We know from the footage already released that the Book of Vishanti is in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and after seeing the movie, you’re probably wondering which book is stronger: the Darkhold or the Book of Vishanti?
The answer is a bit complicated. So, focusing on what is established in Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, let’s talk a bit about which of the books is actually more powerful.
**Spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness lie ahead.**
We see instances of both the Darkhold and the Book of Vishanti in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and while they both have their merits, they’re also both destroyed in the movie—one more easily than the other. Is the Darkhold stronger than the Book of Vishanti? Let’s break down what makes each of them work in the context of the movie.
The Darkhold and its power
What is the Darkhold? Outside of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the other time we’ve seen the Darkhold in WandaVision was when Wanda got it from Agatha. It was a bad omen for what was to come, and the movie showed us just how deep a hold the book can have on someone using it. Not only was Wanda possessed by its power, but we see in another universe that it also tore Stephen Strange apart. So how powerful is it?
From my understanding, it depends on the spells being used and who is wielding them. Wanda easily uses her power with the Darkhold to destroy the Book of Vishanti, and the way she destroyed the Darkhold was sacrificing herself, so it could seem incredibly powerful in comparison.
The Book of Vishanti and its power
What is the Book of Vishanti? Now, the thing is that the Book of Vishanti can, in theory, give you whatever spell you need. It’s how another universe defeated Thanos, and Stephen Strange still “died” in the battle because of what he did with the Darkhold (meaning that the Illuminati sentenced him to death for dream walking and destroying a universe). So even though the Book of Vishanti can give you what you want, is it enough to fight against the Darkhold?
In fact, you could make an argument that the Darkhold gave Wanda the power to destroy the Book of Vishanti easily, so it really is up in the air how powerful it is on its own. Because yes, you can use it to have a spell you need and fight against anyone, but to that easily be destroyed does mean that it might not be a fair match for something like the Darkhold or even the Scarlet Witch.
Is the Darkhold more powerful than the Book of Vishanti?
Technically, the Book of Vishanti is more powerful because it gives the person whatever spell they need, but the fact that it was so easily destroyed by the magic of the Darkhold and Wanda makes it seem as if the Darkhold is, technically, stronger if used correctly.
They’re both powerful in their own ways and could be used equally against each other, so it just depends on who is using them.
(image: Marvel Entertainment)
