Summary

• Kang the Conqueror can outsmart the Phoenix Force with time travel to defeat it.
• Squirrel Girl has bested tougher opponents than the Phoenix, proving she can take it down.
• Echo has successfully harnessed and controlled the powerful Phoenix Force, proving she can handle it.

The Phoenix is one of the most powerful cosmic beings in Marvel Comics, able to destroy stars and generate destructive power on a scale that's hard to imagine. The X-Men barely survived their initial and classic encounter with the entity in "The Dark Phoenix Saga," leading to the question of who else in Marvel Comics would be able to defeat the Phoenix.

Many powerful beings and forces exist within the Marvel Universe, some of which are beginning to emerge in the MCU. The Scarlet Witch's exploration of chaos magic could potentially lead to a confrontation between chaos magic and the Phoenix Force. It's one that's already happened in the comics, with shocking results for readers. But there are plenty of heroes who can go toe-to-toe with Jean Greye's Phoenix Force, and who have proved it in the comics already.

"The Dark Phoenix Saga" storyline spans Uncanny X-Men #129-138

30 Kang The Conqueror

Kang found the biggest loophole to taking on the Phoenix Force: time travel

In an actual fight where he is left to his own devices, Kang the Conqueror does not stand a chance against the Phoenix Force and he isn't likely to make for a suitable host either. However, Kang has one loophole that other suitors on this list don't: he has the power of time travel on his side. He has mastered all of the reality bending implications of time travel.

If Kang ever finds himself in a scenario where he must combat the Phoenix Force, he doesn't have to risk his life in an unwinnable bout against a cosmic entity. Instead, he can travel back in time to kill its host before said host acquires the Phoenix Force, or even prevent the host from being born altogether. Not even a cosmic being is immune to the complexities the timestream.

29 The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl

She's Beaten Far Tougher Than Phoenix

The only person this list guaranteed to defeat the Phoenix with no issues is, of course, the uneatable Squirrel Girl. Squirrel Girl has taken on several characters who could handle Phoenix. She's beaten all the Avengers, Spider-Man included, beaten Dr. Doom, Galactus, and defeated Thanos. All of these characters have beaten Phoenix before, and Squirrel Girl beat all of them.

But if that's not enough evidence, on Marvel's own official character page, Squirrel Girl scores equally in speed, energy projection, and fighting skills as Phoenix, and outright beats Phoenix in of intelligence and strength. With that in mind, and all of Squirrel Girl's other feats, there's really no reason to assume Squirrel Girl couldn't take Phoenix down if necessary.

28 Echo (AKA Maya Lopez)

Echo has proven she can handle the strongest version of the Phoenix

Echo is one of the more recent hosts to the Phoenix Force and may rank as the most unexpected hosts as well. However, when she acquired the Phoenix Force, it was believed that she could as Scarlet Witch once was, but she manages to grasp control of the Phoenix Force.

It's clear that Echo harnesses an untapped potential as a hero, considering that she's able to handle the strongest version of the Phoenix. Anyone strong enough to control a force that powerful without being overtaken by the Dark Phoenix is powerful enough to defeat it.

27 Legion (AKA David Haller)

Even a being like the Phoenix is unlikely to be able to handle Legion's power

David Haller, or Legion, is the unstable, yet all-power Omega Level son of Professor Xavier. He suffers from dissociative identity disorder brought apart largely from his mind struggling to contain his level of power. As a result, many of his powers manifest themselves as entirely new personas for David. Some may wonder how someone who can hardly control his own powers could possibly stand a chance against the Phoenix. That's exactly what gives him an edge in a hypothetical fight with the Phoenix.

In a worst case scenario where the Phoenix tries to overwhelm David as its host, Legion is one of the more likely candidates who would have it under control. If David can hardly contain himself, surely the Phoenix wouldn't be able to, and thus David (or one of his personalities) would be the one overwhelming the Phoenix. Plus, in an actual fight with the Phoenix Force, David has reality bending powers on his side that should make things easier.

