The MCU launched with Phase One, introducing core heroes such as the high-tech Iron Man, the symbolic Captain America, the hard-hitting Incredible Hulk, and others. These heroes finally assembled in 2012's The Avengers. And just in time, too; the trickster god Loki had an entire army at his disposal.
The initial six Avengers clashed at first, but they united to form a cohesive fighting force to face Loki's Chitauri army in New York City. While all six Avengers fought well, some had a bigger impact on the battle than others. One particular Avenger effectively won the battle single-handedly.
6 Black Widow Provided Some Fire Support
Natasha Romanoff isn't a heavy hitter like Thor or the Hulk. Instead, her training and expertise are best suited for covert ops against mundane foes, such as terrorists or elite enemy operatives. Black Widow is highly skilled in martial arts, small arms, and espionage, and she shared these skills with Captain America in The Winter Soldier.
During the battle of New York, though, Black Widow had less of a role. She can't do a thing against a flying alien, and her pistols won't do much good against Loki. So, Natasha helped fight off regular Chitauri soldiers, and not much else. Admittedly, this was not the best mission for Black Widow, but she fought bravely despite being the weakest of the six Avengers.
5 Hawkeye Did His Best With Fancy Arrows
Like Black Widow, the expert archer Hawkeye isn't well-suited to fighting juggernaut enemies such as Chitauri leviathans, the mighty Thanos, or even Ronan the Accuser. Still, Hawkeye does everything he can to contribute, and he's got a wide variety of arrows for just about any mission. Until his quiver runs dry, he's a ferocious fighter.
For most of The Avengers, Hawkeye was possessed by Loki's staff and fought against S.H.I.E.L.D. on Loki's behalf. Once he was freed, he used explosive arrows to take out Chitauri soldiers all over New York City, and the aliens were rarely able to return fire. Bows and arrows are old-fashioned tech, but in Hawkeye's hands, such weapons feel new again. Ultimately, he was a lesser Avenger during the battle.
4 Captain America Defended His Allies And Coordinated First Responders Across The City
Of the four main Avengers in the NYC battle, Captain America had the least firepower, since his famed star-spangled shield is best used on defense. Captain America did deal serious damage by throwing it around like a deadly Frisbee, but blunt attacks from this shield can't compare to Thor's lightning or the Hulk's fists.
Instead, Captain America was a support/melee hybrid, and his shield was a key part of the Avengers' defense against Chitauri firepower. In addition, Captain America put his leadership skills to use and helped coordinate emergency services across the city. It helps that Captain America is a native New Yorker and thus knows the area. Thanks to him, many lives were saved.
3 Thor Used His Hammer And Lightning To Devastate The Chitauri
The mighty Asgardian Thor isn't even a native of Earth, let alone New York City. Still, he did want to take Loki down, and he eventually recognized the other Avengers as honorable warriors worthy of his attention. Thor was in his prime here, having unshakable confidence in himself and his great hammer Mjolnir in hand.
During the battle of New York, Thor provided devastating fire support for the Avengers. Thor was able to call down lightning to zap the entire squad of Chitauri soldiers or use his hammer to knock away Chitauri. At one point, he used massive amounts of lightning to take out an entire Chitauri leviathan in the sky portal, an impressive blow indeed.
2 The Hulk Dealt Incredible Damage And Dispatched Loki Personally
Although Thor inflicted more casualties on the Chitauri army than the Incredible Hulk did, Hulk's contribution to the battle should not be underestimated. Bruce Banner is always angry, so he could become the green Avenger at will and begin the mayhem. As the battle progressed, he only got stronger, leaping about and smashing Chitauri soldiers and hovercraft with impunity.
The Hulk helped Thor take down a Chitauri leviathan and crash it into Grand Central Station, and later, the Hulk became a star when he confronted Loki alone and beat the god of mischief half to death. As the Hulk put it, "puny god," and he was right. Loki was stunned, which made it easier for the Avengers to capture him at the end of the battle.
1 Iron Man Could Fight At Range And Diverted A Nuclear Weapon
Arguably, the star of phase one was Iron Man, especially since Stark Tower became a base of operations for the team. Iron Man dealt serious damage to the Chitauri army with his ranged attacks, and his flight allowed him to keep moving from one battlefield to another. Despite being a loner at heart, Iron Man coordinated his efforts well with the other five Avengers, especially Captain America.
Near the battle's end, S.H.I.E.L.D. leaders decided to drop a nuclear weapon on NYC to wipe out the Chitauri, regardless of collateral damage. Nick Fury protested the plan, but couldn't stop the nuke himself. So, Iron Man saved the day, and he carried the nuclear weapon through the Chitauri portal and set it off, ending the invasion single-handedly. He narrowly survived and landed back on Earth as a hero.
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