***WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Stranger Things 4, Vol. 2***
Stranger Things 4, Vol. 2 just dropped, and it was both elating and heartbreaking. Watching Eddie choose bravery, Vecna burn alive, and Brenner finally kick the bucket was everything that Stranger Things fans could have asked for in the penultimate finale of the entire series. And, while not every character survived to see season 5, nearly everyone came into their own strength and truly had their mettle tested.The characters inStranger Thingsall have something very significant that they bring to the table when it comes to facing off against government conspiracies and interdimensional demonic entities.
But, when it comes to their individual capabilities, obviously some characters are more capable than others too. So when it comes to power, super or otherwise, where do all of the main characters of Stranger Things rate?
Updated on July 6th, 2022 by Hilary Elizabeth: Now that the fourth season of Stranger Things has come to its hell-on-earth conclusion, some characters have proven their talents and skills more than others. In order to reflect the evolution of all of the show's major players, this article has been updated to include their most recent accomplishments.
Eddie Munson
Eddie was undoubtedly one of the most fun additions to Stranger Things 4, and it's heartbreaking that he won't be returning for the fifth and final installment of the series. It's a shame that Eddie didn't have the Satanic powers that Hawkins believed he did, because he might have survived the Upside Down otherwise.
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Eddie may have been adorable, but he clearly wasn't cut out for the world of the supernatural, as the first time that he decided to actually stand his ground against the Upside Down's creatures was also his last.
Steve Harrington
As far as certified badasses in the Stranger Things world go, while Steve does give it his best effort, he's not winning any prizes for it anytime soon.
He's quick to adjust to any situation and also quick to square up to any danger that he encounters, but to put it bluntly, most of the children in the series are better at handling emergency situations than he is. His ability to cope has gotten better over time, but he's still playing babysitter for a reason.
Dustin Henderson
All of the kids in the party have a lot to offer when it comes to scary situations, and there isn't one of them that can't hold their own against some seriously powerful people or things.
But Dustinis a force to be reckoned withbecause he has faced down a Demogorgon, the government squad that was coming after El, and a bunch of Russian operatives that were attempting to reopen the dimensional gate. He's not quite up to snuff in comparison to some others, but when taking into consideration that he's a powerless child, he's exceptional.
Lucas Sinclair
Lucas has never been afraid to face off against people and beings much more powerful than he is, and his devotion to keeping Max and Eddie alive in season 4 really showed what Lucas is capable of on his own.
Whether it was an evil spider-man-demon or a dimwitted jock with a severe case of Satanic panic, Lucas squared up against some of the scariest forces that Hawkins had to offer and came out at least semi-victorious.
Max Mayfield
When it came to the supernatural goings-on in Hawkins, Max was usually just along for the ride, and not by her own choice.
She was admirably a ride-or-die friend, but season 4 really enabled her to come into her own and show what she was made of. And while Max might not have any superpowers, her strength of mind allowed her to withstand Vecna's attacks more than any of his three prior victims. As far as regular humans go, Max isan absolute badass.
Mike Wheeler
While Mike isn't lucky enough to have literal superpowers like El, that doesn't mean that he isn't extremely strong and capable in his own right.
Everyone in their friendship group helps, but Mike is really the trailblazer when it comes to protecting El and fighting against the evil things and shadowy government organizations that come after her. He generally manages to run circles around some very dangerous adults, whether it's his parents or government agents.
Nancy Wheeler
At first sight, Nancy absolutely does not seem like the kind of person who would willingly face off against anyone, whether it's her sexist boss or a bloodthirsty monster. But when the going gets tough, so does she. When facing down a Demogorgon, everyone would want someone like her in their corner.
She not only masterfully investigates what happened to Barb, figures it out, and actually makes her way to the Upside Down, but she also clearly holds her own against this super dangerous creature that has invaded the human dimension. And, her confidence and capability has only grown since.
Jim Hopper
Like most of the characters, Jim Hopper doesn't actually have any superpowers. But with that said, he is a force to be reckoned with, and he has a lot of connections, talents, and skills that come in incredibly handy when things start getting dangerous.
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He's smart, a very capable fighter, and can very easily hold his own against anyone from special agents to foreign operatives to literal interdimensional monsters. Although Joyce had to recently come to his rescue, it's not hard to imagine that Jim would have eventually made his way out of a Russian prison with or without her.
