Dream matchup · Earth-616 comics
Doctor Doom vs. Red Guardian
Alexei Shostakov, the Soviet Union's answer to Captain America. Here are the odds against every version of Doom, the tale of the tape and the powers behind the numbers.
Doctor Doom, almost every time. In this site's fan ratings, classic Doctor Doom wins 95% of their one-on-one fights, and his best chance is as God Emperor Doom, who wins more than 99%.
Red Guardian and Doctor Doom have never fought in the comics. These odds come from their powers alone, under the site's fight rules. Why we include dream matchups.
In the film: David Harbour is on Marvel's announced cast for Avengers: Doomsday, which opens December 18, 2026. Everything we know about Avengers: Doomsday.
The verdict: Doom, and it isn't close
Fight rules: both fighters at their peak, no preparation, no allies, only their own powers and personal gear. A win is a knockout, a restraint they can't escape, or a forced surrender. The percentages are fan estimates, not official information.
Doom's edge
Peak-human strength and a throwing disc against armor, flight and sorcery. Doom beats Captain America himself 78% of the time on this site, and the Red Guardian is Cap without the serum.
Red Guardian's edge
A soldier trained to the peak of human ability, a belt disc he throws like Captain America's shield, and decades of experience on both sides of the Cold War.
Odds against every version of Doom
Doom's chance of winning, version by version. The strongest Doom here, God Emperor Doom, wins >99% of the time; the weakest, Fox Doom (2005), wins 76%. The last column says what moves each version away from classic Doom's 95%.
| Doom | Doom wins | Bar | Outcome | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doom Classic Doom | 95% | Favored | The baseline Doom | |
| Power Cosmic Doom Power Cosmic (1967) | >99% | Favored | Overall +70 for this version | |
| Beyonder-powered Doom Beyonder power (1985) | >99% | Favored | Overall +130 for this version | |
| Unthinkable Doom Unthinkable (2003) | >99% | Favored | Overall +65 for this version | |
| Life Force Doom Life Force (2012) | >99% | Favored | Overall +110 for this version | |
| God Emperor Doom God Emperor (2015) | >99% | Favored | Overall +150 for this version | |
| Infamous Iron Man Infamous Iron Man | 94% | Favored | Overall −4 for this version | |
| Sorcerer Supreme Doom Sorcerer Supreme (2025) | 99% | Favored | Overall +55 for this version | |
| Doom 2099 Doom 2099 | 94% | Favored | Overall −4 for this version | |
| Van Damme Van Damme (Ultimate) | 90% | Favored | Overall −20 for this version | |
| Fox Doom (2005) Julian McMahon (2005) | 76% | Favored | Overall −45 for this version | |
| Fox Doom (2007) Surfer's board (2007) | 99% | Favored | Overall +35 for this version | |
| Fox Doom (2015) Toby Kebbell (2015) | 90% | Favored | Overall −20 for this version |
Tale of the tape
Eight stats on a 1-to-10 scale, classic Doom against Red Guardian. How the stat scales work.
Red Guardian's power set
- Peak human5/10
Trained to the edge of human ability.
- Throwing disc4/10
A belt disc thrown like Cap's shield.
- Soldier7/10
Military and espionage training.
Who is Red Guardian?
- Real name
- Alexei Shostakov
- First appearance
- The Avengers #43 (Aug. 1967)
- Created by
- Roy Thomas and John Buscema
- On screen
- David Harbour (2021 to 2025), who returns in Avengers: Doomsday
Alexei Shostakov was a Soviet test pilot turned into the Red Guardian, the USSR's counterpart to Captain America, and he fought the Avengers in his first appearance (The Avengers #43, 1967). In the comics he is Natasha Romanoff's husband. He joined the Winter Soldier's Thunderbolts in 2024 (Thunderbolts vol. 5 #4). He has never fought Doom in the comics.
Signature feats
- Fought the Avengers in his first appearance.The Avengers #43 (1967)
- Joined the Winter Soldier's Thunderbolts.Thunderbolts vol. 5 #4 (2024)
Weaknesses and limits
- No powers beyond peak human.
Gear
Throwing disc.
Affiliations
- The Thunderbolts
- Joined the Winter Soldier's team in 2024.
- The Soviet Union
- Its answer to Captain America.
In a team fight
The veteran: a soldier who never quits. Build a team against Doom.
Questions and answers
Who would win, Doctor Doom or Red Guardian?
In this site's fan ratings, classic Doctor Doom wins 95% of their one-on-one fights, so Doom is the favorite. Doom's edge: Peak-human strength and a throwing disc against armor, flight and sorcery. Doom beats Captain America himself 78% of the time on this site, and the Red Guardian is Cap without the serum. Red Guardian's edge: A soldier trained to the peak of human ability, a belt disc he throws like Captain America's shield, and decades of experience on both sides of the Cold War.
Have Doctor Doom and Red Guardian ever fought?
No. They have never fought in the comics, so this is a dream matchup: the odds come from their powers alone, under the site's fight rules.
Is Red Guardian in Avengers: Doomsday?
Yes. David Harbour is on Marvel's announced cast for Avengers: Doomsday, which opens December 18, 2026.
Which version of Doom has the best chance against Red Guardian?
God Emperor Doom, who wins >99% of the time in these ratings. The weakest is Fox Doom (2005), at 76%.
What is Red Guardian's biggest weakness against Doom?
No powers beyond peak human.
How strong is Red Guardian?
Red Guardian's top-rated powers on this site are Soldier (7/10: Military and espionage training) and Peak human (5/10). On the site's 1-to-10 stat scale: strength 4, durability 4, intelligence 5, ranged attack 3.
Related matchups
- Doctor Doom vs. Yelena BelovaYelena Belova · Earth-616 comicsClassic Doom 95%
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- Doctor Doom vs. GhostUnrevealed · Earth-616 comicsClassic Doom 86%
- Doctor Doom vs. Mister FantasticReed Richards · Earth-616 comicsClassic Doom 54%
Further reading
- Who is Doctor Doom? A primer before Avengers: DoomsdayAvengers: Doomsday
- What to watch and read before Avengers: DoomsdayWatch guide
- How strong is Doctor Doom, really?Explainer
Looking for pictures? See official art on the Marvel Database, a fan wiki. This site does not host Marvel artwork.