The Mind Stone is one of the six Infinity Stones, the remnant of a singularity that predates the universe. It was previously wielded by Loki inside his Scepter who received it as a gift from Thanos for the Chitauri Invasion. After the Battle of New York, the Scepter was confiscated by S.H.I.E.L.D., but it was later stolen by Wolfgang von Strucker's HYDRA cell whose scientists used it to give extraordinary powers to the twins Wanda and Pietro Maximoff using the power of the Stone. After the fall of HYDRA, the Scepter was recovered by the Avengers. It was taken by Ultron and its blue gem casing was shattered, releasing the Mind Stone inside it and was used to give life to Vision.
History
Loki's Weapon
Loki arrives on Earth armed with the Scepter.
The Mind Stone originally portrayed as a containment vessel and a power source for the Scepter. The Infinity Stone granted the Scepter such diverse abilities to fire energy projectile blasts, manipulate minds, enable teleportation, perform astral projection and allow mental communication. The Infinity Stone has been under Thanos' possession unknowningly, who entrusted the Scepter to Loki of Asgard, along with an armada of Chitauri infantry troops and Leviathans, under the condition that Loki invade Earth to obtain the Tesseract and plan absolute subjugation under his reign. Upon arrival, Loki arrived on Earth via energy portal unwillingly emitted by the Tesseract, where he found himself arriving in the Joint Dark Energy Mission Facility in New Mexico. After arrival, Loki used the Scepter to defeat a unit of armed S.H.I.E.L.D. agents by shooting energy blasts and impaling them. Loki proceeded to use the Scepter's powers to brainwash S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Clint Barton and Astrophysicist Erik Selvig before escaping the facility on the verge to explode.
Bruce Banner analyzes the Scepter.
Loki continued to wield the Scepter to plot the oncoming invasion on Earth, where he used the staff to establish a mental communication to interact with The Other, and used his weapon during several altercations against the Avengers. After held captive and imprisoned on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier, the Scepter was transported at the laborarory station on board, where it was observed and studied by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. During an heated argument between the Avengers and Nick Fury, the Scepter slowly affected their minds, increasing tensions and consequently, turning them against each other until an immediate threat finally put them back to concentration.
Loki use the Scepter attempting to brainwash Tony Stark.
Escaping from his prison on the Helicarrier, Loki reclaimed the Scepter, which he later used his weapon to impale Agent Phil Coulson into his heart when Coulson attempted to confront him. He later attempted to use the Scepter to place Tony Stark under his control atop Stark Tower, however the Arc Reactor embedded in Tony's chest protected him. Loki continued to use the Scepter to fight against the Avengers in New York City after opening a portal for the Chitauri to invade Earth, until he lost it shortly after fighting his brother Thor. Near the end of the battle Black Widow picked up the Scepter and used it to activate a fail-safe that closed the portal being generated by the Tesseract. Following the invasion, Black Widow turned possession of the Scepter over to S.H.I.E.L.D.[1]
In S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Possession
S.H.I.E.L.D. studying the scepter
- "Could the connection between the Scepter and the Tesseract really be that simple?"
- ―Nicholas Cooper[src]
The scepter was placed in the facility called S.H.I.E.L.D. S.T.A.T.I.O.N. to be researched by S.H.I.E.L.D. One of its researchers, Nicholas Cooper, was very enthusiastic about working with the scepter, but his colleague Mark Smith did not share his enthusiasm. Smith explained how he wanted to be a field agent, but as he was deemed psychologically unstable by Maria Hill, he was transferred to the science division.
Eventually, Smith's displeasement with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s leadership allowed him to be recruited into HYDRA by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. Strucker's first order to Smith was to retrieve the scepter.
While Cooper developed a new groundbreaking theory about the scepter's connection to the Tesseract, Smith, along with a HYDRA colleague, burst into the room, stealing the Scepter, and killing Cooper in the process.[2]
In HYDRA's Possession
The Chitauri Scepter In HYDRA's possession
- "What we have is worth more than any of them ever knew. We've only scratched the surface and already..."
