Marvel’s Best Martial Artists 

Within the multiverse of the universe, which is the Marvel Universe, the concept of martial arts is more than just a means of combat or power. More than that, martial arts typically embody discipline, perseverance, and dedication. From street-level heroes to intergalactic forces, the Marvel universe has an array of characters who have honed their fighting skills to the extreme, with each bringing their unique styles and philosophies to the forefront of any encounter.

Therefore, this piece carefully examines and ranks the best martial artists in the Marvel Universe, highlighting their incredible techniques, philosophies, and iconic feats. Whether relying on sheer physical prowess or a deep understanding of combat principles, these martial masters have earned reputations as the best of the best. Below, we see the order in which they file out.

9 Mister X

The Best There Is

• First Appearance: Wolverine Volume. 2, #159
• Reality: Earth-616
• Base of Operations: The Cube Prison

A man obsessed with death even as a child, Mister X is one of Marvel’s most dangerous supervillains and one of it best martial artists. With no information on his life prior to becoming the infamous assassin, Mister X is a low-level telepath whose idea of the use of his martial arts is as a means to an end, which is death. Obsessed with killing, Mister X is a master of all known forms of combat, armed or unarmed, including every type of martial art to exist.

Not only is he obsessed with death, but his entire villain philosophy is geared toward becoming history’s greatest killing machine. Travelling the world, learning from the different masters and eventually killing them after surpassing them, Mister X was well and truly going to fulfill his wish until an encounter with the Wolverine. The encounter with the notorious X-Men member became the official starting point of his villainy within the MCU, with his most notable involvements being the Siege and his association with the Thunderbolts.

8 Cat

Shen Kuei

• First Appearance: Master of Kung Fu #38
• Reality: Earth-616
• Base of Operations: Hong Kong

Rival to Shang Chi, Shen Kuei, the Cat is on neither of the DCEU’s two spectrums of heroism or villainy. A master of espionage, Shen Kuei was a martial artist who worked as a spy for the Chinese government and then as a freelancer.

Earning his alias solely due to his martial abilities, Shen’s reputation as a martial artist puts him in the ranks of Marvel’s elite martial artists. However, he earns a low placement due to not having any notable feats outside of being a rival to Shang Chi, which in itself is quite an impressive feat.

7 Wolverine

James Logan Howlett

• First Appearance: Incredible Hulk #180
• Reality: Earth-616
• Base of Operations: N/A

Violently famous for his cruel and savage nature, the Wolverine has a rather balanced reputation for being an extremely capable superhero and a deadly killer. Born as James Howlett at the end of the 19th century to fairly well-off parents, James would take on the name “Logan” after his bestial abilities fully manifested as a child, leaving behind his family.

Living and wandering around the world like a beast, Logan’s journey as a martial artist began with his encounter with Japanese telepath and martial master, Ogun, who mentored and trained him prior to Experiment X. As one of the most iconic hero figures in the MCU, Logan’s reputation as a martial artist precedes him, as one who has mastered every form of combat known on Earth. In addition, he is also one of the best teachers in the MCU, having taught heroes like Black Widow, Rogue, Storm, Nightcrawler, and Colossus hand-to-hand combat, earning his placement.

6 Daredevil

Matthew Murdock

• First Appearance: Daredevil #1
• Reality: Earth-616
• Base of Operations: Hell’s Kitchen, New York City

The son of Jonathan Murdock, Matt Murdock’s life as Daredevil started to take shape during his childhood as a boy who became blind after saving a blind old man from an oncoming truck. While Matt’s superhuman abilities are limited to his radioactively enhanced physiology in exchange for his eyesight, he is a lot more impressive in a fight than he looks. A self-taught boxer and arguably the best student of the senior grandmaster and leader of the order of the Chaste, Stick, Matt is one of the MCU’s most complete fighters.

As a result of his combat intellect and balanced style of martial arts, which is a fusion of boxing and Ninjutsu, Taekwondo, Judo, Krav Maga, Karate, Capoeira, Silat, Aki-Jujutsu and Savate, He is regarded by his master to be at least a tenth-degree black belt in ninjutsu. In addition, he has fought most of the MCU’s martial masters to stalemates, including Wolverine, Black Panther, Iron Fist, Karnak, Taskmaster, and even Captain America, making his reputation as the ‘Man Without Fear’ very much founded.

