In a world filled with complex politics, formidable Grisha, and the oppressive Shadow Fold, only the smartest individuals can hope to survive and achieve their goals. Shadow and Bone consist of many intelligent characters. Some are stronger due to their street smarts while others are stronger with their book smarts.
None of the main characters are unintelligent, but some are inevitably smarter than others. The events of Shadow and Bone force the characters into perilous situations that force them to adapt and respond, often with nothing but their wits.
10 Matthias Helvar
As a Fjerdan man, Matthias has been taught to hate and fear all Grisha and to believe in a strict social hierarchy for men and women. Even though his interactions with Nina challenge the prejudices that have been ingrained in him since he was a child, it still takes Matthias a while to warm up to her and to prioritize his own feelings and his own perspective over what he's been taught to believe.
When Nina accuses Matthias of being a slaver, Matthias doesn't understand that she did this to save his life. He believes she has been playing a cruel joke on him this whole time, even though all his experiences with her indicate otherwise.
9 Mal Oretsev
Unwavering in his courage and the loyalty he shows toward those he cares about, Mal is an amazing friend and ally to have. He is also chivalrous and always stands up for what he believes in.
While these are desirable traits for a friend or ally, Mal is not always the most intelligent. He bravely rushes into situations to save the day, but he often rushes in without any strategy and without considering the consequences. This leads to Mal nearly dying on numerous occasions throughout the show's first season.
8 Nina Zenik
Before she is kidnapped, Nina went on a mission for the Darkling, where she figured out that the Conductor/Arken Visser was the one smuggling Grisha out of the Little Palace. After being kidnapped and surviving a shipwreck, Nina does genuinely fall in love with Matthias, but she is also savvy enough to play to his strengths in their quest for survival.
When Fedyor and the other Grisha try to take Matthias, Nina can think on her feet and come up with a plan that will save him. While accusing Matthias of being a slaver saves him at that moment, Nina learns that her plan may not work so well in the long run. She learns that Matthias will be sent to a prison where he will rot for at least a year or two before Nina can drop the charges when his trial goes to court.
7 Jesper Fahey
Jesper is highly intelligent. This is made evident in his first scene when he deduces that a patron at the Crow Club is gambling with counterfeit coins. Unfortunately, though, Jesper often lets unwise impulses guide his actions.
An example of this is when he is given money to purchase 20 pounds of alabaster coal for the Conductor to ferry Jesper, Inej, and Kaz across the Fold for their heist. Jesper catches sight of some gambling on his way to get the coal and he gambles away all the money. He ends up having to steal the coal--although he only gets 16 pounds of it--and is chased by an angry mob, all of which brings unnecessary danger to the heist.
6 Alina Starkov
Even before she is revealed to be the Sun Summoner, Alina shows her intelligence through her expert mapmaking skills. As the Sun Summoner, Alina gradually becomes more introspective, which allows her to unlock her abilities and to begin tapping into her full potential. She also begins to understand others--such as the Darkling--on a deep level, which is integral to ultimately freeing herself from his control.
What holds Alina back from being one of the most intelligent characters is how others can deceive her. Genya fools Alina into thinking she is simply her friend and Tailor. It is not until much later that Alina realizes Genya was a spy for the Darkling all along. Alina is also blind to the Darkling's true nature and is taken in by his lies. It is only until Baghra spells out the truth for her that Alina sees through the Darkling's deceptions.
5 The Conductor
The Conductor is the only one smart enough to develop and profit from a precise process that illegally allows people through the Fold on his ferries. He is also adept at reading other people's personalities and group dynamics. He does this with the Crows and this is how he knows that Jesper will need a goat for comfort when they cross the Fold.
After they cross the Fold, the Conductor is also the one who becomes friendly with the leader of a traveling entertainment troupe who has been invited to the Winter Fete. He engineers a mishap so the troupe needs the Crows' talents, thus giving them their way into the Little Palace.
The Conductor's intelligence is not infallible, though. After they infiltrate the Little Palace, the Conductor believes that he is being sent to kidnap Alina. He is unable to deduce that Kaz is sending him after a decoy while Kaz and Inej are the ones going after the real Alina. If the Conductor is the most intelligent character, he would know that Kaz would never entrust the newest member of the group to go after Alina alone.
4 Genya Safin
From the Sun Summoner to the king and queen of Ravka, Genya can deceive both powerful Grisha and powerful politicians. She wins Alina's trust and uses this to share sensitive information with the Darkling. Acting as the queen's servant from a young age, Genya also wins the queen's trust.
Genya takes advantage of this by lethally poisoning the king, who had been abusing her from a young age. Genya did this for herself but also as part of the Darkling's larger plan. It isn't until after this that Alina finally realizes that Genya was a spy for the Darkling all along.
3 Inej Ghafa
Inej's many talents make her an invaluable asset for pulling off any kind of job. She has learned to be stealthy, how to use knives like no other, and how to stitch herself up after being severely injured. Even though she is not a Grisha, Inej is also able to outsmart and defeat the Inferni siblings when she goes against them.
Her eventual refusal to abduct Alina is another sign of her intelligence. It is not only her faith that causes her to abandon the job to kidnap Alina, but she is smart enough to recognize that doing so would be a grievous mistake on numerous levels.
2 The Darkling
For hundreds of years, the Darkling has taken on countless identities and successfully manipulated countless individuals and complex political situations. He is cunning enough to change things so Grisha will be in a position of power and authority in Ravka, instead of being persecuted and hunted.
In the present day of Shadow and Bone, he manipulates countless individuals and even the Fold itself to achieve his goals. The only thing that holds the Darkling back from being the smartest character is how he seeks to control Alina as he turns his most valuable ally into an enemy, who outsmarts him.
1 Kaz Brekker
Kaz is Shadow and Bone's smartest character because of his ability to successfully adapt during seemingly impossible situations. When given mere hours to figure out how to cross the Fold, Kaz figures it out. He is the brains behind the heist to infiltrate the Little Palace and kidnap the Sun Summoner. When confronted by the formidable Darkling, Kaz figures out a way to escape unscathed.
What makes Kaz even smarter than the Darkling is his ability to believe in the people he cares about, even when this means compromising his own desires. In the end, his respect and love for Inej and Jesper are stronger than his greed, and the Crows are better off for it.
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