Character matchup
Senku Ishigami vs Tony Stark: who is smarter?
Reviewed September 2026By the LifeScore Editorial TeamEditorial policy
Dr. Stone
Senku Ishigami
165
range 155 to 175 · medium confidence
Rebuilds civilization from scratch
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Tony Stark
160
range 148 to 170 · medium confidence
Builds the future from spare parts
Round by round
Six ratings out of ten for each, from the profiles. Senku Ishigami takes 3 of the rounds, Tony Stark takes 0, and the higher overall estimate is Senku Ishigami by 5.
| Round | Senku Ishigami | Tony Stark | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deduction | 8/10 | 7/10 | Senku Ishigami |
| Strategy | 8/10 | 6/10 | Senku Ishigami |
| Knowledge | 10/10 | 9/10 | Senku Ishigami |
| Invention | 10/10 | 10/10 | Level |
| Adaptability | 9/10 | 9/10 | Level |
| Reading people | 6/10 | 6/10 | Level |
What settles it
Senku starts from zero. In a world with no industry he makes medicine, chemicals and eventually far larger machines by working out each step and building the tools for the next. His knowledge spans chemistry, engineering and biology, and it almost never fails him.
Tony's best feats are just as strong in one respect: he builds the first version of his suit in a cave from scrap, and builds a new element in a workshop. He has more resources most of the time, but he also solves harder theoretical problems in a shorter time. What holds him back is impulsiveness and a habit of solving the wrong problem when he is angry.
The main caveat on Senku is the story around him. It supplies him with recipes he could plausibly remember and materials he could plausibly find, and it gives him time. That keeps the gap small. Senku edges it on breadth and reliability, Tony on raw ingenuity.
The strongest evidence for each
Senku Ishigami
- The revival fluid (Dr. Stone, early Stone World chapters)
- Curing Ruri's pneumonia (Dr. Stone, Kingdom of Science / Ishigami Village arc)
- Building a cell phone (Dr. Stone, Kingdom of Science years)
Tony Stark
- Iron Man armor built in a cave (Iron Man (2008))
- Synthesizing a new element (Iron Man 2 (2010))
- Cracking time travel at the lake house (Avengers: Endgame (2019))
Senku Ishigami vs Tony Stark: common questions
Who is smarter, Senku Ishigami or Tony Stark?+
Senku is a few points ahead on our estimate, mostly on the breadth of what he rebuilds from nothing, while Tony has the better machinery and the better instincts.
What is Senku Ishigami's IQ compared with Tony Stark's?+
We estimate Senku Ishigami at about 165 (range 155 to 175) and Tony Stark at about 160 (range 148 to 170). Both are fan-analysis estimates built from what each character does in their story.
Who would win a battle of wits, Senku Ishigami or Tony Stark?+
Give both a stone-age start and Senku pulls ahead. Give both a lab and a deadline, and it is very close.