True blue fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are well aware of Vibranium's significance and since its official introduction in Captain America: The First Avenger, it has always been depicted as the strongest metal in the billion-dollar franchise.
Since then, Vibranium has been featured in several MCU projects but is it really the strongest metal that exists within the main MCU continuity?
That said, how strong is Vibranium exactly? Well, here’s everything we know about the historic Vibranium metal of its origins, existence, and its weaknesses in the MCU.
When Was Vibranium First Introduced in the MCU?
Vibranium was first introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe back in Captain America: The First Avenger, where Howard Stark (aka Tony Stark’s father) described the metal as “stronger than shield, ⅓ of weight, it’s completely vibration-absorbent.”
Howard added that Vibranium is the “rarest metal on earth.”
However, as for when Vibranium was really first founded, as you may very well know, the metal was founded by Wakandans after the mysterious meteorite crash-landed in Wakanda. The meteorite landed on Earth thousands of years ago.
This explains why Wakanda is in possession of the most technologically-advanced gadgetry and weaponry, enough to prepare them for war, and of course, the strongest land base they could protect and defend using the rare metal to their advantage.
The crash-landed meteorite had also helped Wakanda to nurture its natural resources by enriching their soil and food — all of which also defended their land from any other potential threat including drought, diseases, and other forms of natural disasters.
Originally, Marvel Studios planned out for Tony Stark to have seemingly invented Vibranium as early as Iron Man 2, a year after the first Captain America film, only for this plot bit to be retconned and instead tell the true origins of Vibranium coming from Wakanda.
However, considering just how important Black Panther and the Wakanda nation proved to be in the MCU, especially during Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, the Vibranium rooting from Wakanda made all the more sense.
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What Is Vibranium Made Of? MCU Origins Explained
The infamous metal roots from Wakanda, where most of their gadgetry and weapons come from in building the Black Panther suit and other Vibranium-made materials.
Vibranium originally came from a meteor that crashed onto a specific area in Africa, where Wakanda was eventually born and built on.
The aforementioned rarest metal on earth has the ability to ‘absorb, store’ and reflect kinetic energy, sound waves, and — as the name suggests — other types of vibrations against its enemies, which makes it a highly sought-worthy material for heroes and villains in the MCU.
As for its function, durability, and sustainability, Vibranium could be used for different sorts of man-made materials.
Apart from technologically advanced gadgetry and weaponry, Vibranium could also be used as architectural structures, clothing, and even for agricultural purposes (as seen in the first Black Panther film when they had managed to grow herbs that provided Black Panther his powers and abilities).
However, due to its strange origins, mining Vibranium is highly dangerous as it could cause mutations in plants and animals, and even so far as to create toxins that could poison those who end up drinking it, resulting in ‘Vibranium sickness.’
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Is Vibranium Really The Strongest Metal in the MCU?
As with many other forms of natural materials in the world, Vibranium is not an exception when it comes to having its own weaknesses.
Vibranium may be the strongest metal existing in the MCU, but when fought using the same material, it could easily shatter its indestructible nature up against its own kind.
Let’s not forget that Captain America’s shield had been broken once in the MCU, by none other than Thanos during the events of Avengers: Endgame.
At the time, though not as explicitly stated and wholly introduced in the cinematic franchise yet, when Cap tried defending himself using his Vibranium shield, Thanos was able to tear it apart using his double-bladed sword.
It is worth mentioning that the sword Thanos used to break Cap’s shield hasn’t been disclosed as to what it’s really made out of: Uru metal or Adamantium?
Seeing as both have long existed in the Marvel Universe, it’s pretty likely we’ll also be encountering other types (maybe even stronger) of metal in the MCU in the near future, so technically speaking, as of writing, Vibranium is the current strongest and rarest metal in the franchise.
Are There Any Other Existing Metals That Rivals Vibranium in the MCU?
The short answer is yes, though not in the way you think.
Considering that Wolverine and the X-Men will soon be joining forces in the MCU, this means everything canon in their universe is about to collide with Marvel’s. In this case, this also includes their strongest metal, Adamantium.
Adamantium is the metal Wolverine’s claws are made out of and Vibranium pales in comparison to this type of metal, because of how denser Adamantium is.
See, Adamantium may be made out of liquid form, but once it hardens, it can pretty much slice through any object out of its way. It is also indestructible, but more sustainable than Vibranium.
While Vibranium deflects bullets and kinetic energy, Adamantium, on the other hand, liquifies any other metal it comes to contact with.
Although we have only seen Adamantium in the X-Men films, with Wolverine returning in Deadpool 3, we should get the chance to see some Adamantium vs. Vibranium in action in the future of the franchise.
Another type of metal that could easily rival the MCU’s Vibranium (that has already been introduced in the franchise) is Uru metal, which comes from the ‘first moon in existence’ and has long been existing in the universe since the beginning.
Uru is yet another unique metal that comes from one of the Ten Worlds, specifically in Nidavellir. It’s where Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, was made of.
Considering its rarity and highly durable material, it’s even more difficult to craft Uru, especially the enchanted ones given that those that were made with magic strengthened its source material more than it already is.
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