The latest superhero addition to the MCU is Shang-Chi, and boy is he everyone’s new favorite. The two things that truly stood out for me concerning the character were his impeccable combat skills, quick thinking while fighting his opponents, and the emotional depth that he channeled to elevate his skills in martial arts.
Now that he is part of the “circus,” as Bruce mentions it in the post-credit scenes, there is a good chance he’ll join forces with the new era of heroes to defeat the next big Thanos-like supervillain.
This got me thinking about how strong Shang-Chi is compared to the new and old Marvel characters and how many of them he could defeat if there were a fight between them.
Basically, what Marvel heroes/characters can Shang-Chi beat?
1. Can Shang-Chi Beat Daredevil?
Shang-Chi can defeat Daredevil in a battle without the rings since he’s trained by and hence is one of the best martial artists in the universe. Although Daredevil is impeccable as a fighter, he isn’t as skilled as Shang-Chi.
Without The Rings
Shang-Chi can hands down outclass and defeat Daredevil for two simple reasons:
- Shang-Chi is an assassin trained by one of the best martial artists in the MCU, the Mandarin (his father). On the other hand, Daredevil’s teacher was an impeccable fighter too, but compared to the Mandarin, absolutely not.
- Shang-Chi has a lineage of magic and mysticism, as we saw in the film. His mother from Ta Lo was able to defeat his father even when he had the rings on. That just goes on to show how powerful she was. Sure, she left the magic behind in the universe of Ta Lo and then had Shang-Chi, but martial arts can never truly be left behind.
Daredevil does hypersensitivity as his superpower, but Shang-Chi can still manage to beat him, even if Daredevil was not blind.
2. Can Shang-Chi Beat The Hulk?
Shang-Chi can beat the Hulk in a fight without the rings because Hulk lacks the skills. Despite his fantastic endurance, Hulk can only fight for so long, and hence Shang-Chi can defeat the Hulk provided he uses his stamina wisely.
Without The Rings
Between Shang-Chi and Hulk, the battle would be intense and long drawn due to the two characters’ endurance, but in the end, Shang-Chi would beat the Hulk in a duel.
When you think about the Hulk, you know he doesn’t die easily, if at all. In fact, even wielding the infinity stones couldn’t kill him and merely fractures his arm. However, hulk isn’t a skilled fighter. After all, even Iron Man almost beat him using the Hulkbuster in Age of Ultron.
Shang-Chi and Hulk’s duel would be long and require a lot of stamina on Shang-Chi’s end.
But considering his ability to think fast, agility, and expertise in martial arts, he can find a way to defeat the Hulk but not kill him (Not that I want him to. I love how far Dr. Banner has evolved.)
Even the director of Shang-Chi said in an interview with the Collider that Shang-Chi might stand on the same level as Hulk and Thor.
3. Can Shang-Chi Beat Iron Fist?
Shang-Chi can beat Iron Fist without using the Ten Rings because his skill levels rank much higher than Iron Fist in the comics and the MCU. Iron Fist does have superpowers, but Shang-Chi can easily evade those due to his mastery of martial arts.
Without The Rings
Shang-Chi and Iron Fist are both martial artists, and if they go toe-to-toe with each other, Shang-Chi will come out on top.
In the MCU and the TV series of Iron Fist, many comic book elements aren’t present, just like many MCU characters. However, when we compare the film and the show, it is pretty evident that Shang-Chi can whoop anyone’s ass like a piece of cake. However, with Iron Fist, it’s always been an uphill struggle.
Even in the comics, Shang-Chi can find his inner Chi to harness its power and thus becomes one of the best martial artists in the entire comic universe, if not the best. So in a showdown between Shang-Chi and Iron Fist, Shang-Chi can easily defeat Iron Fist.
4. Can Shang-Chi Beat Spiderman?
Shang-Chi can beat Spiderman without the Ten Rings because he’s much more experienced in combat than Spiderman. Shang-Chi is a trained assassin who can kill at will, but Spiderman can’t.
Without The Rings
Shang-Chi’s combat skills supersede that of Spiderman’s any day. Even with the Iron Spider Armor, Peter is no match for Shang-Chi’s martial arts.
I know we all love Peter and can’t wait to see him face-off with all the villains coming his way in No Way Home, but we know he’s still a kid who has got a long way to go.
Think of it this way. Whether in the comics or the MCU, Spiderman is a character associated with protection and defense and not with killing, assassination, and ruthless fighting skills.
The last three things you just read are all Shang-Chi. At best, Spiderman can evade Shang-Chi’s attack and protect himself against him, but he can’t defeat the martial artist.
5. Can Shang-Chi Beat Captain America?
Shang-Chi can beat Captain America only with the Ten Rings, and without them, their battle would end in a tie. Captain America’s experience against the best worst supervillains enables him to stand his ground against Shang-Chi, who isn’t as experienced a fighter. Shang-Chi would need Ten Rings’ powers such as energy blasts and enhanced combat skills to take down Captain America.
Without The Rings
If Captain America and Shang-Chi get into combat, it’d be a tie between the two of them. Captain America’s experience in fights is impeccable. The supersoldier and his shield have been on more adventures than Shang-Chi in the MCU. While Shang-Chi’s strengths include martial arts, Captain America’s is experience. He’s fought Loki, Red Skull, Thanos, Iron Man, Winter Soldier, and even if he was defeated, he held his ground to fight another day.
So with someone like Shang-Chi, how shall I say this “He could do this all day.”
Here’s why I think it will end in a tie or draw. It’s like Shang-Chi’s biggest strength is his offense, whereas Steve’s biggest strength is his defense. So pardon me for a DC reference, but “This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.”
