Unraveling the Mystery: Why Thanos Could Lift Stormbreaker in Avengers: Endgame

The scene in Avengers: Endgame where Thanos lifts Stormbreaker from mid-air during his final battle with Thor is often met with confusion and curiosity. To understand why this happened, we'll delve into the two primary reasons provided by the comics and the Avengers: Endgame storyline: enchantments and the concept of wielding the weapon. Let's explore these in detail.

1. Enchantment

The first and primary reason Thanos could lift the Stormbreaker is due to its lack of any enchantment or magical property. Unlike Mjolnir, the legendary hammer wielded by Thor, which requires the wielder to be worthy to lift, the Stormbreaker has no such restrictions.

Odin’s Spell: In the Avengers: Endgame, Mjolnir is imbued with a powerful enchantment by Odin, the father of Thor. This enchantment is succinctly stated by Odin when he banishes Thor: “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.”

This enchantment makes Mjolnir impossible to lift by an unworthy person. However, this is not a feature that applies to the Stormbreaker. The origins of the Stormbreaker differ significantly from those of Mjolnir, with no sense of enchantment being placed upon it by any deity or powerful being.

2. Wielding the Weapon

The second reason Thanos could lift the Stormbreaker is related to the act of wielding the weapon itself. It's important to note that Thor did not actively wield the Stormbreaker, nor did he summon it. Instead, Thor summoned it, and Thanos merely caught it mid-air and forced it down towards Thor.

Thor's Action: Throughout the Avengers: Endgame, we see multiple instances where powerful beings like Thor and even characters like Tony Stark in his suit and the Hulk use the Stormbreaker freely, demonstrating that the weapon is not inherently restricted by magical enchantments.

Strength and Power: The concept of lifting the Stormbreaker hinges on the wielder's strength. The MCU has established that as long as a person is strong enough, especially if they are powerful enough to lift uru metal (the material used to forge weapons like the Stormbreaker and Mjolnir), they can wield the weapon for general purposes, such as swinging and fighting.

Example with Characters: In the storyline, characters such as Groot, who clearly isn't considered worthy by the standard used for Mjolnir, can lift the Stormbreaker with ease. Even Tony Stark and the Hulk demonstrated their capability to use the Stormbreaker effectively, showcasing that the weapon's power lies in the strength and prowess of its wielder.

Conclusion

The scene in Avengers: Endgame where Thanos lifts the Stormbreaker is a testament to the weapon's design. Unlike Mjolnir, which is enchanted to only allow the worthy to lift it, the Stormbreaker is not bound by such enchantments. Its power lies in the strength and capability of the wielder. This makes it accessible to anyone powerful enough to lift the uru metal, including Thanos and other powerful characters in the MCU.

By understanding these two aspects, we can better comprehend why Thanos could lift the Stormbreaker in the climactic battle, enriching our understanding of the Avengers: Endgame and its rich mythological context.