12 Most Powerful Mutant Heroes to Ever Join the Avengers

Usually, Marvel maintains a firm distinction between the mutants of the X-Men and the gods, robots and sorcerers of the Avengers. However, every so often a mutant hero distinguishes themselves so undeniably that Earth's Mightiest Heroes come calling. From icons like Wolverine and Storm to lesser-known mutants like Justice and Firestar, some major mutant powerhouses have found themselves serving on the Avengers roster.

Here are the 12 most powerful mutant heroes to ever join the Avengers, ranked according to the extreme damage they can deal out with their powers. We're counting membership on both the main Avengers roster and the Avengers Unity Squad, aka the Uncanny Avengers, and sadly excluding characters who were once believed to be mutants but have since been revealed to be something different, like Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.

12 Wolverine, aka James "Logan" Howlett

Joined the Avengers in 2005's New Avengers #6 (Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch)

Known for his incredible healing factor and deadly adamantium-coated claws, Wolverine is a centuries-old warrior who does what other heroes won't. That's the reason Captain America and Iron Man originally asked him to join the New Avengers, earning themselves a brawler who's guaranteed to keep fighting even when everyone else falls.

Wolverine wasn't exactly at home with the Avengers, repeatedly clashing with Captain America, who found it hard to accept Logan's lethal tactics. Nevertheless, he remained by their side through some of the deadliest days to face the team, and even took their side when they went to war with the X-Men in the epic AvX event.

11 Sunfire, aka Shiro Yoshida

Joined the Avengers Unity Division in 2013's Uncanny Avengers #5 (Rick Remender, Olivier Coipel)

Sunfire was a recruit to the founding roster of the Avengers Unity Squad - a team designed to promote human/mutant relations. Recommended by Wolverine, Sunfire has served on the X-Men multiple times, though he struggles to take orders from anyone he considers his lesser. Sunfire can absorb all forms of radiation, converting them to super-heated plasma. Sunfire has expert-level control over his powers, and has demonstrated levels of heat similar to a small star.

A tried and tested hero, Sunfire stood alongside the Unity Squad against Kang the Conqueror, showing a willingness to sacrifice his life in order to protect his friends and allies.

10 Justice, aka Vance Astrovik

Joined the Avengers in 1998's Avengers #7(Kurt Busiek, George Pérez)

Most famous as the former leader of the New Warriors, Vance Astrovik is a telekinetic mutant whose gifts allow him to generate forcefields and fly. A young hero, Justice joined the Avengers alongside his partner Firestar, with the two acting as junior members of the team. Justice was staggered to be among his heroes, jumping at every opportunity to fit in.

Vance activated his mutant powers when he encountered Major Victory - a member of the original, far-future Guardians of the Galaxy. Victory is actually a version of Vance from another timeline, who came back in order to change the events of his life. While Major Victory was successful, Justice's life hasn't ended up much easier, with Vance accidentally killing his abusive father and serving time in prison for the crime. Since then, he's been committed to redeeming the New Warriors' good name after their involvement in the explosive Stamford Incident (which kicked off the superhero Civil War.)

9 Cannonball, aka Samuel Guthrie

Joined the Avengers in 2012's Avengers #1 (Jonathan Hickman, Jerome Opeña)

A founding member of the team known as the New Mutants, Sam Guthrie can generate propulsive energy which allow him to fly through the air like a human cannonball. This power is complemented by a nigh-unbreakable forcefield which protects him from harm while blasting. Cannonball is also believed to be immortal due to being a member of the mutant subspecies known as the Externals, and comes from a notably powerful mutant bloodline that includes fellow heroes Husk, Aero and Icarus.

Cannonball joined the Avengers alongside his best friend Roberto during a period when Captain America and Iron Man were vastly expanding the team's roster and tactics. Cannonball's life was changed forever by joining the team, as it was fighting alongside them that he met his wife Isabel Kane, aka Smasher. The two are still together and recently had a son, Josiah.

8 Sunspot, aka Roberto da Costa

Joined the Avengers in 2012's Avengers #1 (Jonathan Hickman, Jerome Opeña)

A former New Mutant, Sunspot is known both for his immense power and his immense wealth. Sunspot absorbs solar energy, enhancing his physical attributes and especially his strength, making him one of the most physically powerful mutants on Earth. As an Avenger, Roberto used his wealth to buy out the terrorist group AIM, turning the group's resources towards protecting the innocent. He also founded the USAvengers - a team who use AIM technology and research to support SHIELD's global peacekeeping projects.

