namor, was a fascinating one. It brought fresh brutality to the franchise, seeing Shuri take on the Black Panther mantle and tread so close to darkness, and it ended with a truce at the last. Despite this, the futures of both countries and possibly the MCU have been permanently changed.

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