The 30-second essentials: the MCU is divided into 6 phases grouped into two major sagas. The Infinity Saga (Phases 1 to 3, 2008–2019) tells the story of the Avengers' formation through Thanos's defeat in Avengers: Endgame. The Multiverse Saga (Phases 4 to 6, 2021–2027) explores parallel universes and will culminate with Avengers: Doomsday in late 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars. Each phase traditionally ends with an Avengers film that brings all the heroes together to face a shared threat.
Twenty films (and far more series) separate Iron Man (2008) from Avengers: Doomsday (2026). For a new fan, making sense of the Marvel Cinematic Universe can quickly turn into a puzzle: which film to watch first, which phase corresponds to which era, and why do some people talk about the "Infinity Saga" while others mention the "Multiverse Saga"? This guide walks through the MCU's 6 phases in order, film by film, to show how the story was built, from the team's formation to the imminent arrival of Doctor Doom.
This division into phases isn't just a marketing gimmick: each phase corresponds to a coherent narrative arc, with its own rising tension and its own capstone Avengers film. For a complete, detailed film-by-film breakdown, our page The MCU Guide in Chronological Order perfectly complements this article.
Two sagas, six phases: how the MCU is organized
Since 2008, Marvel Studios has built its universe in narrative blocks announced in advance at its conventions (the famous "Marvel Studios events"). Phases 1, 2, and 3 together form the Infinity Saga, centered on Thanos's quest for the Infinity Stones and the Avengers' resistance. Phases 4, 5, and 6 form the Multiverse Saga, which explores the parallel universes opened up after the events of Avengers: Endgame and sets the stage for Doctor Doom's arrival as the next great threat. Find every film ranked in order on our page All Avengers Films in Chronological Order, and the full collection at all Avengers films.
Phase 1 (2008–2012): the birth of the Avengers
It all begins with Iron Man in 2008: Tony Stark builds his first suit of armor in an Afghan cave, unaware that he's just laid the first stone of an entire cinematic universe. Next come The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger, four origin films that each introduce a future team member. To relive Tony Stark's journey from the very beginning, our article Iron Man: The Full Story of Tony Stark covers this origin story in depth.
The film that changed everything: Avengers (2012)
Phase 1 wraps up with Marvel's The Avengers, released in 2012: Loki lands on Earth with Thanos's scepter and a Chitauri army to invade New York. Facing this threat, Nick Fury brings together Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye for the first time. This gathering, told in detail in How the Avengers First Met, lays the foundation for the entire MCU mythology. Find products dedicated to this very first film in the Avengers 2012 - The Movie collection, such as the Avengers 2012 team logo mouse pad, a perfect nod to the team's very first gathering.
Phase 2 (2013–2015): rising stakes and the threat of artificial intelligence
Phase 2 dives deeper into each hero individually before bringing them back together. Iron Man 3 explores Tony Stark's trauma after the New York invasion, Thor: The Dark World takes the action to Asgard, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier upends the entire S.H.I.E.L.D. mythology by revealing HYDRA's infiltration of the organization itself. This same phase also introduces the Guardians of the Galaxy, expanding the MCU into space, as well as Ant-Man and his subatomic world.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Tony Stark and Bruce Banner create Ultron, an artificial intelligence meant to protect Earth, which immediately turns against its creators and all of humanity. This film also introduces Vision, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver, and sets up the fracture that fully erupts in the following phase. To understand the origins of this AI turned infamous villain, head to our article Ultron: The AI That Wanted to Destroy Humanity. The full collection tied to this second Avengers film is available at Avengers: Age of Ultron.
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View productPhase 3 (2016–2019): the peak and the end of the Infinity Saga
Phase 3 is the longest and densest phase of the MCU: eleven films in three years, including Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Captain Marvel. Each of these films drops a clue about the Infinity Stones, Thanos's ultimate goal. For everything about these artifacts and their powers, our article The Infinity Stones Explained: Origins and Powers remains the go-to reference, and our page The Infinity Gauntlet: Complete Guide details the famous gauntlet that brings them all together.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Thanos finally takes direct action, crossing the universe to gather the six Infinity Stones. The film culminates in the infamous "Snap": half of all life in the universe vanishes with a single snap of the fingers. Our article Thanos: The Mad Titan and His Quest for Balance explores this now-iconic villain's motivations, while Thanos's Snap: What Really Happened breaks down this pivotal moment shot by shot. The full collection dedicated to this film is available at Avengers: Infinity War, including the S.H.Figuarts Doctor Strange Figure, Magic Portals.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
A year later, the surviving Avengers travel back in time using quantum travel to retrieve the Infinity Stones before Thanos and undo the Snap. The film ends with a monumental final battle and Tony Stark's sacrifice, closing out eleven years of storytelling that began with the very first Iron Man. The full collection is available at Avengers: Endgame.
