Gambit Is Way More Powerful Than You Think: 'Doomsday's Mutant Wildcard, Explained
Avengers: Doomsday (2026) is finally uniting the Fantastic Four, two Avengers teams, and the X-Men to face a multiversal threat as well as Doctor Doom. But that also means there will be some fights as they become acquainted with one another. One such fight includes Channing Tatum's Gambit against Shang-Chi.
When you look at the X-Men line-up, Gambit is strong but is rarely considered one of the strongest X-Men out there. However, if you look at how his powers actually work, you'll find that's more so because of choice than any genetic limitation. Because of this, Gambit could easily be the biggest surprise when he appears in Avengers: Doomsday.
Gambit Has Amazing Powers and Feats in Marvel Comics
Gambit's mutant abilities are unlike anything shown before him, as he was able to charge any inanimate object with kinetic energy and make it explode. He did this by charging the molecules in an item and converting the potential energy within it. As a thief, his main use of this power is through playing cards.
Cards are quick to charge and easy to disarm and beat an enemy, never to kill. His staff, however, can be charged, and that energy can slam to the ground and be dispersed in battle before it explodes. However, Gambit can also hold his own combatively when using his powers.
During the Avengers vs. X-Men comic event, he even took on Captain America and charged his shield with energy that Cap withstood, but only barely. At the same time, the really impressive uses of his power came in other forms of media. Gambit's comic roots set up not only a great design and personality but also impressive powers that can't be replicated.
'X-Men '97' Is Pushing Gambit's Potential in Media in Amazing Ways
Channing Tatum first appeared as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), where we saw his powers in full effect. This time, he wasn't trying to disarm or hinder the bad guys; he was out for blood, and each card blew off limbs. He distributed energy from his staff to others and placed cards on them, so they exploded, showing the character cutting loose.
On the other side, in X-Men '97 (2024), Gambit sacrificed himself by charging a massive Super Sentinel with energy and blowing it and himself up. It was the most impressive use of his power we had ever seen and showed that his abilities were truly limitless.
X-Men '97 Season 2 had Gambit returning as the Horseman of Death. Now, Gambit is at the height of his strength and could be an even greater threat than any of the X-Men are expecting, just as he was when he was a Horseman in the comics.
Gambit Could Be a True Wildcard in 'Avengers: Doomsday'
Gambit is officially being adapted in live-action, and Channing Tatum is getting his time to shine in the best way possible. Even so, there's a lot we don't know about this iteration and whether or not he will be sticking around for the long haul of this new era of the MCU.
When it comes to powers, Gambit could surprise everyone in Avengers: Doomsday. Plus, if he survives the events of Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), we could see him adapt his powers and grow even more. Ultimately, while his powers are based on kinetic energy, there's still so much potential for Gambit in the MCU.
Fighting Shang-Chi and the Avengers and FF is a feat in itself, and from what we've seen already, there's no universe where Gambit's powers don't make him a genuine threat. As the cartoons tease the heights he could reach in power and characterization, it's hard not to get excited for Marvel's most iconic Cajun.
There's also no reason why Tatum's Gambit can't stick around after The Multiverse Saga and continue to grow and find a more permanent home. No matter what, the one certain thing is that tossing Gambit aside now isn't a winning hand.
