Shang-Chi vs Iron Fist: Who Would Win and Why?
As far as Marvel‘s martial artists are concerned, you’ll hardly find two bigger names than Shang-Chi and Iron Fist. The two have even trained together and they are undoubtedly among the best martial artists in the history of comic books. Both are also very similar in their skills, but who is stronger between the two? Who would win in a fight between Shang-Chi and Iron Fist?
Despite their similarities, we think that Shang-Chi has managed to surpass Iron Fist’s abilities and that he would win in a direct clash between these two characters, which is also corroborated by the comics.
Speaking of Shang-Chi vs Iron Fist, there’s still a lot to be said. Throughout the rest of this article, we will look at their powers and abilities in more detail and see how the fight between Shang-Chi and Iron Fist would play out.
Shang-Chi Vs. Iron Fist: Comparing Their Powers
This section will contain a comparison of the two characters’ powers. It won’t be a direct comparison as much as a listing of their powers abilities, which is going to serve as a basis for our analysis in the next section of the article.
Shang-Chi and His Powers
Shang-Chi is an expert in Chinese martial arts and possesses a high skill in hand-to-hand combat, even if he is not at the level of Iron Fist. His physical abilities are at the pinnacle of human perfection and he is defined by some as one of the greatest bare-handed fighters and kung-fu experts alive.
Much of his physical abilities seem to come from his mastery of chi (æ°£), which often allows him to overcome the physical limitations of a normal athlete. His reflexes are so developed that he can even dodge bullets from machine guns and sniper rifles, as well as deflect pistol shots with his bracelets.
He is also well versed in espionage, by virtue of the time spent working with MI6. He can sense the presence of an individual only by sensing his chi. Later, he will learn the power of Kitty Pryde’s intangibility and develop a technique that will allow him to turn his opponents into stone.
Furthermore, he can hit his opponent in so-called “pressure points” that allow him to paralyze, or even kill them.
Shang-Chi is also highly trained in the arts of concentration and meditation and is an expert in the use of sidearms such as swords, kali sticks, nunchaku, sai, and shuriken. Among other things, Tony Stark gave him bracelets that allowed him to better channel his chi, thus increasing his strength.
Iron Fist and His Powers
Iron Fist is likewise among the best fighters in the Marvel Universe. He has been taught in advanced martial arts by one of the best teachers Marvel had to offer – Lei Kung the Thunderer.
As one of his most gifted students, Danny Rand quickly learned the secrets of the chi and the Iron Fist technique. He later operated as a superhero and he was immensely successful.
The powers of the Iron Fist can greatly increase his stamina, and although the Iron Fist is not a superpower per se, it can elevate his strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, reflexes, and senses to a level that is almost comparable to superhuman levels.
Along with that, he is also a skilled acrobat, gymnast, and a master of all of K’un-Lun’s martial arts, as well as various regular martial arts styles, including but not limited to Shaolin Kung Fu, Aikido, Fujian White Crane, Judo, Karate, Muay Thai, Ninjutsu, Wushu, and Wing Chun.
He can likewise focus his chi inward to heal himself or outward to heal others of injury, as well as to give himself psychic senses and to telepathically fuse his consciousness with another person.
Finally, since both are Marvel characters, we can consult their official numbers, as per the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z (2010):
| Shang-Chi | Iron Fist | |
| Intelligence | 3/7 | 3/7 |
| Strength | 2/7 | 2/7 |
| Speed | 2/7 | 2/7 |
| Durability | 2/7 | 3/7 |
| Energy Projection | 1/7 | 3/7 |
| Fighting Skills | 7/7 | 6/7 |
Shang-Chi and Iron Fist have usually been presented as complete equals in terms of power and technique. Still, the numbers reveal that there is a difference between them and that is going to be reflected in our last section.
Shang-Chi Vs. Iron Fist: Who Would Win?
And now for the most important and interesting section of our article – the analysis. Here, we are going to use what we have found out about these two characters and analyze how all these facts would (or would not) help them in a fight against each other.
The history between these two characters goes a long way, since both have been regarded as being the best martial artists of their time. Shang-Chi comes from China and has had direct Oriental influences shape him, while Iron Fist comes from the West. Still, both of them have brought their skills to absolute perfection, becoming the best martial artists one could find.
They have clashed several times, with most fights ending in a draw, but Iron Fist has admitted himself that Shang-Chi is the better fighter of the two.
Iron Fist does seem to have more energy projection skills of the two, but when their fighting skills are concerned, Shang-Chi is the superior one and even Iron Fist has admitted that on several occasions; once, even Black Panther confirms that Shang-Chi is on a completely different level.
This is why we can conclude that Shang-Chi would be the winner in this duel, despite their comic book encounters usually ending in a draw.
Are Shang-Chi and Iron Fist Friends?
Despite training and clashing during the course of their common histories, Shang-Chi and Iron Fist are actually friends in the comics. They have a strong mutual respect for each other and they have trained, and have even teamed up together on several occasions to fight crime. They usually clashed when one of them ended up being corrupted or if their teams had different goals, but their friendship was never in danger.
