Board Thread:Versus Debates/@comment-5936871-20160126112547/@comment-26773508-20160204034206

Being able to learn quickly from experience is ALSO a form of intelligence. So yes, both Madara and Nagato are smart enough.

@Raichin123: The whole intelligence debate is somewhat relevant here because we have a guy claiming that Madara (and by proxy, Nagato) has little to no intelligence. That is a huge claim that is highly relevant for this thread. But thankfully, MIGshinobi does a good job of shooting himself in the foot by highlighting Madara's supposed "lack of intelligence" through the shenanigans of Black Zetsu, and then immediately making excuses for Itachi's intellect when he was used in the same manner by not just BZ, but Obito as well.

ON TOPIC: Nagato isn't a dumbass. He's not as smart as Itachi, but he has enough common sense, battle experience, sensory abilities and OP jutsus at his disposal to make sure that Itachi doesn't pull his brokenass jutsus on him. So Nagato takes the fight.