The 10 Smartest Legends of Tomorrow Characters, Ranked
The Arrowverse has a wide range of likable heroes and dangerous villains who have all contributed to its ongoing narrative in unique ways. The most intelligent of characters though bring something different to the table; with such a sci-fi-led set of plots, it's easy to see why Legends Of Tomorrow needs some of the smartest characters in the DC Universe.
Of course, how clever someone is isn't always defined by their IQ alone. It might be a different type of knowledge that they hold thanks to a wide range of experiences or emotional intelligence that no one can quite measure up to. Regardless of why they are smart, these characters are some of the brightest minds in all of time and space.
10 Nate Heywood
Nate Heywood is perhaps the most traditionally trained of the group. As a respected historian, Nate brings a different set of abilities to the Waverider. He's a talented researcher and has a great mind for holding a wide array of useful knowledge. This is vital for a time-traveling team.
This is great for understanding changes in the timeline and also in being able to blend into different eras. Nate may not have the most common sense and has made some stupid decisions, but his many story arcs indicate a clever mind when it comes to understanding textbooks.
9 Nora Darhk
Nora Darhk is an especially skilled sorceress. While she had fought on the side of darkness for quite some time, this was because of the severe manipulation from her father. Yet she was clever enough to outwit him on numerous occasions and joined the Waverider as a valuable member.
Tactical abilities aside, she has a great mind for picking up knowledge quickly. As a fast learner and a strong magic wielder, she has some of the deepest knowledge when it comes to the dark arts and a variety of other mystical skills needed to heal or fight with.
8 John Constantine
John Constantine is one step ahead of Nora when it comes to wielding a wide range of magic. He has the most experience as well and is powerful enough to dimension hop, take on terrifying demons and even escape hell alive somehow.
Of course, John Constantine is a veteran of the mystic arts and as such, has picked up a great deal of knowledge over his years. In fact, the Arrowverse portrayal of the character might actually be smarter than some of the other on-screen iterations of the comic book character.
7 Rip Hunter
Rip Hunter is the man behind the creation of the Time Bureau. He successfully put together the Legends themselves, has operated the Waverider for many years, and is comfortable in both the role of leadership and in the fields of battle as a master tactician.
His stock would be a lot more if he hadn't eventually betrayed the team and tried to go on a very different path to what he set out on. He understands the timeline like no one else can though, which gives him a distinct edge. It's a shame the show dropped his story.
6 Ava Sharpe
Ava Sharpe took over from Rip Hunter, has been a leader on the Waverider and of the Time Bureau, and has perhaps demonstrated a wider range of skills than her previous boss. As a clone, a dark secret was hidden from her for a long time.
Her genetic engineering means that her brain operates at a level that few others can. She struggles with emotional intelligence, but surprisingly this is something that Sara Lance has managed to help her develop as their romance has blossomed.
5 Jefferson Jackson
Jefferson Jackson or 'Jax', as he has become known, is one of the most intelligent members of the team. He was the Waverider mechanic for a long time, even after Martin Stein passed away taking the Firestorm powers with him. The team couldn't function without Jackson.
He has a really great understanding of technology, whether it's from Earth or alien and futuristic in origin. He eventually leaves the team to pursue other ventures, but in terms of the performance, and both the technological and emotional support he gave to the team, he was irreplaceable.
4 Zari Tomaz
Sadly, the team did need to find a new mechanic, which ended up being Zari Tomaz. A hero from the future, Zari had a good level of knowledge when it came to both futuristic tech and the mechanical know-how of the past. She really could do it all.
She had a genius-level intellect that few others could match and was perhaps one of the strongest additions to the team in recent years. Her Earth-Prime doppelgänger doesn't quite share original Zari's intelligence though, although she is a social media guru.
3 Martin Stein
Martin Stein is one of the most traditionally intelligent players in the Legends when it comes to scientific knowledge. He has a Ph.D., has written multiple books, is a lecturer and an inventor. He once spent time advising Team Flash on their time travel, speedster, and multiverse problems.
He is one half of Firestorm acting as a mentor to Jax who is clearly picking up some of the wisdom of Stein. He was a real loss to the team when he sacrificed himself but could be considered one of the smartest characters in the whole Arrowverse.
2 Ray Palmer
Ray Palmer holds about the same level of IQ as Martin Stein but he is so much earlier into his career. He was able to develop the Atom suit, has been with the Legends since the very beginning for much longer than Stein, and has many more experiences ahead of him.
He outwitted a demon, came to understand the multiverse, and has consistently been a leading member of the Legends. He is tactical, strong-minded and hasn't really found many limits when it comes to what his brain can really accomplish.
1 Gideon
Gideon might be an artificial intelligence but she is as much a part of the team as any of the other characters featured above. Loyal, wise, and with the infinite knowledge of the universe at her fingertips, it's clear to see why Gideon is a great member of the group.
Gideon has been seen in human form on a number of occasions and it would be interesting to see the character make the permanent shift. She is also one of the strongest characters, with the Waverider her weapon of choice and her key to the whole of time and space.