Wolverine is the best there is at what he does and most people underestimate exactly what he can do. He’s known for his fighting skill, claws that can cut throughout anything, and ability to survive nearly everything, but he’s also craftier and smarter than he gets credit for. Wolverine has been operating at the highest levels of the superhero and black ops communities for a long time and knows a lot more than he lets on.
DC‘s villains are a devious lot, with many of them winning their battles more because of their brains than their brawn. As good as they are their multifaceted approaches, Wolverine is more resourceful and would outsmart even the most cunning foes.
10 Gorilla Grodd Would Learn A Lesson In Hunting From Wolverine
Gorilla Grodd has a lot going for him beyond his tremendous strength and speed. He’s one of the most intelligent and crafty denizens of Gorilla City and his telepathic powers give him a head up on many opponents. He’s an animalistic predator but as good as he is at hunting, Wolverine is even better.
One would imagine that Grodd’s telepathy would be a boon in a battle of wits with Wolverine but the feral mutant is highly resistant to telepathy. At that point, it’s the two trying to hunt each other down. Both have a lot of experience on that count and Grodd is smarter in some ways. Wolverine has way more experience at the hunt, though, and his super senses give him an advantage that would let him outsmart the ape.
9 Lady Shiva Is A Better Fighter But Wolverine Has Been Doing It Longer
Lady Shiva is one of the greatest martial artists on the planet, if not the greatest. Beating her in a straight-up fight is impossible for even the most skilled fighters. She’s worked with Ra’s al Ghul and has battled against some of the smartest heroes around. Lady Shiva can be quite tricky, but Wolverine is trickier.
Wolverine has lived a lot longer than Shiva. In a brawl, she could do a lot of damage to him but he’s got way more experience at being crafty and a willingness to fight dirty if need be. It wouldn’t be easy, but Wolverine would show Shiva why he’s the best there is.
8 Scandal Savage Is Devious But She’s Nothing Wolverine Hasn’t Faced Before
Scandal Savage made a name for herself with the Secret Six. She resisted using her last name because of her father; she wanted to prove she was the best without everyone just treating her well because she’s Vandal Savage’s daughter. She’s not exactly the evilest villain out there but she is devious and will do whatever needs to be done to win. Scandal is smart but Wolverine has faced her kind before.
Scandal Savage was the Secret Six’s brains but she’s not exactly on Wolverine’s level. He’s been pulling off dirty tricks at the highest possible levels for decades. Scandal may be more intelligent in other ways but Wolverine’s gone toe-to-toe with smarter than her and won.
7 Two-Face Doesn’t Have The Experience To Handle Wolverine
Two-Face is one of Batman’s smartest villains. His experience as former district attorney Harvey Dent and his time in the underworld make him one smart cookie. Two-Face has struggled with his identity for years but he can be rather crafty when he wants to be. Wolverine isn’t exactly the most cerebral sort but he has experience and resources that Two-Face can’t beat.
Two-Face is used to dealing with someone who is going to play his game, like Batman. Wolverine is a lateral thinker and he doesn’t play games. With his super senses and years of black ops experience, Wolverine would show Two-Face that he’s smarter than he looks.
6 Prometheus Is Crafty But He’s Never Faced Anyone Like Wolverine
The Justice League has faced a coterie of foes, and Prometheus is one of the most dangerous. Taking a cue from Batman’s playbook, Prometheus learns everything he can about his targets and uses that information against them. On top of that, he can download the fighting skills of anyone directly into his brain, making him a dangerous fighter. Prometheus’s problem with Wolverine is that he knows nothing about him.
Prometheus depends on knowing everything he can about his targets. He’s not going to have that luxury with Wolverine and that’s going to give the Canadian mutant every advantage. Prometheus would still be dangerous but Wolverine would have so many ways to surprise the villain.
5 General Zod Would Win A Fight Against Wolverine But He Wouldn’t Outsmart Him
General Zod is one of Superman’s greatest foes and vastly more powerful than Wolverine. Wolverine can fight it out with the Hulk but Zod has way more weapons than the Green Goliath and would almost certainly win a battle against him. On top of that, General Zod’s background as Krypton’s greatest general means that he’s as smart as he is powerful.
Soldiers like Zod can be cunning but Wolverine’s black ops background makes him uniquely suited to take on a soldier. He spent years latching wits with people like Zod and winning. On top of that, Zod isn’t always the most stable person, which would make things a lot easier on Wolverine.
4 Captain Cold Is Cunning But Wolverine Is On A Different Level
Captain Cold is the leader of the Rogues and one of the group’s most dangerous members. He’s helped the group survive multiple scrapes with Barry Allen and Wally West, which is no easy feat, keeping the group’s clashing personalities from imploding, and making sure they all profit. Cold is tough and smart but he’s just a crook. Wolverine outclasses him.
Dealing with the Flash is not an easy task but that doesn’t mean that Cold is some kind of criminal genius. Wolverine has dealt with way worse than Cold, both as a superhero and working as a spy. Cold could possibly beat Wolverine in a fight, but a battle of wits? Wolverine gets the drop on him and wins.
3 Bane Wins By Being Smarter But That Wouldn’t Help Against Wolverine
Bane is one of Batman’s greatest villains and has even managed to outsmart the Dark Knight on two separate occasions. Bane is as intelligent as he is strong and outwitting Batman shows he’s no slouch. It took a lot to survive his childhood and he can be quite cunning when he needs to be. Wolverine isn’t perfect but he has the experience to outfox Bane.
Bane’s plans have layers to them but they’re also dependent on knowing his enemy. Against a foe he’s not familiar with, he’s still pretty devious, but Wolverine’s experience and super senses would allow him to get one over on Bane.
2 The Joker’s Insanity Wouldn’t Perplex Wolverine
The Joker’s attacks on Gotham have been devastating and a big reason for that is his insanity. He’s very hard to predict and has gotten a few over on Batman because of that. Wolverine deals regularly with someone much like the Joker – the sadist Sabretooth – so he knows how to deal with someone who is both insane and all about the killing.
The Joker isn’t all that difficult to outsmart but he’s able to keep even the smartest heroes guessing. This would give Wolverine some trouble but he knows Joker’s type. That’s going to give him what he needs to outsmart the Clown Prince of Crime.
1 Deathstroke Is Too Arrogant To Outsmart Wolverine
Deathstroke has beaten a who’s who of the DC Universe and the main reason for that is his brains. His super soldier enhancements allow him to think way faster and strategize better than anyone. This has made him one of the best mercenaries on the planet, which gives him an advantage over Wolverine in a lot of ways.
A battle of wits between Deathstroke and Wolverine would be interesting but in the end, Deathstroke would lose for one reason: he’s too arrogant. Deathstroke believes his own hype and would underestimate Wolverine, which would give the mutant the chance to outsmart him.
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