Every Marvel Character Who's Used Captain America's Shield In The MCU (2024)

Summary

  • Other Marvel characters have wielded Captain America’s shield, but Steve Rogers remains the primary holder in the MCU.
  • The shield symbolizes heroism, resilience, and the legacy of Captain America across generations in the MCU.
  • Sam Wilson’s journey with the shield as the new Captain America represents a compelling arc of legacy and heroism in the MCU.

Captain America‘s shield is typically associated with Steve Rogers in the MCU, but several other Marvel characters have also wielded the famed weapon. Captain America first received the shield in the MCU timeline in Captain America: The First Avenger, and has used the weapon in each of his outings since. While typically used by the various Captain America’s in the MCU, several other characters have also used the shield throughout the franchise’s history, and likely in the MCU’s future.

Captain America’s shield stands as an enduring symbol of heroism and resilience in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Crafted by Tony Stark’s father from Vibranium, the shield is virtually indestructible and serves as both a formidable weapon and a defensive tool. Passed down through generations, the shield embodies the legacy of Captain America and the ideals he represents. Its iconic design and significance to the MCU make it a revered and cherished artifact, evoking a sense of inspiration and hope for both characters and audiences alike.

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Steve Rogers’s Captain America Is The Main Wielder Of The Shield

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Captain America’s shield is one of the most iconic elements of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and has been primarily used by Steve Rogers, the original Captain America. Steve first discovered the shield in Howard Stark’s laboratory during World War II in The First Avenger. He subsequently used the weapon throughout the MCU until his retirement in Avengers: Endgame’s ending, when he passed on the shield to Sam Wilson.

Captain America’s shield is shown to be both a versatile weapon and as providing effective cover to oncoming attacks. Stever Rogers used the shield in the fight against Thanos, wielding it with Thor’s mighty Mjölnir in the climactic final battle in Avengers: Endgame. The shield played a pivotal role in these battles, underscoring its significance and enduring as an emblem of courage and justice in the MCU.

Steve Rogers was last depicted with the shield after returning the Infinity Stones to their correct places in the MCU timeline. By giving the shield to Sam Wilson, Rogers also passed on the mantle of Captain America to him. As a result, both the shield and Captain America will continue to play a key role in the MCU’s future.

Every Marvel Character Who's Used Captain America's Shield In The MCU (1)
Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger is a 2011 superhero movie starring Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, a weak patriotic civilian who becomes the test subject for the military’s Super Soldier project. The film was the fifth film in the long-running MCU franchise and also starred Samuel L. Jackson, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, and Sebastian Stan.

Director
Joe Johnston
Release Date
July 22, 2011
Runtime
124 Minutes

Bucky Barnes Wielded The Shield As A Hero & A Villain

Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier & Captain America: Civil War

Steve Rogers’ faithful friend Bucky Barnes has wielded Captain America’s shield as a weapon more than any other character in the MCU. Bucky first used the shield to defend himself while battling HYDRA troops on a train in Captain America: The First Avenger. This occurs moments before he seemingly plummeted to his death.

When Bucky returned in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, he gained control of the shield while fighting Captain America. As the Winter Soldier, Bucky used the mighty weapon against his friend. Later, during the events of Captain America: Civil War, Bucky and Captain America use the shield together to devastating effect while subduing Iron Man.

Bucky Barnes later handled Captain America’s shield in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, primarily while aiding Sam Wilson’s training to become the next Captain America. Bucky’s relationship with Captain America’s shield is representative of his relationship with each Captain America. In the MCU, Bucky has journeyed from friend to villain, to ally, to mentor, and each of his interactions with the shield has reflected this.

Every Marvel Character Who's Used Captain America's Shield In The MCU (2)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Every Marvel Character Who's Used Captain America's Shield In The MCU (3)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the ninth entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After being awoken from cryosleep in the previous film, Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world. As he adjusts, he must battle a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

Release Date
April 4, 2014
Runtime
136 minutes

James Montgomery Falsworth Hands Captain America The Shield

Captain Aerica: The First Avenger (2011)

During Captain America: The First Avenger, the Howling Commandos aid Steve Rogers on his heroic mission to defeat the Red Skull. Of that group, James Montgomery Falsworth stands as the sole individual depicted tossing Captain America’s shield. This pivotal moment occurred following the Commandos’ daring zipline infiltration of Red Skull’s fortress, where they quickly engaged the Hydra forces in battle.