- ―Wolfgang von Strucker[src]
The scepter was transported to the HYDRA Research Base in Sokovia, where Strucker and his scientists began to study it, and powered up a large number of Chitauri Guns using it. As Strucker was not completely satisfied with the results, he ordered his lead scientist Doctor List to gather volunteers among the rioting population of Sokovia for experiments with the scepter. Although many volunteers died as a result, the twins Pietro Maximoff and Wanda Maximoff gained extraordinary powers.
By the time of the Battle at the Triskelion, Strucker and his scientists realized that the Scepter's powers were far greater than they originally thought.[3] In the meantime, Strucker and his scientists used their research into the gem inside the Scepter to start experimenting with the artificial intelligence, for which they designed several very advanced robots.[4]
Stark's Experimentation
Tony Stark studying the computer codes inside the Mind Stone.
- "The jewel appears to be a protective housing for something inside, something powerful."
"Like a reactor?"
"Like a computer. What's it look like it's doing?"
"Like it's thinking." - ―Tony Stark and Bruce Banner[src]
Tony Stark and Bruce Banner both originally devised the idea for the Ultron Program as an extension of the Iron Legion to operate independently as an AI peacekeeping program and result total obsolescence of the Avengers. However, neither Banner nor Stark were capable to create the intelligence level of A.I. necessary to achieve this purpose on a large scale.
J.A.R.V.I.S. and the A.I. inside the Mind Stone.
After the assault on the HYDRA Research Base, and the retrieval of the Scepter, Stark asked Thor if he could study it before Thor took it back to Asgard. Upon studying the Scepter, Stark and Banner found inside the Gem on the Scepter a net of neurons could be configured into an artificial intelligence that could finish the Ultron Program. At first Banner refused to help, but with a bit of persuasion he agreed. The two eventually configured a suitable AI structure and left J.A.R.V.I.S. to complete the work that would eventually led to the creation of Ultron.[4]
In Ultron's Possession
The Mind Stone was revealed to be inside Loki's Scepter by Ultron, who used its power to enthrall Helen Cho, in order to make him a new body with a combination of her expertise using the Cradle and Ultron's supply of Vibranium. He later broke the Scepter to claim the jewel, so he could use its power to evolve into a perfect body.[4]
Creating a Vision
The Mind Stone gives birth to the Vision.
Ultron new body, with the Mind Stone Inside it, was taken when the Avengers stole the Cradle during the Battle of Seoul, leading to Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Thor granting the being life with the Mind Stone embedded in its skull.
Vision using the Mind Stone to atack Ultron alongside Iron Man and Thor.
The Vision viewed Ultron as a danger to Earth and decided to join the Avengers in fighting him. During the Battle of Sokovia, the Vision used the power of the Mind Stone against the overwhelming army of Ultron Sentries, and combined its power with Iron Man and Thor's power to overpower and defeat Ultron, who could not match Vision's power. With the war won, Vision decided to join the Avengers and use his remarkable power to aid the protection of Earth.[4]
Guarding and losing Scarlet Witch
Vision talks with Wanda Maximoff about the Mind Stone.
- "I don't know what this is. Not really. I know it's not of this world, that it powered Loki's staff, gave you your abilities. But its true nature is a mystery and yet it is part of me."
"Are you afraid of it?"
"I wish to understand it. The more I do, the less it controls me. One day, who knows? I may even control it." - ―Vision and Scarlet Witch[src]
As the Avengers were now on the hunt for the Winter Soldier abroad, Wanda Maximoff and Vision stayed behind at the New Avengers Facility. Vision tried to make her comfortable, attempting to cook her a meal, which failed since Vision had never eaten anything before. The two discussed their abilities and how they viewed themselves, with Vision noting he did not fully understand the Mind Stone that gave him his power.
Scarlet Witch using her powers on the Mind Stone to manipulate Vision's density.
