Tools of the Trade: Nightwing's Costume, Gear, and Vehicles

As the first protégé of Batman and leader of the Titans, Nightwing has employed an impressive amount of equipment over the years, including several costumes, an arsenal of weapons, and a fleet of sleek vehicles. This article seeks to give a thorough rundown of his entire arsenal. As such, many of these gadgets only made one or two appearances, but it can be assumed that Nightwing has access to them at any time.

The Suit:

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Nightwing has used five main suits over the years, as well as several up-armored variants. In general, his suit is a tri-layered, insulated, Nomex/Kevlar body armor. Most versions can heat up in the cold, resist bullets, resist flames, and electrocute enemies. Certain versions of the suit also included a glider function, such as the second blue/gold suit worn in the 1990s. The third version, which was blue/black and included the fan-favorite finger stripes, was made of "a controlled photo-chromic fabric" which could shift the colors of the suit from blue to navy for increased stealth capabilities. Nightwing also possesses up-armored variants of his traditional black/blue suits, seen in situations when he was facing threats of immense power, such as in Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day, and Convergence: Nightwing/Oracle. In a potential future in Nightwing: The New Order, Nightwing also designed a more high-tech, armored version of his suit. Most versions of his suit, including the original, the fingerstripes, and the New 52, use gauntlets to carry Nightwing's gadgets.

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In the two DC events Dark Knights: Metal and Dark Knights: Death Metal Nightwing wore specialized suits. The first was a thermal armor designed by Batman, which aided Nightwing in battling Mr. Freeze. The second was a Death Metal variant of Nightwing's armor, used to blend into the twisted version of Earth created by the Batman Who Laughs.

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The Rebirth/Infinite Frontier era version of the suit is reminiscent of his black/blue fingerstripes suit, but no longer uses gauntlets to store his gadgets. This incarnation includes an in-suit defibrillator, as well as a small backpack for Nightwing's sticks and other gadgets.

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Bruno Redondo Nightwing concept art

In the Batman Beyond timeline, though Dick was no longer active as Nightwing, he did use a futuristic black and blue biker suit on occasion, which resembled his old Nightwing gear.

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During DC's Future State event, which explored a possible future in which Gotham has become a police state, Dick has become the leader of the resistance fighters, and his suit reflects that. It retains the classic elements, but is more armored and thrown together.

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Later on in the Future State timeline, Dick escaped Gotham and joined his old Titans friends. During this time, the years of trauma, from the death of Batman to the collapse of the Titans Academy weighed heavily on Dick, and he switched to a modified version of his second blue and gold Nightwing suit, which included a combination of his and Deathstroke's mask, as well as a gun.

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The Mask:

Nightwing's domino mask attaches to his face with an adhesive, and has a built in radio, thermal vision, self destruct, night vision, and build in protective lenses. The mask of the fourth version of his suit could also pair with a syringe in his glove to perform chemical analysis.

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In the event his mask was removed or lost, Nightwing also built a self destruct feature into it, and carried a spare in the lining of his suit, a habit he picked up as Robin.

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The Escrima Sticks:

Nightwing's primary weapons since 1995, his escrima sticks are made from an "unbreakable polymer." He uses them to extend his reach, increase the strength behind his blows, ricochet off objects, and more. He has also added electricity to the ends of them, and a grapple line. The grapple line has been shown to come out of the ends of the sticks (similar to Daredevil), and more recently to come out of the middle, turning his grapple shooter into a kind of trapeze rope. His most recent sticks can also be combined into a longer bo-staff and fire a laser cutter from the end, to cut through glass.

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In the Future State timeline, Dick modified the escrima sticks to form an electrified pair of num-chuks, making his attacks more dangerous.

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The Wingdings:

Nightwing's answer to the batarang, his throwing discs/knives/shuriken are lovingly dubbed "wingdings." They have appeared since his very first outing as Nightwing, and are one of his most versatile, and compact, tools. Where once they inflicted blunt trauma, they are now sharpened, knife-like weapons.

