Top 20 Superhero Weapons

“Batman” franchise (1966-)
The Dark Knight has a whole arsenal at his disposal. While he has a whole lot of equipment on his utility belt, most of it isn’t purely offensive. One of the best multi-purpose weapons he owns in the batarang. The batarang can function as a boomerang, throwing blades, cutting tool and so much more. As long as it’s shaped like a bat, it counts! Although usually thrown using skill alone, he has also used remote-controlled versions. Everyone knows Batman isn’t a fan of guns. But with a dozen of these in hand, he’s fully capable of taking down any villain that threatens Gotham City.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
The Yaka Arrow is primarily used by Ravager leader and Peter Quill’s father figure, Yondu Udonta. Although he began as a villain, he does enough good throughout the franchise to qualify as a hero in our books. A Yaka Arrow is a remote-controlled arrow that can be manipulated by whistling. Although it has some utility for movement, including making Yondu look like Mary Poppins, it’s mostly used as a weapon. Yondu just has to put his lips together and blow to turn the arrow into a dangerous missile that can zip around and take down enemies with ease. His use of the arrow leads to some of the coolest scenes in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films.

“Judge Dredd” (1995) & “Dredd” (2012)
Guns used by superheroes are usually not that memorable. However, this particular piece stands out. Primarily wielded by characters like Judge Dredd in the dystopian Mega-city One, the Lawgiver is a gun with variable ammo. Through voice commands, Dredd and his fellow Judges can switch between specialty ammo varieties on the fly. Heat-seeking ammunition, incendiary bullets, armor-piercing rounds, and more are all on the table. It’s like if a Swiss army knife was a gun! It also comes with bonus features like a self-destruct function that’s tied to an ID lock. This basically means that no bad guys are going to be using Lawgivers against the law…unless they’re crooked Judges.

“Hellboy” franchise (2004-)
A weapon exclusive to the “Hellboy” movies, the Good Samaritan is an oversized pistol used by the titular heroic demon. Hellboy uses the hand cannon to battle monsters and other paranormal threats. Featuring bullets that are larger than average, the Good Samaritan’s ammo comes in a variety of compositions that work for different threats. In addition to containing things like holy water, some of these bullets contain luminescent paint that makes it easy to track targets in the dark. While it may have a small ammo capacity, Hellboy is more than handy with it. Plus, he’s got his own hand as a backup!

Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
Although Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow is proficient with firearms and close combat, she also uses specialized gauntlets. You probably didn’t know these had a name, did you? Nicknamed Black Widow’s Bite, these gauntlets are used by the superhero spy to shock her opponents into submission. These handy weapons are great for close-quarters enemies. But as time went on, we saw them receive upgrades that allowed Widow to fire projectiles as well. They also have a grappling hook for when she takes an unexpected fall – which is fairly frequently. We’ll likely see Black Widow’s Bite at least one more time in her much-delayed solo film.

“Spawn” (1997)
When Al Simmons ends up in hell after losing his life, he’s offered a deal. If he becomes the leader of the underworld’s armies, he’ll be given the opportunity to see his wife again. Simmons accepts the offer and is resurrected with a suit composed of necroplasm. This full-body accessory constantly covers and protects him. It can also form shapes that range from a cape, to chains and even spikes. The newly minted Spawn uses his suit defensively for armor and camouflage. He can also use it offensively by creating spikes and chains he can wield against villains. Although the 1997 film barely scratches the surface of what the armor can do, it’s still pretty awesome – dated effects, aside.

