The idea of a hypothetical battle between Batman versus Captain America has left many comic-book fans excited but most of them usually end up scratching their heads, unable to pick the winner of this epic confrontation. Both Bruce Wayne and Steve Rogers have a lot to throw at each other - from raw strength and advanced technology to powerful weapons and unparalleled intelligence.
One thing is certain - both have something that the other can never have - and therein lies their advantage. Here are 5 reasons why Batman would defeat Captain America and 5 reasons why Steve would beat the Dark Knight.
10 Batman Has Technological Superiority
The Caped Crusader is in possession of the type of technology, which would make Steve Rogers' jaw drop if he saw it back in the 1940s. Useful utility belt gadgets, powerful devices and destructive machines that ensure an advantage on the ground and in the air are all at Bruce Wayne's disposal. Through those, Batman can attack Rogers not just via brute strength but also through disorientating agents, diversion tactics and carefully placed traps. Captain America who certainly didn't have as much time to explore cutting-edge technological advancements will be caught off guard at least to some degree by any of those Batman inventions.
9 Batman Can Rely On Unlimited Resources
After the first round of a fight with Captain America, Batman can easily retreat to his Batcave and using his resources that are worth 9.2-billion dollars he can repair his suit, tools and devices and come back that same day to continue the battle. A logical argument in favor of Steve Rogers would be that he can just give Tony Stark or Nick Fury a call and do the same. As far as Cap is concerned that would be an unfair advantage - he didn't build his shield, suit or body.
And if he is to stand alone versus the Bat of Gotham, Captain America will have to resume the fight in the same condition he was in, when it stopped. Cap shouldn't forget that while he was making a name for himself on distant battlefields, Batman was building the world's most high-tech arsenal and he did it all on his own.
8 Batman Has Superior Intelligence
Despite the enhanced intellect the super soldier serum provided Captain America with, Batman's IQ is undoubtedly higher - he is more educated and the world's greatest detective. Furthermore, the proof is in the pudding - Cap can't build advanced weaponry or sustain a business empire the way Bruce does.
On the day of the confrontation, Bruce will come up with fresh strategies and adapt to the twists and turns of the fight faster. He might also appear with a special substance that can neutralize the effects of Cap's serum. After all, it is highly likely that the modern world's smartest billionaire will be able to crack the secret to a 70-year-old liquid.
7 Batman Is More Skilled
Bruce is in possession of a wide range of skills. It is not just about forms of martial art - he has thoroughly mastered 127 of them, which is about 120 more than Captain America has. This means that regardless of Cap's strength, Bruce will know the right counter-attack for each one of his strikes.
Batman has also acquired virtually every single degree on planet Earth so regardless of the environment and circumstances in which this epic duel will take place, Batman will be better acquainted with the situation's advantages and disadvantages.
6 Batman Is Capable Of Compromise
The Dark Knight is morally fallible, especially when compared to Steve Rogers. In both movies and comics, Bruce has broken his code and has resorted to means that can hardly be described as heroic, when pushed to the very edge. This likely means that if Captain America puts him in a tight spot, Batman will go for alternatives such as ranged attacks, running away from a battle that he is losing, special poisonous compounds and other methods, which Steve would never deem worthy of respect. Regardless of how bad it might look, Bruce's looser morals give him an edge.
5 Captain America Is Faster and Stronger
Batman is said to have reached the peak of human physical abilities through self-taught means. Captain America, however, has had a super-serum injected into his blood. Regardless of how many push-ups he's ever done, it is absolutely certain that he has reached that maximum limit and its only fair to assume that he gets the advantage in that regard.
So before Bruce engages Mr. Rogers in any kind of a fight he needs to ask himself what is the point of knowing one hundred more martial arts techniques if your punches are slower and weaker? When a superpowered strike goes Bruce's way, a bigger brain can't save him unless he invents a gadget that makes him faster and stronger. Until then, Steve has the upper hand in close combat.
4 Captain America's Shield is Nearly Indestructible
The Dark Knight can bombard Captain America with all kinds of technological terrors but that still won't change the fact that Steve Rogers is in possession of the ultimate tool - an almost indestructible shield.
That means that he can throw it and hurt Batman or his gadgets and vehicles from a large distance and then quickly retrieve it to protect himself from whatever The Caped Crusader throws at him. Cap's shield has been broken in certain Marvel stories, the most recent incident being in Avengers: Endgame but in that case, it was Thanos who was responsible and Batman doesn't have the Mad Titan's power.
3 Captain America Never Gives Up
While Steve Rogers has certainly experienced moments of self-doubt like the instance at the end of Captain America: Civil War when he abandons his shield, he has never ever stopped fighting. That is not the case with Mr. Wayne who has undergone far greater personal trauma. Batman's motivations originate from an extremely gloomy place - the death of his parents and the willingness to repay the evil of Gotham's criminals in kind. Captain America is neither evil nor are his inspirations in any way unpure.
Batman has given up. For example, after The Joker killed the woman he loved and forced him to become a monster in the public's perception in The Dark Knight, Christian Bale's Batman gave up until many years later he was convinced to return in The Dark Knight Rises. So, solely based on their previous adventures, it is highly possible that when the chips are down and the battle is at its most excruciating and the only weapon the two fighters will have left is their own determination and spiritual resilience. In the scenario, Batman will crack first.
2 Batman's Rule
One of the most ironic differences between the two characters is the fact that the darker character of Batman has a popular (occasionally breakable) rule to not kill, whereas Captain America doesn't. Bruce will have a significant disadvantage in a fight against Steve if he adheres to that code. It means that the Dark Knight will be more selective and limited with his strikes, whereas in a fair fight, Captain America (despite his remorseful nature) won't mind taking the head off the Caped Crusader.
Bruce will certainly be forced to forget his rule if this fight is to happen - there is no way he comes out on top if he is being merciful to a physically superior foe.
1 Batman is More Physically Vulnerable
Both superheroes are capable of enhanced regeneration and healing but just like in the strength and speed argument, it is only natural to assume that Captain America gets the advantage due to the artificial source of his powers.
If Batman gets wounded in a fight against Steve Rogers, his injuries will likely incapacitate him in a more decisive manner. Even if he does escape, it would remain unclear if human technology can restore him to one-hundred percent. Furthermore, Batman has been susceptible to injury and has died in many more of his comic book stories than Captain America has.