why is apocalypse not omega level?

in every single medium apoc is always set up as THE big bad among all mutants..... yet he's not classified as omega level. why is this?

I think his actual mutant abilities aren't at Omega level, but his intelligence/Celestial tech makes him a big bad.

Immortality is his thing; he's one of the Externals.

That matters much more than all these "Omega" labels which have become pretty meaningless.

Originally posted by StiltmanFTW
Immortality is his thing; he's one of the Externals.

That matters much more than all these "Omega" labels which have become pretty meaningless.

Also Omega is just a classification regarding the upper potential of a power set. Plenty of mutants (especially nowadays) are "omega" but usually show very little of that potential.

Apocalypse is kind of hampered because Marvel is never consistent about what his core mutant powers actually are.

Originally posted by DarkSaint85
I think his actual mutant abilities aren't at Omega level, but his intelligence/Celestial tech makes him a big bad.

Apoc is a major threat because of his Celestial enhancements -- not necessarily because of his inherent Mutant abilities(which is the only way one can achieve "Omega-level" Mutie status.)

Originally posted by Galan007
This. 👆

Apoc is a major threat because of his Celestial enhancements -- not necessarily because of his inherent Mutant abilities(which is the only way one can achieve "Omega-level" Mutie status.)

He used the tech to amp his powers up. So.... semantics, really, but I don't think he could have done it without his tech.

We'll never know for sure, as his appearances in his original body and before upgrades of any kind (which would include the natural progression of his mutant gifts) are very, very few.

what actually are apocalypse's natural mutant abilities without any celestial upgrades at all?

Apocalyptic