The Iron Man suits have captivated audiences across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, evolving across over a decade's worth of films into ever more dazzling and formidable feats of technology. All this was only possible because Tony Stark had a constant need to put a suit of armour around the world, and try to protect it from whatever evils that could show up (also because it was a highly profitable venture for Marvel Studios).

With Tony Stark's legendary journey coming to an endgame with the last Avengers movie (which was four years ago), we revisit and rank the most iconic suits comprising his armored legacy. From crude beginnings in an Afghan cave to the bleeding-edge Mark LXXXV built to challenge cosmic forces, these suits represent Tony's growth into a hero who would sacrifice everything for humanity's salvation. Let's take a look.

10 ༒ Mark III (Iron Man 1) 🔜

Gleaming in bold red and gold, the Mark III armor is a testament to the technical brilliance and emergent heroism of Tony Stark. This iconic suit, which first took flight across movie screens in Iron Man, marks the solidified beginning of a transformative chapter in Stark's journey as both an inventor and a superhero.

As an engineering feat, the Mark III is basically what would happen if a Ferrari and a stealth jet had a ba༺by. Sleek jets and articulated limbs give it that "step aside mortals" swagger as it blasts onto the scene. Its chameleon-like titanium gold alloy can probably stop a tank missile but is still pretty flexible.

The inclusion of pulsar canons and unibeam projectors into this thing make it clear that this man is over his whole captive-in-a-cave phase. Never again will he lack the firepower and bells and whistles to MacGyver his way out of a 💃tight spot. This suit is also the first to utilize a gold-titanium alloy, solving the icing problem encountered by the Mark II.

But then again, it's pretty basic when you compare it to the other suits we have lined up, so this one takes the #10 spot.

9 🎶 🌞 Mark VI (Iron Man 2)

A lot of people's minds immediately go to the Suitcase Amor when you mention Iron Man 2. Well, that, and that Rhodey being recast out of nowhere. Oh, also the courtroom scene. But we digress. We shouldn't be sleeping on the Mark VI, which is one of the coolest suits ever. The most striking thing here is the Mark VI's triangular arc reactor, harboring a totally new energy source (Badassium, patent pending) devised by our homeboy billionaire himself.

This reactor dramatically amplifies suit power, fueling major capability upgrades to match Tony's growing ambition. Repulsors, unibeam projectors, shoulder-mounted missiles, anything you want. The Mark VI boasts awesome, unprecedented offensive firepower. Maneuverability gets a huge upgrade as well, with blazing flight speeds and agility that we get to see during the Expo action block.

8 Mark VII (Avengers) 💜

When the Mark VII armor emerges amidst the earth-shattering Battle of New York, it represents Tony Stark’s biggest gamble yet - skipping the spinning rims, and offering the bad guy a drink to try and talk him out of his mass-murdering tendencies. So much for that. Anyhoozy, it was really cool to watch the dude plummet to his almost-death a𝓡nd summon a suit, and then this beauty shows up out of nowhere.

Visually, while retaining the classic red-and-gold motif, the Mark VII also sports a heavier, ruggedized frame befitting full-scale combat duty. The upgrades pack quite the wallop too. Enhanced repulsors and a chest-mounted unibeam drastically amplify any offensive attacks. The wrist-mounted micro-missile launchers add to his arsenal, while more robust flight systems grant unparalleled aerial agility for getting around New York's skyscrapers.

With this, you start to see the actual potential that Iron Man has. How a single suit of armor is capable of doling out so much damage. Thankfully for us, the only thing Tony dreams of conquering, is a good ole' shawarma.

7 🤪 Mark XLII༒ (Iron Man 3)

Emerging after the earth-shattering Battle of New York, Mark XLII in "Iron Man 3" represents Tony Stark's deeply personal attempt to cope with lingering anxiety and trauma. It's super-obvious that the Mark XLII holds a special place, not just as a piece of technology, but as Tony's companion throughout the film (sorry, Pepper), aptly nicknamed the "Prodigal Son."

