Let’s face it—when cosmic gods and superpowered titans are everywhere, it takes a special kind of fighter to make a name for themselves based purely on skill. And in the Marvel Universe, there’s no shortage of lethal, disciplined, battle-hardened warriors who don’t need fancy gadgets or mutant genes to win a fight. These are the martial artists who rely on raw training, technique, and sheer willpower to go toe-to-toe with the best. From street-level vigilantes to galaxy-class assassins, here’s a list of Marvel’s top ten hand-to-hand combatants—the ones who’ve made martial arts their real superpower.
10. Taskmaster
Just think about having the ability to copy anyone’s style after seeing them perform once. That’s Taskmaster’s entire shtick. With his photographic reflexes, he’s acquired the muscle memory of a hundred superheroes—literally. Captain America’s shield tossing, Black Widow’s acrobatics, Spider-Man’s gymnastics—you name it, he’s copied itHe may not have created any of these styles, but when he combines them all, what he ends up with is a practically unstoppable fighting machine. Consider him Marvel’s definitive martial arts mixtape.
9. Elektra
Gracious, lethal, and frequently morally ambiguous, Elektra Natchios is so much more than Daredevil’s occasional partner. Choled in many arts and tempered by the Hand’s brutal techniques, she combines poise with raw deadliness. Whether armed with her trademark sai or battling you unarmed, Elektra’s fighting prowess has commanded respect—and fear—across the Marvel universe. She’s as much a tactician as a brawler, making her twice as deadly.
8. Lin Lie (Iron Fist)
Assuming the Iron Fist mantle isn’t an easy job, but Lin Lie is showing he’s up to it. Once Swordmaster, Lin combines weapon mastery with spiritual and physical acumen that comes with Iron Fist status. Though still developing in the role previously occupied by Danny Rand, his untapped potential and fast growth make him a force to be reckoned with among Marvel’s top fighters.
7. Black Panther (T’Challa)
T’Challa’s not only Wakanda’s monarch—he’s one of the most technically gifted martial artists on the planet. His extensive training, heightened senses, and genius-level intellect render him almost invincible in combat. Whether he’s channeling vibranium armor or simply his bare hands, Black Panther can go toe to toe with just about anyone—including some of Marvel’s deadliest heroes and villains. He doesn’t merely fight with strength—he fights with purpose and precision.
6. Daredevil (Matt Murdock)
Don’t be misled by the red outfit or blindness—Matt Murdock is a close-quarters behemoth. With Stick’s training and a history in boxing, jiu-jitsu, and other martial arts, Daredevil excels in gritty, up-close combat. His heightened senses render him nearly impossible to catch off guard, and his fearlessness tends to tip the scales in his favor. Whether he’s duking it out with ninjas or super-soldiers, Matt’s intensity and adaptability are unparalleled.
5. Wolverine (Logan)
Everyone pictures Wolverine as claws-and-healing-factor dude, but Logan’s martial arts lineage goes deep. More than a century under the tutelage of masters from all over the world—and even some Japanese ones—he’s learned every form of combat known to humankind. His fight skills are so sophisticated that he’s trained other superheroes to fight. Put his feral nature and strategic brain into the mix, and he’s not just a rough-and-tumble fighter—he’s a martial arts beast.
4. Gamora
If Thanos makes you an assassin, you’re not merely good—you’re frightening. Gamora, sometimes referred to as the galaxy’s deadliest woman, is aware of more combat skills than there are soldiers in most combined armies. She’s an elite fighter who can trade blows with both Earth’s strongest and the cosmos’ strangest. Whether she uses a sword or fights naked, Gamora fights on a level most fighters don’t even get to access.
3. DannyRand (IronFist)
The original Iron Fist is not merely good—he’s mystical good. The entire identity of Danny Rand is based on martial arts excellence, and his capacity to tap into the power of chi to deliver the legendary Iron Fist strike makes him a rare commodity. His training in the secret city of K’un-Lun makes him a living weapon who is equal parts spiritual and physical in combat. Even without the glow of chi, his hand-to-hand skills are elite, even with him leading Marvel’s best fighters most of the time.
2. Shen Kuei (The Cat)
He isn’t perhaps as mainstream as some others on this list, but Shen Kuei is one of Marvel’s most technically proficient martial artists—period. The Cat is a master spymaster and fighter who can hold their own against Shang-Chi himself. And while many rivals are discounted by being deemed not quite good enough, he’s generally held to be as good as the Master of Kung Fu himself. Unobtrusive, methodical, and lethal, Shen Kuei is the sort of fighter who wins because he doesn’t make any errors at all.
1. Shang-Chi
No shock there—Shang-Chi is at the top for a reason. The “Master of Kung Fu,” Shang-Chi, has spent his life mastering every type of martial art he could get his hands on. His reflexes, balance, and skill are unbeatable, and his record for battling entire armies on his own has become the stuff of legend. Whether he’s training other heroes, leading teams, or taking on cosmic-level threats with just his fists, Shang-Chi proves time and time again why he’s the best there is.
And that wraps it up—ten fighters who prove that sometimes, skill beats superpowers. From street brawls to cosmic throwdowns, these martial artists have carved their place in Marvel’s legacy by mastering their craft and fighting with everything they’ve got. Disagree with the ranking? Favorite we left out? That’s what arguments are for—just don’t offer to engage any of these people in a sparring contest. You won’t be leaving the same way you entered.