Nightwing is one of the greatest heroes in the DC Universe. He's been fighting crime since before puberty, has led powerful superteams, and even subbed in for Batman. Much like his vaunted mentor, Nightwing punches way above his weight class and has taken out all kinds of villains who should have had his number. Nightwing's the best of the best and even superpowered heroes look up to him.

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The villains of the Marvel Universe can be a dangerous lot. While there are some who would definitely defeat Nightwing, there are plenty of other tough villains who he would be able to take down.

10 Grim Reaper Would Fall To Nightwing's Acrobatic Onslaught

Vision Wonder Man Grim Reaper

Grim Reaper has been battling the Avengers a long time. The brother of Wonder Man, Grim Reaper's main weapon is a powerful scythe that lets him fire energy blasts. Beyond being resurrected a lot, that's pretty much the only thing he's got, which means that he isn't out of Nightwing's league.

Nightwing's fighting style revolves around movement. He's not going to stay still and let Grim Reaper get a bead on him. He'll move around, outmaneuvering and outthinking the villain. When he finally gets in close, it wouldn't be very hard for Nightwing to take him down. He's a much better fighter and the scythe is a rather unwieldy weapon that Nightwing could easily avoid.

9 Crossbones Is Just A Glorified Thug To Nightwing

Crossbones fires automatic guns in Marvel Comics

Crossbones is the head henchman to Red Skull and his daughter Sin. A skilled fighter who is an expert with multiple weapons, he's a rather tough opponent, but when it comes right down to it, he's really just a glorified thug to Nightwing. It wouldn't be an easy fight because Crossbones has proven to be a match for Cap but Nightwing would take it.

Nightwing has all the tools to take down Crossbones. He's faster and a better fighter, which is going to make a lot of difference. His acrobatic style is going to flummox Crossbones, who's not the brainiest person on his best day, and that would be all she wrote for Crossbones.

8 Kingpin Is Strong But Nightwing Has Taken Down Stronger

Kingpin Being Viewed Through A Black And White Security Camera

Kingpin is a threat on multiple levels. He can bring a rather frightening amount of firepower and mercenaries down on anyone in his way. He's a physical threat like few others crime bosses, a strong, skilled, and surprisingly fast combatant. While he's certainly formidable, Nightwing has taken down worse.

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Nightwing beats Blockbuster, a crime boss with super strength and durability, on a regular basis. While Kingpin isn't going to be easy to beat, Nightwing has beaten bigger than him. As good a fighter Wilson Fisk is, Nightwing is better. It would be a hard fight, but Nightwing would win.

7 Baron Zemo's Skill Wouldn't Be Enough Against Nightwing

Baron Zemo

Baron Zemo is known for being an evil mastermind, but that's not all there is to him. He's great in a fight and has fought some skilled heroes to a standstill. He's proficient with multiple weapons and is a challenge to anyone he faces. A battle between him and Nightwing would be a cat and mouse affair, with Zemo leading the vigilante on a merry chase.

Zemo's all about getting an advantage over his foes and capitalizing on it. Nightwing has fought that kind of villain a lot over the years; he's the type of person to spring a trap to draw out whoever he's after. He'll draw Zemo out and his greater combat skills will save the day.

6 Even With Minions, Red Skull Would Lose To Nightwing

Red Skull With Cosmic Cube Marvel Comics

Red Skull is in the atrocity business but Nightwing would put a stop to it. Red Skull is a master planner and a ruthless killer. He's battled Cap many times and his clone bodies are at the height of human perfection. He always surrounds himself with many minions, which will make things difficult for the former Robin. None of that is going to save him against Nightwing, though.

Red Skull is tough but Nightwing is used to dealing with his sort. He'd wade through whatever minions Red Skull threw at him before confronting the Nazi mastermind. The two would have an epic battle but it's not one that Red Skull would win.

5 Bullseye Would Test Nightwing Almost To Breaking

Bullseye as a member of the Thunderbolts in Marvel Comics

Bullseye is one of the deadliest assassins on the planet. Anything in his hands can be a deadly weapon and on top of that, he's great in a fight. There's no doubt a battle between the two would be a brutal affair; they're pretty even in a lot of skills but Bullseye's uncanny aim and adamantium-enhanced bones give him an advantage.

Nightwing has battled back from bigger disadvantages before, though. Bullseye is as tough as they come but in the end, Nightwing would pull out the win. Bullseye likes to play with his food and that's a problem against Nightwing. He's going to crank it into overdrive and fight with all he has, getting the win.

4 Lady Deathstrike And Nightwing Would Have A Bloody Battle

Lady Deathstrike ambushed opponent

Lady Deathstrike is one of Wolverine's toughest villains, a cybernetic ninja with a grudge. A battle between her and Nightwing would be an interesting affair. Both are well-trained fighters and have their own advantages, with Deathstrike's cybernetics giving her a strength and reach advantage while Nightwing would have a mobility advantage.

A battle between the two would be a bloody affair, one that challenged them both in new ways. Nightwing's experience would win the day, as he's overcome villains who were stronger than him more than once over the years.

3 Kraven Would Find Himself Prey Against Nightwing

Kraven Black Symbiote Suit Grave

Kraven has been testing Spider-Man for years, trying to prove that he was the Wall-Crawler's superior. Kraven has been able to beat Spider-Man, which is no easy feat. He's another foe who is Nightwing's superior in a lot of ways. That doesn't mean he's going to win, though. Nightwing may be at a disadvantage but he's not beaten.

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Nightwing knows how to fight from the shadows, striking and fading away. That's going to be the key to beating Kraven, coming at him from multiple angles and disappearing before he can retaliate. This strategy would give Nightwing the win.

2 Nightwing Would Get An Improbable Win Over Doctor Octopus

Marvel Comics Doctor Octopus Artwork

Doctor Octopus is one of Spider-Man's oldest enemies. On paper, this fight looks like one that Nightwing loses. Doc Ock has all of the advantages, as his arms are stronger, he has better reach, and is a devious genius. However, he has one big weakness and that's himself. Doc Ock isn't some buff supervillain but a human scientist. Get past his arms and he's easy to beat.

This is where Nightwing's ingenuity would come in. Figuring out a way to win on the fly is a specialty of Dick Grayson's. Ock would give him a great fight but Nightwing would figure out a way to win because that's just what he does. He'll target Ock himself, using his escrima sticks as a projectile, and take him down.

1 Sabretooth Would Underestimate Nightwing And That Would Be His Downfall

Sabretooth Ravencroft feature

Sabretooth is a sadistic villain who enjoys making his foes suffer. Between his claws and fangs, healing factor, strength, agility, and skill, he's a tough villain who can dish out and take a lot of punishment. He's fought all kinds of heroes and is known for being quite arrogant, which would be his downfall against Nightwing. He'd think the young hero was a pushover, and that would give Nightwing the advantage.

Nightwing isn't stupid, so he's not going to fight the kind of fight Sabretooth wants to. He'll keep moving, hitting Sabretooth when he least expects. While the healing factor makes Sabretooth hard to hurt, enough hard shots to the head and he still goes down.

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