Archangels

Archangels are extremely powerful celestial beings that were created by God. Being imbued with unimaginable and unmeasurable power, they are four of the most powerful beings in creation, and are immortal. They were created 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 all angels, which are detailed in the angels page, but have increased strengths and powers commensurate with their rank.


 * Immortality - Archangels aren't underneath time, they dont age, or get affected by diseases, and don't need to breathe, eat, or sleep to sustain themselves. Strictly speaking, they're nearly indestructible, however an archangel blade can kill Raphael or Gabriel.


 * Angelic Possession - By God's law, archangels require vessels to manifest physically on Earth. Unlike average angels, archangels are terribly particularity on their host, without which the random vessel will rapidly deteriorate.


 * Holy White Light - Being imbued with holy pure white light, they can generate intense burning energy through their hands and body, capable of destroying almost anything.


 * Invulnerability - Archangels are nigh-indestructible, and can only be killed by an Archangel blade or Death's Scythe, or either by God or Death.


 * Super-strength - Archangels are insanely strong, being one of the strongest beings ever created.


 * Super-stamina - Archangels are completely self-sufficient, and require absolutely nothing to maintain strength. Also unlike other celestial beings, their power doesn't come from Heaven. Archangels aren't subjected to the Angel-Banishing Sigil, however Enochian can hide people from them.


 * Telekinesis - Archangels can move and control people and objects with their mind. Being refined in this power, archangels have greater power and range in this power than other beings.


 * Teleportation - Archangels can teleport themselves anywhere in the entire universe, they also have great speed and agility.


 * Telepathy - Archangels can hear, read and feel the thoughts and emotions of beings.


 * Precognition - Archangels can see into the future, however not always the full picture.


 * Memory Manipulation  - Archangels can erase and restore memories of people.


 * Shapeshifting - Even without a vessel, archangels can change form, as Lucifer did using Sarah's form. Once in a vessel, archangels can reshape/morph into anyone they want.


 * Time Manipulation - Archangels can travel and send themselves, or others backwards or forwards through time.


 * Resurrection - Archangels can revive the deceased without strain.


 * Reality Warping - Archangels can create things out of the air ex. illusions, fantasy, portals, beings, change reality, etc.


 * Overpowering - Having great dexterity, Archangels can easily overpower basically anything seraphs, humans, angels, pagan gods, demons, monsters, etc.


 * Supernatural Perception/Senses - They can perceive beings and things naturally invisible, such as Reapers, and even Horsemen.


 * Weather Manipulation - Their mere presence can drastically alter the Earth's weather and surroundings.


 * Pyrokinesis - Archangels can manipulate or generate fire. With it, they can incinerate almost anything.


 * Cryokinesis - Archangels can manipulate or generate ice.


 * Hydrokinesis - Archangels can manipulate or generate water, being able to cause profuse raging rainstorms.


 * Electrokinesis - Archangels can manipulate or generate electricity, to such an intensity of causing blackouts.


 * Terrakinesis - Archangels, whether inside a vessel or not, can cause full-fledged earthquakes.


 * Aerokinesis - With just their presence, archangels can generate strong air-currents.


 * Molecular Combustion - Archangels can speed up the molecular rate of any organism, including an angel's vessel, resulting in the destruction of both the angel and the vessel.

Weaknesses
In spite of them being extremely powerful, archangels possess a few weaknesses.


 * Archangel Blade: Such a blade that can slay an archangel, such as Gabriel or Raphael. However it's vague if it would actually work against Michael and Lucifer.
 * God:
 * Death:
 * Death's Scythe: This weapon can kill any archangel without fail.
 * Holy Oil:
 * Lucifer's Cage:

"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.

"Lucifer Rising"
In this episode 2 Archangels are "seen"! The first is when Raphael destroys Castiel, and 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.

"Hello, Cruel World"
Although still in the cage, Lucifer appears to Sam as a hallucination. When Sam tries to snap out of it, Lucifer tells Sam that the world he has been in for the last year is not real and Sam is still in the cage. A new form of torture which Lucifer prides himself on as being his best yet.

Trivia

 * Even though 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.