GotSIS Lore Compendium: Hierarchy of Power

Power Levels is a concept often wondered about in many, many fictional stories. Many wish to know how powerful a character is and where he/she stands in the greater scheme of things. And in a Universe as complicated and vast as Marvel, this answer only gets more complicated.

Now, before we discuss raw power, we must remember one VITAL FACT. Raw power isn’t everything. 

In fact, it is only one variable of a vast equation that would go on to determine who could win a fight between two characters (which, coincidentally is a question I get asked often). These variables are often varied, everchanging, and whimsical even, depending from opponent to opponent. 

The variables that determine the outcome of a fight are:

• Experience: Perhaps the most vital determinant of an outcome in a fight is experience. Experience is something that comes with survival, and most importantly, time. With experience, comes a kind of knowledge and muscle memory that can put any amount of power or even book knowledge to shame. You can know a damn lot and have all the power in the world, but if you freeze up in a fight or don’t have the presence of mind, you will die.
  For instance, Bruce Banner in the Hulk Buster suit was fumbling and tripping while Tony had put an enraged Hulk down with the suit’s older variant. It wasn’t like Bruce Banner was stupid or couldn’t use tech. He helped design the Hulk Buster armor. But he couldn’t fight in it due to a lack of experience. 

• Knowledge: You can have all the power in the world but if you don’t know how to use it, it is useless. And this applies to nearly all fields of combat, be it physical, machine, or magic. The know-how is damn important (which only increases and smoothens with experience).
  There’s a reason they say: Knowledge is Power. With the right know-how, there’s a lot of damage that can be averted or caused even to the most powerful beings.
  A suitable example here would be Hermione herself, who was arguably the most important member of the Golden Trio. (Let’s face it: Ron and Harry wouldn’t have made two years into Hogwarts without her.) Harry had more experience fighting enemies but knew that Hermione was every bit his match, thanks to the knowledge she had. (Yet, in a fight between them, I’d bet on Harry, as I feel experience matters more than knowledge.)

• Raw Power and Stamina: Yes, I will rank raw power third, below experience and knowledge. This is basically the energy/ strength of the character, and of course, it matters. You can have all the know-how but if you don’t have the right tools, you can’t do anything with the knowledge. Even obtaining the knowledge might become difficult. Though, in a fight, it isn’t the most important factor, in my opinion. But yes, it can change the outcomes of a battle or bridge the gap of knowledge and experience at times.
  As for stamina, how long you can use the said power also matters in a fight. If a hero passes out with two or three bursts, it is no good in a fight.

• Planning and Preparation:  Captain America was paraded as “The man with a plan.” during the Second World War. The right planning and right preparation can help a hero defeat someone with more experience, knowledge, and power, just because they’ve come with the right tools.
  The greatest example of this would be Batman (Yes, using a DC character here). Batman is just a normal human, albeit with training in martial arts. Not even impressive when you compare him to the other superheroes. Yet, having him makes a world of a difference because Batman with prep time is more dangerous than the whole Justice League put together. 

• Determination/ Reason of the fighter: What is driving the character to fight is also an important factor for a fight. Someone who’s fighting to protect the love of his life or his children will fight a lot damn harder than a person fighting for amusement. It is the will that matters too. It can also be counterproductive as a hero can lose because he/she is holding back to prevent collateral damage to lives. A sword that cuts both ways.
  To quote from John Wick, “He is a man of focus, commitment, sheer fucking will.”

• Terrain: Also called the home-ground advantage, it can be a lot of help to a particular fighter. When it comes to mystic arts, this can change entire battles. For instance, if a rookie sorcerer is fighting a fire giant, they’ll likely lose. But if they open a portal to the sea, the battle will be turned in seconds. It is one of the reasons Sorcerers have the mirror dimension, where they can change the battleground to their whims, suiting their needs.

• Luck: Last but not the least important factor in a fight, is luck. A lot of things can happen in the blink of an eye, for a fraction of a second, which can change the whole fight. It is plot armor, which it often is, but it is still something that can help someone win a fight even one out of their league.
  To quote Professor Minerva McGonagall from The Sorcerer’s Stone, when the golden trio defeated the troll (something no first years should’ve been capable of): “Five points will be awarded to each of you. For sheer dumb luck.”

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Now, to the main topic, the Hierarchy of power in the GotSIS universe. Whatever is written above, is for the outcome of a fight between two characters and what can determine it. But in a world of magic, gods, and cosmic forces, power plays a more important role. 

Classifying as per raw, cosmic power:

• The Endless: In the GotSIS Universe, The Living Tribunal, Death, Infinity, and Eternity are the most powerful beings. The literal creators of the multiverse are essentially the ‘all’ of the Universe. Yet, they are bound by the most stringent of laws of non-interference. This is because even in the smallest skirmish, an iota of their power being unleashed could result in the end of a Universe or Universes. Their mere presence on the physical plane can cause the annihilation of mere mortals. 

