The Infinity Stones: Attempts to Destroy Them and Their Consequences

In the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse, the existence is fundamentally a cosmos comprised of coexisting separate physical and dimensional planes. Each plane is imbued with its own cosmic and mystical phenomena, generated by the idiosyncratic interplay of the universe's Six Aspects: Soul, Mind, Power, Space, Reality, and Time. Among these, the Infinity Stones hold a special place as sentient entities that embody these aspects.

What Are the Infinity Stones?

Each of the six Infinity Stones is a concentrated ingot of its respective Universal Aspect, governing and utilizing its domain. For example, the Space Stone allows for interstellar travel, the Time Stone controls temporal manipulation, and the Mind Stone grants telepathic abilities.

Records of Attempting to Destroy the Infinity Stones

Throughout the MCU, several characters have attempted to destroy or neutralize the Infinity Stones, either their outer casings or the stones themselves, for various reasons. Here are some notable instances:

Threats to the Infinity Stones

Thor and the Aether - In Thor: The Dark World, Thor attempted to destroy the Aether, the embodiment of the Reality Stone, to prevent Malekith from draining it from Jane Foster's body. While he shattered the Aether, it reformed, indicating that the reality stone itself cannot be destroyed, only fragmented.

Scarlet Witch and the Mind Stone - In Avengers: Infinity War, Scarlet Witch attempted to destroy the Mind Stone to prevent it from falling into Thanos's hands. Her attempt was successful, as her power was derived from the Mind Stone itself. The stone was destroyed, but Thanos was able to reverse the process using the Time Stone to save Visions and subsequently reclaim the Mind Stone.

Ultron and Loki’s Scepter - In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ultron destroyed the casing of Loki’s scepter, freeing the Mind Stone. This act led to the destruction of the scepter but not the stone itself.

Casings of Infinity Stones

The actual stones themselves remain unbreakable, but their protective casings have been destroyed multiple times within the MCU:

- Ultron's Destruction of Loki's Scepter - Ultron destroyed the casing of Loki’s scepter to access the Mind Stone, but the stone remained intact.

- Thanos and the Tesseract - In Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos broke the casing of the Tesseract but not the Space Stone within.

- Ronan and the Power Stone - In Guardians of the Galaxy, Ronan smashed the Orb to access the Power Stone, but the stone itself remained in his possession.

Key Consequences of Destroying the Infinity Stone

Several characters have attempted to destroy the mind stone, the reality stone (Aether), and the space stone within the Tesseract. Here are the outcomes:

Scarlet Witch - In Avengers: Infinity War, Scarlet Witch destroyed the Mind Stone, but Thanos managed to reverse the dissolution using the Time Stone. This action proved futile as Thanos retained control of the Mind Stone.

Thor, Loki, and Jane Foster - They attempted to destroy the Aether in Thor: The Dark World, but the Aether fragmented and reformed, indicating it cannot be destroyed.

Ultron - In his speech, Ultron destroyed the casing of Loki’s scepter, but not the Mind Stone itself.

Conclusion

While the Infinity Stones themselves are indestructible, their outer casings can be broken, as seen in various instances throughout the MCU. Note that these actions usually lead to unintended consequences, particularly when the stones are rendered incapable of their protective coverings.

Related Keywords

Infinity Stones Mind Stone Avengers: Infinity War