Here are the main differences between Vecna and the Mind Flayer and who would prevail in a Vecna vs. Mind Flayer deathmatch from Stranger Things season 4. The Mind Flayer, a former villain from Stranger Things, overran Hawkins by taking control of Billy Hargrove and compelling the town’s citizens to consume various poisons to create a miniature Upside Down army. Vecna, however, is adopting a totally other strategy that is much more cleverly evil and all-encompassing in nature in season 4 of Stranger Things. Both monsters have ties to the Upside Down, yet they differ greatly and drastically in many important ways.
The fourth season of Stranger Things is the first to be split into two instalments, with volume 2 following volume 1 on July 1, 2022. The first half of the season has established huge stakes, a global narrative, and some major twists and revelations, including Vecna being Hawkins Lab’s Number One, a.k.a. Henry Creel. In the last moments of Stranger Things season 4 volume 1, Eleven might have reclaimed her abilities, Hopper and Joyce were reunited in Russia, and Nancy, Steve, Robin, and Eddie were sent into the Upside Down. Season 4 of Stranger Things is primarily focused on Vecna and his secret plan, much like every prior season’s major antagonist was an Upside Down monstrosity.
The first three seasons of Stranger Things included a number of new monsters that the show’s young RPG fans named after creatures from Dungeons and Dragons. The major antagonist in seasons 2 and 3 was known as the Mind Flayer, which was introduced after a devastating Demogorgon was defeated in season 1. The many-legged creature can control and influence people’s thoughts in an effort to enter the human realm. Hawkins suffers irreversible harm as a result of the Mind Flayer, but Vecna is more deadlier than his predecessor. The main distinction between Vecna and the Mind Flayer from Stranger Things is as follows (and the results of that all-important Vecna vs. Mind Flayer face-off).
Vecna vs. Mind Flayer: How They’re Different
Vecna, from Stranger Things season 4, differs significantly from Mind Flayer in that she was previously a human. Vecna can reason critically and even talk, unlike the Mind Flayer (supposedly). His objectives, whatever they may be, therefore, have the potential to be far more nefarious and individual than those of a dimension-spanning monster who merely seeks to rule as many worlds as possible. In addition, Vecna is Henry Creel, a.k.a. One, a former human who Eleven already knows. This adds another another significant distinction to Vecna, the villain from Stranger Things season 4, even though his previous humanity doesn’t lessen how terrifying he is because he was already a murdering sociopath before being affected by the Upside Down.
The Mind Flayer didn’t speak directly; instead, he channelled Billy’s voice (and even then, the monster didn’t speak until later in Stranger Things season 3). Similar to how the Mind Flayer needs to physically interact with his victims in order to control them, Vecna can access people’s trauma and remotely kill them. The Mind Flayer’s simple objective of infiltrating Hawkins and gaining control wasn’t especially horrifying, while being a scary enemy in its own right (and particularly disgusting during season 3). Vecna, on the other hand, is as grotesquely ugly as he is psychologically unsettling.
Vecna vs. Mind Flayer: Who Would Win?
Although it’s difficult to say with certainty who would prevail in a Vecna vs. Mind Flayer duel in Stranger Things, Vecna appears to be the more likely candidate. Both Demogorgons, Demodogs, and Demobats from Stranger Things are formidable beings from the Upside Down, but Vecna is probably more dangerous due to his enhanced intelligence and intrinsic purpose. Similarly, he is arguably more potent than the Mind Flayer due to his remote control abilities. Vecna/One uses the trauma of human brains to wreak havoc, but since the Mind Flayer doesn’t have a human brain (and likely doesn’t experience feelings and pain), Vecna’s powers might not function on it. This would be the main drawback. He could still compete with the Consciousness Flayer in terms of accessing the Upside Down’s hive mind, though.
Does Vecna Control Mind Flayer?
Given that Vecna and the Mind Flayer are two extremely potent Upside Down foes from Stranger Things, it is interesting to speculate how they are related. Who is the more potent enemy, and does Vecna have influence over the Mind Flayer? Since the characters don’t communicate and Vecna eventually doesn’t need to manage the Mind Flayer, Stranger Things hasn’t really offered an answer to this topic. If Vecna was also commanding the Mind Flayer all along, it would be redundant and even a plot hole given that he can cause enough of harm on his own without even having to leave the Upside Down. Vecna completely destroys the minds of his victims, whereas the Mind Flayer focused more on mind control, hence their abilities and modes of action don’t truly overlap. The relationship between Vecna and the Mind Flayer may be further upon in later seasons of Stranger Things, but this has not yet been hinted at.
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