The heroes and villains of the cinematic DC Extended Universe are frequently compared against each other in terms of raw strength or enhanced power levels. This makes sense, given the incredibly powerful characters that fans have seen on the big screen since the launch of the shared universe in 2013, with Man of Steel.
Of course, a characters' offensive capabilities aren't always their strongest attributes, and a few have managed to make a name for themselves due to their advanced defensive abilities as well.
10 Martian Manhunter's Shape-Shifting Allows Him To Defend Himself By Hiding In Plain Sight
General Swanwick's character first appeared in Man of Steel before he took a background role in the DCEU's development. It was finally revealed in 2020's Zack Snyder's Justice League that Swanwick was actually the League's future member known as the Martian Manhunter.
J'onn J'onzz had used his defensive ability to shapeshift to not only protect himself from humanity but to also infiltrate the American government's highest levels. He's also incredibly powerful and could defend himself in other ways, though the ability to blend in and hide ironically makes him stand out from the rest of the DCEU.
9 Starro The Conqueror Can Just Take Control Of Almost Any Threat He Encounters
James Gunn's 2021 hit The Suicide Squad introduced an alien threat who holds the distinction of being the first monster the comic version of the Justice League of America faced when they first formed in 1960.
Starro is a large alien starfish that is capable of releasing smaller versions of itself that can take control of other living creatures. While its physical body is large and somewhat slow, Starro's ability to turn any attacking force into its own powerful army makes it one of the most defensive creatures in the DCEU.
8 Batman Wears Armored Suits & Equips Himself With Gadgets For Every Possible Scenario
Bruce Wayne may have trained his body to the peak of human physical excellence, though he is forced to still enhance himself with protective body armor and a number of powerful gadgets and weapons so that Batman can deal with some of the more powerful threats faced by the Justice League.
His armored Batsuit is designed to withstand impacts from both bullets and superpowered beings, and he uses his stealth training along with smoke bombs and other gadgets to defensively operate in the darkness when dealing with his enemies.
7 Cyborg's Onboard Sensors & Automated Systems Keep Him Well Defended At All Times
Victor Stone's character first appeared in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice before he made his debut as Cyborg in 2017's Justice League. Stone was bonded with an Apokoliptian Mother Box which merged his body with powerful cybernetic components that included offensive weapons like plasma cannons and rocket launchers.
Cyborg also has an onboard computer system and enhanced sensors that are constantly scanning the area for danger. He can even scan his opponent's body temperature and heart rate to determine if they are a threat, which can potentially prepare his body to defend itself with shields or other measures before Victor is even aware of the danger.
6 Lex Luthor Is Able To Manipulate Others To Protect Himself Using Intimidation & Blackmail
There are a few human villains like Lex Luthor who are aware of their weaker physicality when compared to powerful aliens like Superman. This fact drove Luthor to find other ways to give himself an edge when dealing with the Man of Steel.
He manipulated worldwide events to both better his company and to also gain information about both Batman and Superman, which he could use to goad them into battle and take each other out. He held Kal-El's human mother captive in order to gain control of Superman, and he later used his resources to bring the DCEU's deadliest assassin, Deathstroke, on his defense team.
5 Wonder Woman Was Trained By The Best Amazon Warriors To Be Both Offensive & Defensive
Diana Prince quickly became one of the DCEU's premiere heroes after her debut in Dawn of Justice teased her origins in 2017's Wonder Woman. Diana was trained by the Amazons' fiercest warriors to become their most powerful, and she learned not only battle techniques but also strategies.
Wonder Woman has incredible strength, which she coupled with multiple defensive techniques, enchanted bracelets, and her Amazonian shield to keep her safe on the battlefield before she was able to use her powers to fight offensively.
4 King Shark Has A Nearly Indestructible Skin That Allows Him To Shrug Off Most Attacks
Nanaue made his cinematic live-action debut in The Suicide Squad as the loveable but deadly King Shark, a villain with a taste for human flesh who also has a youthful curiosity that endeared him to his squadmates and the fans.
King Shark is not only incredibly strong and has the ferocious bite of a Great White Shark, but he's also got a nearly impenetrable skin that allows him to deal with almost anything entire armies or other superpowered characters can dish out.
3 Steppenwolf Is Powerful, Well-Trained & Covered In A Spiky Battle Armor That Protects Him
For a powerful character like Steppenwolf who commands Apokolips' invading armies, his offensive capabilities and incredible strength are usually the main things heroes like the Justice League have to deal with in battle.
However, Steppenwolf's battle armor in Zack Snyder's Justice League provided an extra layer of defense that made him even more unstoppable. His armor contained free-moving spikes that made short work of projectiles or weaponry and protected him from all but the most powerful attacks, making him an effective weapon for Darkseid.
2 The Flash Is So Fast He Can Avoid Or Just Go Back In Time To Keep Himself & Others Safe
Barry Allen's first displayed his incredible super-speed in Dawn of Justice before joining the team in Justice League, though it wasn't until Zack Snyder's Justice League that the full limits of his powers were on display. As The Flash, his speed allows him to not just run faster but move faster than his enemies, meaning his reaction time is greatly increased.
He can avoid almost any hit or attack that comes his way, and even if he failed, he could just run back through time and try again. The Flash's speed is one of the most efficient defensive powers in the DCEU, though it can also be used quite offensively when needed.
1 Superman's Powerful Kryptonian Abilities Prove That Sometimes The Best Defense Is A Good Offense
Man of Steel kicked off the DCEU with an introduction to Superman, the powerful Kryptonian whose multitude of alien powers made him the heaviest hitter in the Justice League. Super-strength, super-speed, and heat vision are just a few of his incredible abilities that can be used offensively to take out most threats.
However, it's his incredible durability that makes him a defensive force as well, as his bulletproof skin makes him a perfect shield for civilians and his teammates alike. Superman's so incredibly strong that he is barely fazed when taking a hit from Steppenwolf's powerful ax in Zack Snyder's Justice League.