Archangels

Archangels are extremely powerful celestial beings that were created by God. Being imbued with unimaginable immersible power, they're made the most powerful of creations, and are immortal. They were made before the other angels, and persumably everything else in creation, being born in this order: Michael, Lucifer, Raphael and Gabriel. They are the only angels that have seen God's true face. Their true visages prove destructive and overwhelming to mortals and proven fatal in almost all instances. Most mortal vessels can't properly contain them, and because of this, they require their true, predestined vessels in order to stay within a vessel for as long as needed because other vessels will eventually decompose and degrade from the essence of an archangel. Castiel pronounces them as being fierce and absolute, but not very just. Michael and Raphael are tethered to prophets, and will intervene when a prophet is in danger and or when one tries to manipulate prophecy. All archangels possess abilities inherent in all angels but at an elevated level, and possess other, more special abilities that angels are incapable of using.

The Archangels

 * Michael - eldest archangel, and mightiest celestial. Trapped within the Lucifer's Cage; alive
 * Lucifer - the second oldest, and most beautiful celestial. Trapped inside his own Cage; alive
 * Raphael - the third oldest. Obliterated by Cas, while housing Purgatory's souls.
 * Gabriel - the youngest, and greatest messenger. Killed by Lucifer.

Characteristics
According to Castiel, they're known in Heaven as absolute, precise and wrathful creatures. Like all angels, their true forms are very intense, and have proven not only harmful but possibly fatal to humans. Their presence outside a vessel is often visualized as a blinding white light, and their arrival can cause minor tremors, as shown by Lucifer when when the Chapel shook as he escaped the Cage, and by Raphael while intervening to protect Chuck. They may also emit a piercing sound, which has proven to be excruciating to humans.During a subsequent appearance, Raphael causes the entire Eastern Sea Board to experience a black out. Shortly before his defeat, Lucifer's presence causes the temperature to drop drastically in Detroit.

It has been stated that Michael and Raphael are tethered to prophets, and Gabriel served as God's greatest messenger. As mentioned previously, Raphael seemed to be the one who monitored and protected Prophet Chuck Shurley. Before his fall, Lucifer was God's most beloved angel; he was considered beautiful, and was well respected in Heaven.

Archangels view themselves as the highest authority over all of creation since God's departure from Heaven. As leaders in Heaven, Michael and Raphael commanded the Host of Heaven, issuing orders to the "Senior Management" who were responsible for deploying angels to Earth. They did not share all their plans, especially their intention to allow Lucifer to be freed, to avoid rebellion in the lower ranks. Most of them show little respect while interacting with humans, although Gabriel eventually confesses his appreciation of humanity.

The relationships between Archangels and their vessels can be complex. Holding an archangel is damaging to a human; Raphael's vessel Donnie was left catatonic after his possession. Lucifer's continued presence in Nick, an alternate vessel, causes the human's body to breakdown, as evidenced by burn-like marks on his skin. Lucifer's vessels can be strengthened with demon blood to better survive the ordeal. Despite his contempt for humanity as a whole, Lucifer showed some sympathy toward Nick, and toward Sam, his true vessel. Michael, though condescendingly, was willing to explain his position to Dean while occupying his father, and promised not to leave Dean a "drooling mess" after his service.

Powers and Abilities
Archangels possess the powers and abilities that are inherent in other angels, which are detailed in the angels page, but have additional strengths commensurate with their rank. Their telekinesis, for example, appears to have a wider range than that of the average angel. Gabriel snaps his fingers and flames appear on two candles. Raphael can manipulate electricity. Lucifer can alter temperature.


 * Immortality - Archangels aren't underneath time, or affected by diseases, and don't need to breathe, eat, or sleep to sustain themselves. Strictly speaking, they can't be killed, but an archangel blade can kill them. Also, being their maker, God could kill them if he so chose.