In the ensuing turmoil, Red Skull, overcome with panic, mistakenly fires upon one of his own soldiers before fleeing in retreat. As the chaos unfolds, a Hydra operative momentarily wields Captain America’s iconic shield before meeting his demise at the hands of the Commandos. Seizing the opportune moment, Falsworth swiftly retrieves the shield from the fallen adversary, then deftly hurls it to Steve Rogers, enabling him to give chase to the fleeing Red Skull.

Montgomery distinguishes himself in this action-packed sequence, showcasing his valor and resourcefulness during the chaos of battle. In Marvel Comics, James Montgomery Falsworth is known as the hero, Union Jack. As a result, this brief scene in Captain America: The First Avenger is suggestive of his comic book counterpart.

Black Widow Gives Captain America Back His Shield

Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)

The MCU’s Black Widow demonstrated her proficiency at wielding Captain America’s shield during Avengers: Age of Ultron. The first example occurred when Captain America briefly lost the shield while battling Ultron. Natasha Romanoff raced towards it on her motorcycle and tossed it back to him as he engaged the villain in combat.

Later in the Age of Ultron’s climactic showdown, Captain America threw Black Widow the shield to use while fighting Ultron copies. Natasha used it to defend herself and then destroy several of the villainous robots before returning the shield to Captain America. Her adeptness with the weapon highlighted her versatility and combat prowess.

In these scenes, Natasha Romanoff truly demonstrated her deadly capabilities. This sequence underscored Black Widow’s invaluable contribution to the team and her adaptability in utilizing iconic weaponry in battle. It also allowed for a lot of dynamic action sequences with Captain America, demonstrating their impressive teamwork.

Every Marvel Character Who's Used Captain America's Shield In The MCU (4)
Avengers: Age of Ultron

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Earth’s Mightiest must reunite and work with newcomers Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch to battle a new antagonist Ultron, who receives an all-new origin story while dealing with a new level of inner conflict amongst the team. Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch may not necessarily agree withThe Avengers and initially blame Tony Stark for creating the new villain and the death of their parents. Avengers: Age of Ultron was directed and written by Joss Whedon and produced by Kevin Feige for Marvel Studios. The movie was released on April 13, 2015, followed by its eventual sequels, Avengers: Infinity War in 2018 and Avengers: Endgame in 2019.

Release Date
May 1, 2015
Runtime
141 minutes

Hawkeye Throws Captain America His Shield

Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015)

Hawkeye has only used Captain America’s shield once in the MCU, during Avengers: Age of Ultron. While the Avengers partied in the Avengers Tower near the beginning of the movie, the team was caught off-guard when Ultron attacked. With Captain America out of reach of his iconic shield, the situation appears dire.

However, Hawkeye proved to be a crucial ally in this moment of crisis. Reacting swiftly to the unfolding chaos, he seized Captain America’s shield and expertly hurled it across the room to Steve Rogers. This timely intervention allows Captain America to regain his most trusted weapon, enabling him to swiftly join the fray and confront the formidable threat posed by Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Hawkeye’s actions underscored his unwavering commitment to his teammates and his ability to adapt to rapidly changing circ*mstances. It revealed his quick thinking and resourcefulness while demonstrating his impressive accuracy and fighting skills. Though extremely brief, this scene in Age of Ultron truly reflected Hawkeye’s importance as a pivotal member of the Avengers team.

Sam Wilson Is Bestowed The Captain America Shield

Avengers: Endgame, Falcon And The Winter Soldier & Captain America Brave New World

Sam Wilson’s journey with Captain America’s shield is a compelling narrative arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, symbolizing legacy, responsibility, and the evolution of heroism. First introduced as the Falcon, Sam becomes the inheritor of the at the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame. This moment was both a passing of the torch and recognition of Sam’s heroic qualities.

