A symbiote is an organism that lives in a symbiotic relationship with another organism. In fiction, especially superhero stories, symbiotes often bond with a host and grant them superhuman abilities. Perhaps the most well-known fictional symbiotes are the alien symbiotes from Marvel comics, namely Venom and Carnage. But there are many other powerful symbiotes across different fictional universes. Determining which symbiote is objectively the “strongest” can be difficult, as strengths come in many forms. But by comparing traits like physical strength, durability, abilities granted, and level of control over the host, we can try to answer the question of which fictional symbiote is the strongest.
Here are 5 of the most powerful symbiotic organisms from fiction:
Venom
One of the most infamous symbiotes is Venom from Marvel Comics. Venom is an alien symbiote that first bonded with Spider-Man, before later bonding with Eddie Brock. As a symbiote, Venom grants its host Spider-Man-like abilities including:
Superhuman Strength
Venom enhances Eddie Brock’s physical strength to superhuman levels, enabling him to lift up to 70 tons. He’s strong enough to overpower Spider-Man in hand-to-hand combat.
Superhuman Durability
Venom’s alien biomass makes Eddie highly resistant to harm. The symbiote can absorb impacts and blunt trauma. Venom can also rapidly heal injuries.
Superhuman Speed, Agility and Reflexes
As a symbiote, Venom becomes faster, more agile, and gains enhanced reflexes comparable to Spider-Man.
Webbing Generation
Venom can shoot strands of symbiote material from his body similar to Spider-Man’s webbing. He can swing from it or ensnare enemies.
Wall-Crawling
Venom can adhere to and climb walls, ceilings and other surfaces like Spider-Man.
Camouflage and Shape-Shifting
The symbiote can change appearance to mimic clothing or blend into surroundings. It can also shape-shift, altering Eddie’s appearance or forming weaponry.
Genetic Memory
The symbiote retains a memory of Spider-Man’s skills from their bonding, granting Eddie some expertise in combat and spider-powers.
So while not quite on par with Spider-Man in all areas, Venom is a formidable foe thanks to the symbiote enhancing Eddie Brock.
Carnage
Perhaps an even more dangerous symbiote villain is Carnage, who first bonded with serial killer Cletus Kasady. As an offspring of Venom’s symbiote, Carnage grants Cletus amplified versions of Venom’s powers:
Superhuman Strength
Carnage’s strength exceeds Venom’s, allowing him to lift 80-90 tons. He can overpower Spider-Man and Venom in combat.
Superhuman Speed and Agility
Carnage can move and react at speeds greater than Venom, making him very quick and agile.
Webbing Generation
Carnage can shoot razor-sharp symbiote darts from any part of his body with much greater speed and accuracy than Venom’s webbing.
Regenerative Healing
Carnage heals from wounds and regenerates lost biomass at a phenomenal rate, making him difficult to harm or restrain.
Shaping/Weapon Creation
Carnage exceeds Venom in creating weapons from his biomass, often forming clawed tendrils, spikes or axes to attack enemies.
Psychosis Empowerment
Carnage draws strength from Cletus’ insane psyche, becoming more powerful the crazier Cletus becomes.
With superior strength, speed, healing and offensive weapons compared to Venom, Carnage is a more vicious and lethal symbiote villain.
The Suit – Spider-Man 3
In the film Spider-Man 3, the alien symbiote that becomes Venom takes over Peter Parker first. While bonded to Spider-Man, the symbiote grants him additional powers:
Enhanced Strength
The suit amplifies Spider-Man’s strength, allowing him to overpower Sandman and Venom at points when enraged.
Increased Aggression
The suit negatively influences Spider-Man’s mood and personality, making him more violent and aggressive in combat.
Organic Webbing
The suit manifests its own organic webbing for Spider-Man, allowing him to shoot webs without web shooters.
Shape-Shifting
The suit can morph and re-form itself, allowing Spider-Man to change its appearance and texture at will.
Partial Invisibility
The suit’s surface texture can become partially invisible, helping Spider-Man sneak and evade enemies.
Bonded to an experienced hero like Spider-Man, the symbiote initially becomes one of the most powerful versions, before negatively influencing Spider-Man’s mind.
Riot – Venom (2018)
In the movie Venom, the lead symbiote Riot bonds with Carlton Drake. Riot exhibits powerful abilities including:
Superhuman Strength and Speed
Riot enhances Drake’s physical abilities to superhuman levels, allowing him to take on Venom.
Flight and Space Survival
Riot manifests wings to achieve flight and can survive the vacuum of space by shapeshifting a helmeted space suit.
Matter Manipulation
Riot can manipulate matter by touching objects, morphing them into blades or spikes.
Telepathy
Riot can mentally communicate with and influence its host and other symbiotes.
Powerful Regeneration
Riot can regenerate its biomass from extreme damage by assimilating organic matter.
As leader of his symbiote invasion force, Riot is one of the most powerful members of his alien species seen on film so far.
Klyntar – Marvel Comics
In Marvel comics, the broader species which Venom and Carnage belong to is known as the Klyntar. Unlike the twisted symbiotes popularized in Spider-Man stories, the Klyntar are intended to be a noble, harmonious race. Their natural powers include:
Enhanced Physical Abilities
The Klyntar enhance their host’s natural strengths, speed, durability and senses.
Shapeshifting
Klyntar can morph into clothing, weapons, tools or transport for their hosts as needed.
Genetic Memory
They possess ancestral memory, granting hosts the collected knowledge and skills of prior generations.
Rapid Healing
Klyntar can regenerate damaged tissue and organs to keep their host alive.
Empathy
They share a psychic link with the host, experiencing their emotions. This helps maintain a symbiotic harmony.
When bonded to moral and ethical hosts, the Klyntar can be a powerful force for good. Their natural abilities are amplified by hosts with good intentions.
Conclusion
Based on their feats across Marvel hosts, Venom and Carnage stand out as two of the most powerful symbiotic villains. Carnage edges out Venom in terms of raw strength and lethalness. As a hero, Spider-Man gains a strong boost from the symbiote suit in Spider-Man 3 before its personality effects take over. Among more benevolent symbiotes, the natural abilities of the Klyntar species make them highly potent when paired with moral heroes and warriors. While the sinister Riot showcases the dangerous side of Klyntars in the wrong hands.
In summary:
| Symbiote | Key Powers | Strength Level |
|---|---|---|
| Carnage | Enhanced strength, speed, weapons generation, healing factor, psychosis empowerment | 9/10 |
| Riot | Super strength and speed, flight, matter manipulation, telepathy, regeneration | 8.5/10 |
| Venom | Super strength, durability, agility, webbing, genetic memory | 8/10 |
| Suit Spider-Man | Strength boost, aggression, organic webs, invisibility | 8/10 |
| Klyntar | Physical enhancement, shapeshifting, healing, empathy | 7.5/10 |
While no single definitive strongest symbiote exists across all of fiction, Carnage consistently displays the most lethal combination of amplified physical abilities, damage resistance and psychological drive for violence. But in the hands of villainous hosts, both Venom and Riot also showcase the tremendous threat posed by alien symbiotes. When bonded with moral heroes, the Klyntar’s empathic symbiosis can make them a powerful force for good. Ultimately, the key trait that makes symbiotes strong is their adaptation to amplify the core abilities and traits of their host species. Their malleable symbiotic nature provides the potential for phenomenal power, for better or worse.