All Lantern Corps, Ranked By Strength

Summary

• The different Lantern Corps in the DC Universe are each powered by a specific emotion and have their unique abilities and strengths.
• The Blue Lantern Corps uses hope to heal wounds and raise the hopes of all living beings.
• The Green Lantern Corps, powered by willpower, is the original and most respected among the Lantern Corps and stands for order and righteousness.

The DC Universe is a gargantuan collection of characters, factions, nemeses, and heroes. Among the factions in the DC Comics Universe rests a collection of powerful individuals known as lanterns. The concept started with the first Green Lantern, Alan Scott, who was created by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell. Soon after, Hal Jordan was brought into existence, and the Green Lantern Corps made their first appearance in Showcase Vol 1 #22 by John Broome and Gil Kane.

The Green Lantern Corps would take on a role of its own as its lore and community were explored further. Today, the Green Lantern Corps is just one of many among the emotional power spectrum in the DC Comics. Each emotion has a place in the hierarchy of the spectrum and a corp of its own, powered by the emotional entities that the lanterns channel to use their power. Each lantern corp has its strengths and weaknesses, and not all are as righteous as the Green Lanterns.

Updated January 5, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Nathan Broome, the Sorrow Lantern, finding a new ally in the form of Starbreaker, he becomes an even more unpredictable wildcard in the Civil Corps arc in the Green Lantern comics. With more threats such as Thaaros and the Predator on the rise and laying siege to other Lantern Corps, fans might wonder if Kyle Raynor, Hal Jordan, Carol Ferris, and even Sinestro would have what it takes to restore order in the Emotional Spectrum.

However, fans might also be wondering just how these big players would perform in combat if they were holding different Lantern Rings which, aside from their emotional source of power, also hold different abilities.

11

Sorrow Lanterns

Sadness Realized

Introduced originally in 2023, Nathan Broome entered the pages of the Green Lantern mythos as the fiancee of Carol Ferris, the former flame of Hal Jordan. Since the year he was introduced, Nathan has been written as a reliable partner – and somehow Hal couldn’t catch Carol’s attention while trying to win her back. However, everything changes during the Absolute Power storyline. When Hal finds himself in danger during Amanda Waller’s war against metahumans, a Star Sapphire ring interrupts the impromptu wedding between Carol and Nathan.

Sensing Hal is in danger, she quickly leaves Nathan at the altar to come to the aid of her former flame. This heroic act aside, the scene quickly cuts to Nathan, alone, in the honeymoon suite he booked for the both of them. As Nathan laments how “rule-breakers” like Hal get what they want from hard workers like him, his appearance transitions to that of a grey costume – and the implication that he’s tapped into the power of Sorrow as a Sorrow Lantern.

Notable Powers, Abilities

Not much is detailed regarding Nathan Broome’s newly-found abilities. However, it’s interesting to note how this power manifested during Thaaros’s attack on the Emotional Spectrum. Nevertheless, it’s safe to assume some properties of a Sorrow Lantern based on other Lantern Corps and the page detailing Nathan’s new appearance. Notably, a Sorrow Lantern will likely possess the powers of flight, energy manifestation through constructs, and safe extraterrestrial travel as long as they channel the power of Sorrow. Moreover, the trail of smoke from the new Sorrow Ring and Nathan’s new grey costume leads to a tattered blanket while his hand clutches a burnt rose. These details imply either the ring’s influx of power burning these two items or part of his power as a Sorrow Lantern is to cause things to decay.

Sorrow Lantern Weakness

While not much is known about Nathan Broome’s role as a Sorrow Lantern given his novice status, it’s exactly this lack of experience that can become his greatest weakness. Although the Sorrow Lantern’s powerset indeed positions him as a powerful threat – if by virtue of everyone else’s unfamiliarity with his Sorrow Lantern Ring – his lack of mastery over his newfound powers can also leave him open to mistakes. This may be something the likes of Hal Jordan and other veteran Power Ring users can use against him.

10

Blue Lantern Corps

Capable Of Healing Grievous Wounds

When Oans Ganthet and Sayd were banished as the Guardians of the Universe for their individuality at the end of the Sinestro Corps War, they started the Blue Lantern Hope. Its attunement to the emotion of Hope is exactly what Ganthet and Sayd felt when they established it – hope for the future. Unlike other conventional Lantern Corps, they operate separately from the other groups. However, their abilities are meant to help other good-natured Lanterns.

