Archangels

"Archangels are fierce, they're absolute, they're Heaven's most terrifying weapon."

- Castiel to Dean about 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 existence. They were created before the other angels, and presumably 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 have proven fatal in some 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. 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 lesser angels are incapable of using.

The Archangels

 * Michael - eldest archangel, and mightiest celestial. Trapped within Lucifer's Cage; alive
 * Lucifer - the second oldest, and most beautiful celestial. Trapped inside his Cage; alive
 * Raphael - the third oldest. Obliterated by Castiel, 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 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
As a type of angel, archangels possess the powers and abilities that are inherent in all angels, but at an elevated length, but have increased strengths and powers commensurate with their rank.

By being imbued with unmeasurable, unimaginable power, they are four of the most powerful beings in all of creation. They are held in high esteem by angels, being looked upon as "fierce" and "absolute".


 * Immortality - Archangels aren't underneath time, they don't 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 and Gabriel (and probably Lucifer).
 * Angelic Possession - By God's law, archangels require vessels to manifest physically on Earth. Unlike average angels, archangels are terribly particular about their vessel, without their 'true' vessel, their body will rapidly deteriorate.
 * Holy White Light - Being imbued with holy pure white light, they can generate intense burning energy through their vessels' hands, capable of destroying almost anything. This power can also be controlled as Raphael could choose who or what was affected by his and how much it hurt them (if he chose not to kill with it).
 * Invulnerability - Archangels are nigh-indestructible, and can only be killed by an Archangel blade or by God (and possibly Death).
 * Super-strength - Archangels are insanely strong, being some 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 with this 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 other 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, and/or others, backwards or forwards through time.
 * Resurrection - Archangels can revive the deceased (including dead Angels) without strain.
 * Reality Warping - Archangels can create things out of thin air ex. illusions, fantasy, portals, beings etc. They can change reality.
 * Overpowering - Having great dexterity, archangels can easily overpower basically anything; 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, capable of causing profuse, raging rainstorms and generating air-currents.
 * Pyrokinesis - Archangels can manipulate or generate fire. With it, they can incinerate almost anything.
 * Cryokinesis - Archangels can manipulate or generate ice.
 * 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.
 * 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 can slay an archangel, such as Gabriel.
 * Death's Scythe: This weapon can kill regular Angels and may be able to kill an Archangel as well.
 * Holy Oil: A type of restraint, the fire traps any Archangel, and leaving the raging circle would kill both the vessel and the angel. Michael can't be killed by it.
 * Lucifer's Cage: Of God's own design, this place is sturdy enough to hold any archangel.

"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. They eventually defeat the Trickster, but still never figure out he was an Angel/Archangel.

"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"
The Trickster traps Sam and Dean in a TV-fantasy land, and tells them they have to accept their roles as Lucifer and Michael respectively. When Sam and Dean demand to know why the Trickster is so interested in the Apocalypse and then ask if he's working for Lucifer or Michael, the Trickster insists he's not working for either side. Further goading about the Michael and Lucifer provokes an uncharacteristic burst of anger from the Trickster. Sam and Dean deduce that the only reason why the Trickster would react this way would be if they were insulting his family. Furthermore, when they witness the Trickster easily defeat Castiel, they come to the conclusion that the Trickster is in fact an angel. They trap the Trickster in a ring of Holy Fire. Defeated, the Trickster reveals his identity as the Archangel Gabriel.

Gabriel explains he left Heaven because he was tired of seeing his brothers fight amongst themselves. He says he doesn't care which side wins as long as the fighting stops. He also doesn't believe the Apocalypse can be averted, and explains to Sam and Dean that they are more like Lucifer and Michael than they realize in their own relationship. Eventually, the Winchesters let him go.

"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 Micheal's, 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 vessel, 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 they perform the ritual, it doesn't work, due to Castiel giving them dog blood instead. When Castiel returns he has absorbed all the souls in Purgatory and uses his newly found power to destroy Raphael.

Season 7
Technically, no Archangel has physically appeared, however hallucinations of Lucifer appear via the torment of Sam's soul.

"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.

"Repo Man"
Although purely fictitious, thus meaning Cage-bound, Lucifer appears again as a hallucination.

"The Born-Again Identity"
Lucifer appears again as one of Sam's hallucinations. When Castiel draws Sam's hallucinations into himself to cure Sam, he too sees Lucifer who greets him as "brother."

Trivia

 * Even though in some religions there are 7 archangels, only 4 in the Supernatural series have been stated as archangels, they are Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Lucifer.
 * Despite some beliefs, Uriel is not considered an archangel in the Supernatural series.
 * Archangels were literally the most difficult, dangerous and indestructible (as the only thing that can kill them, is an Archangel blade, respectively) villains of the entire series followed by the Leviathans.
 * 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.