Every Captain America Costume In The MCU, Ranked

Summary

• The MCU’s Captain America has had various iconic suits over the years tied to different phases and story elements.
• Some standouts include the classic USO and The First Avenger uniforms, visually representing Steve Rogers’ evolution as a hero.
• New characters like John Walker and Sam Wilson as Captain America feature unique, fitting designs reflecting their journeys.

After debuting in 2011, Captain America has been pivotal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe across multiple films. He is even one of the few characters to have a quadrilogy of films after the release of Captain America: Brave New World and the character has appeared in every Avengers movie.

Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson have worn many costumes over the years as Captain America and, as a result, some stand out more than others. Costume designers have gone out of their way to deliver suits for the Star Spangled Avenger that reflect the different styles, tones, and even story elements from the various Marvel Cinematic Universe entries.

10

2012 Uniform

Much Needed Old-Fashion In The Present Day

• Appearances: The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Endgame
• Costume Designer: Alexandra Byrne

While not bad by any means, most fans agreed that the suit that Captain America wore in 2012 as his first suit in the modern age was not his best. In addition to a helmet that did not fit well on Chris Evans’ head, the suit itself looked flat and uninspired, which made it look more like a costume rather than a uniform designed by an advanced spy organization.

The suit first debuted in The Avengers, but has reappeared in other movies, mostly for cameos. In Avengers: Endgame, the 2012 version made its greatest return with a fight between two versions of Captain America; some even considered it an improvement since Steve Rogers is without his helmet, showing how a simple change can make a large difference.

9

USO Uniform

Jack Kirby Would Be Proud Of It

• Appearances: Captain America: The First Avenger
• Costume Designer: Anna B. Sheppard

Steve Rogers may not have been serving as a super soldier on the front lines, but he did inspire a lot of people in Captain America: The First Avenger as the star of a USO tour. The comics were created as propaganda, so the first Captain America suit in the MCU is directly inspired by what Jack Kirby and Joe Simon created back in 1941.

The suit especially works in the montage of the USO tour, paired with the catchy “Star Spangled Man With A Plan” song that plays. The uniform feels like a giant tribute to the actual USO tours during World War 2, but also to the Golden Age of superheroes, even featuring the kite-shaped shield from the comic books, which longtime fans of the character appreciated.

8

Field Uniform

Steve Rogers’ First Suit Was Not Fancy But Effective

• Appearances: Captain America: The First Avenger
• Costume Designer: Anna B. Sheppard

Taking his USO costume and modifying it with a helmet, goggles, jacket, and combat-ready gear, the true first Captain America suit, known as the Field uniform, mixes the classic and Ultimate designs for a World War 2 design. It is what Steve wears on his first true mission to infiltrate a Hydra base and save a legion of captured soldiers.

The Field uniform strikes a balance between the comic book aesthetic and a more realistic appearance, resembling something a super soldier might assemble in a hurry. As it was the first time seeing Captain America in action, the suit combined with his performance perfectly showcases why Chris Evans was born to play the character.

7

John Walker

A Fitting Suit For A Dark Anti-Hero

• Appearances: The Falcon And The Winter Soldier
• Costume Designer: Michael Crow

In The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, John Walker was introduced as the government-planted replacement for Captain America. Fans of the comics knew he would eventually evolve into the anti-hero known as U.S. Agent. The suit he wears is a reflection of his character, with darker blues and reds as an inkling of what he will become.

John Walker’s Captain America uniform is also a showcase of why not everybody can put up Stars and Stripes, and they are suddenly Captain America. The design is intentionally meant to look like a hollow replica, like a product, rather than a symbol that inspires hope, which is part of what leads John Walker down a dark path to becoming a member of the Thunderbolts in the future.

6

The First Avenger

The Suit That Made Steve Rogers Historical

• Appearances: Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
• Costume Designers: Anna B. Sheppard, Judianna Makovsky

The third and final suit Steve Rogers wore during World War 2, he earned the chance to fight on the frontlines and the predecessor to S.H.I.E.L.D. upgraded him to The First Avenger suit. The result is a mix of militaristic armor combined with all the elements fans would expect from Captain America, including the Stars and Stripes.