“Blade” franchise (1998-2004)
Of course, we had to choose Blade’s blade – it’s right there in his name! Although the half-vampire daywalker Blade uses many sharp weapons, his signature one is easily his sword. Made of titanium, he uses this straight, double-bladed weapon to slice and dice nightwalkers and other vampiric villains. While the sword may look low-tech, it has a sharp booby trap built into the handle. This security system will destroy the hands of anyone who tries to wield his weapon without properly disarming it first. But people will still try because some fools are always trying to ice skate uphill…whatever that means…

“Ghost Rider” franchise (2007-12)
Johnny Blaze, A.K.A. Ghost Rider, can imbue many objects with hellfire to make them more powerful and to expunge or punish the wicked as part of his duties as the Devil’s bounty hunter. But his most iconic weapon is a chain. When the spirit of vengeance ignites a chain, he can wrap around his foe or just strike them with it. In either case, the result is usually the bad guy burning up. Ghost Rider can also extend the chain to reach farther than it would normally reach. Trust us when we say you don’t want to be at the business end of this weapon.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
As a master of the mystic arts, Doctor Stephen Strange has many magical artifacts at his disposal. However, for our money, we’d say the one with the most personality is the Cloak of Levitation. Possessing a mind of its own, the Cloak of Levitation can, naturally, allow its wearer to levitate. Yet its uses are surprisingly versatile. While Doctor Strange wears the Cloak, it will often act automatically to defend him from physical strikes. It can also wrap itself around his enemies to restrain or confuse them. While it’s not the only sentient weapon out there, the Cloak of Levitation is probably the funniest.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
Typically worn by T’Challa, prince and later king of Wakanda, the Panther Habit is the traditional suit worn by the Black Panther. Composed of vibranium, the suit is bulletproof and fairly impervious to most forms of attack. While the person wearing the habit usually has superhuman strength thanks to the power of the Heart-Shaped Herb, the suit may increase their abilities further. But what really makes the suit a weapon is its offensive features. While the Panther Habit naturally has claws, its upgraded nanotech version has an even more potent benefit. The advanced version can absorb kinetic energy and release it in energy shockwaves. Basically, the more you hit T’Challa, the harder he can hit back!

DC Extended Universe (2013-)
Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman uses several tridents in battle on land and in the sea. As formidable as Aquaman is with muscles alone – seriously, the dude works out, his tridents best augment his superhuman abilities. His tridents allow him a greater degree of control over water and can enhance his speed while immersed in it. They’re also quite durable, allowing him to block blows from other powerful weapons. Aquaman’s second trident, which belonged to the former king of Atlantis, also gives him the ability to sense and commune with every sea creature. It can also generate lightning, even underwater! Not bad for an oversized fork, right?

Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
It’s true that the Winter Soldier was a full-on villain when he was brainwashed. But after Bucky Barnes gets help overcoming his programming, he fights with the heroes. In any case, after losing his arm in WWII, Bucky is captured by Hydra and given a titanium replacement. His metal arm gives him an extra strength boost that gives him an edge against opponents like Iron Man and Captain America. Bucky can leave dents in metal and catch fast-moving projectiles with ease. Plus, it’s just cool. Although Iron Man destroys his original arm, Bucky receives a replacement in Wakanda made of vibranium. From the moment he got this upgrade, humans and raccoons alike were interested in seeing what it can do.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
As great as Ant-Man’s suit is, the one Wasp wears is just objectively cooler…and more weaponized! Hope Van Dyne’s high-tech suit enables her to shrink to a miniature size while maintaining her relative strength. This makes her essentially a human bullet while shrunk down. However, unlike Ant-Man’s suit, the Wasp’s suit also gives her the power of flight, making her much more maneuverable. The suit also comes equipped with gauntlets that fire blasts of energy. These gauntlets can also fire disks that can shrink or enlarge objects that they hit. Versatile, mobile, and featuring some great utility items, the Wasp’s suit is so good it stings.

“Green Lantern” (2011)
Listen – we’re not saying the “Green Lantern'' movie is good. Ryan Reynolds starred in it and even he didn’t like it. However, even a bad movie can’t ruin one of the coolest superhero weapons ever! The Green Lantern ring, used by the titular superhero and the corps of aliens who share the name, has a lot of versatility. The ring creates the suit a Green Lantern wears. Not only that, but it also allows you to fly. But its most famous, and weaponizable, power is its ability to create transparent semi-solid objects with the user’s mind. The variety and power of these constructs are only limited by the wielder’s will and imagination.

