Shang-Chi has gone from obscure comics hero to multimillion-dollar cash cow for Marvel. Actor Simu Liu, Director Destin Daniel Cretton, and writers Dave Callahan and Andrew Lanham have stripped away the racist and outdated origins of the character, creating a new icon for the MCU going forward into Phase 4 and beyond.
A master of many weapons, Shang-Chi has used almost every item known to man to defeat his opponents. From knives and daggers to sticks and stones, the real question is: which of those weapons is the best one?
8 Milestone Media Almost Gave Him Guns
Famed creators of Static, Hardware, Icon, and Rocket, Milestone Media almost had the right to make their own comic based on the martial arts master. As covered in-depth on this very site, Brian Cronin, Dwayne McDuffie and the legendary crew at Milestone were in talks about reenvisioning Shang-Chi as a Master of Gun Fu, à la the films of an action director, Jon Woo. While this pitch never took off, it could have easily changed the aesthetic of the character for years to come considering how successful Milestone works had been.
7 The Rare Use Of A Three Sectioned Staff
During the recent Enter the Phoenix storyline, Shang-Chi was temporarily a host to the monster during a tournament to see who was truly worthy to harness its power. This battle – first with Hyperion and then Captain America – showcased the hero using a lesser-seen martial arts weapon. The three-section-staff (or sanjiegun) is a classic Chinese martial arts weapon that rarely gets played with in most action media, much less superhero comics. While not his most iconic weapon, it's good to see Shang-Chi prove his mastery of any and all methods of attack.
6 Escrima Sticks Were A Staple Of His Arsenal
Escrima sticks are a classic martial arts weapon employed by everyone from Daredevil to Nightwing. Not very fancy (they're practically two short sticks), they're effective in the right hands. Shang-Chi has always prioritized a non-lethal approach where possible, and these two wooden staves exemplify that. However, they don't rank too high as they're by no means iconic to his repertoire and are often left out when other methods are available. Despite that, they show how much of a threat Shang-Chi can be, even when his options are limited.
5 Both He And His Enemies Made It Rain Shuriken
Shuriken are an inescapable trope in martial arts fiction. When melee combat is the focus, ninjas aren't far behind with their overplayed and well-known throwing stars. Shang-Chi has often been both the thrower and the recipient of these razor-edged blades, which doesn't bode well for a man usually dressed in light cloth. As cool as they are, they're such an overused weapon that it's hard to rate them higher than what might be Shang-Chi's most well-known weapon following the release of his film.
4 His Bō Staff Is Now Iconic
Ironically, Shang-Chi's use of his bō staff is few and far between. Despite that, thanks to his live-action debut in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, it's likely the one more casual fans attribute to him.
His most iconic use of the weapon in the comics is his battle with fellow martial arts master, the Cat. It's an epic brawl that runs the gambit of each opponent's arsenal until only one is left standing.
3 Nunchaku Harkened Back To Bruce Lee
It's no secret that Shang-Chi owes a great deal to the legendary Bruce Lee. From his look to his moves, the entire reason the martial arts master exists is because of the '70s Kung Fu craze the late great superstar was at the forefront of. While wielding his nunchaku, Shang-Chi shows how deep his roots with Bruce go as he darts around the battle using high-pitched screams that mimic the iconic master and creator of Jeet Kune Do. The Marvel master continues a legacy of Bruce Lee-inspired heroes across all media and fiction.
2 Shang-Chi Stole Stark Tech
In a recent issue of Shang-Chi by Gene Luen Yang, Dike Ruan, and Triona Farrell, the Master of Kung Fu yanks an Iron Man gauntlet during a battle with the armored avenger. Iron Man complements the skills of the hero and remarks that "he'd forgotten how good he was."
While the fight is cut short, it's clear that Shang-Chi doesn't stop his training with the use of basic martial weapons. If Iron Man thinks he's good with the glove, there's no one to argue with.
1 His Body Is His Greatest Weapon
Although this entry might constitute a cop-out, there isn't a greater weapon Shang-Chi wields. His body is a fine-tuned instrument by both himself and his father, and few (if any) Marvel heroes can match the feats it's capable of. Being able to battle the Thing with his bare hands or take constant beatings from the minions of his nemesis, Zheng Zu, there doesn't seem to be a limit to the otherworldly abilities his training and practice have graced him with. When all else is lost, he's never truly disarmed.