Similar to the Field suit, it blends realistic and outlandish elements to create the best of both worlds and what the people in the Marvel Cinematic Universe would think of the legendary Captain America. It would be put into the Smithsonian and when Steve needed to make a point against Hydra, he wore it again in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

5

Sam Wilson’s Second Uniform

Sam Continues To Look Marvelous As Captain America

• Appearances: Captain America: Brave New World
• Costume Designer: Gersha Phillips

Thanks to Captain America: Brave New World, Sam Wilson’s second uniform ditches the emphasis on white in favor of blue. It features the signature goggles and wings that Sam Wilson is known for, providing him with a sleek and stealthy appearance that suits the film’s espionage theme and darker tones.

The cowl seen in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier is discarded with Sam Wilson’s Second Uniform and the wings are upgraded with vibranium technology to give Sam Wilson a boost in battle, especially when fighting villains like the Red Hulk. In a way, the suit’s design is reminiscent of his first suit and the S.T.R.I.K.E. Stealth suit from Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

4

Modified Uniform

Being An International Fugitive Led To A Glow-Up

• Appearances: Avengers: Infinity War
• Costume Designer: Judianna Makovsky

When the world governments, especially America’s, turned their backs on Steve Rogers in Captain America: Civil War, he created the Modified Uniform seen in Avengers: Infinity War. Many have theorized that it is the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s take on the Nomad persona that Steve adopts in the comics after ditching the Captain America role.

The muted colors, rugged hairstyle with a beard, torn-off stars, and Avengers logos combined with twin Wakandan shields led to a look that audiences loved, even if it represented a dark era for the character. The modified uniform would become so famous that various Marvel video games would add it as an alternate costume for Captain America.

3

S.T.R.I.K.E. Stealth Uniform

Short-Lived But Instantly Iconic For Steve Rogers

• Appearances: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Endgame
• Costume Designer: Judianna Makovsky

Heavily inspired by Steve Rogers’ suit in the Secret Avengers comic run, the S.T.R.I.K.E. Stealth Uniform was introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It is the suit Steve wears as an operative of S.H.I.E.L.D., removing all the red in favor of dark blue with silver wings and stripes to make him look like a super spy while also fitting Chris Evans far better than his previous suit.

The S.T.R.I.K.E. Stealth Uniform was also a perfect hint that S.H.I.E.L.D. was not the organization it was supposed to be. It was the evil organization Hydra, which had infiltrated and turned S.H.I.E.L.D. into a darker version of itself, with the S.T.R.I.K.E. Stealth Uniform reflecting that.

2

Sam Wilson’s First Uniform

Anthony Mackie Made An Epic First Impression As Captain America

• Appearances: The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Brave New World
• Costume Designer: Michael Crow

When Sam Wilson finally donned the moniker of Captain America in the final episode of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, audiences were finally introduced to Sam Wilson’s first uniform.

Normally, the Marvel Cinematic Universe sticks to its own design with influences from the comics, but with Sam Wilson, the suit leaped right off the pages of All-New Captain America.

The design for Sam Wilson’s Captain America uniform is meant to be a blend of the American flag motif that fans expect from a Captain America suit while still having pieces of his Falcon suit. Even though it made it difficult for Anthony Mackie to move his head, one of the best features is the half-cowl/goggles combo, making him look like a classic superhero.

1

Steve’s Final Uniform

Steve Rogers’ Best Suit Has The Longest Tenure

• Appearances: Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Endgame
• Costume Designers: Alexandra Byrne, Judianna Makovsky

Most heroes get a new suit with every new movie, but Marvel Studios found a suit for Captain America in Avengers: Age Of Ultron and has stuck with it ever since, aside from modifications. Steve’s final uniform would go on to be featured in every subsequent movie starring Captain America, fighting Ultron, Iron Man, and Thanos until the character retired at the end of Avengers: Endgame.

Even the aforementioned Modified Uniform is just a warped version of Steve’s final uniform. It takes the classic Stars and Stripes motif but heavily embraces an armored look, but just enough to look like a proper Captain America suit for the modern age. The result is a suit that most fans think of when they think of Steve Rogers’ Captain America.