What If Loki Won The Battle Of New York In The Avengers?

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Loki episode 6. 

In Loki, the God of Mischief is offered the opportunity to win in The Avengers, which would forever change the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Lady Loki (Sophia Di Martino) arrive at the mystical Citadel at the End of Time in the Loki finale. Before they meet He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors), a Kang the Conqueror variant that controls the Time Variance Authority, Miss Minutes (Tara Strong) tries to stop the Loki variants. She offers Loki the chance to defeat the “self-righteous” Avengers in the Battle of New York. Of course, the God of Mischief doesn’t accept the deal, but there would be lasting consequences if he did.

The Battle of New York is a defining event in the MCU. In 2012’s Avengers, Loki attempts to lead the Chitauri aliens in an invasion of Earth. And he has the support of Thanos (Josh Brolin), who gives him a scepter containing the Mind Stone. It’s in the Battle of New York that the Avengers finally come together. Though the heroes get off to a rough start, Loki is a villain that they can rally around. New York suffers numerous deaths and major destruction, but it would’ve been even more devastating if the Avengers hadn’t pulled together. In the end, Loki and the Chitauri aliens are defeated, and the God of Mischief’s quest for a throne is once again denied.

Related: What If Loki Were On Asgard’s Throne (And Not Thor)

If Loki had taken Miss Minutes’ deal, it would’ve drastically changed the MCU. Without the win against Loki, the Avengers might’ve never gelled as a group. Additionally, the Battle of New York started a chain of events that continue to affect the MCU even to this day. Loki’s victory would put the God of Mischief in charge of Earth, leading to pain, suffering, and Loki’s continued conquest of the Nine Realms. Thanos’ schemes in Avengers: Infinity War may also come to fruition sooner than planned.

The Avengers Would Never Have Been Sanctioned

Throughout Avengers, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) argues with the World Security Council for a response team to answer threats made to Earth. Though the Avengers Initiative, a project that brought the heroes together, was briefly scrapped by the World Security Council, Nick Fury brings it back to fight against Loki and the Chitauri aliens. The Avengers’ victory in the Battle of New York saves millions of lives, as the World Security Council would’ve bombed Manhattan without superhero intervention. Loki’s attack causes lasting trauma, but the Avengers’ victory in New York makes a statement: The heroes are dangerous, and they’re here to stay. “They surely are, and the whole world knows it. Every world knows it,” Fury says.

If the Avengers had lost in New York, Earth loses its response team. The World Security Council was already against Fury’s superhero project, and a failure in New York would prove their point. Unless Fury started a new team of heroes underground, there might not be an Avengers. Additionally, even if he wanted to form a team, Fury might not have many options left. The World Security Council wanted to send a nuclear strike to Manhattan, which would destroy the city and leave millions dead. The Avengers may be among the casualties.

Thanos May Have Arrived Earlier

Loki’s defeat changes Thanos’ plans. In a credits scene in Avengers, Thanos’ servant, the Other, tells him that humans are “unruly, and therefore cannot be ruled.” Following Loki’s defeat, Thanos doesn’t arrive on Earth to claim his missing Infinity Stones until 2018’s Infinity War. Though the Mad Titan is always in the background of the MCU, secretly pulling strings, Loki’s defeat drastically delays his quest.

Related: How Loki’s Finale Confirmed An Infinity Stones Theory

If Loki won the Battle of New York, there wouldn’t be much resistance to Thanos arriving on the planet. Because of that, the Mad Titan would likely carry out his plan to destroy half of all life much sooner. Miss Minutes promises Loki the chance to kill the Mad Titan, so he may ultimately be stopped anyway. However, by all indications, many of the events that preceded the Mad Titan’s arrival on Earth would be wiped away. Without the Avengers, Thanos’ MCU timeline is greatly accelerated.

What Loki’s Rule Of Earth Would Look Like

In the Loki premiere, Hiddleston’s character explains how Earth would be under his rule. Mobius (Owen Wilson) questions Loki about his plans to take over Earth and other worlds in the episode, and the God of Mischief says he “would’ve made it easy for them.” According to Loki, “The first and most oppressive lie ever uttered was the song of freedom.” The God of Mischief explains that choices bring shame and regret, so he would take that burden away from his subjects. Thor: Ragnarok also gives a glimpse of what life under Loki would be like. In the movie, Loki briefly rules Asgard in place of Odin (Anthony Hopkins), building statues to himself and putting on plays about his life starring Matt Damon.

However, one Avengers line may indicate that things wouldn’t go so smoothly. In Avengers, there’s a moment where the Chitauri are laying waste to New York, and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) tells Loki, “You think this madness will end with your rule?” The look on Loki’s face shows he’s shaken. If he had won the Battle of New York, the Chitauri would spread destruction everywhere they go. Though Loki thinks his rule “would’ve made it easy” for his subjects, the Avengers line proves that’s completely wrong.

Asgard Vs. Midgard: The Next MCU War

Loki shows the God of Mischief’s ambition wouldn’t stop at Earth. When Mobius questions what Loki would do after taking over the planet, Hiddleston’s character says he would extend his empire to Asgard and the Nine Realms. In Thor, Loki is able to conceal Frost Giants from Heimdall (Idris Elba) when they enter Asgard, so he clearly knows secret ways around the place. Because of this, he could potentially successfully bring another Chitauri invasion. While Asgard could defeat Midgard/Earth in a fight, Miss Minutes and He Who Remains would likely guarantee Loki’s victory.

Related: Why Marvel Used Loki To Introduce Phase 4’s Thanos

Even with the win, Loki wouldn’t be happy. In Loki episode 5, the God of Mischief talks with Lady Loki and realizes that ruling in a timeline wouldn’t satisfy him. If he had won in New York, he would continually try to extend his empire. Nothing would be enough. Hiddleston’s character changes in Loki. He may even realize that his loss in The Avengers, an event that shapes the MCU, was actually a good thing.

More: Loki Finally Acknowledges The Big Issue With MCU Costumes

Loki will return in season 2.

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