Did Iron Man Send Thanos Back in Time or Killed Him in Avengers: Endgame?

In the final battle of Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man, also known as Tony Stark, takes on Thanos in a monumental showdown. The question of whether Tony Stark sent Thanos back to his time or killed him is a topic of much debate among fans. Let's explore the details of this crucial moment and the theories surrounding it.

Iron Man's Victory through the Infinity Stones

During the final battle, Tony Stark does not send Thanos and his army back to their time. Instead, he uses the full power of the Infinity Stones to enact the snap, a powerful action from the previous Avengers: Infinity War that saw half of the universe's population vanishing. This time, however, the snap results in the complete elimination of Thanos and his army. While this act brings about the elimination of Thanos, it comes at a significant cost to Tony Stark, as the immense power of the stones proves too great for him to withstand. His final act ultimately leads to his own death.

This pivotal moment occurs after Thanos has gathered the Infinity Stones and is about to use them again to wipe out the universe. Tony, acting swiftly and decisively, manages to take the stones from Thanos and snaps, thus defeating him and his forces.

Theories and Alternate Perspectives

However, there is a theory based on a deleted scene from Avengers: Endgame. In this scene, the Ancient One explains that Thanos willed the lives out of existence, which is why they can be brought back. According to this theory, the snap by Tony Stark may have caused Thanos and his army to disintegrate into individual atoms, floating out into the cosmos. This perspective suggests that Thanos is not definitively dead, but rather his atoms are scattered across the universe.

Another theory posits that Tony Stark used the snap to send Thanos and his army back to their time, just as Thanos had sent half of the universe's population back in Avengers: Infinity War. If this were the case, the timeline would be restored, but thanos would have knowledge of the future events and his location of the stones, making him a threat once again.

Some theories suggest that Tony Stark created a new timeline where Thanos, Nebula, and Gamora are all absent. This would mean that the events of Avengers: Endgame and the snap were the result of actions in a new timeline, eliminating the threat posed by Thanos and his army.

Given Tony Stark's intelligence and strategic thinking, it's possible that he considered the risks and benefits of both options. Sending Thanos back to his time would only delay the conflict, as Thanos would have a better understanding of the future and how to locate the stones again. Therefore, he chose to end the threat permanently, even at the cost of his own life.

Conclusion

The exact outcome of the final battle between Iron Man and Thanos remains a subject of debate. Whether Thanos is definitively dead or his atoms are scattered across the cosmos, the action taken by Tony Stark in the final moments of Avengers: Endgame ensures that the universe is saved. The true nature of his victory and the fates of Thanos and his army will continue to be a topic of discussion among fans and all those interested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.