Mutants with psychic abilities have been a part of theX-Menfranchise since its beginnings. Two of the first mutants readers met in 1963’sX-Men#1, Jean Grey and Professor X, were eventually revealed to be two of the most powerful psychics on Earth. Later generations of writers and artists added even more characters with formidable mental powers, and not all of them good.
A mutant’s psychic ability can take many forms, such as telepathy, telekinesis or a combination of the two. The Marvel Universe is replete with psychics of all shades, and the X-Men possess a massive number of them. Many of the psychics in the X-Men’s corner of continuity are Omega Level as well, making them some of Earth’s most powerful mutants, on top of having god-like mental powers. Some have power so great they actually struggle to contain it. What follows are the 10 most powerful psychics in X-Men lore, ranked.
Fabian Niceiza and Andy Kubert
Uncanny X-Men#256
December 1989
Fan favorite X-Men member Psylocke is also one of the most powerful psychics in the team’s lore. Psylocke, or Kwannon, was introduced to the franchise through a convoluted chain of events: initially believed to be a transformed Betsy Braddock, the woman calling herself Psylocke was actually someone else, the victim of a body swap. Eventually, both Betsy Braddock and Kwannon were restored to their rightful bodies, with Kwannon retaining the name Psylocke, and Betsy becoming the latest incarnation of Captain Britain. She has been a member of the X-Men and X-Force, and currently stars in her own monthly title.
Psylocke appeared inX-Men: Apocalypse, played by Olivia Munn.
Before the body swap with Betsy, Kwannon only possessed low-level psychic powers. While controlling Braddock’s body,Psylocke gained a number of new abilities, including the ability to focus psychic energy into a physical form. This allowed her to fashion awesome weapons such as “psychic” knives, swords or sais. When this great power is coupled with her formidable training in fighting and the martial arts, it makes Psylocke not only one of the X-Men’s most powerful psychics, but one of the deadliest.
Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe
Captain Britain#8
December 1976
Betsy Braddock, introduced nearly 50 years ago as the sister of Captain Britain, is a powerful psychic, and became a hero in her own right.Although today associated with the X-Men, Betsy was not always involved with the team. During theMutant Massacrestoryline, Betsy used her mental powers to hold her own against Sabretooth, and was even able to glean vital information about the Reavers. This incident convinced the X-Men to add Betsy to their numbers. During the years she was mind-swapped with Kwannon, Betsy learned martial arts, which made her even deadlier.
Today, Betsy has taken over the mantle of Captain Britain from her brother, and her psychic powers serve her well in this role too.
Betsy’s time inhabiting Psylocke’s body not only helped her develop fighting skills, but increased her already considerable psychic powers. Whenever Betsy uses her abilities, a “psychic butterfly” appears around her eyes, and this has become part of her signature look. Like Psylocke, Betsy can focus her psychic energies, causing them to manifest as physical weapons. In one instance, Betsy was able to focus her energies so much she was able to take out the Juggernaut. Today, Betsy has taken over the mantle of Captain Britain from her brother, and her psychic powers serve her well in this role too.
Chris Claremont and John Byrne
Uncanny X-Men#129
January 1980
Emma Frost comes across as a cool and unstoppable force, and this arrogance is justified: she is one of the most powerful telepaths in X-Men lore.She possesses a wide suite of psychic powers, such as the ability to alter memories and create illusions.Emma can also use her powersin more defensive and offensive capabilities, creating psychic weapons. What separates Emma from the pack is her ability to turn into a diamond-like form, which, while suppressing her own psychic powers, gives her immunity from other mental attacks. This diamond form also gives her other powers too.
Emma Frost appeared inX-Men: First Class, played by January Jones.
Emma Frost’s arc throughout the Marvel Universe makes her even cooler. Introduced as the head of the evil Hellfire Club, Emma has gradually shifted to antihero status. In the epicNew X-Menrun of the early 2000s, writer Grant Morrison and their collaborators helped seal Emma’s transformation into one of the franchise’s biggest heroes. Since then, Emma has been as important to the X-Men as Cyclops or Jean Grey, and ascended even further during the team’s Krakoan Era. There, she resurrected the Hellfire Club, this time as the trading arm of the mutant nation of Krakoa.
Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly
New X-Men#134
January 2003
Of the many characters and concepts Grant Morrison introduced during their run onNew X-Men, Kid Omega Quentin Quire might be one of the most lasting. Co-created with frequent collaborator Frank Quietly, Kid Omega made a grand impression in his earliest appearances, leading a “riot” at the newly reopened Xavier’s School. Quire can think literally thousands of thoughts a second, and possesses the ability to control the minds of others. It has been speculated that Quire is an Omega-level telepath, and he has taken this to heart, christening himself “Kid Omega.”
The exact limits of Kid Omega’s powers have never been defined.
The exact limits of Kid Omega’s powers have never been defined. Professor X took an immediate interest in Quentin upon the latter’s arrival at the school, but Quire was notentirely sold on Xavier’s visionof peaceful existence between mutants and humanity. This disillusionment, coupled with the revelation that he was adopted, sent Quire over the edge. However, with a great deal of patience and trust, the X-Men have allowed Quire’s powers to develop. While Kid Omega still has a brash attitude, he has mellowed out a great deal, which will no doubt help his powers grow even more.
New X-Men#114
July 2001
Moviegoers met Cassandra Nova in last year’sDeadpool and Wolverine, but the character has quite a history in comics.One of the best X-Men villains introduced in the last 25 years, Cassandra Nova is the sister of Professor X. Her evil was so great, that Xavier sensed it in the womb, seemingly killing Cassandra and instigating a rivalry that would continue for the rest of their lives. Once achieving physical form, Cassandra began a crusade of evil that climaxed with the death of 16 million mutants in Genosha.
