Why can Captain America wear Thor's hammer?

Captain America can wield the hammer of Thor because he is deemed worthy through the enchantment of’Odin.

Only a being with pure heart, willing to sacrifice his life for others, can inspire Mjölnir. In Avengers Endgame, Steve Rogers finally proves it against Thanos.

Why can Captain America take Thor's hammer?

In comic books, Odin, the father of Thor, laid down a simple rule regarding Mjölnir : only the one who is worthy can hold this hammer, and anyone who is able to do so receives the power of Thor.

Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, he checks all the boxes. He is loyal and courageous, and he proved it by refusing to bow down to the’Hydra. These features ensure that the hammer does not fall into the wrong hands.

In Avengers Endgame, Thor He doesn't say a word: he just blurts out, «I knew it!» when he sees Captain America to brandish the hammer at Thanos.

The moment when Steve grabs the weapon—still a cult favorite among fans of the Avengers. The hammer chooses it, and Thor smiles broadly when she finally sees him lift the hammer Thor for real.

It should be noted that in Avengers : L’ère d’Ultron, Tony Stark is also trying to raise Mjölnir at a party, but to no avail. This scene perfectly illustrates the rule of dignity: technological power or wealth alone are not enough.

Who can lift Thor's hammer?

Steve Rogers is not the only one superheroes to be worthy of the Thor's hammer. In the comics, many characters have wielded it. Here is the list:

• Odin, its front carrier Thor and the man who enchanted him; ;
• Bor, the father of’Odin, brought back to life in Thor #600 in 2009 ;
• Beta Ray Bill, which first appeared in 1983 in The Mighty Thor #337 ;
• Vision, who raises the hammer of Thor and returns it to him in a scene from Avengers : L’ère d’Ultron ;
• Volstagg, an ally of Thor, which becomes War Thor by lifting the Mjölnir of the universe Ultimate in The Mighty Thor #20 from 2017; ;
• Loki, who temporarily became dignified during the arc Axis in 2014. A moral reversal turned him good for a while, which allowed him to wield the hammer; ;
• Wonder Woman, in the crossover DC vs. Marvel in which the two publishers joined forces. She takes up the gavel in Issue No. 2 of 1996, then decides to set it aside to face Tornade fair and square; ;
• Supermanwhich brought him to JLA/Avengers #4 of 2004 ;
• Magneto, who cheated a little by manipulating metals and the magnetic field, in The Ultimates 3 #5 ;
• Eric Mastersonaka Thunderstrike, an alter ego of Thor appeared in The Mighty Thor #432 of 1991 ;
• Awesome Android, the creation of the Mad Thinker, which mimics the personality of Thor and becomes worthy in She-Hulk #14 from 2006; ;
• the Hulk red, who is brandishing Mjölnir in Hulk #5 of 2008. The scene takes place in space, in zero gravity, which circumvents the rule of dignity; ;
• Jane Foster, highlighted in Thor : Love & Thunder.

Less well-known characters such as Dargo Ktor and Air-Walker ...also used the famous hammer.

In the What if…?, where the stories take place in other universes, other characters are deemed worthy of Mjölnir :

• Black Widow ;
• Malicia ;
• Conan ;
• Ragnarok, etc.

Special case: Deadpool thought he was lifting the gavel in Deadpool #37 from 2000, but it was a copy created by Loki.

If you're wondering where to start with all these characters, you'll find a guide on the’order to watch Marvel.

How to wear Thor's hammer

To lift Mjölnir, there are no physical techniques involved. It all comes down to a single rule: to be worthy. This is the spell cast by Odin on the hammer.

Brute strength doesn't matter. Someone willing to sacrifice themselves for others can wield it, while a powerful but dishonest person will be unable to move it even a millimeter.

Originally, the hammer came from the Nordic mythology, long before comic books and movies Marvel. It symbolizes protecting the universe from chaos and is used by the god of thunder to fend off giants. It is this idea of a weapon reserved for the bravest warriors that inspired the dignity rule you see on the screen.

How powerful is Thor's hammer?

In the comics, in the movies and in the Nordic mythology, Mjölnir has many powers. The most memorable one in the movies is still his Boomerang property : once launched by Thor, it automatically goes to him.

The hammer also allows the god of thunder of handling lightning as much as you want. His blows cause electric shocks all around the impact, multiplying their power tenfold.

According to Norse mythology, Mjölnir was above all the weapon of lightning and thunder, capable of bringing down mountains and returning to the hand of Thor after each throw. Travel between dimensions, on the other hand, is a comic book invention.

These capabilities have been a major source of inspiration Stan Lee and Jack Kirby to create Thor in their comic books.

These powers make Mjölnir one of the the most powerful weapons in the universe Marvel. And if you want to explore other worlds of superheroes such as that of Batman, there are guides to help you figure out the order of the movies.