How Powerful Will Byers Is Compared To Vecna & Eleven After Stranger Things’ Big Twist

by

The first part of Stranger Things season 5 has arrived, and fans are eagerly awaiting the next installment coming this Christmas. A major talking point is Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), particularly after the shocking reveal in Episode 4. He unexpectedly takes control of the Demogorgons and defeats them using only his mind – a huge twist in the season! While he was often seen as simply the character who suffered the most, the show now demonstrates that he’s playing a much more active and powerful role in the central conflict. This moment feels like a response to earlier seasons, suggesting that he’s far more than just the group’s ‘early warning system’ for the Upside Down – he could be a significant threat himself.

Fans are understandably curious about the extent of his abilities, especially how he unlocked them during that critical scene. They’re also wondering how closely he’s connected to Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and how his power stacks up against both Vecna and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown).

How Do Will’s Powers Work?

It’s important to realize Will isn’t developing powers like Eleven. He doesn’t draw strength from within himself; instead, he taps into the existing energy of the Upside Down – a shared consciousness connecting everything there. Think of it like he has limited access to Vecna’s power, but can’t control everything. Eleven creates her own power, Vecna controls the Upside Down itself, and Will simply redirects existing energy. This doesn’t make his abilities any less remarkable, it just means they have a specific focus. He isn’t moving objects with his mind, closing portals, or altering memories. He operates within a limited scope, and that scope is defined by the show’s villain, Vecna.

Will’s connection to the hive mind allows him to influence creatures like the Demogorgons, because he’s intrinsically part of that shared mental network – the one he’s been experiencing since the beginning. However, this connection also restricts his powers; he can only use them when linked to the hive mind. He doesn’t generate these abilities himself, but rather responds to the energy flowing through him, meaning his power is based on reaction, not direct control.

Compared to Vecna, Will’s abilities are quite different. Vecna built the Upside Down and completely controls everything within it – he can manipulate memories, warp reality, and command creatures as if they’re part of himself. Will’s connection happened by chance, and Vecna didn’t anticipate anyone using that connection against him. Essentially, Will is an unexpected flaw in Vecna’s system, a weakness the villain can’t directly control, and fans are excited to see how Vecna will respond when he figures that out.

What’s really cool is that Will’s whole ‘glitch’ thing actually makes him incredibly important. He can feel danger coming before anyone else does, and he basically gets a heads-up on Vecna’s moves as they happen. It’s like he’s connected to the hive mind in a way no one else is. It’s more than just being a useful person in a fight – he’s like a hole in Vecna’s whole system. Eleven can fight Vecna from the outside, but she’ll never get how the network works the way Will does. And Vecna? He thought he had everything under control, but he didn’t realize just how deeply connected Will was. Will is stuck right in the middle, and honestly, neither Eleven nor Vecna can really understand his position.

Beyond the physical dangers, Stranger Things has consistently linked Will’s struggles with the Upside Down to his emotional well-being. Unlike other characters, Will’s powers aren’t consistently strong; they’re deeply tied to his mental and emotional state. Eleven gains strength by discovering who she is, and Vecna thrives on complete control, but Will only truly grows when he directly faces his inner pain. This makes his abilities much less predictable – he might fail at one moment and be essential the next. From a storytelling perspective, this creates a sense that anything is possible with his character.

Is Will More Powerful Than Vecna and Eleven?

Ultimately, Will isn’t more powerful than Eleven, nor does he have the same control over the Upside Down as Vecna. He doesn’t act independently or create things on his own. However, that doesn’t make him unimportant. Will can operate in areas Eleven can’t reach and Vecna doesn’t fully control, making him a key strategic player. Eleven has immense power, Vecna has order, and Will has access – and sometimes, simply having access is more valuable than raw strength.

Will might not be the strongest fighter, but he has a unique ability that could be crucial to defeating Vecna. He can disrupt Vecna’s control over his creatures by interfering with their connection – almost like creating static that blocks the signal. Throughout Stranger Things, the show has hinted at Will’s potential as an unpredictable element, someone who can change the course of the battle at critical times. He won’t win through brute strength, but by exploiting a weakness within Vecna’s own network.

However, Will has a significant weakness: as long as he needs this connection emotionally – or even relies on Vecna himself – he’s being used, not acting as a source of power. If the story allows him to gain independence and take control, that could drastically change everything, and how we view Will, Eleven, and Vecna. Currently, though, the narrative isn’t heading that way. Eleven remains the strongest in terms of physical and psychic ability, and Vecna dominates the mental realm. Will can only contribute because of his unique connection and location.

I’ve always felt that Will isn’t necessarily the most powerful, but he’s incredibly important – and potentially the most dangerous when things are just right. He probably won’t win a fight on his own, but I truly believe he’s key to Vecna’s defeat, no matter what anyone says about what happened to him. Honestly, without Will, I don’t think Eleven, or any of them, would have a chance. He’s not the one everyone focuses on, but he’s the wild card, the one who can completely change everything when it counts.

What do you think about Will’s abilities? Share your thoughts in the comments below and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/feature/what-happened-to-henry-creel-in-the-cave-why-he-wont-go-in-there-in-stranger-things-s5/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-03 00:14