The essentials in 30 seconds: Hela, Asgardian goddess of death and Odin's eldest daughter, embodies an almost limitless martial and magical power, capable of destroying Mjolnir with one hand. Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff, wields chaos magic, a force capable of rewriting reality itself. Two extraordinarily powerful women, two radically different fighting styles. In this article: origins, powers, key moments, and our verdict on the outcome of their confrontation.
There are few duels as breathtaking in the Marvel universe as the one that would pit Hela against Scarlet Witch. On one side, the Asgardian goddess of death, banished by her own father for her thirst for conquest, returning to claim a throne she believes belongs to her. On the other, a young woman from Sokovia who unwittingly became one of the most dangerous entities in the Marvel universe, capable of bending reality to her will. Two female figures who far surpass the simple status of a superheroine or classic villain, each embodying near-cosmic power in her own way.
In this article, we take the time to compare their origins, their arsenals of powers, their most memorable moments on screen, and attempt to answer the question that sparks controversy (necessarily subjective, but well reasoned): who would win in a merciless confrontation? If you're a fan of this kind of comparison, you may have already read our article on the ranking of the most powerful Avengers, which already lays the groundwork for this type of debate.
Hela, the goddess of death banished from Asgard
Hela is no mere passing antagonist: she is Odin's eldest daughter, the first heir to the throne of Asgard, and the architect of his warrior empire. For centuries, she fought alongside her father to expand Asgardian dominance across the Nine Realms, before being deemed too power-hungry and banished, her memory erased from the history books. To fully understand the context of this cosmology, our guide to Asgard's Nine Realms is an excellent companion read, as is our dedicated article on the origins of Thor, god of thunder.
Powers worthy of a deity
Hela possesses strength, speed, and endurance far beyond those of an average Asgardian, already placing her above most of Earth’s heroes. But what truly makes her formidable is her mastery of necromancy and control over weapons: she can materialize swords and spears at will, literally out of thin air, and hurl them with deadly precision. She can also resurrect and control legions of the undead, as demonstrated by her army of reanimated Einherjar upon her return to Asgard.
Her most iconic feat is arguably the destruction of Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer, which she breaks with her bare hands without the slightest apparent effort. The scene immediately established her status as an absolute threat, capable of rivaling figures once thought invincible.
| Power | Description |
|---|---|
| Superhuman strength | Enough to shatter Mjolnir and rival Thor and Hulk |
| Necromancy | Reanimation and control of armies of the undead |
| Materialized weapons | Creation of swords and spears at will |
| Immortality | Extreme resistance to injury and aging |
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View productScarlet Witch, Mistress of Chaos
Wanda Maximoff was born in Sokovia, a war orphan marked from an early age by violence and loss. Volunteering for experiments involving the Mind Stone alongside her brother Pietro, she emerged with powers she initially understood only partially. It was only much later, when she explored her true mystical origins, that she discovered she was actually the legendary Scarlet Witch of prophecy, a wielder of chaos magic whose potential surpassed that of all living sorcerers, including Doctor Strange. To learn more about her complete journey, read our article Scarlet Witch, Mistress of Chaos and Reality.
Magic capable of rewriting reality
Chaos magic, unlike the more “classic” sorcery practiced by Doctor Strange, does not merely manipulate existing mystical energy: it can literally alter the fabric of reality. Wanda can manipulate matter, energy, probability, and even other people’s minds on a scale beyond comprehension. Her most striking feat is arguably the creation of an entire sitcom populated by real residents enslaved in Westview, as well as her ability to track down an entire multiverse to find her children, confronting the entirety of the Illuminati from an alternate reality in just a few minutes.
She also possesses the abilities of teleportation, flight, large-scale telekinesis, and mind manipulation, making her an opponent who is as unpredictable as she is devastating. If you want to understand how these concepts of multiple realities fit together, our article on the Marvel multiverse explained provides a useful framework.
| Power | Description |
|---|---|
| Chaos magic | Reality manipulation on a nearly limitless scale |
| Telekinesis | Remote control of objects and living beings |
| Mind manipulation | Ability to alter other people's perceptions and memories |
| Multiversal travel | Crossing the boundaries between realities |
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View productTheir most memorable moments
Hela versus the entire realm of Asgard
Hela's return to Asgard remains one of the most spectacular moments in the Thor saga: within moments, she decimates the Asgardian army sent to stop her, destroys Mjolnir, and takes control of the throne with astonishing ease. It takes the combined intervention of Thor, Loki, and Hulk, along with Surtur's awakening and the complete destruction of Asgard, to finally defeat her. An opponent whom even the God of Thunder could not face alone. To relive this chapter in its entirety, our article on Loki, god of mischief turned anti-hero looks back at his central role in this confrontation.
