Board Thread:Antaeus' Arena: Audience Chamber/@comment-1515612-20160820001629/@comment-29289594-20180810214807

Nico also has low self esteem + Jason later saved Percy while they were underwater, showing Jason is stronger and that Nico was wrong. Plus, Nico said Percy is the strongest demigod he ever MET. You don't exactly meet yourself.

Nico is far superior. He can turn Percy into a ghost for a one-shot, or simple shadow travel behind him and again one-shot. He nearly took down Jason while not even aiming at him just by getting upset. Also, he defeated 6 fully armed and armorer legionaires while severely injured, extremely exhausted and almost gone form the world. That was without using his powers.

As far as Demigods go, it's Nico > Hazel > Chrysaor > Hercules > Jason > Percy

That's a massive gap, and no amount of water will give Percy the edge, as, once again, he needed to be saved while Jason while they were fighting underwater, which is just embarrassing.

If you wanna say Percy can outsmart Nico.... maybe? Nico doesn't have any intelligence-based feats. He's shown not to be a moron, that's all. Percy has some good improv skills.

However, if they were to fight in canon, and if both were in character, Percy would win. Nico's strongest abilities result in people dying, and he ain't doin' that to Percy.