 Nicodemus' major combat ability is his leadership skills, ability to understand human motivation, and the fact he has had centuries to master all forms of human combat.While not the greatest of human combatants alive, he is surpassed by very few human beings, is kept in top physical shape by his coin, and has millennia of experience in mind games, as well as being completely unscrupulous in his tactics and methods.Shiro of the Knights of the Cross was one of the very rare members of the Order that could actually best him with a sword, and he beats Karrin Murphy in barehanded combat handily.