Joyce Byers
Maybe it's just maternal intuition, a desperation to have hope even if it's a logical long shot, or an unusual willingness to believe in the bizarre, but whatever makes Joyce Byers who she is has also made her into an intimidating andferocious fighter.
She connects with Will from a different dimension and manages to keep El anchored when she goes exploring in the ethereal plane, so whatever mojo Joyce has, it's something powerful. Plus, although she began the story as arguably one of the least knowledgeable or connected people, she has not only risen to the occasion, but she has outshone many of the other characters when it comes to what she's been able to accomplish.
Will Byers
Will Byers has experienced things that no little boy should ever have to witness. But on the plus side (if it can actually be considered a plus side), it seems like his experiences in the Upside Down have awakened some latent psychic powers within him, and he can sense many things that others can't.
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He was able to communicate with his mom from the Upside Down, and he seems to have some kind of "true sight" that allows him to see into the other world. And the fact that he managed to even survive the Demogorgon and the Upside Down in the first place despite being a young kid when so many others have been destroyed by it is shocking.
Martin Brenner
Stranger Things 4 was home to some genuinely heartbreaking moments, but the final and confirmed death of Dr. Brenner was not one of them.
He was a clever but cruel man, and although his experiments yielded some spectacular results, his complete inability to actually control them really demonstrated how little power that he himself had. He was an expert manipulator and managed to wrest some power away from others, but ultimately it was the children that he attempted to dominate that were the truly powerful ones and he was just the man behind the curtain.
The Demogorgon
On many levels, it seems like the Demogorgon is just another animal from a different dimension that found its way into this one (although with the deepening Upside Down lore, it wouldn't be surprising to discover if there was something more to these monsters), and is terrifyingly hard to defeat simply because it's completely unfamiliar to the people who live in this dimension.
However, it is a really strong creature, and the fact that it can actually travel between dimensions and seemingly create portals between dimensions by itself makes it pretty extraordinarily powerful.
Henry Creel (Vecna)
Vecna's actions offer a rare insight into exactly how powerful he is because the demonic being formerly known as Number One faced off against nearly every known child with superpowers and slaughtered them all except for one, Eleven.
His powers, or at least his command over them, seem to have only gotten better during his time in the Upside Down. Although El managed to beat him back once again, his ability to channel the Upside Down into literal death and destruction makes him a ferociously powerful creature.
Eleven
Elevenreally came into her own towards the end of Stranger Things 4, both in terms of her mental fortitude and her superpowers. She not only fully rejected Papa's control, but she demonstrated some exceptional new abilities when she apparently brought Max back from the dead.
There are some terrifying interdimensional beings that can do things that most humans can't even dream of, but El is actually capable of waging war against them. And as evidenced by the fact that she was the lone child who stood victorious against Henry Creel when everyone else at Hawkins lab was killed by him, she's the top dog when it comes to telepathy. She's clearly the most powerful human character in the show, and she's unlikely to be toppled from that throne.
The Mind Flayer
Clearly, at least throughout the series thus far, the Mind Flayer is the most powerful Stranger Thingscharacter (or being) by a long shot. While it's hard to know where Vecna ends and the Mind Flayer begins, there is one serious advantage that the Flayer has over the artist formerly known as Henry Creel.
Aside from being able to mentally enslave any human being that it comes into contact with, the Flayer can also take its flayed and create one of the scariest and grossest physical forms imaginable. This giant meat spider would be nearly impossible to defeat even without the mind slave powers.
NEXT:10 Funniest Quotes From Stranger Things Season 4, Vol. I
FAQs
Who is the most loved Stranger Things character? ›
Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) has enjoyed the best arc of any character on the show. First introduced as a popular bully, his relationship with Nancy (Natalia Dyer) gave him some perspective. His newfound friendships with Dustin and Robin turned him into one of the kindest, funniest characters in Stranger Things.
Who all have powers in Stranger Things? ›- Vecna.
- Will Byers.
- The Mind Flayer.
- Terry Ives.
Eleven is one of the strongest characters in Stranger Things. And, I also mean it literally because she is the one with actual superpowers. At the beginning of the series, she was that mystery girl, very quiet and mechanical. After all, she was subjected to so many experiments that it was bound to affect her emotions.
Is El stronger than Vecna? ›Eleven is the only one shown who can resist Number Two's own telekinetic powers and defeat him, suggesting she's stronger than all the others. Dr. Brenner certainly believes she is unique, and Stranger Things has largely proved that to be true.