The suit is sort of a departure from its predecessors in terms of design and functionality. Aesthetically, it trades the trademark red for shimmering gold, visually setting it apart as a unique chapter. It's also the first one to utilize prehensile technology, allowing him to summon and assemble it remotely, piece by piece – a feature that reflects Tony's heightened need for constant protection and readiness post-New York.

But for all its capabilities, the Mark XLII remains glitch-prone and unpredictable, mirroring our hero's own emotional spiral behind the mask. It keeps malfunctioning throughout the movie in the funniest ways possible, but despite all the misfires, the suit stays by his side, even saving Pepper. And when Tony finally initiates the "Clean Slate Protocol," destroying his armors, it signals his willingness to step out from behind the metal mask and reclaim his life.

6 Mark XLIII (Avengeওrs: Age Of Ultron)

For starters, the Mark XLIII serves as the base layer for the Hulkbuster, a specialized armor designed to combat the Hulk's immense strength. The modular design approach demonstrates Stark's ability to adapt his technology for various scenarios, an evolution in the Iron Man suit's abilities.

Another standout is the advanced sentry𝔉 mode and infrared scanning technology. This system allows him to analyze and understand his surroundings with incredible detail and accuracy, a critical advantage in comp🍸lex combat situations.

Other than that, you also see some enhancements in the Iron Man suit with regard to the unibeam, flight speed, and overall durability, which is a constant with every iteration of the Iron Man suits. Plus, this is the first suit that fans got to see after the ending of Iron Man 3, giving us some much-needed relief (let's be honest, we were all freaking out about Tony not making new suits anymore), making the Mark XLIII a pretty solid comeback at #6.

5 Mark XLV (𒅌Avengers: Age Of Ultron)

This entry may seem a little redundant, considering we just covered the Mark XLIII, but it's actually too good to not make it to the list. First off, the suit’s pulsing hexagonal arc reactor also catches the eye, proving Iron Man remains ever the tastemaker. But more than a cosmetic change, it boosts power efficiency for the upgraded repulsors and flight systems.

As for firepower, those enhanced repulsors really pack a punch. Like, we witnessed Tony unleash a can of ass-whooping on Ultron's army with this thing. The Mark XLV also holds a special place as the first suit to operate with F.R.I.D.A.Y., Stark's new Irish-accented A.I. system, after the transition of J.A.R.V.I.S. into Vision. This change marks a new era in his journey as a hero, especially in the wake of the Ultron incident, highlighting his growth and learning from past mistakes.

Lastly, Mark XLV's involvement in the climactic battle of Sokovia represents a pivotal moment in the MCU, showcasing not just the suit's abilities but also Tony's commitment to protecting humanity.

Buuutt if you're thinking this is the last suit that we will be talking about from this movie, you are mistaken, friendo.

4 Mark XIV (Avengers: Age Of ꦰUltron)

When Bruce Banner's monstrous alter-ego goes rogue in "Age of Ultron," Iron Man is absolutely ready to dish it out with his staggering countermeasure - the 'Hulkbuster' armor (we like Veronica better, though). Far exceeding any standard Iron Man suit until that point, this mechanized beast represented Stark's ingenious solution for subduing an ally turned loose cannon.

The Hulkbuster is unique in its sheer size and strength. It is significantly larger and more robust than the standard Iron Man suits, built to withstand the immense force exerted by the Hulk. A lot of people get it wrong though. It's not just about brute strength; the suit's also about restraint. Equipped with heavy-duty weaponry and reinforced armor plating, it was built to absorb and withstand severe impacts, so that Tony could try and talk the Hulk down without being turned into worm chow.

Also, the "go to sleep" part was pretty funny, so 𝓰all in all, pretty decent contender for #4.

3 ﷽ Mark XLVI (Captain America: Civil War) ൩

Following the aftermath of Age Of Ultron, Tony is cornered by a victim of the Sokovia battles, who informs him of the collateral damage caused by the Avengers. Long story short, he realizes that everyone, even the Avengers, needs to be kept in check. Unfortunately, Cap doesn't seem to agree, which ultimately leads to the band breaking up.

