Iron Man 3

Even though Tony Stark had his life - saving arc nuclear reactor removed inIron Man 3 , the MCU ’s Iron Man still uses the technology during his later Marvel Studios appearance . After being take aim captive by the Ten Rings inIron Man , Stark fit out himself with a miniaturized arc reactor , with the help of Ho Yinsen , which prevents pieces of metal shrapnel from making their way into Stark ’s heart . This technology would later become the ability rootage for Stark ’s Iron Man armour in his initial MCU escapade , untilIron Man 3saw the gimmick become redundant after the shrapnel was surgically removed from Stark ’s body .

While Stark went without an arc reactor duringAvengers : Age of Ultron , Captain America : Civil War , andSpider - military man : Homecoming , Avengers : Infinity Warsaw Stark sporting a very different arc nuclear reactor . Stark ’s first arc reactor had two intention : to keep the shrapnel from entering his pith , and to power his suits , which is still essential for his activities as Iron Man in the viewing ofIron Man 3 . According toThe artwork of Avengers : Infinity War , Stark put back the life - saving arc reactor with an " RT social unit " ( which houses nanobots for Marvel Comics ' Mark 50 Bleeding Edge armor ) , so the role of the arc reactor afterIron Man 3was changed significantly .

Iron Man’s Glowing Chest Plate Is Nanobot Housing After Iron Man 3, Not An Arc Reactor

rather of officiate as a normal bow reactor , the dresser - bit display inAvengers : Infinity Waractually house a collection of nano - particles , which permit Stark to befit - up effortlessly and in a matter of seconds , without the hassle of put together ungainly pieces of armor . This was most discernible during the porta moments ofAvengers : Infinity War , where Stark show off his young technology to Doctor Strange , Wong , and Bruce Banner in the initial fight againstChildren of Thanosmembers Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian .

Ironheart’s Suit Is Also Powered By An Arc Reactor

phase angle 4’sBlack Panther : Wakanda Forevershowed that the Ironheart suit created by Riri Williams are similarly powered by arc reactors . Riri build her first suit on her own , a rather crude model that provided the most basic defense , firepower , and flight of steps speed , though this demonstrated the first appearance of her unique heart - shaped arc nuclear reactor . merge with Stark ’s spark nuclear reactor engineering science , Riri then cooperate with Shuri , the MCU ’s new Black Panther , using vibranium to create the Ironheart Mark II armor , which was strong enough to keep Namor ’s forces occupy .

How Else The Arc Reactor Could Appear After Iron Man’s Death

retaliator : Endgamemight have marked Tony Stark ’s net adventure as the MCU ’s Iron Man , but his bequest will live on thanks to his creative thinking and technological mind . Arc reactor technology will sure as shooting continue to be relevant to the MCU , as there are many narrative grounds why the arc reactor could become a fundamental piece of applied science again . Two of Marvel Studios ' upcoming projects are do to build on Tony Stark ’s bequest by focusing on Iron Man - adjacent bomber . IronheartandArmor Warscould both rely on Stark ’s electric arc reactor as a story gadget , specially since the latter will research what happens when Stark technical school falls into the wrong hands .

Marvel Studios’Armor Warswill focus on Don Cheadle ’s James " Rhodey " Rhodes , a.k.a . War Machine . Since the Mark VI War Machine armour Rhodey wears duringAvengers : Endgameis powered by an arc reactor , and the fact that Rhodey ca n’t walk without Stark tech , find a new arc nuclear reactor could be a game point that could have a surprising horizontal surface of worked up depth . Iron Man 3may have render the arc nuclear reactor redundant for Tony Stark , but the technology will also have a special place in MCU history , even if it does n’t become a key part of applied science in the MCU ’s time to come .

Iron Man 3 IMAX Poster

iron man with the arc reactor in the mcu

Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man fighting in New York in Avengers: Infinity War

Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams wearing the Mark I Ironheart suit in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Black Panther trailer Iron Man replacement Ironheart

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Iron Man 3