The Walking Dead Proves Negan Never Needed Lucille Or The Saviors To Be Powerful

During his time with the Saviors, Negan was presented as one of the most imposing characters in the entire franchise, but The Walking Dead: Dead City just reminded us that it was never Lucille or his manpower that made the former villain powerful. Negan's debut scene still lives long in the memory of most Walking Dead fans, as killing off two fan-favorite characters really emphasized just how intimidating he once was. He remains the most powerful villain The Walking Dead has ever introduced, and even though he has turned a corner and found redemption, Negan is still incredibly dangerous.

Even though he now has a more deadly version of Lucille and has become a high-ranking member of the Burazi - even if involuntarily - Negan's biggest strengths come from elsewhere. After being made to do the Croat and the Dama's bidding with his family's lives at stake, Negan's story in The Walking Dead spinoff has become about complying with the Burazi's demands so that he can gain his freedom. However, Dead City's joint protagonist seems hellbent on taking his adversaries down in the process, which has highlighted the one trait that makes Negan such a capable survivor.

The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 2, Episode 5 Proves Negan's Real Power Is Manipulation

Despite His Tough Situation, Negan Has Masterfully Turned Dead City's Villains Against Each Other

While most survivors in The Walking Dead universe probably wouldn't want to get into a fistfight with Negan, Dead City's latest episode proved that his manipulation is even more effective than his combat skills. Negan is still one of the most powerful fighters in The Walking Dead and is extremely deadly with his signature baseball bat, but his mental tricks are what really make him stand out. After the Croat killed Christos and his group, Negan became fully invested in taking down Manhattan's hierarchy, with his plan coming into effect almost immediately.

Taking a moment to talk with the Croat, Negan encouraged the antagonist to stand up for himself and made him believe that the Dama treated her pet rat better than she did him. This caused a heated argument between the two, allowing Negan to capitalize by killing the Dama's rat while framing the Croat. As a result, the villains' relationship continued to sour, ending in a confrontation that saw the Croat leave the Dama for dead, proving just how effective Negan's manipulation was, and he even used the same tactic to get one over on Bruegel in the previous episode.

Despite losing his bet with the gang leader, Negan threatened to expose Bruegel's secret if he didn't wave away his winnings, an approach that worked perfectly. It's a trait he has shown throughout The Walking Dead, hence why he was able to take over the Saviors in the first place. Additionally, he managed to gain Alpha's trust only to betray her, and his ruthless threats saw countless communities obey the Saviors' rule for a long time, confirming that Negan has always thrived when pulling the strings, which has allowed him to survive this far into the apocalypse.

Negan's Power Of Manipulation Is Why He's So Difficult To Trust

The Walking Dead's Main Survivors Know Negan Could Be Playing Them At Any Moment

Although being able to manipulate his enemies is one of Negan's greatest attributes, it also acts as a significant weakness given he is difficult to trust. Having seen the violence he committed alongside the mental gymnastics he was willing to pull in order to oppress communities like Alexandria and the Kingdom, many of the franchise's main survivors have struggled to accept Negan even after seeing him change. Considering Maggie and Negan's Walking Dead feud is still ongoing in their spinoff show, it's clear Maggie still hasn't forgiven the man who killed her husband, and even trusting him has proven difficult.

Seeing Negan wielding his bat and hanging with the Burazi made Maggie extremely cautious around him in Dead City season 2, and she's not the only one. Other Walking Dead characters like Daryl always kept the former villain at arm's length, only relying on him when there was no other choice. He may have good intentions these days, but those who have seen him manipulate entire communities understandably have a hard time putting their faith in him, making this trait both a major strength and a key flaw.