Archangel

God created archangels. It is assumed that God made the archangels in this order: Michael, Lucifer, Raphael and Gabriel.

Archangels rank higher than Angels and Cherubs. They are extremely powerful, and Castiel describes them as "Heaven's most terrifying weapon". Their angelic form can blind those who look upon it; their true voice is so overwhelming that it can damage a human's hearing.

Archangels are mysteriously connected to prophets - Castiel told Dean that it is an Archangel's responsibility to protect prophets from any form of harm - If a prophet is in the same room as a Demon, than archangel will appear to destroy that Demon. Archangels also seem to appear when others try to interfere with prophecy.

Castiel: Archangels are fierce. They're absolute. They're heaven's most terrifying weapon. – Castiel, 4.18 The Monster At The End Of This Book

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 mentioned are the archangels:

Michael

Michael was the Commander of God's army and older brother of Lucifer, Gabriel and Raphael. He is more powerful than Gabriel and Raphael. Michael can be summoned to Earth via a summoning ritual. Even when Michael is in his true form, he is able to call upon some of his angel powers, like he did when he teleported himself along with Adam in 5.18 Point Of No Return.

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. It was discovered that as of 5.21 Two Minutes To Midnight, Michael chose Adam as his Vessel. Michael was fated to confront Lucifer at Stull Cemetery for their final confrontation. Michael is presumed alive but trapped inside 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 and the older brother of Gabriel and Raphael. He is more powerful than his younger brothers. Lucifer's true Vessel is Sam Winchester. However Nick acted as a Plan B Vessel for Lucifer, but he slowly burned up from the stress of containing Lucifer's essence. Lucifer was fated to confront Michael at Stull Cemetery for their final confrontation. Lucifer's mere angelic essence can cause catastrophic catastrophes by creating weather disruptions. The scope of this power is unknown. Following Lucifer's release, Sam is revealed to be Lucifer's Vessel, and Dean Michael's. Possession is likely to lead to a conflict that will devastate the Earth.

After Sam consented to Lucifer, Lucifer/Sam made the temperature drop in Detroit (20 degrees in a five-block radius in downtown Motown). Shortly after Lucifer took over Sam's body, major tornado storms erupted in Tampa; wildfires were mysteriously started in Los Angeles. Lucifer made a magnitude 7.6 earthquake touch down near Portland and another earthquake settled in Boston. Lucifer is presumed alive but trapped inside his Cage.

Gabriel

Gabriel is the youngest brother of Michael, Lucifer and Raphael.

Gabriel loves his family (God, Michael, Lucifer and Raphael) deeply. Tired of the conflict between Lucifer, the other angels, and God, Gabriel decided to leave Heaven so that he would not have to witness further strife. He goes to Earth and disguises himself as a Trickster. In this role he goes about giving people their "just desserts" - punishing people in a way that ironically fits what he sees as their 'crime'. He likes the good life - wine, women and food.

Like Michael, Gabriel continues to profess love for Lucifer even after what he's done.

Finally Gabriel chooses to fight for humanity against Lucifer, claiming that God was right: humans are better than angels. He dies providing Sam and Dean the chance to escape. He also reveals the potential of the Horsemen's Rings to imprison Lucifer and stop the apocalypse.

It is unknown as to whether or not Gabriel needs a Vessel - Gabriel could have created his body. Gabriel seems to have an angelic form that's not as intense as Micheal and Lucifer's, being as how he is the youngest of the Archangels, this may be the reason he didn't seem to have difficulty in acquiring his vessel.

Gabriel is weaker than Michael and Lucifer, but he's still more powerful than angels and cherubs. Raphael might be identical to Gabriel in the aspect of angelic capabilities. Lucifer killed Gabriel with an archangel killing blade.

Raphael

Raphael is the younger brother of Michael and Lucifer, and the older brother of Gabriel. While manifesting on Earth, Raphael causes the Eastern Seaboard to black-out. Raphael tells Dean that he can bring him to Michael. It is uncertain as to whether Raphael is the Archangel assigned to protect the Prophet Chuck Shurley, but he finds and destroys Castiel, who is in Chuck's presence. Castiel and Dean Winchester trap Raphael in a circle of Holy Oil, but he denies knowing the whereabouts of God. Raphael later escapes the trap and gathers a following of loyal angels with the intent to restart the apocalypse.

Characteristics

Castiel described archangels as being far more powerful than Tricksters, which makes them extremely powerful and very dangerous; they have incredible powers compared to other creatures such as angels, cherubs, humans and even pagan gods.

• Archangels can incinerate a lesser angel just by touching them.

• Archangels are far more powerful than Tricksters.

• Archangels can effortlessly take down multiple supernatural creatures, such as Pagan gods at the same time.

• Archangels can manipulate/change the temperature under the Earth's atmosphere - they can alter the normal temperature pattern.

• The Colt can wound and damage an archangel. But the Colt cannot kill an archangel. This was proven in 5.10 Abandon All Hope.

• Michael and Lucifer's angelic spirit when on Earth, causes frequency disruptions.

• Archangels seem to negatively affect the entire area around them when they land.

• Archangels can create things out of thin air.

• Archangels can morph their bodies to match any human appearance.

Lucifer proved this in 5.03 Free To Be You And Me (as Jess) and again in 5.10 Abandon All Hope (as a Reaper). Gabriel proved this in 3.11 Mystery Spot (as a man) and again in 5.08 Changing Channels (as Dr. Sexy)

• Archangels can see the future.

Gabriel told Dean and Sam that when God "flipped on the lights" (made humans) that he along with his brothers, Michael, Lucifer and Raphael knew that they were the Vessels. Gabriel also told them that he skipped ahead and saw the future, stating that "it’s going to end bloody for all of us." Lucifer knew that Sam would say "yes" to him in Detroit; Lucifer was correct, Sam did assent to him in Detroit.

• Archangels can revive the deceased.

Lucifer told Sam if he ever killed himself that he would only bring him back to life. Sam also wanted Lucifer to bring his and Dean's parents back from the dead before he said yes to Lucifer. Gabriel raised Dean from the dead in 3.11 Mystery Spot. Michael raised Sam from the dead in 5.13 The Song Remains The Same.

• It appears that archangels are unaffected by time. In 5.04 The End, Lucifer tells Dean that Sam will always say "yes" in Detroit. He later confirms this in 5.22 Swan Song "...I told you...always in Detroit". Similarly, Michael has been wanting to talk with Dean for a while, but only converses with him in the past.

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.

Weaknesses

Despite archangels being all-powerful creatures, there are certain weapons that can harm an archangel.

• The Colt can penetrate through an archangel's invulnerability. It cannot kill Lucifer, however, as he is one of five beings the Colt cannot kill.
• Lot's Salt can turn an archangel’s vessel to a pile of salt.
• Holy Fire can restrain an archangel from living the circle; Holy Fire can also be used to banish an archangel for a short period of time.

• Archangels on Wikipedia