Another interesting aspect of the Blue Lantern Corps is tied to their recruitment, as it doesn’t happen instantaneously. Instead, the most recent Blue Lantern is responsible for seeking out a worthy recruit and bringing them to Odym, their headquarters, for deliberation. It’s only when the candidate understands their role in the universe that they’re recruited into their ranks, hence the small number of Blue Lanterns.

Notable Powers, Abilities

While the Blue Lantern Ring possesses the standard powers of a typical Lantern Ring, they are empowered by the emotion of Hope. In turn, their constructs are based on what may inspire Hope to their targets. This emotional tie directly affects the powers of other Lantern wielders around them, as good-natured Lanterns surrounding Blue Lanterns have their powers amplified. Likewise, the Blue Lanterns can “deplete” Fear out of Yellow Lanterns, “calm” those affected by the Rage of the Red Lanterns, and be “immune” to the absorbing Greed of Orange Lanterns. The never-ending light of Hope is reflected in another special ability, in that they can heal the most grievous of injuries.

Blue Lanterns Weakness

While the Blue Lantern Power Ring is known for its amplification properties, it’s this exact nature that can become its greatest weakness. As a power source linked to “Universal Hope,” the Blue Lantern Power Ring can disrupt other power sources from functioning. Not only that, but the Blue Lantern Power Ring’s nature as an amplification ring means it works best when enhancing its natural partner, a Green Lantern Ring. On their own, Blue Lanterns have access to limited flight, space protection, and even energy projection.

9

Indigo Tribe

Invade & Control Weaker Minds For Compassion

The Indigo Lantern Tribe is a nomadic group with an eccentric Lantern Corps. The Indigo Tribe channels the power of Compassion from the entity Proselyte. The members of the Indigo Tribe are among the most sociopathic individuals in the universe and are drafted into the Corps to learn empathy. The Indigo Tribe also first appeared as the threat of the Black Lantern Corp drew closer and threatened to destroy all living things. The Indigo Tribe is not typically aggressive but will defend themselves and carry out their duties.

Among the ranks of Lanterns, the power of Compassion is one still shrouded in mystery, as they do not use conventional Rings like the other corps and possess a variety of strange abilities. The Indigo Lanterns’ origin is as unique as their power as it was formed by Natromo, a former slave who was freed by Green Lantern Abin Sur. The two, working together, discovered the Indigo Light and created the first Indigo Tribe member.

Notable Powers, Abilities

Similar to the Blue Lantern Corps, the Indigo Tribe possesses strange abilities that are somewhat connected to other colors in the Emotional Spectrum. An Indigo Tribe member possesses the uncanny ability of instantaneous teleportation, the distance of which is only determined based on how much charge is left on their Rings. True to how Compassion is seen when extended towards another individual, an Indigo Tribe member can also channel the powers of other Lantern Corps as long as their member is close enough to them. This allows the Indigo Tribe members to use powers such as the Sinestro Corps’ abilities to manifest constructs based on the target’s fear or the Red Lantern Corps’ ability to vomit acidic plasma.

Indigo Tribe Weakness

One of the best assets of the Indigo Power Ring is its ability to “copy” other energies of the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum. While this makes the Ring immensely powerful, it therefore makes sense that the powers it can “copy” also come with a copy of their weaknesses. At the hands of a novice Indigo Tribe member, the power source they use to emulate may be used against them.

8

Orange Lantern

Ring Constructs of Former Members, Led By One Member

The Orange Lantern is an outlier on the Emotional Spectrum and plays a more antagonistic role in the Green Lantern story. Its supposed Orange Lantern Corps is composed of only one member at all times – Larfleeze. This isn’t necessarily because Larfleeze is evil and wants the Orange Lantern’s powers for himself, but rather, it’s through his Greed that he’s compelled to commit to such a disposition.

The Orange Lantern channels Greed from the entity Ophidian, and it’s quickly learned that Larfleeze possesses the only Orange Lantern Battery and Ring. Greed constantly consumes Larfleeze and influences his actions, making him prone to recklessness.