Who is the scariest in Stranger Things? ›The Duffer Brothers have returned with full power, given how, with the fourth season, they've introduced us to the most terrifying monster yet: Vecna / One /Henry Creel (played by Jamie Campbell Bower).
Who is the Powerfullest in Stranger Things? ›Clearly, at least throughout the series thus far, the Mind Flayer is the most powerful character in the show by a long shot.
How did 001 got his powers? ›Henry Creel/Number 1's Powers Explained
Dr. Brenner's children were granted powers by treating their mothers with psychedelic drugs during pregnancy. Henry Creel appears to be different, however; there's no evidence his mother ever experimented with LSD. Rather, his powers seem to be natural, developing around puberty.
The character, who was at the center of Stranger Things: SIX, possessed the power of precognition. In 1976, her family moved next door to Ricky and quickly learned that he had the ability to manipulate emotions.
Is Vecna stronger than the Mind Flayer? ›The many-legged creature can manipulate people's minds and control them in its attempts to reach the human world. The Mind Flayer causes irreparable damage to Hawkins in the process, but Vecna is even deadlier than his predecessor.
Who can beat Eleven? ›As arguably the strongest Avenger, Carol Danvers is a tough opponent to defeat. She held her own against Thanos during Avengers: Endgame and would easily defeat Eleven, who becomes more tired the more she uses her powers.
Why is 11 more powerful than the others? ›
That said, there's no doubt that the core of her strength was born from the pain she experienced both from her peers and the betrayal of One. But in her trauma, and the apparent loss of her mother when she was young, Eleven found her strength and proved to be perhaps the strongest telekinetic in the entire series.
Is 001 the strongest in Stranger Things? ›Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is the most gifted test subject at the Hawkins Lab, and most likely the most powerful character on "Stranger Things." She possesses strong telekinetic abilities, telepathy, and remote viewing capabilities, and is able to use sensory deprivation to locate nearly anyone in the world.
Is Vecna 11's Dad? ›The theory claims that Vecna is Eleven's father. It first showed up on a podcast called Just The Nobodys, which was posted to TikTok. At first glance, the theory is pretty out-there, but there's actually enough evidence to give it credence.
What is Vecna weakness? ›But he does have a surprising weakness: music. Max was drawn away from his grasp thanks to her favorite song, Kate Bush's “Running Up That Hill,” and plays it on repeat as a sort of mental shield. Vecna also appears to have a connection with his victims in their deaths.
Does Vecna hurt Max? ›The fan-favorite character ended the season in a coma with her bones broken and eyes blinded at the hands of Vecna. Max technically died for one whole minute before Eleven revived her friend, but Eleven's powers weren't enough to bring Max fully back to life.
Why doesn t 11 have powers? ›Eleven lost her powers at the end of Season 3, when she held-off The Mind Flayer. During one of her many encounters with it, Eleven was bitten by the shadowy demon, which leaves a parasitic piece of it wiggling around Hawkins, Indiana.
Did Papa create Vecna? ›At the end of Vol. 1, we learned that Eleven was responsible for creating Vecna, who it turns out is Jamie Campbell Bower's creepy orderly, aka One, aka Henry Creel — “What are we calling him now?” Robin (Maya Hawke) asks later in the episode, echoing my thoughts while writing this recap.
Who is the ultimate villain in Stranger Things? ›Henry Creel, also known as One, Vecna, or the Mind Flayer, is the main antagonist of the Netflix original series Stranger Things.
What are 11s powers? ›Eleven has psychokinetic and telepathic abilities, and is considered the breakout character of Stranger Things.
Will Byers super powers? ›Powers. After his rescue from the Upside Down, Will developed "True Sight", and began seeing visions of the Upside Down. Dr. Owens originally believed Will's episodes were related to post-traumatic stress disorder. Will's experiences were not only real, but were signs of an approaching threat.
Does Will Byers have super powers? ›
Powers and Abilities
Beast Sense: As a side-effect of being rescued from the Mind Flayer, Will could sense the monster's influence, even after being exorcised from him.
The final scene of Volume 1 shows a shot of Vecna, and a close up of the 001 tattoo on his arm, confirming that Henry Creel, a.k.a. Number One, became Vecna.