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View productSummary table of the MCU's 6 phases
| Phase | Years | Flagship Avengers film | Saga |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 2008–2012 | Avengers (2012) | Infinity Saga |
| Phase 2 | 2013–2015 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | Infinity Saga |
| Phase 3 | 2016–2019 | Infinity War / Endgame | Infinity Saga |
| Phase 4 | 2021–2022 | (no Avengers film) | Multiverse Saga |
| Phase 5 | 2023–2025 | (transition to Doomsday) | Multiverse Saga |
| Phase 6 | 2026–2027 | Doomsday / Secret Wars | Multiverse Saga |
Phase 4 (2021–2022): the multiverse opens up
After Tony Stark's death and Steve Rogers's retirement, Phase 4 radically shifts format: it leans more heavily on series (WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Hawkeye) than on traditional Avengers films. It's in Loki that the concept of variant timelines is introduced for the first time, officially paving the way for the multiverse. This complex idea is explained simply in our article The Marvel Multiverse Explained Simply. Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness then confirm the scale of the phenomenon, while the Master of the Mystic Arts becomes central to this new era, as detailed in Doctor Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts.
Phase 5 (2023–2025): the transition to Doomsday
Phase 5 continues exploring the multiverse with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, Deadpool & Wolverine (which officially reintroduces the X-Men Universe into the MCU), and Captain America: Brave New World. It's also during this phase that Robert Downey Jr.'s name resurfaces, no longer as Iron Man but as Victor von Doom, the new main antagonist. Everything about this casting twist can be found in Robert Downey Jr.'s MCU Return as Doctor Doom, and the character himself is broken down in Doctor Doom: The MCU's New Ultimate Villain as well as on our page Who Is Doctor Doom? Origin and Powers. It's also during this transitional period that the Fantastic Four and the X-Men officially join the shared universe, a shift analyzed in The Fantastic Four Join the Avengers and X-Men in the MCU: How Will It Work?
Phase 6 (2026–2027): Avengers Doomsday and Secret Wars, the grand finale
Phase 6 opens with Avengers: Doomsday, due out in December 2026, which brings together a massive cast blending longtime Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and newcomers, all facing Victor von Doom. This film officially marks the start of the Multiverse Saga's final act, before Avengers: Secret Wars brings the whole saga to a close in 2027. To follow all the news about this already-historic phase, head to MCU Phase 6: What's Coming Next, Avengers Doomsday: Everything We Know About the Film, and The Full Cast of Avengers Doomsday. Our dedicated page Avengers: Doomsday (2026) — Everything You Need to Know also gathers all confirmed information. The official collection is already available at Avengers Doomsday 2026.
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View productWhich film should you start with if you're new to the MCU?
Two approaches are possible. The first, chronological by release date, follows the order described in this article: it's the closest to the experience fans have lived since 2008. The second, chronological by in-universe timeline (some films like Captain America: The First Avenger partly take place during World War II), is detailed step by step on our page The MCU Guide in Chronological Order. For a fan discovering the universe today, the first option is generally the recommended one: it preserves the surprises and reveals in the order the writers intended. A t-shirt featuring the Battle of New York, like the Avengers Infinity War Character Collage Logo T-Shirt, is a fun way to show off your progress through the saga.
Frequently asked questions
How many phases does the MCU have in total?
Six official phases, grouped into two sagas: the Infinity Saga (Phases 1 to 3) and the Multiverse Saga (Phases 4 to 6), the latter ending with Avengers: Secret Wars.
Which film marks the end of Phase 3?
Avengers: Endgame (2019), which closes out Thanos's arc and the first generation of Avengers, right after Avengers: Infinity War the year before.
Why isn't there an Avengers film during Phase 4?
Marvel Studios chose to first develop new characters and the multiverse concept through series and solo films, before bringing together a large team again in Avengers: Doomsday.
Is Avengers Doomsday part of Phase 6?
Yes, it officially opens Phase 6, which will continue with Avengers: Secret Wars to close out the entire Multiverse Saga.
Do you need to have seen every previous phase to understand Doomsday?
It's not required, but strongly recommended: the film builds on elements set up as early as Phase 1 (the Avengers' origins) through Phase 5 (Victor von Doom's arrival), which makes for a much richer experience.
Explore more of the Avengers universe
Want to dig deeper into every step of this timeline? A few more reads:
- The Infinity Stones Explained: Origins and Powers
- The Marvel Multiverse Explained Simply
- Avengers Doomsday: Everything We Know About the Film
- All Avengers Heroes: Complete Character Guide
- See all our Avengers blog articles
What to remember
The MCU reads like a two-part story: the Infinity Saga (Phases 1 to 3), from the Avengers' birth in 2012 to Endgame's victory in 2019, followed by the Multiverse Saga (Phases 4 to 6), which explores parallel universes before everything converges in Avengers: Doomsday and then Secret Wars. Each phase closes with a film that reunites the team and raises the stakes, a common thread running through our all Avengers films, all Avengers heroes, and Avengers figures collections, to keep living this saga day to day while waiting for Phase 6.