The Strategic Attack: Why Thanos Chose the New York Ambush

The events surrounding Thanos' decision to initiate the New York ambush in The Avengers (2012) are complex and multifaceted. This tactical move serves several important purposes within the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) narrative. Let's explore the key reasons why Thanos ordered such an attack and the strategic considerations behind it.

Gathering the Infinity Stones

Thanos' primary objective at this point in the MCU is to gather the Infinity Stones. The Tesseract, which contains the Space Stone, is a crucial piece to his plan. By ordering Loki to retrieve the Tesseract, Thanos aims to create chaos and ensure that it will be retrieved from its secure location. The attack on New York serves multiple purposes: it distracts the Avengers, who are just beginning to form as a united team, and guarantees that the Tesseract, and thus the Space Stone, will not fall into the wrong hands.

Testing the Avengers

An additional reason for the New York attack is to gauge the strength and capabilities of the newly-formed Avengers. By orchestrating such a significant threat, Thanos can observe how the heroes will respond. This information is invaluable to him, as it reveals their weaknesses and strengths. Understanding the composition and dynamics of his potential future adversaries is crucial in executing his long-term plan.

Manipulating Loki

Thanos uses Loki as a pawn, leveraging his motivations for power and revenge against the Asgardians and Earth. By providing Loki with the Chitauri army and promising him power, Thanos manipulates him to fulfill his goals. The attack on New York is a critical step in this manipulation, as it forces Loki to act against his former allies. Ultimately, this serves to further Thanos' own strategic ambitions.

Could Thanos Have Done It Differently?

The argument that Thanos might have simply had Loki retrieve the Tesseract without the attack is logically flawed in several ways. First, the Avengers would have stopped Loki, and obtaining the Tesseract would not have been secure. The attack creates a larger-scale distraction, which is critical for Thanos' broader strategy. It also tests the unity and adaptability of the Avengers, a key factor in his long-term plans.

Personal Working Theory: Ensuring Key Stones

One possible working theory is that Thanos honored his deal with Loki. Assuming he knew the Mind Stone was inside the scepter (an oversight he would need to be careful about), Loki's success would give him the Mind Stone and Space Stone, providing a significant boost to his power. This could potentially allow Thanos to take the Time Stone from the Ancient One, as Doctor Strange had not yet formed his own team.

If obtaining the Time Stone directly from the Ancient One is not possible, Thanos could still wait for a better opportunity to access it. The Power Stone is his priority, as it augments the other stones when gathered together. The timeline shows that the Time Stone could be taken as a secondary objective, ensuring that the primary stone (most likely the Power Stone) is secured first.

Conclusion

The attack on New York was a critical strategic move in Thanos' grand plan. It served multiple purposes—gathering a key Infinity Stone, testing the strength of a forming team, and manipulating his pawn, Loki. The failure of this plan, as evidenced by Loki's ultimate defeat, underscores the complexity and challenges of achieving Thanos' ultimate goal. Despite the setbacks, his long-term strategy remains on track, with a renewed focus on the Power Stone as the linchpin of his victory.