• Elder beings: Elder beings are those who were the first beings in a new Universe. They’re Elder gods like Chthon, Gaea, the Phoenix force, and celestials like Uranos (Grandfather of Thanos), with a handful of others. Each being can muster the raw power to rival an Infinity Stone at full power. They again, have restrictions, and most cannot act without a mortal host, putting limits on them. Of course, they can still destroy galaxies despite the host’s limitations. Regardless, they are not to be messed with lightly, or preferably, at all.

• Great Old Ones: These include a few monsters or gods as some believe them to be and a handful of extra-terrestrial beings who are truly immortal. The list includes Shuma Gorath, Galactus, and Dormammu, amongst others. This list is more of a 2.5 than 3 as these were formed after the Elder beings, and some are beings of antimatter, who weren’t ever meant to exist. Though, in terms of raw cosmic power, most fall in line with the next category, skyfathers. 

• Skyfathers and Celestials: Sometimes referred to as the Aftercomers, these Skyfathers (or skymothers in some cases), are beings of divinity, often worshiped by different species on different planets and galaxies. Earth’s sky fathers include Yahweh, Odin, Zeus, Brahma, Amaterasu, Dagda, and Amun-Ra, amongst others. Up there with them are celestials, who are scattered through the ranking and some are in the one below and some, above.

• Gods and Eternals: The younger gods like Thor, Loki, Ares, Horus, etc. fall in this category. Still very powerful and slowly growing into it. Some (including Thor) have the potential to be the next Skyfather or Skymother. There are also others in the power level like Mephisto, Lucifer, Surtr, The Ancient One, Hulk, and most importantly, Harry himself (even if he is at the lower rung atm).

• Enhanced humans, a few alien races: Next in the line is a broad category, who have been classified only a little. But Captain America, Frost giants, most Sorcerers, a whole bunch of lesser demons, monsters, and whatnot will fall in this category. Of course, it isn’t a measure of damage they can do or the battles they can fight, but raw, cosmic power they can channel or wield. 

• Mortals: Or in other words, beings with no power of their own. Ordinary beings. Tony Stark, Clint Barton, Nick Fury, etc. fall in here.

I repeat this is a list in terms of raw cosmic power and not a measure of anything else. Believe me, Tony Stark, with the right suit can take down Thor and go toe to toe with everything below Elder Beings. That too, he might figure out, which is a scary thought tbh. 

There are several others I missed out on, and most are scattered through what I’ll call a wide bracket of classification. For instance, Odin, despite being at IV, can go toe-to-toe with several Older beings, even in terms of raw power. The reason for it? Read the first list :). Officially he might be somewhere but his power levels can rival Galactus.

In fact, II and III could be a part of one as I said before. They’re just a minuscule notch below.

I have ranked them by the classification of how much one burst of full destructive power from them can destroy. It goes in the Order: I)Multiverse, II)Multiple galaxies, III) Galaxy or two, IV) Multiple Solar systems, V) Planets, VI) A city, VII) A brick or two.

This is, of course, a very rough classification.

Power comes in different forms and can manifest in different ways. Many are subtler but deadlier than the others. More to the fact, everything is relative. Raw power means little if you don’t have the complete skills, the right knowledge, and the determination to back it up.

Now, before we end, a bit about the Infinity Stones and their true power. A burst of raw power using a single  stone can destroy a galaxy or a cluster of galaxies, but such power cannot be wielded by any normal person or even most gods. 

The extent of the Stone’s power depends on the user. In the absolute hands of someone like Odin, it can level a galaxy with ease if done so with the right conduit. 

Harry or the Ancient One, who are basically highly enhanced mortals? A planet or half the solar system at most. Why? Because Odin can handle that power, Harry or even The Ancient One would be reduced to ashes before they could muster it within the stone, conduit or not. 

Of course, with the right knowledge, that raw power can be used in different ways to achieve what a raw burst like a sledgehammer never would.

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AND… DONE! Hope you all enjoyed it.

I know it was a culmination of a lot of stuff I have said before and yet still very rough. In my opinion, power’s subjective but I did this list for you all to have a better idea going ahead in the story. 

These lore compendiums are here due to the fact that FFN and AO3 readers do not like long author notes (and neither do I.) This one itself is over 1.8k words, which is usually a third of my chapter length. Also, exclusive understanding and lore work is a great benefit to have in addition to the stories.

Speaking of stories, I have managed to write some more of the Haphne fluff piece on my phone. I should, my muses willing, be capable of publishing it soon, followed by the Agent Potter chapter. After Agent Potter chapter, I plan for LoSP and then, Black Dawn ch.5 on Halloween, whereon, the first chapter will go public on FFN and AO3.

If you have any questions, feel free to DM me either here or discord, or make use of the comment section.

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66