With The Rings
Shang-Chi with the Ten Rings can easily defeat Steve Rogers, aka Captain America. Enhanced combat skills and projectiles would be enough to take down Captain America if he Shang-Chi wants to. In fact, those are the two most basic powers in a series of cool things that the Ten Rings can do. So the result of their duel can only end in one way, with Steve’s defeat.
6. Can Shang-Chi Beat Wolverine?
Shang-Chi cannot beat Wolverine without the ring due to his regenerative abilities and relentlessness to pursue his opponents. Their battle would end in a tie. But, Shang-Chi can beat Wolverine using the Ten Rings in a duel by wearing him down, but he can’t kill Wolverine.
Without The Rings
Once again, a battle between Shang-Chi and Wolverine will end up in a tie or draw. Wolverine is pretty similar to Captain America when it comes to endurance and standing the test of time. He’s fought the best of the best to come out victorious, and that includes some of the best martial artists in The Wolverine.
A fight between the two will mainly end up in a tie because Wolverine’s tissue regeneration ability will prevent Shang-Chi from killing him. Wolverine will be as relentless as always to put an end to Shang-Chi, who is so good with evasion. Also, let’s not forget he managed to stay alive even after his father attacked him with the Ten Rings.
With The Rings
Wolverine might be unkillable, but it’ll be relatively easy to immobilize him as Magneto did in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Energy blasts and projectiles will come in handy to defeat Wolverine in a sparring session where the two don’t have to kill each other necessarily. So Shang-Chi could beat Wolverine with the Ten Rings.
7. Can Shang-Chi Beat Deadpool?
Shang-Chi cannot beat Deadpool in a fight without using the rings because Deadpool is a better version of Wolverine. He has regenerative abilities, sharp aim, impeccable experience with combat, and more. Their duel would end in a tie. But, with the power of Ten Rings, Shang-Chi can cut Deadpool into pieces and win the fight for the day, but he can’t kill him.
Without The Rings
Shang-Chi, without the Ten Rings, cannot be defeat Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool. Deadpool, whom we all have fallen in love with thanks to Ryan Reynolds, has superpowers that include sharp aim, regenerative abilities, and more. He is a better version of Wolverine and managed to survive a blast that he himself caused.
Deadpool is as terrific with swords as he is with guns or even bare hands. You see, he believes in maximum effort.
With The Rings
Shang-Chi, empowered by the Ten Rings, can do everything Deadpool can and much more. So he would easily beat Deadpool, the ruthless anti-hero, in a face-off without breaking a sweat.
Like Wolverine, even Deadpool is unkillable, but defeating him would rather be simple. All Shang-Chi has to do is knock him out or tear his body in half as Juggernaut did. The energy whip the Ten Rings form could accomplish the latter, and Shang-Chi would then defeat Deadpool.
8. Can Shang-Chi Beat Black Panther?
Shang-Chi cannot beat Black Panther without the rings. Black Panther is an experienced fighter whose Vibranium suit can absorb kinetic energy to release blasts. Shang-Chi would have to use his enhanced martial arts power from the Ten Rings to take Black Panther down.
Without The Rings
This would be yet another neck-to-neck match between the two, but Black Panther can defeat Shang-Chi since he’s more experienced even without his suit than Shang-Chi.
T’Challa, too, has come from a lineage of great warriors, but what sets him apart is his experience fighting bad guys. He could do it with M’Bakku, his cousin Killmonger and went toe-to-toe with Captain America. He had the ability to stop him if not defeating him and would have if Black Widow had not attacked him all of a sudden.
So if the two get into a classic street fight or even in a ring, T’Challa, aka Black Panther, could easily take down Shang-Chi.
With The Rings
Since the competition was already pretty close without the rings, Shang-Chi can beat Black Panther in a fight with the Ten Rings.
However, this time he wouldn’t exactly be able to use the energy blasts because Black Panther’s suit can absorb all the kinetic energy and blast it off to take down his enemies. Moreover, his suit is made of Vibranium, so penetrating it would be difficult.
In this case, Shang-Chi would have to leverage his enhanced martial art skills to bring down the prince of Wakanda. He can use the Ten Rings as makeshift steps, defending himself and deflecting anything that comes at him.
So, in this case, it is Shang-Chi who will come out victorious.
9. Can Shang-Chi Beat Thanos?
Shang-Chi cannot beat Thanos in a 1-on-1 battle with or without the rings. Thanos without the infinity gauntlet is more experienced and formidable against Shang-Chi. With the infinity gauntlet and the infinity stones he controls the entire universe which is a much bigger power than the power of the Ten Rings.
I know the list was for Marvel heroes, but this one is a special entry because Google Searches, and hence you guys demanded it.
With/Without The Rings
In this case, Shang-Chi can’t defeat Thanos with/without the power of Ten Rings simply because Thanos without the gauntlet is still a better fighter than Shang-Chi because he’s a survivor and way more mature than Shang-Chi.
With the infinity gauntlet, Thanos essentially controls all aspects of the universe, and that is something Shang-Chi and the power of Ten Rings can’t match.
In the comics, Shang-Chi, along with other Avengers, has defeated the Mad Titan, but then in a 1v1 situation, Thanos would defeat with Shang-Chi without any hassle.
That is the list, guys! Now that I’ve completed the list, I think I’ll be rewatching Shang-Chi, and you can too. Until next time.
10. About Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten rings is an upcoming American superhero film directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. It is based on the Marvel Comics character Shang-Chi.
Cast members include Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, and Ronny Chieng.
When Shang-Chi is drawn into the clandestine Ten Rings organization, he is forced to confront the past he thought he left behind. Set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie will be a part of its ongoing Phase Four.
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