Notable Powers, Abilities

While Larfleeze possesses the traditional powers of a Lantern, his Orange Lantern Ring explicitly gives him access to unique abilities. As a manifestation of Greed, the Orange Lantern Ring can absorb any kind of energy – be it magic, or even light from other Lantern Rings. The only way Larfleeze can “recruit” other Orange Lanterns is by absorbing a target’s identity by absorbing their body. If this happens, the target becomes an extension of Larfleeze’s will and is only powered through Greed. Interestingly, Larfleeze’s Orange Lantern Ring isn’t as strong as other Lantern Rings. The Orange Lantern Ring cannot absorb energy from a Blue Ring, likely linked to Hope never disappearing in the face of adversity. It also cannot defeat a Violet Ring, as Love trumps Greed.

Orange Lantern Weakness

If Larfleeze is any indication, the biggest weakness of the Orange Lantern Corps is itself. Its one Orange Lantern Ring doesn’t have any companions as its user is driven by an insatiable greed, to the point that they’re compelled to absorb the powers of any other potential Lantern Corps candidates. Not only that, Orange Lanterns have a weakness against energies that naturally tap into other abilities, such as the amplifying Blue Energy and loving Violet Energy.

7

Star Sapphires

The Overpowering Sense of Love

Among the Lantern Corps, the Star Sapphires are among the most dangerous. Channeling one of the strongest emotions in the universe, Star Sapphires use Love to power themselves through the entity The Predator. Initially, the Star Sapphire Corps would consist of one chosen bearer possessed by the Violet Light who would challenge the Green Lantern in a private dispute between the Zamarans and their male opposites, the Guardians. This resulted in the Star Sapphire becoming one of the most iconic female villains in the DC Continuity.

On more than one occasion, a Star Saphire has joined with the League of Villains and the Injustice Gang. Later, the Corp was expanded and now consists of women who seek to spread Love to the darkest reaches of the universe. The numbers of the Star Sapphire Corps continue to grow, and their strength has seemingly begun to rival the Green Lanterns.

Notable Powers, Abilities

As with other Lantern Corps, the Star Sapphires also possess unique abilities courtesy of their ability to tap into Love. Using their ring, a Star Sapphire can gaze unto a person and reveal their true desire, allowing them to provide great insights towards the state of Love in others. The Star Sapphire may even sense when the love of their life is in trouble through the attunement of their hearts – to the point that they can bypass spacetime to come to the aid of their beloved in an instant. It’s also possible for a Star Sapphire to “alter” the minds of others by injecting them with the power of love.

Star Sapphires Weakness

Aside from Star Sapphire Rings requiring a more regular recharge compared to others, the love Star Sapphires feel toward others can be their greatest weakness. They’re compelled to protect those they choose to project their love onwards, making their muses the perfect targets to be exploited by their enemies. Unfortunately, this does mean Star Sapphires may unconsciously be altering the minds of those around them to reflect the love they feel.

6

Red Lantern Corps

Incredibly Aggressive And Light Eating Acidic Vomit

The Red Lantern Corps channels the power of hate and rage through the entity called The Butcher. The Red Lantern Corps is also a product of the Green Lantern Corps’ making. The leader of the Red Lantern Corps was a former prisoner of the Guardians who sought revenge after the Guardians’ first creations, The Manhunters, malfunctioned and wiped out an entire sector. Red Lantern made their first appearance in Green Lanter Vol 4 #25 in the chaos during the Sinestro Corps War.

Atrocitous is a massacre survivor whose rage calls out to the Butcher, and he takes hold of the Red Light to exact his revenge on the Green Lanterns. The Red Light of the Red Lantern Corp takes hold of its ring bearers and replaces their heartbeat, making it impossible to leave once a member. As one of the most violent Corps in the universe, the Red Lanterns are widely feared as they think last and act first, leading to catastrophic events in the cosmos.

Notable Powers, Abilities

One of the most exciting aspects of a Red Lantern’s capabilities lies in their access to Rage. As the Red Light replaces their hearts, their internal rage can manifest in special plasma vomit that can melt anything. They can also detect and tap into the Rage of others, using another’s anger to fuel their abilities or even worsen the Rage in others. Like the Indigo Tribe, Red Lanterns can use their plasma blood to open blood portals for instantaneous travel. Their affinity with Rage and blood worked to their advantage in the events of Blackest Night, as Black Lanterns who like to tear the hearts of their victims cannot kill Red Lanterns as long as their wrath burns bright. The most interesting ability of a Red Lantern would be transformation, as their Rage can manifest in immense physical changes. Should a Red Lantern absorb the blood of another Corps member, they can also access their individual traits.

