Mutant Power Levels

[Young Avenger]

While reading an issue of Deadly Genesis the mysterious mutant has been classfied as an Omega-level mutant. What is an Omega-level mutant? How powerful is an Omega-level mutant? Are there other power levels?

[The Lucky One]

To be honest, it's a pretty inconsistent power rating scale -- good luck finding anyone who can tell you the specific difference between an alpha or a beta, for instance -- but an omega mutant is generally defined as one whose powers have no theoretical limits. For instance, Iceman- since he controls water molecules, he theoretically can control... uh, all molecular activity, in some way I once knew but can't remember right now. Well, whatever... Franklin Richards- reality manipulator, no theoretical upper limit to his power. Jean Grey- taps into the Phoenix Force, no upper limit. Storm- no upper limit. Basically, you need to have some ability to affect things on a global or cosmic scale to be considered an omega. Now, a lot of supposed omegas contradict this (Apocalypse? Come on...), but that's the hypothetical definition.

As for alphas, they're the step below: very powerful, but with limits. Lots of X-Men fall into this category. Cyclops. Havok. Dazzler. Emma Frost. Etc.

Betas tend to be your more physical mutants, like Wolverine or Beast or Angel. Dangerous in their own way, but not likely to wipe you out from a football field away.

And then your mutants with the power to shoot bubbles out their ass or sprout ungodly amounts of underarm hair would be... I dunno, gammas, I guess. No obvious practical use for their mutations.

-D

[lament]

Betas tend to be your more physical mutants, like Wolverine or Beast or Angel. Dangerous in their own way, but not likely to wipe you out from a football field away.

Wasn't Professor Xavier state somewhere that Beast and Archangel were both Alpha Level?

[Nick Kal]

Deadly Genesis 4 spoilers...

Rachel says Vulcan is beyond Omega in DG #4...

[Bart Simpson]

Deadly Genesis 4 spoilers...

Rachel says Vulcan is beyond Omega in DG #4...


Which is pretty stupid because Omega is THE END. Unlimited Potential. Marvel crapping on their own rules again to make "Vulcan" a threat. Guess killing Banshee wasn't enough.

[Jake V]

Which is pretty stupid because Omega is THE END. Unlimited Potential. Marvel crapping on their own rules again to make "Vulcan" a threat. Guess killing Banshee wasn't enough.
If he absorbed the powers of more than one omega level mutant, wouldn't that put him beyond omega level? Unlimited potential in more than one area?

It could be what she's getting at.

Or simply that the alpha/beta/omega classifications were so ill-defined that they don't really have any meaning.

And killing Banshee isn't really that impressive. Mystique nearly did it. Doesn't mean much.

[twilight]

And killing Banshee isn't really that impressive. Mystique nearly did it. Doesn't mean much.

I agree with Jake.A bullet couldv'e taken Banshee out long ago.

[Titan76]

Deadly Genesis 4 spoilers...

Rachel says Vulcan is beyond Omega in DG #4...
Narrative hyperbole, just making the villain seem more powerful then we thought he was.

While its likely he is an Omega mutant I doubt he's beyond. I mean look at Jean who is an Omega power, if he is beyond her then he got to be close to the Living Tribuanl's level of power which I really doubt.

[The Lucky One]

Wasn't Professor Xavier state somewhere that Beast and Archangel were both Alpha Level?

Quite possibly. Which shows again how inconsistent the power ratings are, really. I love Warren, but in what rating scale is he possibly an alpha?

-D

[Titan76]

Quite possibly. Which shows again how inconsistent the power ratings are, really. I love Warren, but in what rating scale is he possibly an alpha?

-D
Actually may question would be what issue does Xavier say Angel and Beast are alpha level?

Unless they both get new powers for a big power boost I don't see neither of them as alpha mutants.

[Rubicant]

If he absorbed the powers of more than one omega level mutant, wouldn't that put him beyond omega level? Unlimited potential in more than one area?

No, because that's like saying "infinity plus one". Go here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-Level_Mutant) for an in-depth explanation of omega-level.

[Henry T.]

They use to use the term Alpha to denote powerful mutants. Magneto for example was described as an Alpha as was the other members of the Twelve (Cyclops, Phoenix, Cable, Magneto, Xavier, Polaris, Iceman, Mikhail, Monolith, Bishop, Storm, Sunfire and I guess Nate Grey as the 13th).

Omega suppose to be above Alpha and suppose to describe mutants with unlimited potential.

Even though the word Omega had been used before, the concept was first defined in the X-Men Forever mini series written by Fabian N.

Jean Grey and Iceman were revealed to be Omega Mutants. Xavier knew all along that they were Omega. It was said that Cyclops, Angel, and Beast were Not omegas.

Omega mutants are those that have unlimited potential for power and can possibly destroy all.

In X-Men Forever, Death also tells Jean that she represents a legitimate threat to the fabric of reality. Those like her have the potential to grow and replace the fundamental forces of the universe.

Later in the series we see some of Iceman's potential as an Omega. He is able to turn into water/rain, ice, vapor etc. He feels like he is one with everything and appears as though he cannot die. He was attacked and exploded but reformed from the rain.

So it would seem that Omega mutants were suppose to have unlimited potential, potential to destroy or threaten reality, and the potential to evolve into fundamental forces of the universe.

At first it was Jean and Iceman that were labeled as Omega. Morrison continued the concept in New with Jean and then introduced Quentin Quire as an Omega. That wasn't so bad because Quentin was suppose to be similar to Jean Grey.

Then they labeled one of the teens in the new New X-Men series as an Omega and he just has healing powers.

Then they labeled a mutant with molecular powers in 198 as an Omega.

Now they label Vulcan as above Omega.

Even though there is not suppose to be anything above omega.

The Omega mutant concept is becoming increasingly useless because they are assigning the label to too many mutants and to some that don't make sense,imo.

[The Lucky One]

Well, Mr. M and Elixer make sense, given their specific powers- while Elixer is a healer at present time, his specific mutation is described as the ability to manipulate matter in anyw ay he sees fit. Mr. M is essentially the same as the Molecule Man, and both of their powers are essentially without limits, bounded only by their imaginations.

-D

[Depowered Mutant]

Magma could grow into an Omega as well.

[ibrakeforchinwe]

OMEGA= Unlimited Potential, I dont think you can grow into unlimited potential.

ALPHA= Awesomely Powerful, but not unlimited.

There are no real other rankings. If you're not one of the main two your power isnt really all that cool.