Marvel Comics’ mutants have always held a lot of fascination, not only among fans, but also among the creators and the super-being community of the House of Ideas. That’s because evolutionary traits themselves make their powers as admirable as they are dangerous — and it’s often difficult to understand the extent of these genetic gifts, which can also be seen as curses.
And with almost 60 years of history in the comics, some standards can better characterize what level of power the characters fit into — whether at the moment they manifested their abilities or at what level they can be named, according to the references already seen. And this gets even more attention when one of the superior homo is defined as one of the most powerful mutants of all time.
As in the recent edition X-Men #7, released this week, we saw official recognition of one of the most powerful mutants of all time, ranking the four currently known classes helps us understand what these characters are capable of.
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With the help of Newsarama, we’ll show you what Marvel Comics has rated over the years, in a system that can’t be boiled down to simple numbers on speed or maximum weight achieved. This definition has been using the Greek alphabet for decades and is always updated through new phases — and we are in a period of revision, due to the revolution caused by screenwriter Jonathan Hickman.
Recent Review of Mutant Classes in X-Men
Until recently, the mutant classification system was not very well defined. We only knew that “Alpha” or “Omega” were used for the most powerful, but in a slightly confusing way. These were usually terms used in the stories by the X-Men themselves, SHIELD or the Avengers, the Shi’ar Empire or other groups.
In the Hickman phase, some confusing things from the past are getting better definition, as well as narrative incongruities or chronological inconsistencies. In this way, in this “Krakoana” era, in which mutants are all gathered in an island nation, the mutant classification system was revised and officially presented in 2019, during the arc. dawn of the x (or Dawn of X).
Now, Omega-level mutants are, officially, within Marvel canon, “a mutant whose dominant power is deemed to register — or reach — an indefinable upper bound of that power’s specific rank.” This is on the level data page. Dynasty X (or in House of X #1).
The classification terms take into account the power set — various mutants have different abilities, at different levels, whether they manifested initially or displayed and evolved over the course of their lives. For example, Jean Gray may be an Omega telepath, but she also has telekinesis in a lower range. Still, she can be called Omega, even without having all her gifts on the same level.
Kind of complicated right? Well, the four rankings officially established recently help to understand this better.
X-Men: Epsilon Level Mutant Rating
This is the lowest range, where non-combative mutant powers are normally located. In many cases they are physical mutations that do not confer special abilities. In others, they are gifts of little practical use compared to most.
An example of an Epsilon level is the character Artie Maddicks. His ability to project holograms is unclassified. So everyone who finds himself in this situation can be considered in the same range.
X-Men: Beta Level Mutant Rating
Already this track presents more used in the Krakoana community, even in a very discreet way. Rogue’s early days as a villain, when she only absorbed memories and powers from Carol Danvers (who at the time was Ms. Marvel, not the Captain Marvel we know), is a good example.
For a long time, Rogue had no control over this gift, which harmed her, as well as other people. For a parallel, Gambit, his recurring partner, could have similar problems touching any object when he was a Beta — things would explode at his simple touch. But he can be considered an Alpha since his first appearance, because he controls that power.
X-Men: Alpha Level Mutant Classification
The mutants present in this range have abilities that can be applied in a more practical and controlled way, within a limit that is more useful than harmful. A good example is Cyclops, who can emit rays from his eyes, but not in their full dispersion, as he is not able to utilize his full potential without clumsily depleting himself or destroying everything around him.
It is worth noting that a Beta can become Alpha throughout its evolution. Rogue, for example, learned to better control her powers after the events of the arc. messiah complex. So it could be an example of resetting to Alpha.
X-Men: Omega Level Mutant Rating
This is the highest category, at least in the current and revised official classification. According to the explanation given by Hickman in Dynasty X, an Omega mutant can best be exemplified in the comparison between Magneto and Forge. Below is the text displayed in House of X #1.
“Both Magneto and Forge are the most powerful mutants of their power types on planet Earth (magnetism and technopathy, respectively). But what makes Magneto, and not Forge, an Omega-level mutant is that the upper limit of Forge’s measurable powers could, hypothetically, be surpassed (and, in fact, by several humans on the planet); while the upper limit of Magneto’s powers cannot be measurably surpassed.”
However, as stated earlier, there can be multiple Omega-level mutants for a specific type of power — and not exactly for the set. Examples of this would be Jean Gray and Quentin Quire, who qualify as Omega-level telepaths.
X-Men: How Many Omega Level Mutants Are There?
As per the current X-Men continuity, there are currently 25 Omega-level mutants: Monarch (Jamie Braddock), Iceman, Elixir, Jean Grey, Legion, Magneto, Proteus, Mister M, Storm, Exodus, Quentin Quire, Vulcan, Hope Summers; and the recently introduced Isca (the Unbeatable), Tarn (the Indifferent), Idyll, Genesis, Redroot, Ora Serrata (the Witness), Stulgid, Lodus Logos (the Knower), Sobunar of the Deep, and Xilo, the First Defender.
It is worth noting that several mutants are not classified as Omega, but may have abilities of this range, such as the Iceman, who on many occasions has capabilities worthy of a god. And some, like Cable, have honed their gifts enough to be in this rank.
Interestingly, Professor X was not included in the official list, as was Moira MacTaggert, who turned out to be a mutant with a powerful reincarnation ability. In other words, there are many secrets about this classification, many of them kept with Charles Xavier himself — and, of course, with the architects of Casa das Ideias themselves.