Amidst all this angsty, moody, atmosphere, we get to witness the wonder that is Mark XLVI. The suit boasts a more refined and agile frame compared to its predecessors, allowing for greater mobility and speed in battle, which is something that you notice in the iconic tarmac fight scene. The suit also introduces a fully-retractable helmet, which is again, something we have not seen in any of the other Iron Man armors, except for Ivan Vanko's Whiplash Armor Mark II, which isn't really an Iron Man armor.

And then, there's the iconic mid-flight, single-button suit-up scene where Tony decides to face Cap and Bucky, and maybe come to an arrangement with the Sokovia Accords. We all know how THAT turned out. Either way, here you get to see that the suit also has the ability to analyze a target's attack patterns and deploy a quick countermeasure, taking over the user's muscle control. Things like these, and the really cool gauntlet watch, are big-time tipoffs that, with every passing day, Tony is getting more and more committed to the bit that him and the suit are one, and it only gets better with the next two suits that we will be discussing.

2 Mark L (Avengers: Infinity War) 💮

The Mark L, first seen in "Avengers: Infinity War," is a truly groundbreaking, representing a significant leap in nanotechnology and earning its place as one of the most advanced suits in the MCU. This suit is Tony's first full foray into nanotechnology, a stark (hehe, geddit?) departure from the previous suits' reliance on pre-assembled, rigid components. The Mark L is composed of nanobots that allow the suit to form and reform around the user's body on command.

The nanite composition also empowers unprecedented mobility. Their frictionless flow facilitat꧟es agile, fluid movement, crucial for hard-pressed battles where Iron Man single-handedly 🙈takes on Thanos’ fearsome lieutenants (okay, maybe he had a little bit of help).

The♓ suit can also generate a variety of weapons and tools, such as shields, blades, and even a cannon, directly from its nanobot structure, providing Tony with the right equipment for any situation. This particularly comes through in the interval scene of Infinity War, where he heals himself after Thanos goes all stabby-stab on him.

Honestly, the bleeding-edge technology here reflects intensive preparation for looming, world-ending threats. You can tell that the Mark L is Tony's uncompromising answer to an era of gods, monsters and purple-sack-chinned-aliens (if you know, you know) casually threatening humanity - the apex of lethality and resilliance.

1 Mark LXXXV (Avengers: Endgame) 🉐

In the wake of Thanos' apocalyptic victory, Tony shoulders crushing guilt over his failure to thwart the Mad Titan, and reluctantly sheds his iconic alter ego after basically telling Rogers to shove it. For a while there, Tony gets time to breathe. He builds a life with Pepper, has a really cute kid called Morgan, and becomes the garage dad who works on new suits on the DL.

That is, until the Avengers tell him that they need him again. The Mark LXXXV thus signifies Stark's long road to recovery and redemption after unimaginable loss. This deeply symbolic suit ultimately catalyzes his courageous homecoming...to do whatever it takes to resurrect the future.

Building on the foundations laid by the Mark L, the Mark LXXXV utilizes more sophisticated nano𓃲technology. This allows for instantaneous formation and reformation of the suit around the user, along with real-time adaptation in combat, including rapid morphing of offensive and defensive structures. The suit also harnesses and channels energy from the arc reactor more efficiently than its predecessors, maxing out every fli🎃ght ability or projectile attack you can think of.

But Mark LXXXV’s advances all lead inexorably towards a singular, history-making purpose - housing those damned Infinity Stones. With deft skill and extreme precaut🌞ions, Tony interweaves nanochannels directly into his armor’s fabric to help harness the Stones’ power without burning himself away.

That was the initial plan, but in the final battle of "Endgame," the Mark LXXXV ends up becoming the vessel of ultimate sacrifice. It's the armor in which Tony makes the defining choice of his life, performing the snap that would save the universe. The one act that elevated this suit from a piece of technology to a symbol of heroism and the human spirit, making it the best Iron Man suit in all of MCU.

It's ever-lasting proof that, time and again, Iron Man WAS, in fact, the guy who would make the sacrifice play.

Proof that Tony Stark had a heart.