Archangel

Powers and Abilities
Vulnerabilities
Appearance
Episode(s)

Archangels (Sometimes spelled as Arcangels) are the most powerful and high-ranking angels in the celestial hierarchy in Supernatural. Castiel describes them as "Heaven's most terrifying weapon". Michael and Lucifer are extremely powerful, even by archangel standards. Their angelic energy is very strong and can be quite overwhelming to humans, due to this, only their true vessels can fully sustain them - anyone within the Winchester bloodline can sustain Lucifer and Michael. Because Nick is not Lucifer's true vessel, he is withering away and his body is slowly becoming more and more degraded the longer he is possessed by Lucifer.

Out of all the angels of heaven, only four of them (according to Anna Milton) have seen God's face. It is implied that these four are four archangels:

• Michael - Michael is the Commander of God's Army (The Heavenly Host). He is the older brother of Lucifer and is said on many occasions to be more powerful than Lucifer. Michael's True Vessel is Dean Winchester, but is able to occupy any member of the Winchester bloodline. This includes both John Winchester and Adam Milligan, whom he eventually chooses over Dean. As of 5.21 Two Minutes To Midnight, Michael is currently using Adam as his Vessel. Michael was fated to confront Lucifer in a final battle of for Earth.

STATUS: Alive. CURRENT LOCATION: Lucifer's Cage.

• Lucifer - Lucifer was banished and cast into Hell by Michael for disobeying God's orders to love humans more than Him. He is the younger brother of Michael but is more powerful than his other brothers. Lucifer's True Vessel is Sam Winchester. Nick acted as Lucifer's vessel for a time but he slowly burned up from the stress of containing Lucifer's essence. Lucifer was fated to confront Michael in the final battle for Earth.

STATUS: Alive. CURRENT LOCATION: Lucifer's Cage.

• Gabriel - Gabriel left Heaven due to Michael and Lucifer's constant bickering and arguing. Unlike them, he can take a vessel without burning them out.

STATUS: Deceased (killed by Lucifer). CURRENT LOCATION: Unknown.

• Raphael - Raphael is speculated to be Chuck's guardian. Like Gabriel, Raphael doesn't burn out his vessel, but did leave him in a brain-dead state after departing. Raphael's Vessel is Donnie Finnerman.

STATUS: Alive; Raphael is currently bound to a Holy Fire circle, though he may have found a way to escape. CURRENT LOCATION: Earth.

• Castiel - Castiel may now also be an Archangel after he was brought back in 5.22 Swan Song. After this resurrection he had greater power saying he was 'new and improved'. He also stated with Michael gone he would be the one to bring order to Heaven. It is also implied that even with his new power Castiel has not seen God's face.

STATUS: Alive. CURRENT LOCATION: Heaven.

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Raphael is speculated to be the archangel who protects Chuck Shurley the prophet - whoever this archangel is, their angelic form appears as a thunderous sound and a blinding white light.

Castiel described archangels as being far more powerful than Tricksters, which makes them extremely powerful and very dangerous.

Most Supernatural Creatures are classified as extremely weak compared to Archangels - Lucifer effortlessly took down six pagan gods with ease. This shows some extent of the capabilities of an archangel. Lucifer classified them as being petty and weak.

Archangels have incredible powers compared to other creatures or other angels. Raphael, after descending from heaven, created a massive ball of pure white, holy energy that destroyed all the demons in the vicinity and a gas station. He also caused the entire Eastern Seaboard to experience a blackout. Gabriel is able to manipulate reality and to create mini universes. He can create time loops while singling out Sam and Dean as the only ones aware of it. Lucifer and Michael can reputedly destroy the entire earth if they chose to.

• Archangels can incinerate a lesser angel just by touching them, as seen when Michael destroys Anna. This was demonstrated in 5.13 The Song Remains The Same.

• Archangels are far more powerful than Tricksters, at least according to Cas. This was iterated in 5.08 Changing Channels.

• Archangels seem to negatively affect the entire area around them when they land. This was iterated and demonstrated in 5.03 Free To Be You And Me.

• Archangels can effortlessly take down multiple Pagan gods at the same time. This was demonstrated in 5.19 Hammer Of The Gods - Lucifer was the archangel who demonstrated this ability.

• Both Michael and Lucifer emit a frequency burst when their angelic essence is present somewhere on Earth; Michael demonstrated this ability twice already; he first demonstrated this to get Zachariah's attention - he did this to announce that he is willing to give Zachariah another chance at his job. He demonstrated this again when he was summoned to Earth by Zachariah; after this angelic sound burst, Michael's angelic spirit engulfed the room in white light. Lucifer first demonstrated this ability in 4.22 Lucifer Rising. His angelic spirit emitted an angelic frequency burst with such magnitude that it brought Sam and Dean to their knees. Shortly after, Lucifer's angelic energy engulfed the entire Convent, destroying the building and the surrounding area.

When Castiel and Dean captured Raphael in 5.03 Free To Be You And Me, Dean jokingly asked, "I thought you were supposed to be impressive. All you do is black out the room?" to which Raphael replied, "And the Eastern Seaboard."

When Lucifer enters the world from Hell he brings massive earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, diseases (including swine flu) and probably more. When Lucifer appears in 5.04 The End a storm erupts and when he teleports behind Dean there is the sound of thunder.

• Archangels on Wikipedia