Adamantium is one of the most indestructible metals in the Marvel universe. Wolverine's claws, Captain America's shield, and many other famous Marvel weapons were crafted using this incredible steel.
What many people may not know about adamantium is that there isn't only one type. There are at least ten—if not more—variations of the famous fictional metal. Some of them exist in alternate realities, while others are simply an improvement upon the original material. Here is every type of adamantium, explained.
10 True Adamantium
The story of how Captain America's shield came into being is quite an odd one. While American doctor Myron MacLain was working with some metals trying to make a new, indestructible material, he fell asleep. While asleep, an unknown catalyst caused steel, Vibranium, and some other material to form together and make Cap's indestructible shield.
In order to try and duplicate the process, Dr. MacLain created what is now known as True Adamantium. Nearly as strong as the shield, this new material laid the groundwork for all other types of Adamantium.
9 Secondary Adamantium
Many scientists and other researchers hoped to replicate True Adamantium for obvious reasons. Most found it too be extremely difficult to create the element. Given its nigh-indestructible nature, even if you did make it Adamanitum was impossible to manipulate.
So, a slightly weaker, more cost-effective form of Adamantium was formulated. Although not as powerful as True Adamantium, Secondary Adamantium was still one of the most powerful materials in the Marvel world.
8 Liquid Adamantium
When Adamantium is first being formed, it can be kept in a more malleable, liquid state. This is useful for forging weapons, or, in the case of Wolverine, grafting the material to a person's bones.
One important thing to note is that once liquid Adamantium fully solidifies, it can never be made into liquid Adamantium ever again. The metal is so strong that it is even resistant to superheating. The only way to form and craft with Adamantium is to do so in its liquid state.
7 Carbonadium
One of Wolverine's most formidable enemies, Omega Red, has an additional form of Adamantium grafted to his body. A much weaker and more malleable for Adamantium, Carbonadium, may seem like it doesn't come close to matching up with the original material. Upon further inspection, however, it actually has some great advantages.
Due to its extra level of flexibility over traditional Adamantium, Carbonadium can be used to make almost whip-like weapons that, while not as strong as True Adamantium, are nearly indestructible. Omega Red is able to manipulate his coils almost as though they are two indestructible whips that move as though they are tentacles.
6 Humorverse Adamantium
Earth-9047, an alternate dimension known as the Humorverse, is essentially Marvel's chance to poke fun at their long list of characters. When actually considered seriously, the idea of superheroes is actually quite ridiculous, and the Humorverse has no qualms about pointing this out.
Within the Humorverse rests another, alternate-dimensional form of Adamantium. This metal is called many different names, including Adam Ant Steel, Adam-antium, and Amantheants. Also, within this universe, the Adam Ant Steel was bonded to the skeleton of Woof'r'eam, the hilariously named Wolverine of the Humorverse.
5 31st Century Adamantium
In Earth-691, comic book fans get to see an alternate future that will most likely never come to pass. Within this future is a 31st-century version of the Guardians of the Galaxy that is nothing like the team that we are all familiar with. Led by Vance Astro, this team of heroes fights intergalactic enemies of Earth much like the mainstream, modern-day team we are all familiar with.
An Adamantium material exists in this future that has properties unlike any Adamantium we know of in the main Marvel continuity. A much more flexible form of Adamantium is used to repair Astro's suit and form a cast around his arms and chest.
4 Proto-Adamantium
The very first form of Adamantium that mysteriously formed during Dr. McClain's experiments back in World War II is known as Proto-Adamantium. As anyone familiar with Marvel/Captain America lore might tell you, the Proto-Adamantium that makes up Cap's shield is one of the strongest materials in the entire universe.
Able to withstand the most powerful attacks, this form of Adamantium is also incredibly light, allowing less powerful individuals the opportunity to use it to the metal's full potential.
3 Ultimate Adamantium
Marvel's second most popular reality is the Ultimate Universe. Although the Ultimate line of comic books is no longer being published, it did a great job of giving fans an updated, alternate take on many beloved characters that have been around for several decades.
Much like the Wolverine, we are all very familiar with, the Wolverine of the Ultimate Universe had all of his bones grafted with Adamantium. This Ultimate Adamantium is not nearly as strong as it's the mainstream counterpart. It also doesn't have the same convoluted origin story as the Adamantium we are all more familiar with. Instead of mysteriously forming, this metal came from a strange meteor.
2 Adamantine
When Dr. Myron MacLain was first looking to create the material known as Adamantium, he was basing this new metal on a mythological ancient Greek metal known as Adamantine. An indestructible, gold alloy, Adamantine has been used to create some of the most powerful weapons of the Greek gods.
Even more powerful than its man-made predecessor, Adamantine has additional psychic and magical abilities, as well, in so much as it can fend off attacks of both types. This is, by far, the most powerful and most pure form of Adamantium. It is what has inspired every form of the metal that came after it.
1 Adamantium Beta
Adamantium Beta is the form of this famous Marvel metal that coats Wolverine's skeleton. When it initially was bonded to the feral mutant, this was actually still True Adamantium.
Over time, Wolverine's healing factor actually changed the True Adamantium on a molecular level. In this new form, it fully combined with Logan's biology and became one with his bones, rather than just a metal coating that was covering them.
