Can Thanos Hold Stormbreaker?

As one of the most powerful villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Thanos has proven capable of using Thor‘s new axe Stormbreaker against its own master. This shocks many fans given Stormbreaker‘s immense power. However, unlike Thor‘s original hammer Mjolnir, Stormbreaker does not contain any worthiness enchantments. Let‘s take a deep dive into the origins and abilities of these iconic Asgardian weapons to see how Thanos can wield Stormbreaker despite lacking any mystical worthiness.

No Worthiness Required for Stormbreaker

Stormbreaker, first introduced in 2018‘s Avengers: Infinity War, does not actually require the wielder to be "worthy" in the mystical sense. This key difference from Mjolnir is crucial to understanding how Thanos could temporarily gain control of it in battle against Thor. When convincing Eitri the Dwarf King to forge Stormbreaker, Thor himself insists they cannot put a worthiness enchantment on this new weapon so that even Thanos "won‘t be able to destroy it or even lift it."

Unfortunately, Eitri did not have the resources left to add any enchantments. Stormbreaker was forged as a simple (though incredibly powerful) axe/hammer without any special requirements for use. Essentially, with enough strength, anyone can lift and wield Stormbreaker regardless of their character or motives. This applies to beings as strong as Thanos, who lacks any mystical worthiness.

Stormbreaker‘s Cosmic Origins

In contrast to Mjolnir, which was forged eons ago in the heart of a dying star, Stormbreaker was created much more recently in the cosmic forge at Nidavellir. This dwarven realm orbits a neutron star, allowing for the creation of some of the most powerful weapons in the universe. Stormbreaker was made from Uru, the same nearly-indestructible metal that Mjolnir consists of, and combined with the arm of Thor‘s friend Groot.

Mjolnir Requires Worthiness By Enchantment

Thor‘s hammer Mjolnir possesses a worthiness enchantment placed on it by Thor‘s father Odin, which states:

"Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor."

This powerful spell prevents the unworthy from lifting or wielding Mjolnir in any way. Even the mighty Red Hulk could not budge Mjolnir, despite lifting billions of tons normally. Only those deemed worthy are granted the powers of Thor when wielding his hammer. This included Thor himself, Odin, Captain America, etc. Other key evidence for Mjolnir‘s consistent worthiness rule includes:

• Hela crushing Mjolnir in her hand in Thor: Ragnarok, proving she was worthy enough to destroy it.

• Steve Rogers briefly wielding Mjolnir against Thanos in Endgame. Thor himself shouts "I knew it!" confirming Cap‘s worthiness.

Unlike Stormbreaker, Mjolnir‘s enchantment makes it impossible for the unworthy to use it as a weapon. Even without this enchantment, Mjolnir‘s complex spells still make it one of the most formidable weapons in Asgardian history.

Thanos‘ Strength and Conviction

Thanks to the absence of any worthiness restriction, Thanos‘ incredible physical strength and unyielding conviction are enough for him to temporarily gain control of Stormbreaker in battle. Some key evidence of Thanos‘ power includes:

• Easily defeating the Hulk in hand-to-hand combat.

• Overpowering entire teams of Avengers across Infinity War and Endgame.

• Having the strength, willpower, and conviction to snap the Infinity Gauntlet twice, killing trillions.

While Thanos‘ beliefs and genocide do not align with any virtuous definition of worthiness, his immense power still allows him to utilize Stormbreaker against its own master.

Examples of Thanos Wielding Stormbreaker

Here are some key examples from the MCU films showcasing Thanos‘ ability to wield Stormbreaker, thanks to his tremendous strength and resolve:

• Pulling Stormbreaker out of his chest and throwing it at Thor during the battle of Wakanda in Infinity War. This nearly kills Thor.

• Holding Stormbreaker in his hand and pressing the blade into Thor‘s chest as Thor struggles in vain to push it back during the climax of Endgame.

• Headbutting Thor and then tossing the God of Thunder away after overpowering him in their fight during Endgame‘s climax.

These scenes demonstrate how Thanos lacks mystical worthiness yet has enough power and strength of will to gain temporary control of Stormbreaker and use it against Thor himself.

Stormbreaker vs Mjolnir Comparison

Here is a breakdown of how the two weapons differ in their notable qualities and powers:

Mjolnir requires worthiness and has a wider array of spells and enchantments. Stormbreaker lacks these limitations and was designed specifically to kill Thanos, making it potentially the strongest and most dangerous weapon Thor has wielded yet.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Stormbreaker‘s lack of Mjolnir‘s worthiness restriction allows beings as strong as Thanos to lift and wield it, however briefly. Overpowering Thor and turning Stormbreaker against him speaks volumes to Thanos‘ own physical strength. While he may lack any virtuous worthiness, his might combined with his unstoppable conviction allow him to gain control of Stormbreaker and nearly kill Thor with his own weapon on multiple occasions. This clearly demonstrates the key difference between Stormbreaker‘s design and Mjolnir‘s more selective nature when it comes to who may wield these iconic Asgardian weapons.