Intelligence

## Summary

**Intelligence** is a complex concept that defies a simple definition. It encompasses various abilities such as information processing, logic, self-awareness, creativity, reasoning, problem-solving, knowledge, and memory. Trying to quantify intelligence in versus debates or assigning numerical values like IQ can be misleading and inadequate. Instead, when describing a character's intelligence, it is important to highlight their areas of strength while acknowledging any intellectual shortcomings they may have.

In fiction, authors often assign high IQ scores to their characters. However, these scores hold little meaning without supporting feats or evidence of exceptional intellectual capabilities. Moreover, comparing IQ scores between different fictional universes is futile, as each work of fiction establishes its own standards and scales of intelligence. It is similar to trying to compare power levels between different anime series with distinct systems and scales.

Some fictional universes, like DC Comics, may have their own internal intelligence ranking systems. However, these rankings should also be supported by feats and demonstrated abilities to have meaningful relevance.

It is essential to critically examine a character's actions, behaviors, and demonstrated intellectual feats rather than relying solely on stated intelligence levels within the story. This approach ensures a more accurate assessment of a character's intelligence based on our own understanding and standards.

## Intelligence Rankings

Quantifying intelligence in a precise manner is challenging, and these rankings serve as general guidelines rather than definitive classifications. It is more important for a character page to provide a comprehensive discussion of their intelligence, including their feats and skills, rather than focusing solely on a rigid ranking system. These rankings can be useful for summarizing a character's overall intellect and comparing them to others, but they should not be treated as absolute measures.
Here is the intelligence rankings:

1. **Mindless:** Beings with no capacity for intelligence or thought. This rating should be assessed based on the character's actions and ability to display any form of thinking.
2. **Instinctive:** Beings that operate on simple pre-programmed behavior patterns, lacking conscious thought. Examples include snails, jellyfish, microorganisms, fungi, and individual insects.
3. **Animalistic:** Beings, such as most animals, with basic reasoning, awareness, and problem-solving skills.
4. **High Animalistic:** Highly intelligent animals capable of tool use and comparable problem-solving feats. Examples include dolphins, chimpanzees, certain crows, and octopi.
5. **Below Average:** Characters with below-average intellect and unremarkable skills.
6. **Average:** Characters with average intelligence, although they may excel in specific subjects or areas.
7. **Above Average**: Characters with greater cognitive abilities than the norm but without standing out in any particular intellectual or academic field.
8. **Gifted:** Characters demonstrating high reasoning ability, quick mastery of difficult concepts, and notable expertise in intellectual or specific academic fields, comparable to real-world experts.
9. **Genius:** Individuals with exceptional capacity for knowledge and intelligence, often specializing in one area of great depth. This category includes real-world geniuses, polymaths, and highly prominent intellectuals.
10. **Extraordinary Genius:** Individuals surpassing the upper limits of human knowledge in multiple fields of science. They can create advanced futuristic technology, execute complex strategies under pressure, outperform supercomputers, and make accurate future predictions through mental calculations.
11. **Supergenius:** The highest level of non-omniscient intellect, possessed by individuals with unfathomably superhuman intelligence. They can create physics-defying and reality-warping technology for various purposes, potentially overpowering tier 1 entities on a universal (3-A) scale.
12. **Nigh-Omniscient:** Characters with extensive knowledge across nearly all areas, with only minor gaps in their understanding.
13. **Omniscient:** Characters with complete knowledge of everything within their own setting, but not necessarily beyond it.