All 11 Black Widow Suits In The MCU, Ranked (2024)

One of Natasha Romanoff's most iconic features is her Black Widow suit. Typically black, leather, and fitted with easily accessible weapons that aid her in combat, the suit may not have the technological capabilities of Iron Man's or the easily recognizable pattern of Captain America's, but it remains one of the core aspects of her character, as its dark, sleek design also performs a lot of visual storytelling. Natasha's characterization in the MCU is informed by her mysterious and tragic past, so her being the only original Avenger that wears all black and is nearly completely covered from the neck down adds to that cloud of intrigue surrounding her.

The Black Widow suit in the MCU has undergone many changes since Natasha first debuted in Iron Man 2. Though it has consistently remained tight-fitting and, for the most part, black to evoke Natasha's extensive spy training, it has evolved to become both more decorative and more practical over the years. Early MCU depictions of Black Widow more frequently sexualized the character, which meant her suit was designed more for aesthetics than it was for protecting her in battle. By the time Black Widow got her narrative sendoff in her solo movie, she had worn much better suits that were stylish, stealthy, and worthy of an expert-level spy.

11 Black Widow's What If...? Suit Feels Too Familiar

What If...? (2021)

Natasha briefly appears in her Black Widow suit in the third episode of the MCU's first original animated series, What If...? This episode explores the question of what would happen if all the Avengers, including Natasha, suddenly died. The scene in this episode is a recreation of one that took place in Iron Man 2, just with a tragically different outcome. Because of that, though it is fun to see how Black Widow and other characters' appearances translate to animation, it does not feel fresh or exciting. It's just the standard black suit with a utility belt that audiences have already seen.

10 Black Widow's First Avengers Suit Is Basic And Unexciting

The Avengers (2012)

Black Widow wears her suit for the majority of The Avengers, which is a significant improvement compared to her other MCU appearances, but most of that time is spent deliberating on the Helicarrier. Due to the ensemble cast, when the Battle of New York finally arrives, there is less attention given to Black Widow specifically, and subsequently less time given to how well she performs in the suit, which itself is pretty standard. But it is a classic design with much improved gun holsters and overall fit from the Iron Man 2 suit. And the shot of Natasha co*cking her gun in it will remain culturally resonant.

9 Black Widow's Winter Soldier Suit Isn't Given Much Time To Shine

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Natasha had more screen time in Captain America: The Winter Soldier than she had in any other MCU project up until that point, so it's ironic that so little of that time is spent in her Black Widow suit. She only wears it in the opening scene when she and Steve Rogers are rescuing hostages on a boat. During the scene, however, she demonstrates that the suit, which bears a strong resemblance to the one in The Avengers, is more than capable of aiding her in combat, with fun new additions like gun holsters right above both of her knees.

8 Black Widow's Endgame Suit Serves A Poignant Narrative Function

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Natasha’s Avengers: Endgame suit is a far cry from the more sexualized outfit in Iron Man 2. Her suit looks oddly comfy, which is a strange juxtaposition considering the dire circ*mstances she's placed in. It's, for once, not too tight and has many more layers than her debut suit, making her look safe and protected. And it's clearly a great suit for battle as she easily bests Clint and sacrifices herself so that he can retrieve the Soul Stone. Her dying in the suit feels like she died a beloved friend, not simply someone desired.

7 Black Widow's First Suit Was A Bold But Impractical Introduction

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Iron Man 2's Black Widow suit stands out for being the first time audiences got to see it brought to the big screen, and it leaves quite the impression. Though the Iron Man 2 suit falls short in multiple ways, mostly due to it being inadequate for hand-to-hand combat, it still holds up during Black Widow's impressive first action scene, which demonstrated all the incredible feats she could do. This suit feels fitting for a spy, as Natasha frequently throws stunning devices to incapacitate her attackers while gracefully maneuvering around them, showing how easily she can slip in and out of difficult situations.

6 Black Widow's Black Solo Movie Suit Is Elegant And Tough

Black Widow (2021)

The suit Natasha wears in her Black Widow solo movie is an excellent narrative sendoff to the character. Since it premiered after her death, Black Widow was tasked with finally focusing on and paying respects to a beloved character and Natasha’s black suit reflects this idea very well. It's fitted extremely well, feeling less like a standard sexualized suit and more like a tailored gown, and is complete with a gold belt and wrist adornments that give it a regal appearance. The geometric designs on the torso are very spider-like; it's stocked full of gadgets she's accumulated over the years, and its red accents marry beautifully with her hair.

5 Black Widow's Civil War Suit Lets Her Thrive In Combat

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

The suit Natasha wears in Captain America: Civil War stands out because it is a far cry from her Iron Man 2 suit and visually symbolizes a lot of growth for the character, making her a visually compelling combatant. Not only does it have large elbow, knee, and shoulder pads to aid her in combat, she wears fortified boots, her batons are front and center, and she launches the electroshock projectiles from her wrist with ease. This iteration of Black Widow feels much more like a soldier, especially when she fights her fellow Avengers, really leaning into the idea that the heroes are at war.

4 Black Widow's Infinity War Suit Reveals Why She's Such A Great Spy

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Natasha’s suit during the battle against Thanos' army in Avengers: Infinity War is a major departure from her usual black, as its bodice is camo green, and the rest of the suit itself has hints of dark blue and gray. This suit feels fitting for the grassy plains of Wakanda where the battle happens, and it reminds audiences that, first and foremost, Black Widow is a spy. She adapts to blend in with her environment, so the green she wears matches her setting incredibly well. This is by far her most fortified suit with its weapons and armor, signaling that this fight against Thanos will be her most challenging yet.

3 Black Widow's Solo Movie Suit Is Bold And Thematically Consistent

Black Widow (2021)

Black Widow's most visually compelling suit is the white one she wears in her solo movie, as, until this point, she had not been depicted in bright, light colors before. Narratively, the suit makes sense, as she wears it to break out her "father" from a prison in a snowy mountain, so the gleaming white ironically blends in. Thematically, the suit is more resonant. This movie was the MCU's opportunity to peal back Natasha's mysterious layers and show her more vulnerable, innocent side, and what better way to symbolically visualize that than to dress her in white, the color of innocence? The suit subtly nods to her past and childhood.

2 Black Widow's Endgame Time Heist Suit Is Subtly Touching

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Endgame's Time Heist is Black Widow's last mission before she sacrifices herself. After she dies, Steve Rogers solemnly says that the Avengers are her family, and the Avengers' Time Heist suits are a perfect visual metaphor for that. Even though, by the time Endgame arrives, the original six Avengers had fought together countless times, they wore their own costumes, affording them visual distinction. Seeing them all dressed the same for the first and only time really solidifies the closeness and unity of the team, and it is touching that Natasha enters her final battle with her family at her side.

1 Black Widow's Age Of Ultron Suit Is Electric With Blue Energy

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

The suit Black Widow wears in Avengers: Age of Ultron feels like the first time the MCU considered what her suit would actually need to aid her in hand-to-hand combat and delivered. Until this point, she never wears elbow or knee pads, and while they are relatively small additions, they make a world of difference, as this suit seems specifically designed for her protection, not just for her appearance. The suit being more protective does not make it any less stylish, as it features stunning blue light streaks across her arms, legs, and torso, the same color as her electric stunning devices, making her design feel more imaginative and fleshed out.