Roberto brought a new perspective to the Avengers, often finding tactical victories that no-one else could see. Most recently, he was involved in the Genesis War, helping to win Mars as a peaceful mutant settlement.

7 Penance, aka M, aka Monet St. Croix

Joined the Avengers Unity Division in 2023's Uncanny Avengers #1 (Rick Remender, John Cassaday)

Monet served on Captain America's Unity Squad during a time when the anti-mutant group Orchis were trying to turn international opinion against all mutants. Immensely strong and durable, Monet can also transform into an alternate 'Penance' form, in which she has sharp claws and durable crystal skin. Unlike some of the other heroes on this list, Monet didn't experience much awe at being asked to join the Avengers, treating it as a tactical alliance to prevent mutantkind's extinction. However, she did at least find a brief romance with teammate Quicksilver.

6 Firestar, aka Angelica Jones

Joined the Avengers in 1998's Avengers #7(Kurt Busiek, George Pérez)

Joining alongside Justice, Firestar was a far more reluctant member of the Avengers, disliking how the senior heroes called the shots for the younger members. Despite this, Firestar is a trusted Avenger, and one of the few mutant heroes who is seen as more connected to Earth's Mightiest Heroes than the X-Men - a fact which has earned her significant hostility from some of her fellow mutants.

Firestar can manipulate and generate microwave radiation, giving her immense control over heat. She can also deactivate machinery and sense electromagnetic signals, as well as outputting immense blasts of harmful energy far in excess of even cosmic heroes like Nova. Most recently, Firestar went undercover with the anti-mutant group Orchis, acting as an essential part of the X-Men's plan to bring down the organization.

5 Havok, aka Alexander Summers

Joined the Avengers Unity Division in 2013's Uncanny Avengers #1 (Rick Remender, John Cassaday)

The less successful but no less powerful brother of Scott Summers, aka X-Men leader Cyclops, Havok was chosen by Captain America as the face of the Avengers Unity Squad. Havok constantly absorbs cosmic energy and converts it into plasma, able to output so much energy that he is one of the few heroes to beat the Hulk in a straight one-on-one fight. Havok found romance on the team with founding Avenger Wasp, aka Janet van Dyne, and the two even had a child together. Tragically, however, their daughter was stolen from the timestream by Kang the Conqueror and (so far) never returned.

Havok was integral to the Uncanny Avengers defeating Kang the Conqueror, receiving substantial injuries when the villain tried to burn him alive with cosmic energy. Sadly, the years since haven't been kind to Havok, with his moral inversion during the AXIS event leaving him little-trusted by his former allies and prone to violent outbursts.

4 Rogue, aka Anna Marie LeBeau

Joined the Avengers Unity Division in 2013's Uncanny Avengers #5 (Rick Remender, Olivier Coipel)

A true powerhouse, Rogue was a founding member of the Avengers Unity Division and went on to lead the team. Rogue has the mutant power to steal the abilities and memories of others, as well as possessing superstrength and flight due to an early clash with Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel. When the Earth came under attack by Celestials, Rogue was gifted the powers of every available X-Man and Avenger to help push one of the gigantic alien beings away from Earth alongside the Sentry. It was a major moment for Rogue, showing how much the hero community had come to trust her.

Rogue retained Wonder Man's ionic powers after this experience, and recently revealed that she added them to Captain Marvel's strength. The combined powers of two of the strongest Avengers make Rogue one of the strongest individuals on the planet.

3 Namor the Sub-Mariner, aka Namor McKenzie

Joined the Avengers in 1985's Avengers #262 (Roger Stern, John Buscema)

Known as 'the first mutant,' Namor joined the Avengers long before even fans knew he was a member of the homo superior species. In fact, Namor's immense strength comes from the fact that he is both a human mutant and an Atlantean, with the beneficial attributes of both. When at the peak of his power and fully hydrated, Namor's strength is equal to the Hulk's, making him a vital ally and a dangerous enemy.

Namor has joined the Avengers multiple times, but his original tenure was marked by his immense arrogance and frequent squabbles with teammate Hercules. Namor's close friendship with Captain America (following their service in WWII) means the Avengers have often been able to call on him for aid. However, because Namor represents the undersea nation of Atlantis, there have been plenty of times when Earth's Mightiest Heroes have been forced to repel his attacks on the 'surface world.'