Every Guardian Of The Galaxy, Ranked By Whether They Can Survive Marvel Zombies

The Guardians of the Galaxy have faced all kinds of major threats, though a Marvel Zombies apocalypse will certainly be a new one. With Marvel Television's Marvel Zombies: The Last Guardian animated special on the horizon, it's worth exploring which members of the cosmic team would best survive the undead in the MCU.

Across the board, the Guardians of the Galaxy possess a wide range of powers, though not all are created equal. There are definitely more powerful members than others, and some are better equipped for close-quarters combat as opposed to heavy firepower (and vice versa).

With the new Marvel Zombies special on the way, it's worth considering which Guardians could survive the outbreak, and thus which one may end up becoming "The Last Guardian." Keeping that in mind, here's how every Guardian of the Galaxy would likely stack up in a world overrun by the MCU's undead (ranked from least to most likely to survive)

Mantis

Right off the bat, Mantis has the unique ability to influence emotions and put opponents to sleep through physical contact, making her abilities particularly useful against individual threats, including Thanos. Howver, those powers require her to get dangerously close and physically interact with her enemies, which is a terrible strategy when we're talking about zombies. Additionally, it's hard to know how Mantis' power might work on essentially mindless zombies.

Mantis is also less physically durable compared to other Guardians. With backup, she could perhaps survive, though alone she definitely seems to be among those most likely to fall.

Star-Lord

Peter Quill's Star-Lord is an experienced fighter and pilot with quad-blasters and jet boots that no doubt help him keep a zombie horde at a distance. He's also nothing if not a great improviser. While he would have been even more capable had he still had his Celestial powers, he lost those in 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. While Star-Lord could maybe survive for some time, he still lacks the natural durability or major powers of other Guardians.

Kraglin

Kraglin's experience as a Ravager gives him solid combat instincts, while Yondu's Yaka arrow provides a powerful way to eliminate enemies from a distance. Once he learns to control it effectively, the weapon can strike multiple targets without requiring him to approach them.

Unfortunately, Kraglin remains physically vulnerable compared with the team's superhuman members. The arrow also requires concentration and precise control, which could become difficult when he's surrounded. He's resourceful enough to survive an outbreak, but his margin for error is relatively small.

Gamora

Gamora has her reputation as one of the galaxy's deadliest assassins for a reason as a Daughter of Thanos. She's an expert with weapons, highly agile, and experienced in fighting opponents with superior strength. Against smaller groups of zombies, her precision and discipline would make her extremely effective.

Her biggest weakness is that she still relies heavily on conventional combat. Fighting at close range increases the risk of infection, and even an exceptional warrior can be overwhelmed by a large horde. Gamora's best chance would be to remain mobile, use ranged weapons, and avoid unnecessary confrontations.

Drax

Drax's strength and durability make him a natural frontline fighter. He can overpower dangerous enemies and endure punishment that would incapacitate an ordinary person, giving him a significant advantage in direct confrontations with zombies.

Unfortunately, Drax often charges into danger without thinking. That fearless approach could be disastrous when every enemy might carry a fatal infection. His physical resilience isn't the same as immunity to zombification, either. Drax could protect his teammates during an escape, but his tendency to favor brute force over strategy might ultimately doom him.

Rocket Raccoon

Rocket's greatest survival advantage is his intelligence. He's an exceptional engineer, weapons specialist, and improviser who could build traps, reinforce a shelter, or develop new ways to eliminate zombies from a safe distance.

He'd also understand the importance of preparation rather than charging directly into a horde. His small size could help him navigate tight spaces and escape through routes larger fighters couldn't use. However, Rocket remains physically vulnerable if his plans fail. With time to prepare, he'd be a formidable survivor, but a sudden ambush could leave him in serious trouble.

Nebula

Nebula's extensive combat training and cybernetic enhancements make her particularly well suited to an apocalypse. She's a ruthless, disciplined fighter who can use weapons effectively and withstand considerable physical punishment.

Her mechanical limbs also provide advantages in strength and resilience, while her experience helps her make practical decisions under pressure. Unlike Drax, Nebula is unlikely to waste time fighting when escape is the smarter option. Still, her enhancements don't make her completely invulnerable, and the rest of her body remains susceptible to infection. She'd be a dangerous survivor, provided she avoids bites.​​​​​​​

Phyla-Vell

Phyla-Vell has considerable potential, though the MCU hasn't fully established her abilities. Introduced among the children rescued from the High Evolutionary's experiments in 2023's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, she joins the new Guardians with much of her future still unwritten.

Her comic book counterpart has powerful abilities, but it's too early to assume the MCU version shares the same full power set. If she develops comparable superhuman strength, durability, or energy projection, she could become exceptionally difficult for zombies to defeat. For now, her potential earns her a high ranking, although her limited experience keeps her below the team's more established powerhouses.​​​​​​​

Groot

Groot's plant-based physiology gives him several advantages against the undead. He can reshape his body, extend his limbs, create barriers, and overpower enemies with tremendous strength. His ability to regrow after severe injuries also makes him difficult to eliminate through conventional attacks.

Groot could keep zombies at a distance while protecting his teammates, making him both an effective fighter and a valuable defensive asset. However, regeneration doesn't necessarily mean immunity to zombification, and the MCU hasn't established whether his biology can resist the infection. Even with that uncertainty, his strength and versatility give him excellent survival odds.​​​​​​​

Cosmo

Cosmo's telekinesis is particularly useful against enemies that must physically reach their victims. She can manipulate objects and restrain threats without touching them, potentially keeping zombies suspended or throwing them away from the team.

Her abilities could also help secure shelters, clear debris, and create escape routes. Unlike fighters who must engage enemies at close range, Cosmo can attack while maintaining distance. She isn't invincible, and overwhelming numbers could challenge her limits, but her powers and access to the Guardians' technology make her one of the team's strongest survival candidates.