5 Black Panther

T’Challa

• First Appearance: Fantastic Four #52
• Reality: Earth-616
• Base of Operations: Wakanda

Other than being the MCU’s most iconic necromancer, T’Challa, as the Black Panther, is also considered one of its best martial masters. Born to King T’Chaka, T’Challa’s superhero involvement begins with his encounter with the Fantastic Four, and he only keeps expanding from there. From joining the Avengers, losing the panther title, and the invasion of Wakanda to joining the Fantastic Four, the Doomwar, joining the Illuminati, and establishing the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda.

Since his birth as the heir to the throne, T’Challa has been immersed in combat training, and by the time he became king, he had mastered virtually all forms of unarmed combat. While he had no combat style preference, he is widely considered to be one the best martial artists ever, having fought people like Daredevil, Captain America, and Iron Fist to stalemates and easily defeated the Wolverine twice. With both the skills and physicality to always overwhelm his opponents, T’ Challa’s reputation as a martial master is not unwarranted.

4 Gamora

Gamora Zen Whoberi Ben Titan

• First Appearance: Strange Tales #180
• Reality: Earth-616 (Currently Displaced)
• Base of Operations: N/A

Taken in by the Mad Titan, Thanos, to become ‘the most dangerous woman in the galaxy, Gamora is the last surviving Zen-Whoberi and Thanos’ adoptive daughter. Trained to be an elite assassin by her adoptive father, Gamora’s martial prowess is rivalled by only a few in the MCU. Holding significant places on both sides as a hero and villain, Gamora’s involvement across the MCU is far from ordinary.

From her childhood with Thanos to joining the Guardians of the Galaxy to the Infinity Wars. Having knowledge of 83.4% of all fighting styles in the universe, She is regarded widely as one of the most skilled martial artists in the universe while still being one of the universe’s finest assassins. So while Gamora is not the MCU’s most accomplished hero, her level in the art of combat is duly recognized.

3 Iron Fist

Daniel Rand

• First Appearance: Marvel Premiere #15
• Reality: Earth-616
• Base of Operations: Thunder Dojo, Harlem, New York City.

The living weapon of the K’un-Lun and the heir to the business empire of Rand Corporation, Daniel Rand was the first Iron Fist and expressly considered to be among the MCU’s elite in terms of martial arts. Orphaned as a young child, Danny’s martial arts exploration was more of a necessity as one carrying the blood of the Iron Fist rather than an interest in heroism.

As a K’un-Lun master and the immortal Iron Fist, Danny’s martial arts are beyond formidable, having mastered almost if not all of Earth’s martial arts, including Ninjutsu, Muay Thai, Aikido, Kunlunquan, Judo, and Wing Chun just to mention a few. Even after relinquishing his title as the Iron Fist, his understanding and martial abilities were very much on the rise after taking in his disciple, Pei, the young monk. Even with his accomplishments as the hero: Iron Fist across the MCU, Danny’s best accomplishments are as a martial artist earning him a top placement in this piece.

2 Junzo Muto

N/A

• First Appearance: New Warriors, Vol 2, #5
• Reality: Earth-616
• Base of Operations: N/A

The Iron Fist usurper, Junzo Muto, is one of the MCU’s martial arts masters, but on the villain side of things. Not much is known of his early life other than his undoubted talent for the art of combat. Under his mentor and teacher, Hiromitsu, Juzo became one of the world’s deadliest assassins and soon surpassed his master and ultimately became the leader of the Hand, an assassination guild.

Possessing the power of absorption, Junzo is a martial arts master, surpassing Danny Rand, from whom he stole the Iron Fist. It is unclear how diverse his martial skill set is, but given how easily he defeated Danny Rand, Steel Serpent, and even Night Thrasher, it is obvious he is in the MCU‘s elite class of martial masters.

1 Shang Chi

Zheng Shang Chi

• First Appearance: Special Marvel Edition #15
• Reality: Earth-616
• Base of Operations: N/A

The MCU’s undoubted master of Kung Fu, Zheng Shang Chi, is the son of the immortal crime lord, Fu Manchu, who raised him to become the deadliest assassin ever. Shang Chi’s martial prowess and knowledge of espionage saw him become rivals with the Cat, Shen Kuei, during the time he defected from his father.

Putting aside the Ten Rings and the power it gives him, Shang Chi is considered among many to be the ultimate warrior, having trained from birth in the ninja arts and other martial arts. Also a master of the Way of the Deadly Hand, Shang Chi is also an experienced martial arts teacher, having trained Spiderman before joining the Avengers. So while Shang Chi is not Marvel’s most imposing superhero, he definitely is its most imposing martial master.