When the situation involving the Sokovia Accords aftermath got worse, Steve Rogers sent Clint Barton to rescue Wanda Maximoff from the New Avengers Facility. Barton set off an explosion outside to lure Vision out to investigate while he greeted his friend and explained the situation to her. On their way out Hawkeye remained confident and noted that although he could not overpower Vision, there was somebody else who could. Much to Vision's horror, Wanda Maximoff then used her own powers to control the Mind Stone and forced Vision to phase, making him free Hawkeye. Despite Vision trying to reason with her, Maximoff used her powers to slam Vision through the facility and deep underground, allowing Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch to then escape.[5]
Clash of the Avengers
Vision uses the Mind Tone to prevent Captain America and his allies to continue.
- "Captain Rogers, I know you believe what you are doing is right, but for the collective good you must surrender now."
- ―Vision to Captain America[src]
Vision was the last of the Avengers to arrive at the airport on Iron Man's side as the teams clashed; when he arrived, Vision created a warning line by firing a beam from the Mind Stone on his forehead in front of Captain America's team. He tried to talk and reason with Rogers to convince him to surrender, noting while Rogers believed he was doing the right thing by going against the Sokovia Accords, he should surrender.
Vision attempts to stop Captain America and the Winter Soldier to reach the Quinjet.
Vision, seeing Captain America and the Winter Soldier try to escape to a Quinjet, became transparent, moving through Giant-Man, and used his Energy Blast from the Mind Stone to bring down a watch tower, trying to cut off their escape. However he discovered it was kept in the air due to the intervention of Scarlet Witch, who used her powers to stop it falling until War Machine used a sonic blast to subdue her, causing the tower to fall although Rogers and Barnes managed to escape.
The Mind Stone's Energy Blast about to hit War Machine.
War Machine asked for assistance to stop the Falcon, who was shooting at him to try and ensure that both Captain America and the Winter Soldier escaped safely. Distracted by talking with Scarlet Witch, Vision looked up and unleashed an Energy Blast aimed at Falcon, but Falcon saw the blast coming and moved out of the way and instead it struck War Machine directly in his amor's Arc Reactor, causing him to plummet to the ground.[5]
Capabilities
Hawkeye is controlled by the Mind Stone.
When the Scepter's blade tip is placed against another person’s heart, the Mind Stone produces a blue, wisp-like energy which is transferred into the person’s body where it spreads up to their head, notably affecting their eyes, turning them a florescent blue color. This causes the affected individual to become loyal to the wielder indefinitely. People put under the Stone's control will often regain their individuality after receiving a significant blow to the head, as with Hawkeye, since a temporary loss of consciousness will allow their normal mental state to "reset" and return. In some situations the effects of the mind control can be negated outright if the energy from the scepter is unable to diffuse into the target's body, such as when Tony Stark's Arc Reactor absorbed the energy instead.
Through the Stone's power, the scepter is also able to link the consciousness of its wielder to that of another person, as evidenced when Loki used the scepter to mentally communicate with the Other. This form of astral projection appears to have no real limits on distance, as Loki and the Other's conversation had been all the way from Earth to far off space. During this conversation, The Other was able to cause Loki pain through the scepter, implying that the former had access to the Stone's power. It's unclear whether this function was a property of the Mind Stone, or a function built into the Scepter when it was created so that the Other could communicate with Loki.
While the scepter was in HYDRA's possession, Wolfgang von Strucker commented that the scientists studying it had only just scratched the surface, implying that the scepter's capabilities are more diverse than they appear. It granted powers to Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver via lethal experimentation. Scarlet Witch seemingly retained a connection to the stone, or was able to influence it.
After the core was cracked open, the stone inside was found to be a powerful computing device containing advanced knowledge. The code inside was able to grant sentience to Ultron and Vision, and enabled Vision to hack computers, as well as seemingly granting him other powers in conjunction with his Vibranium physiology - energy blasts, density manipulation, and flight.[4]
Trivia
- In the comics, the blue colored Mind Gem gives the owner psionic powers like telepathy and telekinesis or can augment the pre-existing mental powers of its user. When used in conjunction with the other gems, it can link its user with all other minds in the universe at once. It was used by the Grandmaster, Thanos, Nebula, Adam Warlock, Moondragon, Magus, Rune, Primevil, Loki, Galactus, Professor X, Odeni, Hood, Ms. Marvel, Beast and Black Widow.
