The Black Panther was a mantle passed from warrior to warrior, one that was claimed by characters such as King T'Chaka and T'Challa. For over a decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has showcased many different costumes for its superheroes, but the Black Panther suits, referred to as "Habits," have always stood out from the crowd. Made out of a powerful vibranium-weave, the Black Panther costumes were among the most technologically advanced, but were also some of the most stylish costumes in the MCU.
First seen in Captain America: Civil War, the Panther Habit returned for Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. Following King T'Challa's death, new characters have had to rise up to protect Wakanda. As new foes continue to emerge, now is an appropriate time to look back on the history of Black Panther suits, both new and old. Here are all the Black Panther costumes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far, ranked.
5 Killmonger's Habit — Black Panther
After consuming the Heart-Shaped Herb, Erik Killmonger donned his own version of the Black Panther costume. Killmonger's presented a more menacing look, including what resembled fangs on the helmet. The costume design purposefully matched the more aggressive nature of the character, providing a strong contrast to T'Challa. However, Killmonger's costume simply did not look as visually appealing as the suit that T'Challa wore. Black Panther blew audiences away with its visuals, but the CGI in the final battle left a lot to be desired. Unfortunately, that battle was the only time that audiences got to see Killmonger wear the costume.
4 T'Chaka's Habit — Black Panther
Before T'Challa became the Black Panther, his father, King T'Chaka, wore a suit featuring a black and gold pattern. With the exception of a different helmet, the suit appeared identical to the one that T'Challa wore in Captain America: Civil War. On top of the unique helmet, T'Chaka further distinguished himself by sporting a purple cloth over his shoulder and around his waist. Marvel succeeded in creating a visual representation of its storytelling, something that portrayed both the similarities and differences between T'Chaka and T'Challa, father and son. While T'Chaka's costume had very minimal screentime, it was still able to leave a powerful impression.
3 T'Challa's Upgraded Habit — Black Panther
Disney
Shuri has been one of the brightest minds in the MCU, and she was able to give T'Challa a major upgrade from his original suit. Using nanotechnology, the upgraded suit was both lighter and thinner than the one featured in Civil War, and could be contained within the teeth of a necklace. It could also absorb kinetic energy and hold it for redistribution, turning the enemy's own attacks against them. The energy contained within the suit gave it an aesthetically-pleasing purple glow. As the Habit with the most amount of screentime, this might be the most iconic MCU Black Panther suit to date. The suit was worn by T'Challa across three films; in his own solo film, Black Panther, and in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame where he participated in the fight against Thanos.
2 Shuri's Habit — Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Disney
The official trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever revealed the new Panther Habit. While it has not been officially confirmed who is wearing the suit, all signs point to the new Black Panther being Shuri. The new Panther Habit appeared to most resemble Shuri's physique, and obviously not M'baku's. Some fans have theorized that Nakia will be wearing the suit, who might be a more likely candidate than Dora Milaje General Okoye. However, Letita Wright was the actress featured front and center on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's theatrical release poster.
In Marvel Comics, Shuri became the Black Panther in 2009, four years after she made her initial comic debut. Wright told Entertainment Weekly that Shuri buries herself "in her technology" in the process of grieving her brother. Fans can expect the Wakanda Forever costume to be even more advanced than its predecessors. Wakanda has remained the most technologically advanced nation in the MCU, and Shuri is most likely the smartest person in Wakanda. Fans will have to wait until November to see the new costume on-screen, but a sneak peek is available through a Funko Pop Vinyl and LEGO sets.
1 T'Challa's Original Habit — Captain America: Civil War
When T'Challa first arrived in the MCU, he wore a noticeably bulkier costume that lacked the signature purple glow. In addition, the Captain America: Civil War costume made T'Challa appear more confident, powerful, and intimidating. Some of the best-looking Black Panther shots featured this costume, an example being when T'Challa stealthily hid in the trees at the beginning of Black Panther.
It was also used in various exciting action-sequences, a standout being when T'Challa chased down Bucky while being pursued by Falcon and Captain America. The costume made T'Challa feel much more cat-like, echoing closer to the name of "Black Panther." Nanotech can be fun, but there was something lost when Marvel Studios moved away from this costume. To this day, many fans prefer T'Challa's original suit over the one that came after it.