I was on my Stranger Things season 4 rewatch and realized something—Eleven is shown way too powerful, especially in season 4. This might be a gradual progression from a timid girl who was kept captive to a small town super hero. But the thought lingered for so long, making me analyze other parts of it too. And, I am not alone here; many fans feel the same too – Eleven being more powerful in season 4 than season 3. But some fans do argue that she didn’t use her powers too quickly—her being bullied by mean girls…
So, let’s split into two teams: arguing Eleven, her powers in season 4, and how she overused or under-used it.
Moments when Eleven was too powerful in season 4
1. The piggyback mind battle with Vecna
When Eleven jumps into Max’s mind from a pizza freezer and goes head-to-head with Vecna, it almost feels like she’s a full-on superhero. She restrains him long enough for the others to strike, and I couldn’t help thinking, “Whoa, El just saved the entire team from another dimension.” It felt way beyond the Eleven we first met in Season 1.
2. Throwing a helicopter out of the sky
This one had me screaming — literally. Eleven screams, and boom — the entire military helicopter crashes down. It was her big Avengers moment, and while it was super cool to watch, I felt like it pushed her power level into a place where she’s almost untouchable.
Watch: Eleven throwing the helicopter away scene here.
3. Papa’s facility rampage
Back in Season 1, when Eleven takes out a group of armed guards, snaps necks, and casually walks out, it still blows my mind. She was just a kid, but she felt unstoppable in that scene — scary, powerful, even.
4. Closing the gate alone
Season 2’s finale, with Eleven levitating and single-handedly closing the gate, is one of the most iconic moments of the entire show. But it’s also where I first thought, “Okay, so literally no one else can do what she does — she’s on another level entirely.”
5. Yeeting Angela across the roller rink
The roller rink scene lives rent-free in my head. Angela had it coming, but the way Eleven casually uses her power — with zero hesitation — almost made me forget she’s still figuring herself out. She just looked way too confident in that moment.
| It’s all fair in games and wars: Eleven was giving all Naruto vibes in season 4. Just like Naruto levels up through pain and love for his friends, Eleven’s powers get stronger when she’s fighting to protect Max, Mike, or the gang. Her “remote fight with Vecna” was her Sage Mode moment. |
New powers Eleven acquired in season 4
Not speaking without facts. There were reasons why Eleven appeared way more powerful in season 4.
Remote mind battle mode: She fights Vecna mentally from a completely different location — all while Max is in danger in Hawkins. This “psychic remote-control fight” felt like an upgrade we’d never seen before.
Memory time-travel: When she regains her powers, she doesn’t just recall memories — she relives them, and even changes the outcome of what happened in the lab. That’s a whole new layer of her ability, almost like she can rewrite the past in her mind.
Heart stop and restart: The scene where she brings Max back to life was wild. Eleven literally jumpstarts Max’s heart with her powers. That’s not just telekinesis anymore — that’s borderline medical resurrection.
Supercharged range: Eleven’s powers reach across entire states (she’s in Nevada while helping in Hawkins). It’s like her psychic Wi-Fi suddenly got the strongest signal ever.
Emotional amplification: Her powers seem to scale directly with how much she cares — which is cool, but in Season 4 it felt like she became a full-on “love-powered anime hero.”
Eleven might be even stronger than Vecna
But this is what Stranger Things has been plotting for, ever since season 4—leveling up Eleven to become stronger and win Vecna.
If we look at Season 4 closely, Eleven doesn’t technically defeat Vecna on her own. In the piggyback battle, she manages to hold him off, but she doesn’t kill him — that took Nancy, Steve, and Robin burning him in the real world. But here’s the thing: Eleven is the only person we’ve seen actually overpower him mentally. She broke through his control, saved Max (at least partially), and forced Vecna to retreat.
So, my hypothesis? Eleven might not be consistently stronger than Vecna — but when it comes down to the moments that matter, she has a deeper well of power that tips the scale. She’s fueled by love, friendship, and sheer stubbornness — things that give her the edge when it’s life-or-death. Vecna may have experience, but Eleven has heart (and that might be even scarier).
I have listed down some points I noted down: where Eleven was shown with similar strengths and powers as Vecna and sometimes even stronger than him: from mental strength to speed to impact, both drawing equal scores.
| Category | Eleven | Vecna |
| Raw Power | Can flip vans, break necks, and open/close portals. Her powers are vast but sometimes unstable. | Can control the entire Upside Down, telepathically kill people from miles away, and create massive gates. |
| Mental Strength | Overcomes trauma, fights through fear, and resists Vecna’s control to save Max. | Feeds on trauma, manipulates minds, and uses fear as a weapon. |
| Speed & Reaction | Her powers take focus, but she reacts quickly when friends are in danger. | Moves slower physically, but mentally attacks instantly. |
| Durability | Gets nosebleeds, drained easily, but always pushes beyond limits (even when powerless). | Nearly killed by fire, shotguns, and Molotovs — but still survived. |
| Motivation | Protects her friends, fights for love and belonging — her greatest strength. | Fights to reshape the world in his image — ego-driven. |
| Final Impact (S4) | Saves Max’s life, buys time for the Hawkins crew, and forces Vecna to retreat. | Opens massive gates, kills several victims, and weakens the group emotionally. |
Now, the real question. Can Eleven’s powers destroy Upside Down?
Could Eleven really destroy the Upside Down? Honestly, if anyone can destroy Upside Down, it’s Eleven — but it’s not that simple. The Upside Down isn’t just a place; it’s a hive mind that’s been growing stronger with every season. Eleven has the raw power to rip open and close gates, fight Vecna in a mental battlefield, and literally bring Max back from the brink of death.
So yes, she could destroy it. But doing so might come at a cost. If Season 5 makes this her final mission, it feels less like a question of power and more of sacrifice, either her life, or her friends, or her love life, while all we wish is a happy climax that wouldn’t need too much tissues. We know that her extra ‘powers’ may save her at the last moment in the season finale. But we have to wait and watch.