The people of Ta Lo use Dragon Scale armor and weaponry in Ta Lo, an ancient mythological village that exists on a different plane of reality than the mainstream MCU. Similar to Wakanda’s use of vibranium, the people of Ta Lo defend themselves with armor and weapons made of Dragon Scales, an extremely powerful and durable material with otherworldly properties. Both vibranium and Dragon Scales are among the strongest materials in the MCU, but which is stronger?
The people of Ta Lo were gifted Dragon Scales by the Great Protector, a gigantic and benevolent dragon who lives in the lake near the village of Ta Lo. Forging the scales into armor and shields, as well as weapons like staffs and arrows. Vibranium has been part of the MCU for a much longer time, starting with Captain America’s shield, a nearly-indestructible vibranium disc that Steve Rogers uses throughout the Infinity Saga. In Black Panther, the full capabilities of vibranium are shown in a vast array of weapons, armor, and non-combat uses. Black Panther himself wears a flexible suit of vibranium with sharp claws and the ability to absorb and disperse kinetic energy.
During the battle between the people of Ta Lo and The Ten Rings, Dragon Scale armor and weapons were put to use against one of the most dangerous organizations in the MCU. Late in the battle, The Ten Rings and Ta Lo were forced to work together when the Dweller-in-Darkness and his Soul Eaters attacked both sides. Despite their advanced weaponry, The Ten Rings soldiers couldn’t defend themselves against the Soul Eaters without using the Ta Lo Dragon Scale weapons. Meanwhile, The Mandarin, aka Xu Wenwu, used his mysterious rings to gradually destroy a massive Dragon Scale gate. What the ending of Shang-Chi proves is that vibranium seems to be the stronger material, but Dragon Scale can repel magic in ways that even vibranium can’t.
Vibranium came to Earth via a meteor, indicating that the material is alien in origin. Vibranium is easily one of the most durable materials in the MCU and has the added ability to absorb vibrations and kinetic energy, making it invaluable as the basis of offensive and defensive devices. It does, however, have its weaknesses. Vibranium seems to be vulnerable to some magic and other alien materials, such as the weapons used by Thanos and the Black Order. Captain America’s shield was notably shattered by repeated blows from Thanos’ sword, which might have been made of Uru. Similarly, Vision was made of vibranium, yet was stabbed by Corvus Glaive's polearm, which might have also been an Uru weapon.
Dragon Scales are mystical in origin, coming from the Great Protector, a native of Ta Lo’s dimension. Against mystical threats, like the Soul Eater, Dragon Scale weapons were the only effective means to defeat them, as even the advanced armaments of The Ten Rings did not affect them. Similar to vibranium, Dragon Scales were not invincible. The Mandarin’s rings, which are strongly implied to also be of alien origin, successfully broke a thick Dragon Scale gate with repeated strikes.
In a direct comparison of strength, vibranium appears to be more durable than Dragon Scales, yet both materials seem to be vulnerable to the other’s origins. Vibranium inventions are nearly indestructible, but other alien materials (and potentially the mystical Uru) can potentially destroy them, albeit with difficulty. Dragon Scales’ full capabilities were briefly explored in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, but the material can be used against mystical opponents, which even Black Panther’s vibranium may be ineffective against.
