Do I Need to Watch It? MCU Prerequisite Guide
Not every MCU title matters for Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026). This hub gives you a straight verdict on each prerequisite (Yes, Recommended, or Optional) plus what you'd miss and a quick alternative if you skip.
The verdicts
Loki before Doomsday?
Yes, essential
The TVA, variants and the rules of the multiverse. The single most important series before Doomsday.
WandaVision before Doomsday?
Recommended
Wanda becomes the Scarlet Witch, and the story VisionQuest continues. Worth watching, but not required for Doomsday.
Deadpool & Wolverine before Doomsday?
Yes, essential
The Fox universe, the TVA, and anchor beings: the bridge that brings mutants into the MCU.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps before Doomsday?
Yes, essential
Marvel’s First Family, Galactus, and the direct lead-in to Doom. Do not skip.
The X-Men movies before Doomsday?
Partly: X-Men and X2
Doomsday’s mutants are Fox’s, played by the same actors. Two films cover most of them; the rest are optional.
The Thor movies before Doomsday?
Two of four
Marvel’s official list skips Thor entirely. Ragnarok and Love and Thunder are the short path to where he is now.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. at all?
No, but it’s good
Not on Marvel’s official timeline and not needed for the films. Here’s when it’s worth your time anyway.
The rule of thumb
If a title deals with the multiverse, the TVA, or Doctor Doom's chessboard, it matters for Doomsday. Everything else is enrichment. Loki, Deadpool & Wolverine and First Steps are the essential ones. WandaVision is recommended, and the rest of the Multiverse Saga is optional context. When in doubt, check our full Doomsday prep guide, the MCU essentials list, or the complete chronological order.
What about everything else?
Quick verdicts on the other common questions: Avengers: Endgame: recommended. Chris Evans is back as Steve Rogers, and Endgame is where his story (and Thor's) last left off. Spider-Man: No Way Home: recommended; it's the multiverse's big bang. Doctor Strange 2: optional unless you care about Wanda. Ant-Man: Quantumania: skippable; Marvel dropped Kang after Jonathan Majors was fired, and Doom took over as the saga's villain. The Marvels / Eternals / Thor 4: all optional for Doomsday. Agatha All Along: optional; fun, but not needed. Echo and Ironheart: optional street-level stories with no Doomsday link so far (our Echo and Ironheart watch orders cover where they fit). VisionQuest (Disney+, October 13, 2026): not needed for Doomsday, but it follows straight on from WandaVision, so see our VisionQuest prep guide if you plan to watch it.
Bringing someone along who has never seen a Marvel film? Our guide to watching the MCU with a newcomer picks the shortest route that still makes Doomsday land, and the MCU timeline shows where every title sits in story order.
FAQ
How many MCU titles do I need before Avengers: Doomsday?
Fewer than you think. The three essential prerequisites are Loki, Deadpool & Wolverine and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. WandaVision is recommended, and everything else is optional.
Can I watch Avengers: Doomsday without seeing any Disney+ shows?
You can, but Loki matters for the multiverse plot. It’s the one series we’d call essential rather than recommended.
What’s the fastest way to catch up before Doomsday?
Watch both seasons of Loki, Deadpool & Wolverine and First Steps (about 13 hours), add WandaVision if you have another evening or two, and use each guide’s quick alternative for anything you skip. Our marathon planner can schedule it all.
Does Doomsday require the Infinity Saga?
Only loosely; Doomsday is a Multiverse Saga climax. If you’ve seen Endgame you know the Avengers; the multiverse rules come from the Phase 4 to 6 titles above.