‘Avengers: Endgame’: Here Is What Thanos’ Sword Is Made Of

Since the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off fifteen years ago, the general audience was introduced to many Marvel characters. While comic book readers still have the advantage of having knowledge from the source material, big and small-screen adaptations provide at least basic, although sometimes loosely adapted, knowledge about Marvel Comics’ lore. And we aren’t talking only about the characters, but many accessories in the franchise, too. One such accessory is the double-edged sword Thanos used in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ to destroy Cap’s shield, becoming the first thing ever that did some damage to it. So, let’s see what Thanos’ sword is made of.

While it’s not specifically confirmed, Thanos’ sword is most likely made of a metal called Uru, a highly durable metal that existed since the beginning of the universe. Although it’s never called by its name in the MCU, Uru is a unique metal that is used to forge weapons in Nidavellir, meaning that Thor’s weapons, Mjolnir and Strombreaker, and Thanos’ Infinity Gauntlet, are all Uru-made. That explains how these weapons were able to withstand the power of the Infinity Stones since Uru can also retain and absorb magic and enchantments. The alternate answer is that the sword was perhaps made by the Celestials, but in one way or another, we are surely talking about a mystical metal here.

The thing about comics is that heroes and villains can exist for decades, and it’s always important to come up with new stories and new stakes to make them more challenging for characters and interesting for readers. That’s why not even allegedly indestructible substances such as adamantium, vibranium, and Uru can sustain severe damage if the story wants to prove the villains’ power. That’s why Hela destroyed Mjolnir and Thanos destroyed Cap’s shield, because destroying something that’s deemed indestructible is the best way to show that s%!t is about to get real with this villain.

How does Uru compare with vibranium and adamantium?

When you have something in comics deemed indestructible, you can be sure there is a way to destroy it. That way might not be easy, and it would probably be limited that only some super powerful being or weapon can do it, but if the writers decide to destroy something “indestructible,” they’ll find a way to do it. The Marvel Comics’ canon features fictional metals like adamantium and vibranium, out of which Wolverine’s claws and Captain America’s shield are made, respectively.

It’s known that adamantium was created by the hand of men; it doesn’t exist in nature, and its chemical composition is highly classified secret. Vibranium, on the other hand, is an alien metal that came to Earth when a meteor crashed into a territory that is today known as the country of Wakanda.

There have been plenty of discussions about which of these two metals is stronger (adamantium is stronger, just FYI), but still, one thing that adamantium and vibranium have in common is that they aren’t mystical like Uru, and Uru becomes much more durable when it’s enchanted.

Uru first appeared in 1962’s ‘Journey Into Mystery’ #83, which was written by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber and penciled by Jack Kirby. That comic also marked the first modern-age appearance of Thor and his iconic hammer, Mjolnir, so that’s how Uru was brought into Marvel Comics. Although it’s simplified to call it metal, Uru is an ore that comes from the first moon in existence, and it’s actually more of a stone with metallic properties. Uru is unique only to Nidavellir, one of the Nine Realms where Dwarves are using it to craft the most powerful weapons.

Which weapons were created out of Uru?

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Uru is ever-present through weapons that were made out of it. In the original ‘Thor’ movie in 2011, the viewers were introduced to two weapons that are made out of Uru: Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, and Odin’s spear, Gungnir. Both of these weapons are enchanted so that they can return to their rightful owner’s hand after they are thrown, although Gungnir has no magical safeguard, meaning that you don’t have to be worthy to wield it. In Norse mythology, Gungir was known always to hit its target regardless of the attacker’s skill.

Although many weapons made of Uru were present in the MCU, the metal was never called by its name. In 2017’s ‘Thor: Ragnarok,’ after Hela destroyed Mjolnir, Thor said to Korg that his hammer was made from “this special metal from the heart of a dying star.” Mjolnir’s birthplace, Nidavellir, was eventually visited by Thor, Rocket, and Groot in ‘Avengers: Infinity War.’ Eitri revealed to Thor that Thanos’ Infinity Gauntlet was created in Nidavellir because Uru was the only metal capable of harnessing the power of the Infinity Stones. After restarting the forge and awakening the heart of a dying star, Eitri forged Stormbreaker, the greatest weapon in Asgard.

Thanos’ double-edged sword wasn’t shown in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before its first appearance in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Some fans wondered why Thanos hadn’t used it during Infinity War, but there’s a good explanation for that. Thanos in ‘Endgame’ was an alternate self from 2014, and since the Infinity Gauntlet was created in 2015 (mid-credit scene of ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’), the original Thanos didn’t need any other weapon once he got the Gauntlet. The 2014 Thanos didn’t have the Gauntlet, and that’s why the double-edged sword was his weapon of choice.

Thanos’ double-edged sword became the legendary MCU weapon among fans after it turned out to be the first weapon in the franchise that was able to damage Captain America’s “indestructible” shield. Of course, since many fans were aware of the shield’s strength, the writers probably wrote that scene to spice things up a bit and create more tension and “wow” effects during the movie’s third act. Thanos was eventually defeated, and Steve Rogers gave a new shield to his friend Sam Wilson, who is now known as the new Captain America.

In 2022’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder,’ Mjolnir that Hela destroyed was eventually repaired when Jane Foster became Mighty Thor. After her death, Thor continued using Mjolnir, while Stormbreaker was given to Gorr’s daughter, Love, whom Thor decided to take care of. The movie’s post-credit scene announced Thor’s return in the future, so it’s safe to say we’ll see more of Uru-made weapons in the MCU as well.

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