Captain America is one of Marvel’s greatest heroes. His super soldier enhanced physique and shield are great weapons in his fight against evil but what’s really made the difference is his intelligence. Captain America is one of the greatest leaders on the planet, a master strategist who can think on the fly with the best of them. Cap punches way above his weight class because of just how crafty and intelligent he can be.
DC‘s villains are no slouches in the brains department, many of them depending on how smart they are to win. However, even the most cunning villains would find themselves outfoxed by Cap.
10 The Joker’s Insanity Wouldn’t Daunt Cap
The Joker’s insanity hides an extremely intelligent mind. The Joker isn’t the strongest villain in Gotham and his unpredictability only takes him so far; it’s his intelligence that makes him so dangerous. He knows how to kill people and is fiendishly inventive, challenging even Batman with his simple yet labyrinthine schemes. He would definitely challenge Cap but it wouldn’t be enough.
Most non-Batman heroes don’t really know how to deal with Joker’s insanity but that’s not Cap. He’s dealt with all manner of villains over the years, so that won’t matter. On top of that, the Joker wouldn’t know how to deal with someone like Cap, as he can’t understand a completely selfless person, giving the hero an edge.
9 Cap Outclasses Deathstroke
Who would win in a fight between Captain America and Deathstroke is a very interesting question, but it pales in comparison to who would win a battle of wits. Both super soldiers are known for their ability to beat just about anybody because of their tactics, although Deathstroke also carries way more weapons than Cap. Both of them are very good at what they do but Cap has an edge.
Deathstroke’s plans are always conditional, depending on what equipment he has, who he’s up against, et cetera. He’s also rather arrogant and would definitely make the mistake of underestimating Cap in every way. That would give the Star-Spangled Avenger the advantage he’d need.
8 Blockbuster’s Criminal Wiles Wouldn’t Matter Against Cap
Blockbuster made a name for himself as the shadow ruler of Bludhaven. The crime lord is the power behind everyone and is extremely cunning. When that fails he has his massive super strength and intimidation factor to cow his enemies. Blockbuster is very smart, but Cap’s got him beat many times over.
Blockbuster is used to holding most of the cards against his enemies, something that he’s not going to have against Cap. That’s going to make a lot of difference; Cap won’t be intimidated by Blockbuster and come up with a strategy that allows him to beat the crime lord at his own game.
7 Two-Face Is Crafty But Cap Has Him Beat
Two-Face has always been one of the smartest Batman villains out there. His split life as Harvey Dent and Two-Face has caused him problems but it’s also prepared him to match his wits with the smartest heroes. In a lot of ways, Two-Face is actually smarter than Cap but his plans hinge on duality, something Cap wouldn’t find hard to get around.
Two-Face has gotten better since his early days, but his obsession with duality has always been his downfall, and Cap would figure that out rather quickly. That would give Cap all the tools he needs to outsmart Two-Face.
6 Cap Has Dealt With Fascists Like Sinestro Before
Sinestro’s fascism has spurred on his atrocities over the years, taking all of the good he did when he was a Green Lantern and throwing it away. In a straight-up fight, Sinestro would almost certainly defeat Cap, but the Star-Spangled Avenger has always been about more than just his brawn. Cap has battled fascists like Sinestro for years, which would make it easy for him to outsmart the alien.
Cap has been outsmarting fascists since WWII. He understands how their minds work and can take advantage of that mindset. Sinestro is pretty much a garden variety fascist, so Cap would easily outsmart him.
5 Bane’s Planning Skills Would Meet Their Better In Cap
Bane is one of Batman’s greatest foes. His brawn is a part of this but it’s just the window dressing. The real way Bane wins is his planning. He’s been able to beat Batman twice at his own game, which is no easy feat, and he can outthink many of Batman’s other foes. Bane is even good against foes who he knows nothing about, which has helped him in all kinds of situations. Bane and Cap make an interesting match-up.
Both of them are great tacticians, but Bane is more known for his long-term planning. Cap can think better on the fly and knows how to take advantage of his foe’s strengths and weaknesses. Bane is good but Cap is way better and he’d handily outsmart the villain.
4 Vandal Savage’s Arrogance Would Be His Undoing
Vandal Savage is one of the most dangerous immortals on the planet. He’s survived millennia, thanks in large part to his planning skills. Cap has a lot of experience but comparing his to Savage’s is like comparing a match to the sun. However, Savage’s experience hasn’t allowed him to take over the world yet and that’s why Cap is going to outfox him.
Vandal Savage is arrogant; he believes he’s some kind of apex predator when that’s not the case at all. Cap can take advantage of that rather easily. He knows how to play his opponents when he has to and Savage’s anger and arrogance would make it easy for him to do so.
3 Cap Would Throw A Wrench Into Ra’s al Ghul’s Plans
Ra’s al Ghul is known for his attempts to destroy humanity in an attempt to save the Earth. He’s been steadily gaining power and resources over the years, becoming a greater threat and one of Batman’s craftiest foes. The biggest problem with Ra’s is that his plans are actually kind of easy to beat. Ra’s is undoubtedly intelligent but his planning skills are kind of elementary, giving Cap the trump cards he needs.
Ra’s is certainly smarter than Cap but he also does things the same way every time. All of his schemes hinge on one thing. Cap would be able to see through this and use it against al Ghul, out strategizing him and teaching him that not just Batman is his superior.
2 Brainiac Would Overlook Cap To His Detriment
Brainiac is one of the most dangerous cosmic predators in the DC Universe. Brainiac is one of the most intelligent beings in the cosmos, his ship containing the sum knowledge of many vanquished civilizations. He’s an undoubtedly powerful foe but he’s not unbeatable and has been outsmarted before, which is why Cap would be able to do so as well.
Brainiac, like many evil super-geniuses, always underestimates his foes. Cap is used to enemies overlooking him and his skills, which would give him everything he needs to outsmart the Coluan conqueror.
1 Lex Luthor Is Smarter Than Cap But That Wouldn’t Make A Difference
Lex Luthor is the embodiment of greed, a man in diametric opposition to Superman. He’s one of the smartest people on the planet and has resources like few others. He takes joy in being more intelligent than his foes, which causes him to underestimate them, and never learns any lessons from that. That’s going to allow Cap to outsmart the super genius.
Lex Luthor has way more book smarts than Cap, but that’s not going to give him the advantage he thinks it does. Cap is used to tackling and outsmarting foes who are ostensibly smarter than him, so as smart as Luthor is, Cap would outfox him.
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