Hawkeye and Black Widow might not have the flashiest powers out of the main MCU characters, but they are they benefit from being grounded in reality. Both of them have a very mysterious past that is yet to be fully explained, and their journeys certainly intertwine along the way.
They are incredibly close friends and have no doubt also been enemies, and they end up fighting each other on a few occasions throughout the MCU films. Of course, this includes the incredibly sad scene where they both try to die in order to save the other, but anytime they do fight it highlights how evenly matched they are.
Hawkeye and Black Widow might have similar dark pasts and comparable fighting skills, but one has to be stronger than the other. Within this list, we will take a look at a potential fight between them, revealing five reasons why each character would win it.
Hawkeye: Fight From Distance
Hawkeye is often found up high in buildings far away from the view of most people as he picks out his enemies without them even noticing he is around. This is something that would help him in a fight against Black Widow, as she doesn't have any major powers to defend herself.
If Hawkeye was able to get the higher ground then it would pretty much be over. She typically doesn't use weapons for long-range and therefore wouldn't really be able to fight back, giving him the upper hand.
Black Widow: She's Cunning
Something that is quite underrated about Black Widow is how cunning she is. There's a reason she is often the one putting plans together for The Avengers, especially in later movies and it's because of her ability to plan and foresee problems.
This could be a major advantage for her against Hawkeye as she showcased her ability to track him down during Avengers: End Game. If she could find him then, she could find him again and having the element of surprise would be all an assassin needs.
Hawkeye: Multiple Weapons
While Hawkeye is obviously best known for using his bow and arrow to get the job done, that isn't the only weapon in his arsenal. Throughout the course of the MCU, he has been known to bust out an array of weapons to use in both attack and self-defense.
Whether it be having technologically advanced arrows that can do a variety of things or his swords, Hawkeye always seems to have a trick up his sleeve. Having a wide variety of weapons would give him a big advantage against someone who is best known for their hand to hand combat.
Black Widow: Guns
Hawkeye might have tons of fantastic weapons that he can use, and they are certainly deadly, they don't match up to the sheer firepower of some guns. That is the prime weapon of choice for Black Widow, and being able to bust them out against him could tip the balance in her favor.
Hawkeye doesn't have the armor of Iron-Man or the shield of Captain America to protect him, and if a shot came his way that would result in death for him. This is a pretty big advantage for Black Widow to have against him.
Hawkeye: He's Previously Beaten Her
Even though it wasn't shown within any of the MCU movies (yet,) it has been alluded to that this fight has happened before, and that Hawkeye came out on top. Even though it is Black Widow who sacrificed herself in Avengers: End Game, that wasn't really winning a fight as much as it was saving her friend.
But that was done because she felt a debt towards Hawkeye. He had previously been given the task of killing her, but instead let her go. While it's unknown what the circumstances were, the fact he has the experience of knowing how to take her down could be a key indicator that he has what it takes.
Black Widow: Help Of Her Family
While Black Widow's family hasn't fully been showcased yet due to the delay of her individual movie, the trailers for the film have made it clear that her family are well trained in fighting, just like her. Because both herself and Hawkeye are of The Avengers, neither of them could really call upon the group to help in a fight.
However, Black Widow clearly does have some that she could call upon if needed. While there isn't too much known about them within the world of the MCU, it's clear that they possess some serious skills to help out.
Hawkeye: His Aggression
During Avengers: End Game, a different side of Hawkeye was shown as he dealt with the struggles caused by the snap. After his family had all fallen victims to Thanos' plan, Hawkeye went on a path of destruction across the world, taking out everyone in his way.
He showcased an edge to him the likes of which haven't been seen before from him. The scenes with him in the rain using a sword highlighted his aggressive abilities and that ability to kill anyone no matter the cost. That's something that would likely serve him very well.
Black Widow: Her Ruthlessness
While Hawkeye might be incredibly aggressive, Black Widow is even more ruthless and really is a trained killer. She knows how to take people down and has no problem with getting the job done by any means necessary, even if it's against a friend or loved one.
While Hawkeye is aggressive when he reacts to the snap, he has previously been know to show a little comion, which actually spared Black Widow's life in the past. But if things came down to it between them, it's unlikely she would show the same sympathy.
Hawkeye: Accuracy
While fans might often mock the fact that Hawkeye only has a bow and arrow to use as a weapon in battles against major enemies, the fact is that it works. The reason he is so successful with such a simple weapon is because of how accurate he is with it.
It's incredibly rare that Hawkeye misses his target and because of that, it would give him a distinct advantage against Black Widow. From far away he could pick her off without her even noticing, and from up close he could also utilise his deadly accuracy to his benefit.
Black Widow: Martial Arts
Both Hawkeye and Black Widow are incredibly well versed in the world of martial arts. They showcase their skills throughout the MCU in up-close fighting situations and even do so against each other at points. However, even though Hawkeye has skills in this department, Black Widow has the edge.
There's a reason Hawkeye tends to rely upon his weapons more, and that's because that is his strength. For Black Widow, she has no problem fighting with anyone and if they got down to it in a straight-up fight without the weapons, Black Widow would be dominating.