Red Lanterns Weakness

As beings powered by rage, the Red Lanterns depend heavily on their anger to make their Rings effective weapons in combat. However, this also means the influence of hope from a Blue Lantern or the natural love from a Star Sapphire can depower them and lose their affinity with their Ring. Red Lanterns also get disadvantaged when they gain power, as their empowerment by the Red Lantern Ring infuses them with an uncontrollable rage.

5

Sinestro Corps

An Army That Grows Thanks To Fear

The Sinestro Corps is the most infamous Lantern Corps in DC Comics and has been the long-standing rival to the Green Lantern Corps. The Sinestro Corps, also known as the Yellow Lanterns, channel their power through Fear via the entity Parallax. The founder of the Sinestro Corps is Sinestro himself, originally one of the most well-respected Green Lanterns. Sinestro fell from grace when he was tired of the Guardians’ methods, which pushed him to find new means to govern the universe. Making their first official appearance in comics in Green Lantern Vol. 4 #10, the Sinestro Corps erupted and caused an intergalactic turmoil that spawned the Sinestro Corps War.

Sinestro forged the first Yellow Lantern Ring and began creating a group of his own. The Yellow Lanterns are at constant war with the Green Lanterns and take any avenue to cause Fear and chaos. The Yellow Light is a direct counter to the light of the Green Lantern, and can easily disrupt their constructs if their will isn’t strong enough to overcome their fear. The Sinestro Corps have had some of the most terrifying members in the DC Universe, including Black Adam.

Notable Powers, Abilities

The Sinestro Corps channel their powers through the Qwardian Power Rings, created by the Weaponers of Qward in the Antimatter Universe. While their Lantern Corps doesn’t have any special powers, they have better control over their energy-manipulating abilities compared to other Lantern Corps. As users of Fear, Sinestro Corps members can instill, worsen, and absorb Fear in others to strengthen their Rings. As the Yellow Light of a Qwardian Power Ring emulates the Sun, a Yellow Lantern Battery can empower Kryptonians.

Sinestro Corps Weakness

Being a unique Power Ring from Qward, the Qwardian Power Ring of the Sinestro Corps requires a regular recharge. Not only that, the presence of a Blue Lantern can disrupt the energies of fear, making a Sinestro Corps member not as potent in combat.

4

Ultraviolet Lantern Corps

Dominate Other Light Bearers With Negative Emotions

The Ultraviolet Lantern Corps is a recent addition to the Green Lantern mythos. It has been described as part of the Invisible Spectrum and is dubbed the Unseen Light. The Corps comes from a living planet known as Umbrax, which also serves as their emotional entity. Initially stored within the Source Wall, the defeat of the Dark Knights allowed Umbrax to break free from its containment and unleash its dark energies unto the Universe.

Initially horrified by the implications of such a “hidden” force spreading like wildfire, Lex Luthor coerced Sinestro into tapping its powers for himself. This allowed Umbrax to attempt to spread its reach towards the cosmos – infecting everyone with the desire to release their darkest thoughts.

Notable Powers, Abilities

Umbrax and its Invisible Spectrum are one of the Seven Hidden Forces previously contained within the Source Wall that was released into existence. Their primordial and “forbidden” nature explains the strange properties of the Ultraviolet Lantern Corps. The most evident part of their power set is that they are not independent agents but rather extensions of Umbrax’s will. As long as there are living things to “infect,” Umbrax can practically spread its influence everywhere like a plague. This property makes the Ultraviolet Lantern Corps especially dangerous, as Umbrax can tap into the darkest thoughts of its victims and unleash them on everyone around them.

Ultraviolet Lanterns Weakness

Being empowered by repressed emotions, there’s a lot of potential for the Ultraviolet Lanterns to be among the most powerful forces in the universe – especially when Umbrax itself is revealed to be controlling the minds of the Corps’ members. However, Umbrax requiring a conduit of its influence leaves a gap in its plan for domination, especially when it’s influencing a powerful enough mind. John Stewart is seen as capable of removing Umbrax’s control over him through his willpower and willingness to confront his inner feelings.

3

Green Lantern Corps

The Overwhelming Might Of Willpower

The Green Lanterns are the original Lantern Corps and a shining example of order and righteousness. The Guardians created the Green Lantern Corps, which sought to tap into the massive power provided by the Emotional Spectrum.

