MCU Versus

[ahill]

Any MCU scalers as of current?

If you're unsure of the above matchup, feel free to skip it and start a fresh one.

I think this as

Blonsky = mini Winter Soldier with worse discipline and more ego
Sam = peak tactical fighter with flight, speed and creativity

Round 1

No weapons but wings allowed, (no shield)

This is pretty close I'd say. With Blonsky, he has superior raw strength and striking power. Likely better durability in a straight brawl. He's a very aggressive, high-pressure style... Likes to stalk and push. Sam meanwhile, has a massive edge in mobility, 3D movement, vertical control, in and out engagements... He's also used to fighting stronger opponents by out-positioning them... The wings are basically extra limbs for shielding, slashing and ramming attacks.

If it's on the ground, in pure boxing/MMA range, with no wings, Blonsky mauls him. But that's not the fight... Sam won't stand and trade... He will likely spam aerial hit-and-run, low passes, tackle attacks, wing strikes —> knockdowns using jet-powered tackles... Using the wings to guard his torso as he darts around. Blonsky can probably catch him once or twice if Sam mistimes a landing or gets too close on low pass. If Blonsky gets both hands on Sam solidly, Sam is in deep trouble — like, a thrown into a wall or ground and pound moment could end it... But since in the MCU Sam is very good at never staying where the strong guy wants him, like how he engaged helicopters, flying enemies, and armored opponents, it's always like —> angle, disengage, re-angle, re-enter.

Over time, I think Sam chips away with full-speed collision attacks, using the environment to blindsiding Blonsky, pushing him into obstacles... Blonsky's biggest weakness is overconfidence and tunnel vision. He doesn't seem like a calm, thinking strategist in battle. He's a hunter who wants to feel superior, while Sam thrives against that kind of guy.

So, round 1 (no shield), I'd say Sam Wilson wins, close but clear edge. He likely wins by outlasting Blonsky, using wings + jetpack for repeated knockdowns... Eventually KO'ing Blonsky or immobilizing him. But call it like Sam wins ~ 6 —7 times out of 10.


In round 2, Sam has the shield. Not it got too much for Blonsky... Vibranium shield (near-indestructible, massive kinetic reflection) and its insane shield-wing synergy (as seen against Batroc and the helicopter rescue sequence) would mean Sam can block Blonsky's strongest strikes without breaking his arms, he can use the shield + wings together like layered armor, turtle up during rushes, letting Blonsky hit the shield and counter. Plus, Blonsky doesn't know when to stop going forward, so with the vibranium shield, Sam can absolutely exploit that. Plus, Sam has ranged attacks, meaning even if Blonsky tanks them, they'd disrupt his balance and timing. Combo set ups as well, like slam with shield, pivot into wing-slices, knee strikes, jet-powered tackles... Blonsky is forced into chasing, eating clip damage, getting frustrated... The shield also let's Sam stay on the ground more safely when he wants to bait Blonsky and punish him... The shield blocks Blonsky's best entries, and the wings give Sam more scape options.

So in R2, with the shield, I'd say his win rate jumps significantly, like 8—9 out of 10 in an open or semi open setting.

 

[Spiral-Force]

@ahill Any matchup you have in mind as a continuation?

 

[ahill]

Shang-Chi (Ten Rings) vs Black Panther (T’Challa)

Versions:
– Shang-Chi: End of his solo movie, MCU feats only, has the Ten Rings.
– Black Panther: T’Challa with standard Panther Habit suit (Civil War/Black Panther era).

Location: Empty city street at night, plenty of cars/buildings.
Win by: KO/TKO/incap. No ring-out/BFR wins.

Round 1: Both in civvies, no Rings, no suit. Pure hand-to-hand.
Round 2: Shang-Chi gets the Ten Rings, T’Challa has the Panther Habit. Both fight bloodlusted but in-character.

Who takes it in each round, and why?



Btw @Spiral-Force
Was my answer of the latest match up accurate? It was a cool fight to imagine, if you have any inputs on my predicted likely winner and how close it would be, it'd be nice.

 

[Spiral-Force]

I think you gave a fair answer. Interesting to read.

Shang both rounds

The director describes Shang-Chi as being (or envisions him becoming) Thor/Hulk level. In terms of the movie itself, Shang-Chi (w/ rings) came across like a quasi-Doctor Strange - having a mystical resource that gives him pseudo-weaponry creation for attack and defense-based combat, along with having use in aerial movement and large AoE maneuvers, and (like Dr Strange 1) the sense that the best is yet to come from his solo showing. Strange is often likened to Thor in overall scaling, with the big questions being how Strange's obscure techniques, traps and lingering element of surprise matchup to Thor's reactions, raw strength/speed, and lightning-based weaponry. Based on fighting characteristics, I would say Shang is possibly relative to them, just with less tricks than Strange. Being able to damage freakishly large constructs is something that you see at Hulk (+) levels, and we saw Shang doing this to a freakishly large Dragon from the Dark Dimension. At absolute minimum, I don't see him being below Iron Man, who scales past the Super Soldiers. Given that his non-ring, air-bending self stood his ground against a top rings user, I could see that style throwing T'Challa's equilibrium off, giving Shang more opportunities to land heavy blows or dense blade-like attacks.

Ragnarok Thor (Initial) vs Red Hulk

- Thor in standard clothes, w/ Mjolnir