The Sling Rings were small two-finger rings imbued with the power to open and sustain dimensional portals between any two points within the universe. They are used by the Masters of the Mystic Arts, and their apprentices, to facilitate long-distance travel where a temporary portal is desired. Sling Rings are typically worn on the left hand only when conjuring a portal, and this is achieved by the wearer waving their right hand in a circular pattern while focusing on a destination beyond the space directly front of them. Most of the time they are simply carried until needed, typically somewhere on a user's belt.[5][3][6]
History
The Sling Rings were one of the most common tools used by Masters of the Mystic Arts.[5][3]
When Doctor Strange was being trained in the Mystic Arts in Kamar-Taj, he was having difficulties mastering the Sling Ring. It wasn't until the Ancient One left him atop Mount Everest that Strange finally mastered the Sling Ring.[3]
After the Avengers reversed the effects of the "Snap", Doctor Strange used his Sling Ring to travel from Titan to Earth while Wong and the other Masters of the Mystic Arts used Sling Rings to open portals from Wakanda, New Asgard, San Francisco, and multiple other locations to bring the Avengers' allies to the ruins of the New Avengers Facility to battle Thanos and his army.[6]
During a fight match at the Golden Dagger Club in Macau, Wong used his Sling Ring to defeat Abomination. After the fight, Wong used the Sling Ring to travel away from the Club with Abomination. Later, Wong used his Sling Ring to gather Shang-Chi and Katy.[7]
During a disagreement on the fates of their prisoners, Doctor Strange used the his Sling Ring to transport him and Spider-Man into the Mirror Dimension. However, Spider-Man stole his Sling Ring trapping Doctor Strange in the Mirror Dimension. Spider-Man then gave the Sling Ring to Ned Leeds for safe keeping. While trying to find Peter, Ned accidentally activated the Sling Ring using it to bring others to him, but he did not full master its use.[4]Properties
Portal Creation: A Sling Ring can open a dimensional portal between any two points within the universe.[5][3][8][6] Additionally, if someone is in the Mirror Dimension (which is possible to access by using a spell), using a Sling Ring appears to be the only way to leave it and return to Earth's plane of existence.[3][4]
Opening the portal requires wearing the Sling Ring on one hand while doing a circular motion with the other hand while picturing the destination in one's mind. According to Karl Mordo, the clearer and more detailed the mental picture, the quicker and easier the portal appears.[3] It is also possible to use the Sling Ring to open a portal to the location where someone else is, even if the wearer does not know where exactly that would be.[9]
Some people may have different levels of difficulty in learning how to use the Sling Ring in the first place. The wearer may be unable to create any portals despite performing the hand gesture, as shown when Doctor Strange was originally attempting to use it.[3] Conversely, Ned Leeds was able to successfully use a Sling Ring after few attempts.[9]
According to Ancient One and Karl Mordo when mentoring Doctor Strange, the fact that Doctor Strange's hands were uncontrollably shaking due to having nerve damage should not be a problem for the purpose of using the Sling Ring. However, it appears that attempting to rationalize how the Sling Ring works may prevent it to actually work, and the wearer should surrender to it instead.[3]
Alternate Reality Versions
Image | Description | Source |
---|---|---|
Prime Marvel Universe (Earth-616)[]The Ring of Zona was a Sling Ring and one of several mystical artifacts that Doctor Strange was able to procure from his Sanctum Sanctorum as he was fleeing the Mindless Ones. He used it to render Spider-Man invisible to the Hobgoblin so as to protect the web-slinger from the magically enhanced supervillain.[1] |
Symbiote Spider-Man: Alien Reality #1 |
Notes
- When the Sling Rings are first introduced in Doctor Strange, Karl Mordo notes that they can be used to travel through the Multiverse. However, the film's conception of the Multiverse more closely relates to the overlapping dimensions that make up a single reality, since it involves the travel between them (Earthspace, the Mirror Dimension and the Dark Dimension), as opposed to the collection of alternate realities. Further depictions of the Multiverse, like in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, encompass the traditional sense of the concept, and it is implicitly established that Sling Rings cannot be used to traverse between realities (therefore cannot actually travel through the Multiverse), since the film establishes that America Chavez's powers to conjure up portals into other realities is unique. In Deadpool & Wolverine, Cassandra Nova uses a Sling Ring to open a portal between the Void and Earth-10005, but it is retrofitted with a Time and Reality Stone embedded on its sides.
See Also
- 17 appearance(s) of Sling Ring
- 2 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Sling Ring
- 1 mention(s) of Sling Ring
- 6 image(s) of Sling Ring
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Symbiote Spider-Man: Alien Reality #1
- ↑ Marvel Duel
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 Doctor Strange
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Spider-Man: No Way Home
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Marvel's Doctor Strange Prelude #1
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Avengers: Endgame
- ↑ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- ↑ Avengers: Infinity War
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness