Although they are usually referred to as the X-Men, the best X-Men tend to be women. Wolverine, Magneto, Professor X, and Cyclops will always have a role to play. Yet they are often overshadowed by the fantastic, powerful, and well-written female characters in the series. X-Men After all, they are complex individuals with charisma, motivation and a sense of action that sets them apart.

Since Jean Grey joined the original X-Men, some impressive female characters have been integral to the team’s roster. Several iconic women like Storm, Kate Pryde, and Rogue have gone on to become leaders of the X-Men or create their own teams. The best female X-Men have left a lasting influence on the team. X-Men books and the wider Marvel Universe with their intelligence, power, realism and bravery.

Updated August 24, 2024 by Mayra Garcia: Throughout decades of incredible lists, female heroes have always been at the heart of the X-Men, and characters like Jean Grey, Jubilee, and Rogue remind fans that some of the best X-Men are women. This list has been updated to include more female X-Men and to align with CBR’s current standards.

15 Rachel Summers comes from a dystopian alternate universe

Hailing from Earth-811, Rachel Summers is the daughter of Jean Grey and Scott Summers in the dystopian universe introduced in “Days of the Future Past.” Like her mother, she possesses an incredible set of psychic powers. Askani can alter matter at a subatomic level through telekinesis, and her telepathic abilities are virtually limitless. This level of prowess, combined with her connection to the Phoenix Force, makes her a force to be reckoned with.

After losing everything on Earth-811, Rachel was sent to the past, where she became a central part of the mutant community and enjoyed life with her family, although she had a hard time adjusting at first. However, her time-traveling adventures didn’t end there. Eventually, in the future, she even became Mother Askani, the leader of a clan that rebelled against Apocalypse in a displaced universe known as the Askani Clan. Although she managed to return to the present, this event proves just how powerful she is and how essential her powers are in the fight against a villain as dangerous as Apocalypse.

14 Sage is the X-Men’s best spy

Sage is an intellectual genius. This mutant’s brain works so fast that it is practically a computer. This gives her a photographic memory and supreme analytical abilities, which work perfectly for her work as a spy for Charles Xavier and the X-Men. Professor X found her in the Hindu Kush Mountains after her city was ravaged by war and offered her a place to stay, a new identity as “Tessa,” and a job with him.

Sage’s greatest accomplishment is undoubtedly living as Sebastian Shaw’s right-hand woman for years while providing information to the X-Men. Although she eventually grew to resent Xavier for having her infiltrate the Hellfire Club for years and even stage a coup within the X-Men, she has since found peace. Her courage while working for Xavier has paid off, and she is now the head of intelligence for X-Force.

13 A mirage traps people in their greatest fear

Danielle Moonstar, aka Mirage, is a powerful psychic threat. This mutant has the ability to create visions that others can see. Mirage is particularly known for creating scenarios (or “mirages”) that are revealed to be her enemies’ greatest fears. To do this, she must “read” their thoughts. However, this is an unconscious action since she is not a known telepath like others in Marvel.

Her illusionary abilities allow Mirage to infiltrate any location as she can transform easily. Additionally, by trapping her enemies in their greatest fear, she can immobilize them while finding their weak points. This ability makes her a valuable asset to any X-Men team.

12 I hope Summers can play with the powers of other mutants

Hope Summers, another powerful member of the Summers family, was the first mutant born after Scarlet Witch wiped out all mutants during M-Day. She was known as the “mutant messiah” because she was born from a human woman and the Phoenix Force. In fact, the Purifiers tried to kill her when she was still a baby, but Cable saved her and she was adopted into the Summers family.

Hope is an Omega-level mutant who can copy the powers of any mutant near her. Unlike Rogue, she does not need to touch them. Instead, she possesses a subconscious awareness of mutant abilities, allowing her to quickly perceive these skills and make them her own. Additionally, she can track down mutants near her without issue. She can also alter the powers of others, removing or amplifying them. This innate control over the powers of others makes Hope a unique superhero.

11 Jubilee’s bubbly personality reminds fans of her powers

Jubilation Lee, or Jubilee, is a cheerful mutant with luminikinetic abilities. She can generate explosions of light or “fireworks” (as she calls them). Although these are small explosions, they can still deafen or blind her enemies and cause objects around her to explode. Additionally, Jubilee’s mind is immune to telepaths, making her a formidable opponent against psychic attacks.

Jubilee has a personality as explosive as her abilities. While she is often ranked among the weaker X-Men because she is not as brutal as Wolverine or Emma Frost, she is still great at what she does and one of the friendliest and most compassionate X-Men of all time. This and her unique attire have earned her the love of fans.