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The Gauntlets:

Nightwing's gauntlets are a key part of his suit, replacing the need for a utility belt. Contained within them are many gadgets and tools, including a portable computer, communicator, GPS, 100,000 volt taser, and self destruct charges.

Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the DC Comics Superhero

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Also contained within the gauntlets are Nightwing's grapple launcher (dubbed the "winger"), and a taser. His grapple hook and line are made of a near unbreakable prometheum metal alloy.

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As well as the taser and line launcher, Nightwing's gauntlets also function as storage for wrist darts, a portable laser, explosives, electrified gloves, bolas, sonic grenades, and flashbang grenades.

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In Nightwing: The New Order, Nightwing added a laser to his gauntlets which operated outside the hard light spectrum, allowing him to take down Green Lanterns and get past their constructs.

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Stealth Gadgets:

For stealth missions, Nightwing also employs smoke bombs, sleep gas, gasmasks, and night vision goggles for when his mask is not equiped with such a function.

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Tracking & Surveillance:

For missions where Nightwing must perform surveillance and tracking, he uses audio-surveillance equipment, tracking beacons, and sticky cameras.

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All-Purpose Tools:

Generic, all-purpose tools of the trade include lockpicks binoculars, handcuffs, a rebreather, and a flashlight. Side note: The Flash can circumvent the need for lockpicks.

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Specialized Gear:

Some missions require specialized gear, which Nightwing may not need often, but come in handy. Examples of this kind of equipment include electric stun rifles, a cell-phone tracking jammer, a Jimmy Olsen-style signal watch, and urban climbing gear.

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Vehicles:

Nightwing doesn't always have the benefit of a Titans jet or Starfire to fly him around, and in these situations he tends to use his most beloved vehicle: the Wingcycle, or Nightcycle. It has its roots in the Robin Cycle, and has had many variations over the years. It's been themed to fit his suits (both blue/gold and black/blue), and has included sidecars. His most recent Nightcycle was an advanced quad-bike used to race on the Isle of Harm.

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When the Nightcycle needs to be transported, Nightwing has used a large semitruck, gifted to him by Batgirl, which I have dubbed the Night Semi.

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In the Batman Beyond timeline, Dick also used a futuristic rocket/hover bike to get around, though he was technically no longer active as a hero.

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While in Blüdhaven in the mid-90s, Nightwing also built his own souped up muscle car called the Nightbird. The Nightbird had a "WayneTech-modified 6,064 cc enging (627 BHP at 7,400 rpm)" and "chassis locking clamps for interchangeable, carbon fiber over aluminum exoskeleton body shell disguises" allowing the car to look like a taxi, or police cruiser.

He also made use of a Nightboat, which he used to rescue Man-Bat from Deathstroke. Years after leaving Blüdhaven, Nightwing appears to have acquired an updated Nightbird, more Batmobile-like in nature.

Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the DC Comics Superhero

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Perhaps the most appropriate vehicle for Nightwing was his powered glider, which connected to the GPS in his gauntlet, and could fly him anywhere in New York City and Gotham. I have taken the liberty to dub it the "Night Wing."

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During the Dark Knights: Death Metal event, Nightwing traveled across the ruins of Earth to recruit a new Justice League team. To assist him in his mission, Wonder Woman gifted him Comet, a robotic horse forged in the fires of Themyscira, faster than any steed in the multiverse.

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In the Future State timeline, Dick created a new model of the Nightbird, equipped with rockets, for a quick getaway from his base in Arkham Asylum.

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Bonus: Swords

Though it isn't a standard part of Nightwing's arsenal, Dick is a master swordsman, which he has proved several times in his career. He defeated Ra's Al Ghul and a Talon in sword duels, and used his abilities once again to rescue Robin (Damian) from the Yakuza. He was also able to disarm Ra's Al Ghul in a sword fight, using only a batarang.

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And so concludes an exhaustive listing of Nightwing's arsenal. This list will continue to be updated as more gadgets are used in future Nightwing comics.