DC Extended Universe (2013-)
Wonder Woman’s tiara and bracelets are undoubtedly awesome. But her most famous and iconic weapon is The Lasso of Hestia, better known as the Lasso of Truth. As its name implies, the Lasso of Truth compels all who touch it to speak the truth, even if they try to resist it. The glowing rope is also a powerful weapon when used by Diana of Themyscira in battle. It can seemingly extend or contract according to her will and is handy for disarming and capturing her foes from a distance. Although it’s usually non-lethal, it can be a seriously threatening weapon. It can also be an awesome way to get around.

Various “Spider-Man” Films
As great as Spider-Man’s Iron Spider armor is in the MCU, it isn’t the wall crawler’s most famous offensive tool. That honor goes to the web-shooters. In most incarnations of the character, Spider-Man’s webs are generated from wrist-mounted gauntlets filled with cartridges made of artificial webbing. These web-shooters eventually allow various Spider-people to swing around their environments. It also gives them the means to capture their enemies and swing objects around to strike their foes. Great powers may give spider-people great responsibility, but their web-shooters are just as iconic to various versions of the character.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
“When Captain America throws his mighty shield, all who choose to oppose his shield must yield!” The old song got it right! Made from vibranium, Steve Roger’s star-spangled shield absorbs nearly any impact. Bullets, blasts, powerful weapons, and more can be blocked by this schield. Cap can use it to attack or defend. While it’s strong in close-quarters combat, he can also throw his mighty shield for a ranged attack. Its unique composition may be the reason Cap is able to ricochet it in such a way that it often comes back to him. It may not obey the laws of physics, but it’s still iconic.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
Thor, the god of thunder, has wielded a few amazing weapons on screen. As amazing as the Stormbreaker axe is, Mjolnir is definitely the Asgardian weapon of choice for us. It’s most commonly associated with Thor. However, anyone who’s worthy of its powers can wield it and gain access to its powers. These include flight, the power to call Mjolnir back to the wielder, and generating and controlling lightning. Sure, Thor doesn’t need the hammer to do the last of these, but it does help him focus the power. As far as traditional superhero weapons go, it was easily awesome enough to make it into our top 3.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
While Tony Stark is not exactly a classically trained warrior, he has access to some of the most powerful weapons on Earth. His dozens of high-tech armored suits give him enhanced durability, the ability to fly, and plenty of offensive features. The suit’s most frequently used weapons are the repulsor rays and blasts Tony often shoots from his hands. His Iron Man suits are also frequently equipped with missiles, lasers, and other weaponry. Combining all of those benefits into one package makes him an insanely cool one-man army. Although his armors are some of the coolest weapons in superhero movies, there’s one more weapon that stands above the rest.

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Cyclops’ Visor, “X-Men” franchise (2000-)
The Blasts May Come from His Eyes, but the Visor Focuses the Power

Cable’s Gun, “Deadpool 2” (2018)
This Weapon Has Some Zip

Daredevil’s Billy Club, “Daredevil” (2003)
Use Them as Nunchucks, Grappling Hook, or a Club!

Quad Blasters, Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
Star-Lord’s Guns Have a Cool Design, 4 Barrels, & Multiple Functions

Hawkeye’s Bow & Arrows, Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
Underestimate These Weapons at Your Own Risk

FAKEOUT #1: Shark Repellent Bat Spray
“Batman” (1966)
Holy unexpected development, Batman! Who could have seen this coming? Certainly not Jaws! Okay, okay, we’re just kidding. Our actual top pick is…

“X-Men” franchise (2000-)
We can hear the argument already: “Aren’t Wolverine’s claws part of his body?” And it’s true. Wolverine used his six bone claws to strike enemies for a decent chunk of his life. But after undergoing outside experimentation, his natural weapons gained an adamantium edge. Since the metal came from an external source, his claws as a whole are eligible for our list. Wolverine is able to brandish or retract these dangerous weapons at will. Together with his powerful regenerative abilities, Wolverine is able to get in close to almost any opponent and do some serious damage with these nigh-indestructible knuckle blades. Even after seeing them appear on screen for nearly 20 years, we never get tired of watching Wolverine go to work with these.