10 Betsy Braddock is currently captain of Great Britain

Betsy Braddock may not be as strong as Jean Grey or as subtle as Emma Frost, but her telepathy is unlike any of her peers. By focusing her psi energy, she can form a psi blade that cuts through the minds of enemies. Her background as a secret agent has made her a skilled operative who is never afraid to cut down her opponents. While using her “Psylocke” mantle, Betsy joined X-Force, the X-Men’s covert operations unit that has not hesitated to kill the enemy.

Betsy Braddock has been through a roller coaster of changes that have pushed her to rediscover her identity. She has sacrificed her life to save others, been resurrected from the dead, and swapped bodies with the ninja assassin Kwannon. Through it all, Betsy has fought to remain who she is at her core: a compassionate, loyal, and courageous warrior with a heart of gold and a drive to protect others. In 2019, Betsy took over the mantle of Captain Britain from her twin brother Brian. Since then, she has become a champion of the Captain Britain Corps and a member of a new iteration of X-Force founded by Forge.

9 Polaris controls magnetism

A survivor of the Genoshan genocide, Polaris is a determined fighter with an inner strength that doesn’t come easily. Possessing control over magnetism that can rival Magneto’s with relative ease, Lorna Dane is a force to be reckoned with in the field, and she’s remarkably creative with her powers.

As one of the most experienced X-Men, Polaris has been with the team for X-Men #60 (created by Roy Thomas, Neal Adams, Tom Palmer, and Sam Rosen). Since joining the team, she has earned a PhD in geology and has become a role model for many younger X-Men. Polaris’ stubbornness also inspires her to stand up to her often domineering and controlling partners. Over the years, Polaris has served as the team leader of X-Factor, a cosmic crusader, and a powerful weapon on every team she has joined.

8 Magik has conquered the nightmarish limbo

Magik was originally introduced as Colossus’ little sister, but she grew into her own woman over the years. Belasco captured young Illyana Rasputin when she was seven years old, condemning her to the hellish reality of Limbo for the next seven years of her life. Anyone else in Magik’s shoes might have fallen apart, but she proved she wasn’t afraid to stand up to her captor. Despite all the evil tricks Belasco tried to play, Illyana learned to find the light in the darkness and proved that even dark magic could create a heroic sword.

After escaping from Belasco, Magik became a prominent member of the New Mutants and a prominent figure despite her corruption in the original. HellSince her resurrection, the people of Krakoa have trusted her enough to have her rejoin the X-Men. Having proven her prowess in combat and her desire to keep mutants safe, Illyana quickly became one of Krakoa’s four War Captains. Among the many triumphs that have made her who she is today, Magik has held Limbo under control for years. By conquering the very place that was once her prison, Magik accomplished a feat few heroes have ever truly accomplished.

7 Mystique is a cunning shapeshifter

Mystique’s design is iconic, and her romantic relationship with Destiny quickly proved enduring enough to resonate even after Destiny’s death. Raven Darkhölme’s love for Destiny became a staple of the Krakoan era, willingly taking on the nation’s Quiet Council to bring back her wife. Mystique also happens to be the mother of two different main X-Men – Nightcrawler and Rogue. As Marvel’s greatest shapeshifter, Mystique can access any place she desires, no matter how forbidden it may seem. She has easily infiltrated major organizations like the X-Men, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the U.S. government. At one point, she secretly took over the island of Madripoor by posing as the mutant Dazzler.

Mystique’s ambitious nature and desire to ensure the future of mutants – even through unethical means – allows her to do whatever she deems necessary without hesitation. She even transformed the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants into a government-run strike team when it benefited mutants. While Mystique always has an ulterior motive and can never be completely trusted, her loyalty to mutants never wavers. Adding exciting tension to every comic she appears in, things have never been more interesting than when Mystique teams up with the X-Men – such as when she became a founding member of the Krakoan Quiet Council.

6 Rogue started out as a villain but quickly redeemed himself

Rogue made her comic book debut as the villainous daughter of Mystique and Destiny. As a result, her teammates looked down on her when she defected to join the X-Men. Unfortunately, the X-Men were not quick to accept her, especially since Rogue had a lasting rivalry with Captain Marvel after absorbing the hero’s soul. Over time, Rogue proved to be a heroine at heart and one of the X-Men’s greatest members. She repaired her relationship with Captain Marvel, led the first X-Men team against the Children of the Vault, and proved she had the potential to lead an entire army in the Age of X universe.

Rogue’s journey to earn the respect of the X-Men established her as a remarkable character who knew her worth and wouldn’t give up no matter what opposition stood in her way. Her romance with Gambit became an iconic and endearing part of her story for years. Eventually, Rogue and Gambit tied the knot in a truly touching and spontaneous wedding. Rogue lost none of her drive, strength, or independence with her marriage. To this day, Rogue battles Orchis and the X-Men’s greatest enemies. As a member of the X-Men, Excalibur, and the Uncanny Avengers, Rogue has fully redeemed her early legacy, proving herself to be one of the greatest heroes in the Marvel Universe.