How did Vecna turn into Vecna? ›In a fit of rage, Henry used his restored powers to brutally murder the other test subjects and workers, and attempted to do the same to Eleven. However, Eleven stood her ground and ultimately overpowered him, sending him through a gate to the Upside Down; there, he gradually transformed into the being known as Vecna.
Why does Vecna want Max? ›Of course, the real reason Max became Vecna's victim was because creators the Duffer brothers and producer/director Shawn Levy wanted to showcase Sink's talent and really allow her to get some meaty material to work with this season.
What is 004 power in Stranger Things? ›Precognition - Francine possesses precognition, an ability that lets her see visions of the future.
What are 003 powers Stranger Things? ›Telekinesis: Like most of the other test subjects, Three has a strong level of telekinesis.
What is 002 Powers Stranger Things? ›Two was born circa the 1960's with telekinetic abilities. He would eventually be taken to Hawkins Lab under the care of Dr. Martin Brenner under the name "Two", becoming the oldest known experiment.
Who beats Vecna? ›Erica had the final roll of the campaign, and managed to defeat Vecna with a critical hit by rolling a 20...
Who came first Vecna or Flayer? ›How is Vecna and the Mind Flayer connected? Vecna revealed in season four, he was the one who created the Mind Flayer after Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) banished him to the Upside Down. All this time, the Mind Flayer was Vecna, who was using the entity to carry out his orders and speaking through the creature.
Who was the Mind Flayer before Vecna? ›From the information we got during the Stranger Things 4 finale, we can conclude that Henry Creel is the one calling the shots; in fact, Henry is the Mind Flayer. The Mind Flayer, it turns out, isn't even its own being at all.
Can Eleven beat Vecna? ›
Stranger Things season 4 already showed audiences how Eleven can defeat Vecna in the Netflix series' final season. When season 4 ended, the town of Hawkins was left reeling from an earthquake-like fracture between reality and the Upside Down caused by Vecna.
Can Vecna control time? ›In the series, we learn that Vecna is a human who found himself trapped in the Upside Down for decades. Notably, the Upside Down is a place without time, and we see Vecna wind the clock back in front of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), symbolizing his desire to control and move beyond time.
Who is Eleven's guard? ›At first, we're introduced to Campbell Bower as one of Brenner's nameless helpers from the past, but he soon becomes El's mysterious guardian angel, helping her tap into horrific memories to conjure her powers. He gets punished with electrocution after telling Eleven that Dr.
How powerful is Vecna? ›While Vecna from Stranger Things boasts impressive proficiency in mind control and psionic magic that makes him at a potentially world-ending threat, Vecna from Dungeons & Dragons literally ascended to godhood, cementing his place as one the most powerful magic users in existence - a multiversal threat.
Why is Vecna stronger than Eleven? ›The first reason that Vecna was stronger than Eleven is simple. He was older and more experienced. He was the original subject in Project MKUltra, and using his DNA, Dr. Brenner was able to make or alter the other children so that they would also have powers.
Why does Vecna need 4 gates? ›Ultimately, it is revealed in Stranger Things season 4's finale that the reason why Vecna was killing Hawkins teenagers was to create a massive gate that merges the Right Side Up with the Upside Down - and he specifically needed four bodies to do so.
Who is the Mind Flayer 001? ›The Mind Flayer is Vecna. Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) has a connection to the very beginning of 'Stranger Things. ' After his first battle with Eleven, One found himself in the Upside Down.
How do they defeat Vecna? ›The trio gets upstairs and find Vecna strung up on his vines, unconscious while he deals with Eleven in the mind palace. They torch him with Molotov cocktails, and when he wakes up, Nancy shoots him with a sawed-off shotgun.
What are Vecna's powers? ›What are Vecna's powers on Stranger Things? In addition to telekinesis, Vecna is shown to have telepathic powers as he enters into people's thoughts and attacks them remotely from the Upside Down. He is shown to target people with trauma as he haunts them with their own dark thoughts.
Who TF is Vecna? ›Inspired by the horror movies of the 80s and the fictional villain from the world of Dungeons & Dragons, Vecna is the humanoid monster from the Upside Down with a red skull and blackish-brown veins protruding from his body, he is an undead monster who curses teenagers through his mental capacities, wreaking havoc in ...
Who is inside Vecna? ›
It's revealed that Vecna is actually Victor Creel's son, Henry. After realizing he has powers while feeling alone in his own home, Henry decides to attack his own family and kill them to test his power. Victor is framed for the murders at Creel House, while his son is taken away.
