Matchup · Marvel villain
Spider-Man vs. Thanos
Thanos, one of Marvel's biggest villains. In this site's ratings, the classic Peter Parker Spider-Man wins 1% of their one-on-one fights, so Spider-Man is a long shot.
The verdict: Spider-Man needs a miracle
Fight rules: both fighters at their peak, no preparation, no allies, only their own powers and personal gear. A win is a knockout, a restraint they can't escape, or a forced surrender. The percentages are fan estimates, not official information.
Spider-Man's edge
Nothing realistic beyond a lucky escape.
Thanos's edge
Titan strength and durability, cosmic energy, a genius tactician's mind, and with the Infinity Gems, the power of a god.
Odds for every Spider-Man
Each version of Spider-Man's chance of beating Thanos. The best placed, Cosmic Spider-Man, wins 5% of the time; the worst placed, Spider-Ham, wins 1%. The last column says what moves each version away from classic Peter's 1%.
| Spider-Man | Spidey wins | Bar | Outcome | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Parker Earth-616 comics | 1% | Long shot | The baseline Spider-Man | |
| Miles Morales Earth-616 comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall −3 for this version; +3: Venom strike: one clean jolt can stun or paralyze a living opponent. | |
| Ben Reilly Earth-616 comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall −2 for this version | |
| Superior Spider-Man Earth-616 comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall +2 for this version | |
| Black-suit Peter Earth-616 comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall +5 for this version; +2: The symbiote's stamina keeps him going in long fights against very tough opponents. | |
| Iron Spider Peter Earth-616 comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall +3 for this version | |
| Cosmic Spider-Man Earth-616 comics | 5% | Long shot | Overall +40 for this version | |
| Spider-Woman Earth-616 comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall −3 for this version; +4: Venom blasts stun or knock out living opponents. | |
| Silk Earth-616 comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall −1 for this version | |
| Ultimate Peter Alternate comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall −3 for this version | |
| Ultimate Peter (2024) Alternate comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall −4 for this version | |
| Spider-Gwen Alternate comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall −3 for this version | |
| Spider-Man 2099 Alternate comics | 1% | Long shot | The baseline Spider-Man | |
| Spider-Man Noir Alternate comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall −2 for this version | |
| Spider-Ham Alternate comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall −8 for this version | |
| Spider-Punk Alternate comics | 1% | Long shot | Overall −1 for this version; +2: Sonic blasts stagger living opponents. | |
| Maguire's Peter Film | 1% | Long shot | Overall −4 for this version | |
| Garfield's Peter Film | 1% | Long shot | Overall −4 for this version | |
| Holland's Peter Film | 1% | Long shot | Overall −2 for this version | |
| Spider-Verse Miles Film | 1% | Long shot | Overall −5 for this version; +3: Venom strike can stun a living opponent. | |
| Spider-Verse Gwen Film | 1% | Long shot | Overall −5 for this version | |
| Peter B. Parker Film | 1% | Long shot | Overall −5 for this version | |
| 1994 animated Peter TV and animation | 1% | Long shot | Overall −3 for this version | |
| Spectacular Peter TV and animation | 1% | Long shot | Overall −5 for this version | |
| Insomniac Peter Video games | 1% | Long shot | Overall +1 for this version | |
| Insomniac Miles Video games | 1% | Long shot | Overall +1 for this version; +4: His venom blasts hit far harder than the comic version's. |
Tale of the tape
Eight stats on a 1-to-10 scale, classic Spider-Man against Thanos. How the stat scales work.
Thanos's power set
- Cosmic strength9/10
Strong enough to fight Thor and the Hulk.
- Durability9/10
Nearly impossible to hurt.
- Cosmic energy9/10
Fires devastating energy blasts.
- Genius9/10
A scientist and strategist on a cosmic scale.
- Combat skills8/10
A warlord who has fought for centuries.
Official handbook power grid
| Category | Rating (1 to 7) |
|---|---|
| Intelligence | 6 |
| Strength | 7 |
| Speed 3 or | 7 |
| Durability | 6 |
| Energy projection | 6 |
| Fighting skills | 4 |
Who is Thanos?
Thanos is an Eternal from Saturn's moon Titan, born with the Deviant gene that gave him his grey, hulking form. He fell in love with Death herself, and to win her favor he has tried to wipe out vast numbers of living beings, most famously by erasing half the universe with the Infinity Gauntlet in The Infinity Gauntlet (1991). He debuted in Iron Man #55 (1973) and has fought the Avengers, Captain Marvel, Adam Warlock and the Silver Surfer ever since. He's a genius, a warlord and one of the strongest beings in the universe.
Affiliations
- Black Order
- Commands his elite servants.
- Eternals of Titan
- Born among the Eternals of Saturn's moon.
- Mistress Death
- Has spent his life trying to win her love.
Thanos on screen
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)Josh Brolin, against Tom Holland's Spider-Man
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)Josh Brolin
More in the Spider-Man movie guide.
More matchups
- Doctor DoomMarvel villainSpider-Man 8%
- God Emperor DoomMarvel villainSpider-Man 1%
- MagnetoMarvel villainSpider-Man 15%
- LokiMarvel villainSpider-Man 15%
- Red SkullMarvel villainSpider-Man 75%
- JuggernautMarvel villainSpider-Man 35%
- MephistoMarvel villainSpider-Man 2%
- BullseyeMarvel villainSpider-Man 65%
Further reading
- Every Spider-Man movie in order, and the villains in eachMovie guide
- The toughest opponents Spider-Man has ever faced, rankedPower rankings
- Where to start with Spider-Man: the essential comics, in orderReading guide
Looking for pictures? See official art on the Marvel Database, a fan wiki. This site does not host Marvel artwork.