In The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Sam grappled with the weight of this legacy, initially feeling unworthy of wielding the shield. His journey is marked by a deep internal struggle and an understanding of what the shield truly represents. By the series’ end, Sam fully embraces his new identity as Captain America, demonstrating that the true power of the shield lies not in its Vibranium composition, but in the values and determination of the person wielding it.

Sam’s use of the shield combined his agility and aerial combat abilities with the shield’s defensive and offensive capabilities. This combination revitalized the shield’s role, merging the legacy of Captain America with Sam’s distinctive fighting style. The symbolically represented Sam Wilson’s evolution in the MCU into the next Captain America.

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Avengers: Endgame

The penultimate chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame, marks the finale of the first three phases of the MCU and acts as part two of Avengers: Infinity War. With Earth’s Mightiest Heroes failing to stop Thanos from wiping out half of all existence, the heroes discover one final chance to make things right. Journeying back through space and time, the surviving Avengers attempt to stop Thanos before all is lost.

Release Date
April 26, 2019
Runtime
182 Minutes

John Walker Becomes The New Captain America

Falcon And The Winter Soldier (2021)

John Walker, also known as US Agent, made his MCU debut as a complex character in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Walker is notable for wavering between villainy and antiheroism in the MCU, especially following his controversial use of Captain America’s shield. Walker was introduced as the US Government’s choice as the next Captain America, leading to the surprising decision to hand Captain America’s shield to him early in the series.

Throughout Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Walker grappled with the weight of the mantle he’s been given. Overwhelmed with pressure and emotion, Walker uses the shield to violently murder somebody in broad daylight. This finally led him to lose both the Captain America shield and the title to Sam Wilson, a more deserving successor to the Captain America legacy.

Walker’s arc in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier served as a compelling exploration of the complexities of heroism and the consequences of wielding power. However, Walker’s story is far from over. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine recruited him for a mysterious endeavor and will appear in the MCU’s Thunderbolts.

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The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier focuses on Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) after Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) passed the Captain America mantle over to him in Avengers: Endgame. The Disney+ mini-series features a Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) team-up, as the title suggests, as they track down an anti-nationalist group known as the Flag Smashers. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier saw the return of familiar faces, such as Daniel Brühl’s Baron Zemo and Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Carter, while also introducing new characters like Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, aka US Agent.

Release Date
March 19, 2021
Streaming Service(s)
Disney+

Captain Carter Wields Her Captain America Shield Variant

Doctor Strange And The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)

Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, includes a British variant of Captain America, Captain Carter. Based on the MCU’s Agent Carter being bestowed the supersoldier serum. As such, Captain Carter boasts her own equivalent of the shield, emblazoned with the UK’s Union Jack flag.

As the stakes escalated, Captain Carter valiantly attempted to wield her shield against the Scarlet Witch, only to face an unforeseen consequence. Scarlet Witch expertly deflected the shield, resulting in a tragic turn of events that led to Captain Carter’s demise. Despite this, Captain Carter and her iconic shield continue to resonate throughout the multiverse.

Carter reappears later in Marvel’s What If…? series, during which she wields the mighty shield. This ongoing legacy serves as a testament to Captain Carter’s unwavering heroism and the enduring symbol of hope represented by her shield. While not technically the same shield as Captain America, Captain Carter’s usage of the iconic weapon is one of the most notable in the MCU.

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Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness

In Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU takes a deeper dive into the Multiverse and the unknown, introducing variants of Strange and other familiar friends and foes – including The Illuminati – and offers a new perspective on how it works and connects. The story followsStephen Strange, now post-blip and no longer the Sorcerer Supreme. When a terrifying monster rampages through New York seeking to capture a young girl from another multiverse named America Chavez, Strange finds himself as her newfound protector. Unfortunately, his new foe is a former ally, Wanda Maximoff. To protect Chavez and stop Wanda’s rampage, Strange travels the Multiverse looking for answers – and encounters engrossing and terrifying realities that expand the Marvel Universe in a whole new way.

Release Date
May 6, 2022
Runtime
126 minutes
Every Marvel Character Who's Used Captain America's Shield In The MCU (2024)

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