 * Angelic Possession -


 * Holy White Light -


 * Invulnerability -


 * Super-strength -


 * Super-stamina -


 * Teleportation -


 * Telepathy -


 * Memory Manipulation 


 * Shapeshifting -


 * Time Manipulation -


 * Resurrection -


 * Reality Warping -


 * Overpowering -


 * Supernatural Perception/Senses -


 * Weather Manipulation -


 * Pyrokinesis -


 * Cryokinesis -


 * Electrokinesis -


 * Molecular Combustion -

"Tall Tales"
The Winchesters first encountered an Archangel back in Season 2 but never found out he was an Archangel until Season 5, They just believed it was a Trickster but it turned out to be Gabriel.

"Mystery Spot"
They Meet the same Trickster again in this episode where he plays a cruel joke on Sam by killing Dean over 100 times, but eventually they still never figure out he was an Angel/Archangel, they didn't even know they existed.

"The Monster at the End of This Book"
This episode marks the first actual contact with an Archangel, although not actually seen on screen only as a beam of light, this is the first time Sam and Dean find out about Raphael the Archangel.

"Lucifer Rising"
In this episode 2 Archangels are seen! The first is when Raphael destroys Castiel. The Second is when Lucifer is raising from the pit.

"Sympathy for the Devil"
In this episode the Archangel Lucifer finds his vessel.

"Free to Be You and Me"
This episode shows Raphael with his first physical human vessel, in which he gets caught within holy fire.

"The End"
In this episode Lucifer seems to have taken over Sam's body and is in control of the Earth and has gotten Sam to say Yes. (Alternative Future)

"Changing Channels"
This shows Dean and Sam the trickster was an Archangel all along after Sam and Dean realise the only time people get annoyed so bad is when they're talking about there own family which gives the Archangel Gabriel's disguise as the Trickster away.

"Abandon All Hope..."
Lucifer is the Archangel in this episode, and he is in Missouri getting ready for a ritual to bring back Death.

"The Song Remains the Same"
This episode marks the first time the Archangel Michael has a human vessel, he got John to say yes as he would save Mary's life.

"Point of No Return"
Michael appears in this episode but only as a beam of white light with Adam in the room with him suggesting he possessed Adam in this episode.

"Hammer of the Gods"
Gabriel resurfaces along with Lucifer, this shows the first Archangel Blade, which is used when the two brothers fight, and Lucifer ends up killing Gabriel.

"Swan Song"
Michael and Lucifer fight in this episode with Sam as Lucifer's vessel and Adam as Michaels, but Castiel uses some sort of holy fire molotov to send Michael away temporarily, Lucifer obliterates Castiel, and then kills Bobby, then intends on killing Dean, but Sam takes control of his body and opens Lucifer's Cage and pulls his self and Michael into it then it is locked.

"The Third Man"
Raphael beat Castiel and just as he was about to kill him(using what possibly could be Raphael's Archangel Blade or an Angel Blade) Balthazar came and destroyed his vessel using Lot's Salt. Raphael now has to find a new vessel.

"The French Mistake"
Shortly after the destruction of his former vessel Donnie Finnerman, Raphael creates a raging rain storm near Sioux Falls, South Dakota with his mere essence, as he seeks out a new suitable vessel to take over. After claiming his vessel, he pulls Sam and Dean from an alternate Earth and prepares to kill them and Balthazar but Castiel appears and sends him away because he now holds God's Weapons which scares the Archangel.

"The Man Who Would Be King"
Raphael, in his old vessal, appears in Castiel's flashback trying to convince Castiel to help him jump-start the Apocalypse. Castiel is brought before Raphael who is residing in Eron's CEO's heaven. When Castiel refuses, Raphael beats Castiel up and gives him an ultimatum. Castiel returns, and starts a civil war with Raphael.

"The Man Who Knew Too Much"
Crowley teams up with Raphael due to Castiel's double crossing. Raphael is going to take some of the souls but not all of them. Just as long as Castiel doesn't get them. When the perform the ritual, it doesn't work, due to Castiel giving them dog blood instead. When Castiel returns hes more powerful and kills Raphael.

Trivia

 * Eventhough it has been known that there are 7 archangels, only 4 in the Supernatural series have been stated as archangels, who are Michael, Raphael , Gabriel and Lucifer.
 * The only living archangels to date in the Supernatural series are Michael and Lucifer, as Raphael was killed by Castiel, and Gabriel was killed by Lucifer.
 * Despite beliefs, Uriel is not considered an archangel in the Supernatural series.