Intelligence is an progressively valuable trait to have in theDC Universe ; it could mean the difference between winner or failure , life or death . When measuring the threat level of a villain , it come down to two thing ; the level of their intelligence , and what they ’re capable of at maximal potential .

In most typesetter’s case , intelligence will keep a villain one , or even multiple steps ahead of their foe , placing them in the expert position to perform at maximal potential . DC Comics does a good caper showcasing event in which villain utilize high levels of intelligence , ultimately mail their enemies to inevitable defeat .

Joker

Although it would n’t seem like it at first , theJoker is one of the most healthy street - horizontal surface villainsthat Batman and the Justice League have ever confront . Joker has no pick but to bank on his intelligence to remain ahead of his enemies , at all times , and that alone gain him a unnerving foe .

His patience , unpredictability , and stark insanity labour him to be the scoundrel that we ’ve become so incredibly familiar with . He may not be capable of higher thought , but as he has proven again and again the chaos he is capable of result , Joker is worthy of realize it onto the list .

Riddler

Unlike the Joker , Riddler seems to have a much more thought - out method acting to his madness . While Joker tends to improvise on the fly ball , which is still impressive , Riddler has a backup plan to his backup plan ’s backup plan .

As the name suggests , he has a fondness forelaborate puzzles , traps , and you venture it , riddles , each schema show his genius - level intellect . He is constantly trying to prove his mentality to his enemies and has work with the like of Joker and the Legion of Doom to combat Batman and the Justice League .

Vandal Savage

In the simplest of terms , Vandal Savage is an immortal caveman , active for over 50,000 years . As a Isle of Man with many , many centuries of experience , he is stick to by nature have knowledge unknown to most all human beingness . However , his intelligence service is not only born , it was enhanced by the meteorite that collide with him .

His immortality and superintelligence have made him one of the most influential beings in human account , a being that has witness the rise and declension of many civilisation and has acquire the knowledge to constantly   beef up his mind .

Sinestro

As the beginner of the Yellow Lantern Corps , Sinestro has what the DC Universe would draw as an indomitable will and genius - level intelligence . Formerly known as one of the bully Green Lanterns , Sinestro use the great power of fear attunement to obtrude his own order in the universe .

Although his intelligence is more a thing of fictional character than it is a superpower , his mind admit him to reach more than any lantern in the way of complex constructs and efficient leadership . He remains to be always one step ahead of his enemies and retain a brawny memory used to tread the track to succeeder as he learns from every failure .

Reverse-Flash

It is no secret whatled Eobard Thawne into becoming a speedster , and furthermore what becoming a speedster does to your judgment . Thawne was reasoning to begin with , but upon becoming a speedster , well , strong-arm speed was not the only thing he clear .

Thawne has a deep level of understanding of the speed force , and is constantly excogitate raw ways to enhance his powers ; being that he is from the future , his cognition of scientific discipline and technology is well beyond that of the present . The hurrying of his mind has reached incredible rate and is ostensibly limitless .

Doctor Sivana

Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana is a super genius , who has reached such a level of intelligence that he successfully utilizes both magic and skill together , primarily against Shazam , and the Marvel Family . Before he begin studying Black Adam and the mystical humanistic discipline , he swear intemperately on science and math .

However , due to misfortune and the idea that science has go bad him and his family , he turn to magic and quickly check how to handle it to his reward . Now , using the power of scientific discipline and the power invested in him by Mister Mind , he vows to do whatever he must to take down Shazam .

Ozymandias

There are two name that Adrian Veidt goes by , one of them being Ozymandias , and the other literally being The Smartest valet in the World . It was revealed in 2018 that this military man might just be the overarching antagonist of the DC Multiverse .

His sprightliness ’s commission is peace , by kill one thousand thousand of people and forcing them to adopt his means of cerebration ( Thanos would fuck this guy cable ) . He has conk out on to progress an entire criminal empire , all while rain buckets in tons of imagination and power , and implementing every troy ounce of his intelligence and tactical abilities into the success of his ultimate plan .

Darkseid

Darkseid , also known as the God of Tyranny , has build an total empire and seeks only to enslave all things accord to his will through the exercise of the Anti - Life Equation . Darkseid find cosmic knowledge and almost limitless experience upon inhibit countless worlds throughout the universe .

As one of the most powerful enemy of the Justice League , and one of the most dangerous organism in the intact DC Universe , nothing is more powerful than his mind at work . In other word , imagine going up against a God , invincible and powerful in nature . Now reckon die up against that same God , except this time he ’s got one of the most innovative minds in the multiverse . The truest definition of overpowered .

Lex Luthor

Lex Luthor could easily be the most reasoning man in cosmos . As a successfulbusinessman and an even more brilliant scientist , Luthor never went against an opponent that he did n’t scientifically understand . intelligence service is what facilitate his power , to the item where his applied science help him survive struggle with an literal immortal .

He is also the leader of the Legion of Doom , which holds province for some of the most diabolical criminal schemes that the Justice League has ever present . As of late , Luthor has been learn how to rein the power of the multiverse itself .

Brainiac

Lex Luthor may be the military personnel with the highest intellect on Earth , but even his brain stands no luck against the likes of Brainiac . There are only no beings across the entire DC Multiverse that can come nigh to the mental capability of Brainiac .

A being that is compare to that of a supercomputer , he has managed to study and gather up all life history in the universe . His abilities seem unlimited , and his mind can march and store gargantuan amounts of information at unimaginable swiftness . All other life in the universe is regard substandard , and he intends to keep it that way .

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Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

Custom image of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman

Spider-Man Noir

Smart DC Villains Featured

The Joker DC Comics New 52

Riddler holding his cane in the comics

Vandal Savage and The Light Young Justice

Sinestro in costume on the cover of Sinestro Corps. Special

Reverse-Flash revealing himself as The Judge in The Flash Annual

Doctor Sivana standing menacingly in Shazam!

An old Ozymandias in Watchmen

Darkseid on his throne with fire behind him

Lex Luthor stands over Metropolis

Brainiac aboard his ship in Justice League