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Percy is a strategical genius, and this hasn't been said enough. I don't get why the Fandom collectively thinks Percy is dumb or needs Annabeth's help with stuff or isn't as smart as Annabeth. Even Annabeth, who should know better, sometimes treats him as such.
Reyna, Piper, Annabeth, and everyone else needs to hear this:
The truth is Percy is a far better strategist than Annabeth because Annabeth can't think quickly on her feet at all. She can weave accurate plans but only when given time and enough information, and only when she is looking at the bigger picture.
Annabeth does, however, have an almost encompassing knowledge of most things, but information is just information unless you apply it.
No one and I mean no one is better than Percy at thinking on his feet.
Mostly almost always Percy seems to be unaware of who his enemies are and yet still manages to go up against them and eventually win while Annabeth is at times left reeling.Percy has run into monsters/deities he had no idea about and still manages to figure out their goals in time to trick/defeat them.
Who figured out Ares's motives? Percy
Who figured out Luke's scheme? Percy
Who tricked Crusty without lifting a finger? Percy
Who figured out the use for Hermes's gift? Percy
Who came up with a way to show Luke's betrayal to the camp? Percy
Who tricked Atlas? Percy
Who made up the entire battle plan in the Battle of Manhattan? Percy
Percy tricks Phineas by literally goading Gaea. He could only do that if he himself understood how Gaea's mind worked.
He singlehandedly subdued Chrysaor (Yes, Frank was the key player, but we are counting the plan only)
Came up with the plan to defeat Polybotes and also executed it singlehandedly
Effortlessly argued and out debated the Roman Senate all by himself
Figured out how to defeat Geras (personification of old age)
Outsmarted Antaeus in his own ring
Managed to negotiate and attain the loyalties of River gods in the Battle of Manhattan.
Manipulated the entirety of New York Law department/ journalists into believing his fabricated cover story and dropping all legal charges against him at 12 years old.
There's so many instances of Percy being far more strategic than Annabeth herself.
Not only this, but Percy is extremely and terrifyingly perceptive and just a damn genius at getting people to give up secrets. [Done this to literally everyone since Book 1]
Athena is the personification of cold hard logic and facts hence Annabeth follows and so she isn't nearly good enough at reading people's intentions or body language.
Yes, Annabeth can be quick on her feet, but it's not very natural to her as it is to Percy because Annabeth believes in pre-planning, but Percy understands and embodies adaptation.
It's a flaw of many of Athena's children. The problem is Athena is a God with the mind of one, nothing stumps her so at any given moment she can and will always have the best plan because her mind is much more rapid than the surrounding circumstances.
Her children, however, are mortal and hence always vulnerable to surprises.
It's the reason why Athena favors Odysseus the most, over everyone. He was quick on his feet, along with being a great planner. He was a strategic genius, and my headcanon is that part of the reason Athena hates Percy is because her greatest enemy's son reminds her of her most favored person.
I recently edited this, and I am sure it's still missing some stuff. That's how underhighlighted Percy's intellectual feats are.