
Thanos caused immense destruction throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe using the Infinity Stones, and his most impactful act happened only once. For the first three phases of the MCU, Thanos was a major threat, culminating in the events of Avengers: Infinity War. In the 2018 film, he finally collected all the Infinity Stones and achieved his goal: eliminating half of all life. Despite the Avengers’ best attempts, they couldn’t stop him, and once he had the Stones, even the strongest heroes were powerless.
Thanos was an incredibly powerful enemy, as seen from his first fight with Thor and Loki through his battle on Titan. He grew stronger with each of the Power, Space, and Reality Stones he collected, bringing him closer to his ultimate goal. Surprisingly, the single time he used the last Infinity Stone caused the most destruction, triggering the Snap and completely changing the universe for everyone.
Thanos Only Used the Time Stone Once – Why It Was the Most Devastating Thing He Did

Throughout the battle on Titan, Thanos was focused on obtaining the Time Stone. He only used it once, at the very end of Avengers: Infinity War, to reverse Vision’s death. After Wanda Maximoff tragically destroyed the Mind Stone to prevent Thanos from getting it, he easily brought Vision back to life, only to immediately kill him again and take the stone. This was a heartbreaking moment for both Vision and Wanda, and its consequences extended far beyond the Avengers’ immediate grief.
Thanos’s use of the Time Stone had significant consequences, leading some to believe he used it multiple times. A large portion of Avengers: Infinity War focused on the heroes’ attempts to prevent him from getting the Stone, which may have contributed to this impression. However, he only actually used it once – immediately after acquiring it to eliminate half of all life, and then subsequently damaged the Infinity Gauntlet and destroyed the Stones. This single use was crucial, providing the final piece needed for the Snap and permanently changing the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While losing loved ones to Thanos’ initial attacks was painful, the real devastation came from what happened next. When Thanos reversed time using the Time Stone, it ultimately caused the Snap, which led to the five-year period everyone remembers as the Blip. The trauma caused by the Blip continues to affect people throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and they’re still dealing with its effects today.
Infinity War Drove Home Why Doctor Strange Worked So Hard to Protect the Time Stone

The devastating consequences of Thanos using the Time Stone were foreshadowed in Doctor Strange. This detail in Avengers: Infinity War emphasized how crucial the skills of sorcerers like the Ancient One and Doctor Strange were, and what they were desperately trying to prevent. Although all the Infinity Stones were incredibly powerful, the Time Stone was uniquely dangerous. If used by a villain, it essentially guaranteed they could keep trying until they succeeded, leaving no margin for mistakes. This is why Doctor Strange fought so hard to keep it safe—until he understood that the only way to win was to surrender it.
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2026-01-18 06:10