Since its creation, the Green Lantern Corps has spread to the furthest reaches of the galaxy to protect the innocent and combat threats to universal order. The emotional entity Ion is the source of the Green Lantern Corps’s power and allows them to channel their will to increase their strength. Will is considered the most powerful of emotions; hence, the Green Lantern Corps has always prevailed. The power of the Green Lantern Corps is universally respected, rivaling that of even the Justice League.

Notable Powers, Abilities

While the Green Lantern Corps doesn’t possess any special traits, they have better control over the base powers of their Lantern Rings compared to other Corps. As the most notable Lantern Corps in DC Comics, the Green Lanterns established the base expected abilities of a Lantern user: energy projection through construct creation, force fields, and flight. All Lantern Rings exhibit unique non-energy-based abilities such as imagination-fueled scanning, spacetime travel reliant on emotion, universal translation, and various beacons and protocols. The only known Green Lantern-exclusive power is the Emerald Sight of Simon Baz, which allows him to see brief glimpses of the near future.

Green Lanterns Weakness

Being so dependent on its wielder’s Willpower, the Green Lantern Power Ring has quite a number of weaknesses. Aside from having a regular recharge protocol and possessing a vibrational interference that can weaken its constructs, Green Lantern projections can be destroyed by Red Lanterns. Not only that, but the influence of other strong emotions or substances can override their willpower, making the Green Lantern lose control over their Power Ring.

2

Black Lantern Corps

Undying Plague That Can Corrupt All Life

The Black Lantern Corps is the most dangerous among the Lantern Corps. Nekron, the emotional entity of loss and death, forged the Black Lanterns from the endless sea of the dead. Nekron then waged war on the universe, targeting the different Lantern Corps first and focusing on Earth. He’s done this by killing the Anti-Monitor and absorbing him to empower his Central Power Battery. Since then, Nekron has infected others and forced his lethal influence on the universe, quickly fueling his Central Power Battery by the natural loss of life that happens in his midst.

Notable Powers, Abilities

Given the unique nature of Nekron, the Black Lantern Corps also possesses powers different from those of other Lantern users. While they can technically fly and create constructs, Black Lantern users prefer to use their connection with Death to spread unlife around them. They prefer corrupting the living and reanimating the dead, ensuring that they absorb their victim’s hearts first to empower their Lantern Rings. As the embodiment of decay, the Black Lantern Ring can read the emotions of others and even mimic the powers of the Emotional Spectrum except Hope. Another horrifying ability of the Black Lantern Ring is to nullify entire parts of the Emotional Spectrum, rendering other Lantern Lights weakened or utterly powerless.

Black Lanterns Weakness

Being representative of death and decay, the Black Lanterns have a natural weakness to the White Light of Life from the White Lantern. Interestingly enough, Black Lanterns can’t be created out of people who died peaceful deaths and may even be overpowered by beings of overwhelming emotions. Moreover, although Black Lantern Rings are fast enough to chase the Flash, they can’t travel through time.

1

White Lantern Corps

Powered By The Energy Of Life Of All Things

The White Lantern Corps was a desperate effort to combat the black lantern invasion. Formed when Hal Jordon merged with the emotional Entity of Life, the White Light severed the connection that Nekron forged with heroes who had died and come back to life. The White Light of Life seemed to be the only thing that could damage Nekron. It provided an incredible boost to all members who were given life again, enabling them to repel the Black Light emitted by the Black Lantern Corps.

The White Light of Life became instrumental in other challenges against the Emotional Spectrum. During the siege of Umbrax on Earth, the Green Lantern Corps used the planet’s connection with Life to defeat the Ultraviolet Spectrum.

Notable Powers, Abilities

The White Lantern Ring is by far the most powerful among the Lantern Rings. On top of possessing traditional Lantern Ring traits of flight and energy projection, its connection to all Life allows it to heal others and sometimes even resurrect the dead. Users may even ask the White Lantern Ring to let them see the “footprints” of existing life around them, allowing them to know the past and the present of all things related to living in their immediate area. Sometimes, a White Lantern user may even see the souls of the departed in their vicinity. It’s the only Light that the Black Lantern Corps cannot extinguish.

White Lanterns Weakness

Despite the overwhelming power of the White Lantern Power Ring, anyone wearing it becomes a servant of the Entity. This grants them little willpower and quite a lot of responsibility, as they will carry the burden of guarding not just the Entity but life in itself from the darkest presences of Nekron and the Black Lanterns, among other threats.