3. he's also used to going in harder ( certainly not afraid to hurt, maim or kill). Plus used to fighting against MUCH greater odds. When he was in Hub city the place was ruled by bike gangs and mobsters. The number of Cops on the city police that weren't bent and on someone's take could be counted on one hand. half of city Hall was on the take and most elections were bought and paid for by this crime boss or that. Vic had to fight the whole god damn city.
with the upgrade he could make it so batman can't even see him or look like Robin and walk straight up to him and stab him in the back. Or just make Bat's think he has to be in the middle of a train track at the time the trains coming through ( and not see it of course)
basically he practices ritual magic.
the gas used to bond the mask to his face was hallucinagenic.
it served the same purpose ans an Indian smoke lodge.
it allowed him to speak to spirits and through them learn magic.
he has mystical senses that tell him of things to happen and things around him.
he can track anything and know where trouble is.
he can create illusions that make him invisible or look like someone else (even worked on Supes).
He can fight spiritually conbating things from the other side of death.
he also seemed to from that be able to wield earthly weapons eslwhere in the room ( his spirit form in one issue was throwing knives that were on the iter side of the rom from him for him).
he also defeated some powerful magic and at one point tapped j to the Earths ki to have several cities " talk to him" at once.
he also made reference of Metropolis calling to him from afar and telling of a danger.