Who does Vecna aim for? ›Vecna's goal is to open as many gates to the Upside Down as he can, in order to help the Mind Flayer. The Mind Flayer, is, of course, the ULTIMATE big bad, and he's looking to take over the world.
Why does Vecna have tentacles? ›Vecna has human-like arms and legs, referencing the human he was thousands of years ago (although his left hand is missing and is a powerful magical artifact in the game), but his head is a frightening skull, and he's missing his left eye.
Is Vecna trauma? ›The latest series of Stranger Things is another brilliant blend of horror, sci-fi fantasy and drama. But new villain Vecna is a reflection of something very real: post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and grief.
Did Vecna lose or win? ›Eleven — with her friends behind her — looks down upon Hawkins. Vecna won.
Why is Vecna obsessed with clocks? ›The clock's prominence in Stranger Things 4 has to do with its connection to Vecna. Time is an importance aspect of his character. That's why the sound of a ticking clock can be heard when he starts to haunt his intended victims. It's why they see the clock.
Will Max ever wake up? ›It is always possible for Max to simply wake from her coma, but because she wasn't put there by natural causes, that seems unlikely. All signs point to Max being alive inside Vecna, which is preventing her from coming back to the real world. But Vecna uses his victims in unconventional ways, as he did with Nancy.
Who is the least liked Stranger Things character? ›More commonly known as "Papa" to Eleven, Dr. Brenner is inarguably the most detestable character in "Stranger Things." While most human characters in the series are not outright villains, there's no doubt that Dr. Brenner's intentions are wholly malicious.
Who is the most underrated Stranger Things character? ›Stranger Things: Erica Sinclair is the Most Underrated Character.
Who is the most popular character in Stranger Things Season 4? ›Eddie Munson
One of the most quickly beloved characters in season 4 was the D&D-loving Eddie, and Redditors all over such as BalkeElvinstien, are "mad" that Stranger Things "killed off the most likable character 3 seasons in a row".
Will Byers has a crush on Mike? ›
In season four, a new aspect of Will emerged more fully; the teenager from Hawkins appeared to have a crush on his friend Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), and now Noah is confirming that Will is indeed gay and in love with Mike.
Who did Will Byers have a crush on? ›A week before the release of season 4, David Harbour and Finn Wolfhard appeared to confirm that Will has a crush on Mike. Now, Finn has discussed Will's affections for his best friend in a new interview, and it sounds like Volume 2 might dive deeper into Will's feelings.
Is number 1 the main villain in Stranger Things? ›Henry Creel, also known as One, Vecna, or the Mind Flayer, is the main antagonist of the Netflix original series Stranger Things.
What are the 4 villains of Stranger Things? ›- Vecna (Stranger Things)
- Martin Brenner.
- Hawkins Demogorgon.
- D'Artagnan.
Help out this community by adding more information! Three, portrayed by Morgan Gao, was a minor character in the fourth season of Stranger Things. He was one of the known test subjects at Hawkins Lab, a different test subject from Ricky who was also designated as Three.
What was number 1 power in Stranger Things? ›He is a telepath, able to enter the minds of others and probe their deepest fears and darkest memories; Creel also possesses Kali's ability to project illusions into the minds of others.
What is the least favorite Stranger Things season? ›New Major Characters:
With a bit too much teenage drama for most viewers liking, Stranger Things Season 3 is generally considered to be the least successful installment of the franchise.
- 1 Steve Harrington. ...
- 2 Jim Hopper. ...
- 3 Eleven Eleven is a fictional character of the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things. ...
- 4 Dustin Henderson. ...
- 5 Mike Wheeler. ...
- 6 Joyce Byers. ...
- 7 Will Byers. ...
- 8 Lucas Sinclair.
In 1959, Henry Creel framed his father, Victor Creel (Robert Englund), for the murder of his mother and sister. Around the time that his family moved to Hawkins, Henry began to develop supernatural psychokinetic abilities.
Who does will Byers like in s4? ›Noah Schnapp has now confirmed that Will is gay and in love with Mike. Noah Schnapp as Will Byers and Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things season 4. Noah confirmed that Will is in love with his best friend Mike Wheeler, played by Finn Wolfhard, but doesn't want to hurt Eleven's feelings by confessing it.