The debate over whether Wolverine or Deadpool would win in a fight has experienced new life after set photos from Deadpool 3 revealed the regenerative anti-heroes coming to blows in the highly-anticipated MCU threequel. 

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The film will continue the pair’s decades-long feud first seen in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Although most people have attempted to scrub that movie from their memories, it can’t be denied that the film created a launching pad upon which the live-action version of the characters could carry out their comic book storyline — i.e. they hate each other. 

The stars aligned when Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019, thus making it possible for Deadpool 3 to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe and for a reunion between Wolverine and Deadpool to make perfect sense amid the franchise’s Multiverse Saga. 

Now that Deadpool 3 has essentially been deemed a Wolverine film — for better or worse — it’s down the rabbit hole we go once again as the debate over which mutant would win in a fight is analyzed, dissected, and argued until everyone is blue in the face. 

Wolverine vs. Deadpool

Among the moral differences between the two characters, Wolverine and Deadpool share a fair number in superpower similarities, including their abilities to regenerate. While Wolverine was born with the mutant gene that allows his body to regenerate and slow the process of aging, Deadpool was granted the ability of regeneration after being subjected to treatments in the Weapon X program, the same place Wolverine received his Adamantium claws. 

Both characters have extended longevity due to their regenerative healing factor, meaning they can duke it out far longer than most; they are both masters of hand-to-hand combat and martial arts; they both have enhanced speed, strength, stamina, reflexes, agility, durability, and more. 

Wolverine is an incredible tactician and is said to have a brain that operates like a highly advanced computer while in combat. Combined with his healing powers, superhero senses, strength, speed, and Adamantium-laced skeleton, he is virtually indestructible in battle. In the comics, he’s gone up against The Hulk, Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Jean Grey, Iron First, and Magneto and managed to kill them all. 

Deadpool, on the other hand, has battled Wolverine in the comics four times and come out on top in three of those instances. He’s a master martial artist, has peak human abilities, can dodge and deflect bullets at point-blank range, and has regenerative abilities that make him nigh an immortal. He’s been decapitated, blown up, burned alive, chopped into pieces, and has come out alive every time. 

Winning a fight is not about killing your opponent 

At the end of the day, if we’re going off of track record, Deadpool is more likely to beat Wolverine in a fight, at least according to the comics. He has come out on top three out of four times and only lost the fourth time because he’d decided to give up. 

As for an MCU fight between the pair — we’ve seen Wolverine beat Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Deadpool was overpowered and equipped with a set of extra abilities from his Weapon X experimentations. In addition to regeneration, he was able to teleport and shoot laser beams from his eyes. Still, Wolverine decapitated him. 

Deadpool from 20th Century Fox and the MCU is not as overpowered as the one from X-Men Origins: Wolverine. That version of Wade Wilson is more likely to be bested by Wolverine’s stamina, brute strength, Adamantium claws, endurance, and regeneration. When the pair duke it out in Deadpool 3, we’ll either see a stalemate or another decapitated/chopped Deadpool. 

Wolverine can’t kill Deadpool, but being immortal doesn’t mean you can win every fight. So, a brawl in the comics equal Deadpool, and a brawl in the MCU equals Wolverine. At least, that’s this fan’s answer.