Introduction
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thanos was depicted as the ultimate, unstoppable villain, especially after acquiring all six Infinity Stones. However, What If...? season 2 has unveiled a surprising twist that suggests Thanos could have been defeated in a completely unexpected way.
Ronan the Accuser stands overe Thanos' crown after betraying him
The Power of One Stone
Before Thanos used the power of all six Infinity Stones to execute his devastating plan, he was feared across the galaxy for his genocidal actions. Other villains recognized his immense power and sought to align with him in the hopes of furthering their own nefarious goals.
Ultron in What If and Thanos in Infinity War
In the main MCU timeline, even the combined efforts of multiple heroes with some of the Stones were insufficient to defeat Thanos. It was only after Thanos was weakened by his own use of the Stones that he was ultimately defeated. However, What If...? season 2 has revealed that Thanos could have been defeated by a surprising betrayer wielding just one Stone.
Ronan's Betrayal
The first episode of What If...? season 2 presents a shocking revelation: Ronan the Accuser uses the Power Stone to betray Thanos. Ronan, a Kree radical, sought his own power and vengeance, and Thanos tasked him with securing the Power Stone. While in the main timeline Ronan's pursuit of the Stone did not directly confront Thanos, in this alternate reality, Ronan uses the Stone to kill Thanos and thwart his plan completely.
This unexpected turn of events portrays Ronan as an immensely powerful threat, forcing the Nova Corps to take extreme measures to evade his advances. It suggests that, had the Guardians not intervened and stopped Ronan, he could have been the first to succeed in killing Thanos using just one Stone.
