No, Thor could not defeat Hela in a direct fight.
Thor's Inability to Defeat Hela
Thor, despite his immense power, was unable to overcome Hela's strength. As the reference states, "Thor realized he was not going to be able to defeat her." This realization led him to pursue a different strategy to overcome her.
How Hela Was Ultimately Defeated
The path to defeating Hela did not involve Thor directly overpowering her, instead it required a very specific strategy. Here’s a breakdown of the events:
- Thor and Loki realized they could not defeat Hela through conventional means.
- They understood that Hela's power was tied to Asgard.
- They knew the only way to defeat Hela was through Ragnarök.
- They unleashed Ragnarök by having Loki drop the crown in the Eternal Flame, restoring Surtur's power, which ultimately destroyed Asgard and defeated Hela in the process.
Summary
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Could Thor beat Hela? | No, not in a direct confrontation. |
| How was Hela defeated? | Through Ragnarök and the destruction of Asgard |
Hela's defeat wasn't due to Thor's individual strength but through the destruction of her power source which was Asgard. Thor's understanding of this power dynamic and his willingness to use Ragnarök to achieve victory demonstrates that raw power isn't always enough to win a conflict, and sometimes a more strategic solution is necessary.
