After Tony Stark was stabbed by the Mad Titan, Strange gave the Time Stone to the villain, who left Strange, Stark, Spider-Man, and the rest of the group on Titan.
With the ability to grant the reader anything they need to accomplish their goals, the Illuminati probably didn't have to endure five years of hardship in order to get old versions of the Stones. The Multiverse was introduced in Spider-Man: No Way Home and then in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Professor X, Captain Carter, Maria Rambeau, Black Bolt, Mr. Fantastic, and Doctor Strange were able to stop Thanos from wiping out half of the universe.
This came after this universe's Doctor Strange used a different plan than the one the prime Strange used inInfinity War, in which he killed half of humanity for five years. He already has the golden Gauntlet that Eitri the Dwarf made for him on Nidavellir, most likely meaning that this moment was similar to the same time in the movie. After using the six Stones to decimate half of the universe and then himself, he indicated that he was willing to eliminate all life in the entire universe before the avengers took him down.
Since the end of the movie, there have been references to his brother in Eternals or potential ties to the group in the movie. After discovering time travel, going back to get the Stones, making the Stark tech gauntlet, and bringing everyone back to life before Tony snapped his fingers and sacrificed himself to kill Thanos, it was revealed in Endgame.
Doctor Strange 2 implied that there was another way to defeat the Mad Titan that didn't require the world to go through such turmoil. It was not possible to access the Book of Vishanti in Earth-616's universe at the time of the movie, or it was only an option due to the members of the Illuminati being in Earth-838's realm.
As the shot showed the villain with his sword piercing his chest, the Illuminati defeated him on his homeworld Titan. The villain returns in a new way during Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, showing how the Grimace look-alike could have made a difference in the movie. Considering how powerful and brilliant the Illuminati's heroes are, it makes sense that they weren't involved with the battle this time around.
This would lead to Earth-616's Avengers embarking on a time steal, restoring all life throughout the universe, and reducing Thanos' army with the snap of Iron Man's gauntlet.
Regardless of the reason, seeing this new experience against Thanos adds a whole new perspective to how the MCU has evolved over the past 14 years.
Josh Brolin's character, the Mad titan, continues to make his presence felt through Phase 4 after his quest for the Infinity Stones made an everlasting mark on the entire MCU.
This came before Baron Mordo was a part of the team, which is most likely because he wasn't the Sorcerer Supreme of his universe yet. The story delivered thus far in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has not slowed down after the game-changing events of Avengers: Endgame.
Looking back at this scene, it appears that Thanos was on his way to replicating what he did in the prime MCU as he fought the Illuminati on Titan. The Time and Mind Stones would have been missing if the battle had ended before Earth-838.
In Doctor Strange's Multiverse of Madness, there was an alternate ending to the movies.
The rest of the article contains information about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
In the movies, Strange made it clear that there was only one way to defeat the villain.
What happened in the alternate futures that Doctor Strange saw in the movie?