5 Laura Kinney earned her spot as Wolverine

Originally thought to be Wolverine’s clone, Laura Kinney has been through a lot. From birth, Laura was experimented on and raised as a bloodthirsty assassin. She escaped as a teenager and has been trying to find her own hero ever since. Her time in X-Force, the X-Academy team, X-Men Red, and the X-Men has changed Laura forever, allowing her to save lives. Along the way, she has proven herself to be a capable and loving older sister to Gabby Kinney, a clone of Laura.

Laura has revolutionized the character of Wolverine. She’s a Wolverine without the long, complicated, and confusing history that Logan endured. Instead, she’s simply a woman trying to find a way to protect her siblings and her people. Despite being younger than most of her teammates, she’s proven she’s not afraid to rebel against any team leader, and she’s certainly not afraid to take on some of the X-Men’s most powerful enemies, like the Children of the Vault. More than ever, she’s established herself as a worthy Wolverine.

4 Kitty Pryde has become an incredible heroine

Over the years, Kitty Pryde has grown from a plucky 13-and-a-half-year-old to a real-life hurricane. She has unique powers that she always uses in creative ways. She once used her powers to save Earth from a giant space bullet. In doing so, Kitty was willing to sacrifice herself forever. As a founding member of Excalibur, she has saved lives across the multiverse and become a galactic phenomenon.

Kitty Pryde’s shocking romantic story also fuels the TV soap opera X-Men Absolutely. Her analytical mind and close bond with her teammates made her a capable leader. She led the X-Men even as a teenager, founding teams like the modern Marauders, and taking down enemies without remorse. Adopting the name Kate as she grew up, she demonstrated enough tactical thinking and wisdom to earn a spot on Krakoa’s governing council.

3 Emma Frost Has An Amazing Redemption Arc

Deep down, Emma Frost is a key figure in the fight between good and evil. She is willing to take ruthless measures to protect mutant children. While she is often harsh with her teammates, she has infinite compassion for those in her care. Since joining the X-Men, Emma has been a remarkable leader and a brilliant thinker, which is why she earned a place on Krakoa’s Quiet Council.

Emma isn’t officially an Omega-level mutant, but she knows how to use her powers to their fullest. As a member of the Phoenix Five, she helped create a better world by eliminating hunger, disease, and poverty. When she piloted Iceman’s body, she found a way to harness his potential to show him what he was truly capable of. Emma also used her ascension to repair her relationship with her teammates. She became a close confidant to Kate Pryde, even after their relationship got off to a rocky start. Emma Frost proves that anyone can be a true hero despite a past as a villain.

2 Jean Grey sacrificed herself for the universe

Jean is an Omega-level mutant with telekinesis and telepathy that can put Professor X to shame. Yet Jean’s heart has always made her a memorable heroine. After all, the idea of ​​the steadfast Jean turning to evil has made The Black Phoenix Saga so iconic. Even after turning to the dark side, Jean fought the Phoenix hard enough to sacrifice herself. While later X-Men The comics tweaked this story, making the Phoenix Jean, thus absolving Jean of all her wrongdoings. Jean Grey was determined to right the wrongs of the Phoenix. After all, the Phoenix had tried to imitate her. After years of dedication, Jean redeemed her name and became one of the most powerful X-Men.

Today, Jean has accomplished astonishing feats, such as terraforming the entirety of Mars to create a home for the Arakki people. Full of compassion, Jean could sympathize with the Brood, even when Cyclops was ready to slaughter them without a second thought. This sense of forgiveness and her desire to bring out the best in others make Jean Grey the heart of any team she joins. Jean Grey raised Nathan Summers, son of Cyclops and Jean’s clone Madelyne Pryor, without hesitation, loving him as if he were her own. Jean is not afraid of sacrifice and has given her life for her teammates. Jean Grey may be one of Marvel’s most powerful mutants, but her compassion is what makes her compelling.

1 Storm is an Omega-level leader of the X-Men.

As a thief, goddess, member of the Quiet Council, Queen of Wakanda, and Regent of Arakko, Storm is a force of nature. Establishing herself as an Omega-level mutant, she can control time and often uses it in distinct and cunning ways, such as creating a black hole large enough to teleport a space station during The sins of the sinister. A version of Storm even defeated a Cosmic Sentry controlled by Emma Frost without knowing how to use her powers.

Armed with her incredible powers and strategic mind, Storm recently defeated the incredibly powerful Vulcan with ease. Even without her impressive abilities, Storm defeated Cyclops and Callisto, earning the respect of the X-Men and the Morlocks alike. After joining Arakko, a world she helped create, she learned to adapt her approach to helping the Arakki people, putting aside her prejudices and concerns to do so. Even when she is hailed as a goddess, Storm never puts herself above others, which is why she is so incredible.