Scarlet Witch versus the Illuminati and the Darkhold
In her quest to find her sons across the multiverse, Wanda confronts and eliminates the entire Illuminati of an alternate reality within minutes—a group composed of extremely powerful versions of Captain Marvel, Mr. Fantastic, and Professor X. Corrupted by the Darkhold, she becomes one of the most terrifying threats Doctor Strange has ever faced, and even he considers her beyond his reach in direct combat. If you are interested in Doctor Strange, our article on the master of the mystic arts details this confrontation.
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View productThe Duel: Who Would Win?
On paper, this is an extremely close matchup. Hela possesses near-divine physical strength and resilience, forged through centuries of war across the Nine Realms. She is fast, formidable in close combat, and capable of overwhelming an opponent with waves of materialized weapons and resurrected undead. Against a conventional opponent, she would win with little difficulty.
But Scarlet Witch operates in a league of her own. Her chaos magic does not merely attack: it can alter reality itself, disarm an opponent by rewriting the laws that govern them, or simply erase a threat from existence, as she demonstrated by separating Vision’s soul from his body or neutralizing powerful sorcerers with a snap of her fingers. Against an entity capable of altering the fabric of reality, Hela’s physical strength, impressive though it is, may not be enough: Wanda could theoretically neutralize her necromantic powers before the fight even truly begins.
Our verdict: Scarlet Witch would win, provided she is given time to fully unleash her magic. If Hela manages to force a close-quarters, fast-paced fight from the very beginning, the outcome could be far more uncertain. It is precisely this kind of debate with no definitive answer that has fueled fan discussions for years, much like our article Avengers vs. Justice League: Who Would Win? continues to divide the community.
How to show your allegiance every day
Whether you’re more Team Goddess of Death or Team Scarlet Witch, our store offers a wide selection of items to show your allegiance. The collections of Avengers figures and Avengers villain figures feature hundreds of collectible items, from Funko Pops to premium statues. For Wanda fans in particular, take a look at our Scarlet Witch figures collection and our selection of Scarlet Witch products, including badges, keychains, and clothing in the Scarlet Witch’s colors.
Want to take your cosplay even further? Our Avengers costumes and outfits collection offers faithful outfits inspired by the characters' most memorable appearances, while the Avengers keychains collection lets you take your favorite heroine (or goddess) everywhere with you. Finally, if you're looking to complete your fan wardrobe, our Avengers T-shirts collection covers the entire team, including supporting characters.
Looking for a discreet accessory to wear every day? The Funko Pop Scarlet Witch - Multiverse of Madness keychain features Wanda in her iconic movie costume, while the Scarlet Witch enamel pin can be worn on a bag or jacket, and the Scarlet Witch burgundy red curly wig is the perfect finishing touch for a cosplay at your next events. To fully embody Wanda, the complete Wanda Maximoff costume with cape and headpiece remains the reference in our catalog.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hela stronger than Thor?
In terms of raw physical strength and martial experience, Hela vastly outclasses Thor in his early appearances, as demonstrated by her destruction of Mjolnir. However, a Thor fully aware of his potential, especially after developing his powers without his hammer, could compete with her more seriously.
Can Scarlet Witch defeat Thanos?
In the comics and the MCU, Wanda has demonstrated enough power to disintegrate an entire army of Chitauri with a single gesture, placing her among the most formidable entities in the Marvel universe, potentially on the same level as cosmic threats like Thanos himself.
Why doesn't Hela appear more often in the MCU?
The character disappears during the destruction of Asgard by Surtur in Thor: Ragnarok, which explains her absence from the following films. Her popularity among fans nevertheless remains immense, notably thanks to Cate Blanchett's performance.
What is the difference between chaos magic and traditional sorcery?
The sorcery practiced by Doctor Strange manipulates existing mystical energies according to precise rules. Chaos magic, on the other hand, allows reality itself to be created and altered, making it theoretically far more powerful but also more unstable and dangerous for its user.
Are there other duels of this kind in the Marvel universe?
Absolutely, and it's an exercise we love. Check out our comparison of Valkyrie vs. Okoye or our top 5 most epic Avengers battles to keep the debate going.
Going further into the Avengers universe
- Thor, God of Thunder: the character's origins and evolution
- Doctor Strange, master of the mystic arts
- Top 10 best Marvel villains
- Ranking of the most powerful Avengers
- Complete guide to Avengers villains
Key takeaways
Hela and Scarlet Witch represent two radically different faces of female power in the Marvel universe: one forged through centuries of war and conquest across the Nine Realms, the other born from human trauma transformed into near-absolute cosmic power. Although our verdict leans slightly in favor of Wanda's chaos magic, capable of rewriting the rules of combat itself, the actual outcome of such a confrontation would undoubtedly remain unpredictable until the very last second. Until we can see them face off on screen one day, explore our Avengers villain figures collection, our selection of Scarlet Witch products, or our costumes and disguises collection to embody the one who, in your opinion, deserves the title of most powerful female figure in the Marvel universe.