Black Widow is a tough and formidable superhero who has left many opponents in her dust. With the coordination of an Olympian, the poised and powerful movements of a trained martial artist, acrobat, and ballet dancer, and a weaponry arsenal that rivals any villain or hero, she is not an opponent to take lightly.
But all of that begs the question: how would Black Widow do against other characters who are as human as she is? Let's find out!
10 Beat: Mister Terrific
Mr. Terrific (Terry Sloane) is a master martial artist, an Olympic-level athlete and is abnormally intelligent. When up against Black Widow, whose body is resistant to injury (and can heal very quickly), he would lose. She too is an Olympic-level athlete, skilled in various martial arts (including jiu jitsu and boxing) and is extremely intelligent, so they're evenly matched in those areas. But, what edges things in favor of Black Widow is her expert tactical skills and the army of weaponry at her disposal. So, in this case, Black Widow wins.
9 Loose Against: The Punisher
The Punisher is exceptionally resourceful, equipped, and trained. He received infantry training through the U.S. Marine Corps, and special forces training by Force Reckon (special operations capable forces). The Punisher completed air, land, and sea training while working as a Marine, and has trained himself in various disciplines (such as disguise, acting, and using unconventional weapons).
He's also skilled in hand-to-hand combat and multiple martial arts disciplines (including Krav Maga, Ninjutsu, and Systema). The Punisher's pain tolerance is unusually high, and he's able to withstand multiple blows. Though Black Widow is strong, agile, highly skilled, and tough, The Punisher has more specialized training and edges her out in this case.
8 Beat: Adam Strange
Adam Strange relies on his smarts and his ability to think quickly under pressure. He's a skillful explorer and archeologist, and being an expert at studying cultures, he has been able to learn about how people in these cultures fight. He has fought a lot of alien and superhuman people, but it's clear that if Adam Strange were to face off against Black Widow, he would have met his match because Black Widow has heavy-duty combat experience and a weaponry arsenal that would overtake him.
7 Loose Against: Bucky Barnes
Bucky Barnes trained under Captain America and is skilled at hand-to-hand combat, military weapons (including hand grenades and firearms), and several martial arts.
As Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes is a master combatant, assassin and spy, and is equal in skill and ability to Captain America. He has a cybernetic prosthetic left arm which be made to look like a human arm. His costume is shock absorbent and his shield is indestructible. When pit against Black Widow, his level of skill gives Bucky Barnes the win.
6 Beat: Silver Sable
Silver Sable is a powerful character who has many skills and tools at her disposal. She is a strong hand-to-hand combatant, is proficient in various martial arts, and is an expert swordswoman, markswoman, and gymnast. She uses several distinct weapons (including a katana, a derringer, sais, and a stun gun). Although she has the latest and most interesting weapons in her arsenal, in this case, Black Widow wins because Silver Sable doesn't have the gifted intellect and the expert tactician and espionage skills that Black Widow has (in addition to a great weaponry collection of her own). But it wouldn't be a walk in the park for Black Widow.
5 Loose Against: Shang-Chi
Shang-Chi is a master of chi (life energy and flow), and it's helped him fight longer and push through physical plateaus in a way that others can't. Shang-Chi can bypass machine gun bullets and sniper shots, and his bracers can tell him when gunfire is headed his way. As a martial arts expert, Shang-Chi teaches others how to successfully use martial arts, and has practiced hand-to-hand combat and martial arts with Wolverine, Spider-Man, Domino, and Captain America. Although he has temporarily acquired superpowers before, they've never lasted and he frankly doesn't need them to be a formidable opponent. Black Widow is highly skilled, for sure, but in this case, Shang-Chi's combination of skills would give Shang-Chi the win.
4 Beat: Nightwing
Nightwing (Dick Grayson, formerly Robin to Batman) is a talented athlete and aerialist (having come from a family of circus workers). He is trained in several martial arts disciplines, and was taught criminology, stealth, fencing, disguise, and combat skills by Batman. He knows if someone is lying and he can predict his opponent's next move. After taking on the mantle of Nightwing, Dick Grayson learned many kinds of unarmed combat (including Eskrima, Kung Fu, Judo, Taekwondo, and Boxing). But Nightwing is not immune to weaponry, especially gunshots. So even with all his skills he can still be shot and injured. On the other hand, Black Widow is resistant to ageing and disease and can heal at a fast rate. So, Black Widow wins this round.
3 Loose Against: Batman
Batman has superior athletic and detective skills, and extensive scientific knowledge. He has a lot of money, and his vast wealth affords him the luxury of being able to buy whatever equipment or tools he desires. He has a master's intellect and is known as being one of the best martial artists ever. He is an expert at many fighting styles and hand-to-hand combat techniques. His money can buy any weapon that Black Widow has and his skills are more nuanced and diverse than Black Widows are. So, Batman wins.
2 Beat: Hawkeye
Hawkeye briefly had supernatural powers (when he used Pym Particles) but, generally, he doesn't have any. Hawkeye has trained himself to be in mint fighting condition, is a pro fencer, acrobat, and marksman (and was trained from childhood in the circus by Swordsman and Trickshot). He's also trained in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, and the bow and arrow is his specialty. He's a ranged weapons expert, and that's what makes him fall short. Hawkeye's bow and arrow would need to be aimed and shot from a distance, and that would limit him. With Black Widow being equal in hand-to-hand combat, weaponry, martial arts, and acrobatics, she also has more of an edge in her weaponry arsenal (long and short distance weapons) that Hawkeye doesn't seem to have. So, Black Widow wins.
1 Loose Against: Katana
Katana is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combat fighter and swordswoman, she's a martial arts expert (trained under samurai Tadashi), and like Black Widow she has incredible tactical skills. Katana's Soultaker sword snatches the soul of every person she kills with it. Katana has fought off some incredibly tough and ruthless villains, and would definitely overtake Black Widow in a fight.