Warning! MAJOR SPOILERS for Avengers: Infinity War ahead!
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The death toll of Avengers: Infinity War is catastrophic, for both the Avengers and the universe - so much so the biggest question coming out of the film isn't "who died?" rather "who's still alive?".
Ahead of Infinity War's release, there was heavy speculation that characters who've been in the MCU the longest would perish; a fitting and heroic sendoff that would clear the way for a new generation of Avengers to take center stage. But once Thanos collects each of the Infinity Stones and snaps his fingers, causing half the universe's population to crumble and fade away, those left standing are some of the least expected to survive Infinity War.
Related: Who Dies in Avengers: Infinity War
Read on for which MCU characters survived Thanos' universe-wide genocide as well as those we aren't sure (but are certainly hoping) made it out alive.
Who Survived Avengers: Infinity War
Going into Avengers: Infinity War, there were two characters who topped practically everyone's Avengers 4.
Alongside Tony, the only other survivor from their failed ambush of Thanos on Titan is Nebula (Karen Gillen) and isn't that going to make for an awkward trip home. Back on Earth in Wakanda, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Rocket (Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn) survive, so there's hope their budding friendship will continue. Otherwise, those left standing with Cap once the dust settles is a skeleton crew at best: Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson), James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine (Don Cheadle), Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and M'Baku (Winston Duke).
No corner of the MCU comes through Infinity War unscathed. Thanos wins - and lives - while the Avengers lose in just about every way imaginable.
Who (Maybe) Lived After Thanos' Finger Snap
Infinity War makes an effort to show us which characters survive Thanos' genocide and which do not, but there are still prominent MCU characters whose fates remain unknown. Just within the film itself, there are characters who we don't know if they live or die; namely Shuri (Letitia Wright), Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and Wong (Benedict Wong).
Related: Avengers: Infinity War – Complete Cast and Character Guide
Looking beyond Infinity War, there are other characters whose fates are questionable. Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), for instance, was notably absent from the film, and while there's an explanation given it's never revealed whether or not he and his family survive the purging of half the universe. The same can be said of Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Hope Pym/The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). It's true their film, set before the events of Infinity War, so it's no guarantee that any of them are still alive.
Lastly, the Captain Marvel - in which Brie Larson's Carol Danvers will officially debut. That film is also set prior to Infinity War, so it also doesn't guarantee Carol survives Thanos' finger snap. But then, it'd be awfully cruel for it to be revealed there's no one there to answer Nick Fury's distress call. The MCU has certainly raised the stakes with Avengers: Infinity War, but it hasn't become that bleak.
