27 best fighters in the Arrowverse, ranked

6. Malcolm Merlyn – The Dark Archer

Malcolm Merlyn was the father of Oliver Queen’s best friend and also, secretly, his sister’s father as well. When Oliver returned from Lian Yu and began his crusade to save the city, Malcolm was the man who stood in his way. At first, it seemed that he was simply a corrupt businessman who was out to destroy the Glades, but it quickly became apparent that there was more to him than met the eye.

Malcolm was a deadly assassin who had received training from the League of Assassins and fought among their ranks. When he revealed himself to Oliver, he proved a formidable opponent who outclassed the fledgling vigilante with ease. After Oliver defeated him, Malcolm continued to play a part in the Arrow’s life, particularly with the revelation about Thea’s parentage.

Merlyn became the new Demon’s Head after Oliver defeated Ra’s al Ghul in season 3 of Arrow, much to the chagrin of Nyssa who felt that she should have taken the title. Clearly, this title is not something that’s given lightly, so for Malcolm to be given it proves that he’s a dangerous man. He joined the Legion of Doom in pursuit of the Spear of Destiny and was a valuable member of the team, battling across time alongside Damien Darhk and Eobard Thawne.