26 The Stepford Cuckoos (AKA Emma's Clones)

The clones of Emma Frost could achieve what the Qhite Queeb couldn't, alone

There was once a time when Emma Frost absorbed the powers of the Phoenix, but it proved too powerful for her to handle, morphing her into the Dark Phoenix. That considered, it's unlikely that Emma could take on the Phoenix herself on her own accord, despite how powerful she is, but three heads of Emma Frost are better than one.

The trio of Emma Frost clones are typically relegated to the background of X stories as ing characters at best, but they get a well deserved spotlight in X-Men: Phoenix - Warsong, where the sisters find themselves locked in the crosshairs of the Phoenix. Miraculously, when the Phoenix overwhelms the rest of them, it is Celeste who manages to overpower the beast. One Emma Frost may not be enough to handle the Phoenix, but the clones are the trio that Marvel needs in timely distress such as this.

25 Fongji Wu (AKA The Immortal Iron Fist)

The wielder of the Iron Fist could tame the Phoenix

Hundreds of years before Danny Rand or even Lin Lie would adopt the Iron Fist, the moniker belonged to Fongji Wu. Brian Michael Bendis' New Avengers #26 and #27 depicts her origin story, from training to handle the Iron Fist to preparing to tackle the incoming Phoenix Force.

To everyone's surprise, Fongji Wu is able to face down the Phoenix Force and absorb it whilst remaining in full control, becoming the firebird's new host. If she can handle the power of the Phoenix Force, she most certainly has a chance to defeat it. Wu may be one of the more obscure people to ever wield the power of the Phoenix Force, but she might also be one of the most powerful knowing she was able to endure the Phoenix Force, presumably for the rest of her life.

24 The Goblin Force

The cosmic force that is equal to, if not stronger, than the famous Phoenix Force

There are not many cosmic entities out there that have the capacity to match the Phoenix Force in power. The Goblin Force comes the closest. The Goblin Force hails from an alternate reality where it was spawned at the beginning of time itself alongside the Big Bang. It carries striking similarities to the Phoenix Force, including holding unlimited power, except the Goblin Force feeds off hunger, not satisfied until its appetite its whet. One has to wondered if its hunger can ever be satisfied considering the depths it has gone to feed itself.

The Goblin Force not only killed The Phoenix Force, but Galactus as well. It could not be defeated or destroyed itself, thus the need for the Celestials to imprison it as a last-ditch effort to contain it. The Goblin Force already proved itself worthy in a fight against the Phoenix Force.

23 The Hunger

The cosmic entity ruled by hunger can swallow the Phoenix Force whole

The Hunger is more than just a cosmic entity - it's a multiversal parasite that feeds on entire realities and universes. Much like The Goblin Force itself, The Hunger (unsurprisingly, considering the name) is driven by feeding its appetite, an appetite that's extremely difficult to satisfy. It's also far more sentient than either the Phoenix Force or the Goblin Force, so when it is in an aggressively hungry mood, it has no problem letting it be known to anyone listening. When it can devour entire realities, the Phoenix doesn't stand a chance.

Earth-616 was not on The Hunger's radar until it learned about the Infinity Gauntlet, putting him in conflict with Thanos. It wound up devouring several cosmic beings in the distant future and even destroying Thanos. It took a time-traveling, omnipotent Thanos to finally defeat The Hunger.

22 Moon Knight (AKA Marc Spector)

The Fist of Khonshu is powerful enough to reject the Phoenix Force

Moon Knight actually served as the host of the Phoenix Force for a brief time. But when he realized just how devastating the entity actually was, Moon Knight did something unthinkable: he rejected the Phoenix Force on purpose. While caught up in a fight with the Avengers, Moon Knight allows Thor to knock him out, forcing the Phoenix Force to move on and find a new host.

It's hard to find someone capable of the sheer willpower it takes to resist the influence of the powerful force. But Marc Spector managed to do it, giving the hero a surprising advantage over the cosmic power.

21 Galactus (AKA The Devourer of Worlds)

The cosmic villain has already taken the Phoenix to the limit

The Devourer of Worlds has actually fought against the Phoenix, in Excalibur #61 from 1993. This was the Rachel Summers version of the character, arguably at the height of her powers. Galactus was at the ebb of his, hungry and weak.

Phoenix was able to defeat him in a truly cosmic battle, but if Galactus had been at full strength, the circumstances would have been very different in this titanic battle.