X-Men's Official Greatest Heroes Decided By ScreenRant Readers

Several weeks ago, ScreenRant launched its “Greatest X-Men Hero of All Time” poll, inviting readers to vote through polls featured at the end of various X-Men-related articles. The goal was simple: determine which mutant stands above the rest and establish an official ranking of the ten greatest X-Men heroes based on our readers’ votes. Now, the results are in. After collecting 1,539 votes, we have our definitive ranking of the top ten X-Men, and longtime fans will likely find the hero who claims the title of greatest X-Man of all time no surprise.

ScreenRant’s poll featured ten iconic X-Men heroes: Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Gambit, and Professor X. Below, we count down all ten heroes, starting with the character who received the fewest votes and working our way up to the ultimate winner. Do you agree with our readers’ picks, or was your favorite X-Man robbed of the top spot?

10 Sorry, Beast, ScreenRant Still Loves You Even If The Fans Don’t

Beast Received 9 Votes (1%)

We honestly don’t know whether we should laugh or cry at Beast’s abysmal ranking. While there’s no denying that Hank McCoy is one of the most iconic X-Men of all time, or he wouldn’t have made it onto the poll in the first place, his measly nine votes make it clear that his 63-year legacy and defining intelligence don’t necessarily guarantee fan enthusiasm.

His low ranking may reflect how easily his contributions get overshadowed by characters with more favored powers and personalities. On top of that, Beast’s transformation into a full-blown villain during the Krakoan era of X-Men comics probably didn’t do his popularity any favors.

9 Iceman Gets Left In The Cold By Fans

Iceman Received 27 Votes (2%)

Like Beast, Bobby “Iceman” Drake was an original X-Man, with a 63-year legacy behind him. However, over the decades, Bobby has consistently been overshadowed by his fellow X-Men, especially Jean Grey and Cyclops, who were also part of the original five.

As much as we hate to admit it, Iceman receiving only 27 votes wasn’t necessarily surprising to us, as we predicted he would land in the bottom three. His low ranking may also reflect the gap between his incredible potential and how rarely popular X-Men stories capitalize on his extraordinary powers and charming personality.

8 Rogue Can't Absorb This Low Ranking

Rogue Received 56 Votes (4%)

Rogue’s ranking was easily the most surprising result for us. As one of the X-Men franchise’s leading faces, with her iconic relationship with Gambit further cementing her popularity, we thought she would at least make the top six. Yet she received just 4% of the poll’s votes. Of course, our surprise at her low ranking could just be our own bias talking.

Her eighth-place finish reinforces the idea that emotional depth and a distinctive personality don’t automatically translate into votes when competing against the franchise’s biggest icons.

7 Gambit Got Played Dirty By His Fans

Gambit Received 74 Votes (5%)

With 74 votes (5% of the total), Gambit barely managed to pull ahead of his wife. Remy LeBeau’s character-defining NOLA charm and signature playing cards, paired with his kinetic energy powers, have earned him a devoted following. However, these results suggest his fans didn’t show up in full force.

While Gambit’s powers give him a fighting style unlike anyone else on this list, much of his appeal comes from his personality and relationships rather than his power feats. This may explain why he trails the more prominent leaders and powerhouse heroes.

6 Professor X Just Misses the Top Five

Professor X Received 118 Votes (8%)

Professor X is the first hero in our ranking so far to break the 100-vote barrier. With 118 votes, his placement highlights the interesting distinction between a character’s importance to the franchise and his popularity as an individual hero.

Charles Xavier founded the X-Men and established the dream of peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans, making him indispensable to the team’s mythology. However, his complicated moral decisions and occasionally questionable methods may also make him a more divisive choice than the team’s frontline heroes.

5 Nightcrawler Teleports Into the Top Five

Nightcrawler Received 119 Votes (8%)

Nightcrawler managed to edge out Professor X for a spot in the top five by just a single vote… Did he cheat using his teleportation powers? We may never know. What we do know, though, is that it’s no surprise Nightcrawler secured a top-five spot.

With his teleportation powers, acrobatic fighting style, swashbuckling personality, and considerable emotional depth, there’s little not to love about Kurt. His unique appearance and origins also make him a powerful embodiment of the franchise’s themes of acceptance and discrimination, making his top-five finish feel well-deserved.

4 Jean Grey's Phoenix Force Still Burns Bright

Jean Grey Received 137 Votes (9%)

Jean is arguably one of the most powerful and consequential characters in the X-Men franchise, if not the most powerful. Her telepathy and telekinesis are formidable in their own right, but her association with the Phoenix Force elevates her to an entirely different level of power. Not to mention, The Dark Phoenix Saga remains one of the franchise’s defining storylines.

It also doesn’t hurt that, like Storm, Jean Grey is one of the franchise's most visually striking and gorgeous characters. Between her physical appearance and her extraordinary powers, she has some of the most epic visuals in the pages of X-Men comics.

3 Storm Makes a Thunderous Top Three Debut

Storm Received 200 Votes (13%)

Full disclosure: Storm got my vote as the best X-Men hero of all time, and 199 other voters agreed, resulting in a well-deserved third-place finish. Like Jean Grey, I love how Ororo Munroe’s powers and stunning character design have given her some of the most visually awe-inspiring moments in X-Men comics. More than anything, though, it’s Storm’s courage, wisdom, and independence that make her my favorite.

Storm has proven time and time again that she can dominate on any battlefield. However, it’s her compassion that has truly left a mark on my heart. Needless to say, I was punching the air with joy when I saw fans turn out in such numbers to vote for her.

2 Cyclops Comes Close to the Crown

Cyclops Received 264 Votes (17%)

With 264 votes, Cyclops comfortably secured second place. As the X-Men’s longtime field leader, Scott has consistently proven that being the strongest hero in the room matters far less than bringing everyone together and getting the job done.

Of course, Cyclops has spent decades in Wolverine’s shadow, especially in mainstream popularity. Yet his second-place finish suggests fans recognize how essential he is to the X-Men, and why the team simply wouldn’t be the same without him. While it's not surprising, we love seeing Scott get the recognition he deserves.

1 Wolverine Is the Ultimate X-Men Hero

Wolverine Received 535 Votes (35%)

We can’t say we’re surprised to see Wolverine take the crown, but with 535 votes, Logan didn’t just win; he dominated the poll, pulling in more than twice as many votes as Cyclops. With his adamantium claws, near-unbreakable skeleton, and healing factor, Wolverine is beyond legendary.

However, we’d argue that the character beneath all that metal is what has made him such an enduring fan favorite. Add decades of memorable comic book stories, animated appearances, and live-action portrayals, and it’s easy to see why Wolverine remains such an icon. Still, with more than a third of voters naming him the best X-Men hero of all time, Logan’s popularity is in a league of its own.

If you don't agree with the poll results, now's your chance to vote for who YOU think is the greatest X-Men hero of all time!