As the “lost” twin sister of Professor X, Cassandra Nova had all of Charles’ powers, and none of his moral fiber. Cassandra’s first act was to trick Bolivar Trask’s brother into giving his genetic information to her, which she used to reactivate Sentinels for the massacre in Genosha. While none of Nova’s appearances since that storyline have come close to duplicating the intensity of her debut, she is still one of the most powerful psychics in X-Men lore, and could strike again at any point, especially with Professor X now off the table.
Jeph Loeb and Steve Skroce
X-Man#1
March 1995
Hailing from theAge of ApocalypseEarth, X-Man is that universe’s version of Cable, and the son of that reality’s Cyclops and Jean Grey. He possesses all of Cable’s powers, but is not infected with the techno-organic virus.As a result, this Cable variant, called X-Man, was capable of accessing the full scope of his powers, which were numerous.X-Man survived the collapse of theAge of Apocalypseworld, and made his way to Earth-616. There, he learned just how truly powerful he was: an Omega-level mutant, with the potential to be even more.
X-Man’s psychic powers are many. They include standard abilities, such as mind-reading. Nate was also capable of generating highly realistic illusions as well as moving objects with his mind, even over great distances. The full extent of X-Man’s powers may never be revealed. Furthermore, it is possible that he is not living up to his potential, as his powers were curbed by the Omega Machine, designed by the Dark Beast of theAge of Apocalypsetimeline. X-Man is currently deceased on Earth-616, but there is always the potential for someone, especially of his great power, to return.
Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz
New Mutants#25 (Cameo),New Mutants#26 (Full)
March 1985, April 1985
Seeing as Professor X is one of the Earth’s most powerful psychics, it stands to reason that his children would have those abilities as well.David Haller, also known as Legion, is Professor X’s son, and is just as powerful as his father, if not more so.Legion has dissociative identity disorder, and each of her personas has its own power, similar to Jane of the Doom Patrol. Legion’s base powers, to manipulate time and space, have already put him into the Omega-level class, but all the extra powers make him almost a god.
Legion is trying to do better, but faces an uphill battle.
Legion has been front and center in some of the X-Men’s most popular and important storylines. TheMuir Island Saga, which helped usher in a blockbuster era for the X-Men franchise, starred Legion. He was also instrumental in ushering in theAge of Apocalypsereality. In recent years, Legion has sought to tame his inner demons and not lose himself to one of his personas. During the Krakoan era, Legion relied on Xorn and his brother to help control his powers should they go out of control. Legion is trying to do better, but faces an uphill battle.
Uncanny X-Men#117
January 1979
The Shadow King is one of the most frightening villains in X-Men lore. He is a sinister, eons-old presence that possesses and corrupts the bodies of telepaths. The Shadow King is immensely powerful, and has manifestations across the entire multiverse. The longer the Shadow King controls them, the more their essence merges with his, essentially killing his prey in both body and soul. In recent times, the Shadow King took control of Amahl Farouk, and has held the body for over a century. During the X-Men’s Krakoa era, Farouk was freed from the Shadow King’s control.
The Shadow King appeared in the FX seriesLegion,where it was played by Aubrey Plaza and Navid Negahban.
In terms of power, there were very few psychics who could outclass the Shadow King. He could easily hold his own against Professor X, and it would be Charles’ first harrowing encounter with the Shadow King in the 1970s that persuaded him to create the X-Men. While Amahl may be the best-known host for the Shadow King, the entity has had many over the years, including Legion and Karma of the New Mutants. The Shadow King cannot be killed, making him the ultimate psychic evil in the Marvel Universe.
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
X-Men#1
September 1963
Charles Xavier, or Professor X, is not only the founder of the X-Men, but also a powerful psychic in his own right.Professor X is, like many others on this list, Omega-level. His exact power levels have fluctuated over the years, but at their core, his telepathic abilities allow him to read minds, manifest convincing illusions and create psychic blasts. Professor X can also use his powers to detect other mutants, and the Cerebro device he regularly wears enhances this ability. Finally, Professor X can enter the astral plane, and has regularly done battle there in the past.
For all of his vast mental abilities,Professor X’s power does have limitations. Usually, he has to be in someone’s presence to be able to control their mind, but there have been exceptions to this rule. Professor X was once able to read minds all over the planet, until Magneto tampered with the Earth’s magnetic field, making it harder for Charles to use his telepathy. Yet even with these obstacles, Professor X is still one of the most important psychics in X-Men lore, and not just because he created the team.
X-Men #1
Marvel Girl. Phoenix. Jean Grey.Whatever name she is using, Jean Grey is the most powerful psychic in X-Men lore. Not only is she an Omega-level telepath, she also has empathic powers as well as being telekinetic. One of Professor X’s first recruits to the X-Men, Jean Grey has been a fixture in nearly every incarnation of the team. Working under Professor X’s guidance, Jean Grey has grown into her powers, constantly learning new and innovative ways to use them.
Yet what truly pushes Jean Grey into the stratosphere is her ability to control the Phoenix Force. One of the biggest, most fundamental forces of nature in the Marvel Universe, Jean Grey is its best-known host. The Phoenix Force took control of Jean early in Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum’s run onX-Men, and has been at the center of some of its best stories, includingThe Dark Phoenix Saga.In recent years, it was revealed that the Phoenix chooses Jean Grey because she is the ultimate embodiment of it. This advantage makes Jean Grey the most powerful psychic inX-Menhistory.
