15 Times MCU Heroes Actually Killed

8. T'Challa Killed Erik Killmonger - Black Panther

You might argue that Erik Killmonger actually chose to die himself at the end of Black Panther, rather than being forced to live his life in chains, but he wouldn't have been able to make that choice without T'Challa stabbing him.

No matter how much the pair were both motivated by what they thought was right, there was always going to have to be a loser, because the throne of Wakanda was the prize (and both were protecting their bloodlines). Plus, Killmonger was never going to stop wanting to destroy T'Challa and his family and take Wakanda as long as he was alive, so killing him was the only option.

Even after showing mercy to Zemo, T'Challa had no choice but to stab Killmonger to protect himself and though he wanted to save him, the fact that he allowed his enemy the right to die was actually an act of mercy in itself.