Macedonian Pikeman: Trusted infantry of Alexander the Great who decimated their enemies with their famous phalanx…

Vs…

Swiss Pikeman: Revolutionary fighting force whose tactics were later adopted by other forces such as the Landsknechts.

Who…is…deadliest?

"This is going to be great, for the first time we get to observe pikes and the famous formations they were used in." DAM said.

"For me, as we all know by now, we have to start off with the tale of the tape." Scarecrow said.

Macedonian:

Circa: 323 BC

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 155 lbs.

Weapons and Armor:

Kopis

Sarissa

Corinthian Helmet

Linothorax

Swiss:

Circa: 1490

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 165 lbs.

Weapons and Armor:

Baselard

Pike

Pikeman's Pot

Steel Breastplate

Mid Range:

Sarissa vs. Pike

"The sarissa was famous for its exploits by Philip II and Alexander in their armies, making it impossible for anyone to get near its iron head. It was 15 feet long and weighed 9 pounds." Dave explained.

Due to sarissas being a phalanx weapon, our expert and four pike experts will take aim at 5 pig carcasses moving at them, one of which is encased in the Swiss armor. Zivon gives the countdown and the pigs slowly move ahead. The first pike expert thrusts ahead, going straight through the chest of a pig. The Macedonian expert thrusts his spear, but in only makes a small hole in the armor of a pig and bends in the process. The next expert shoots his spear ahead, slicing the side of a pig. The next pike expert thrusts, his goes right through the groin area of the pig. The last expert loads his shot into the last pig, tearing the left side of the neck wide open. "The first shot is going right through the heart, spine, and lungs, instant kill. The next shot doesn't even touch skin, so no kill here. The next one, oh, dirty shot, but no armor their and a kill. The next shot leaves a deep laceration but not enough to kill. The last one has ripped all major arteries apart, another kill." Scarecrow said.

"So out of five targets, three kills, a major wound, and no injury." Zivon said.

"Factor in the armor, only 2 kills for me." DAM said.

"Our weapon is a much needed improvement on you sarissa, steel and the ability to change shafts." the Swiss expert said.

"The pike was the evolution of the sarissa, a steel head that had a peg in it so if the shaft was rotten, broken, or damaged; you could just switch the shafts and go back into battle. It was 15 feet long and 9 pounds in weight." Dave explained.

The test is set up with a pig in the Macedonian's armor. Zivon gives the countdown and the Swiss expert is the first to strike, hitting the armored pig and sending it falling off its moving post. The first pike expert makes his strike, hitting mid-abdomen of the next pig. The next expert pushes his pike ahead, going straight through the left armpit of a pig. The next pike expert thrusts his pike, glancing off the side of the face of the pig. The final expert plunges his pike ahead, going straight through the neck of the last pig. Scarecrow removes the armor and says, "This is breaking a rib and hitting a lung, incapacitating but not a kill, the rib may though. The next shot is hitting the center of the intestines, another kill. The nest shot is interesting, you are hitting the brachial artery and the shoulder, not only immobilizing that arm but also causing a massive amount of bleeding because this is right next to the heart, another kill. The next slices the cheek and the cornea, that will render his eye useless, maybe cause a serious infection, but not kill. Finally, beautiful shot, right through the throat and spine, perfect instant kill."

So which mid range weapon gets the edge? "I'm all pike for this, it can be switched in the midst of battle and it has superior metallurgy." Scarecrow said.

"I disagree, that ability to switch heads can render the pike flimsy, the sarissa is just more solid for me." Zivon said."

"I'm with the pike, steel blade and it's going through armor, also, if you have to shaft, just detach the head and use it like a dagger." DAM said.

EDGE: Pike

Coming up, these warrior close weapons are compared in a barbaric display. Later, the resurrected armor of these legends is compared and contrasted.

Close Range:

Kopis vs. Baselard

"We've seen the kopis before, and it isn't anywhere close to penetrating steel, but we still need the results from a baselard." Zivon said.

"The baselard is a short sword originating around Central Europe; it has a triangular, steel blade sharpened on one side. It was 25 inches long and just under 2 pounds in weight." Dave explained.

The team sets up several lines with pig carcasses and the pigs begin to zip around, three pigs in all, one in armor. Zivon gives the countdown and the expert runs to the first target and delves blade into the abdomen. He runs to the next and cuts into the chest, right between the ribs. He walks to the armored big and stabs straight through a scale in the armor and the linen underneath. Scarecrow removes the armor and starts with the first pig, "This is going into the stomach, very painful, lot of bleeding in and outside the body, this is a kill. The next shot is right between the ribs and slices the left lung and cuts into the heart, another kill. Finally, you stabbed into the armor and through it, going through and hit the aorta, an instant kill." Scarecrow said.

Which close range weapon do our experts believe gets the edge? "The baselard takes it because it has the metallurgy and it's getting past that armor, the kopis can't do that against the Swiss." DAM said.

"It's the kopis for this; the curve gives it greater cutting power." Zivon said.

"That and the curve gives it great parrying ability, edge kopis." Scarecrow said.

EDGE: Kopis

Armor:

Corinthian Helmet and Linothorax vs. Pikeman's Pot and Steel Breastplate

"Obvious here, the far superiority goes to the Pikeman for steel armor." Zivon said.

"Same here, the Swiss' armor has greater metallurgy and greater protection." Scarecrow said.

"That and the linothorax relies mostly on the linen to stop blows, not the bronze scales, superior protection of the Swiss armor gives it the edge." DAM said.

EDGE: Swiss Pikeman

X-Factors

"First up, we have training, and the similar deployment and tactics of these warriors make them dead even, both warriors gets a 94. For ferocity, the Swiss had to fight men with guns, this made them just a little scrappier, the Macedonian gets an 87 and the Swiss gets an 88. For endurance, both warriors wear armor of essentially the same weight and similar sized weapons, so both warriors get a 93. For physicality, the Swiss were trained in a much harsher climate and had to fight year round if necessary, so the Macedonian gets an 86 and the Swiss gets a 94. For intimidation, the Macedonian phalanx was impenetrable from the front and stopped Persian chariot from charging, so the Macedonian gets a 90 to the Swiss 86." Rob explained.

"This is the closest match-up in terms of weapons and X-factors, it may be the armor and ages they fought in being the difference." Zivon said.

Macedonian OOOOO

Swiss ooooo Øø

The battle begins in the foothills of the Swiss Alps as five Swiss pikemen sharpen and fix their pike heads to new shafts. They then hear a rhythmic march in the distance and see five bronze-clad men marching towards them. They recognize them and one of the pikemen goes to greet them but one of the Macedonians reacts and stabs his sarissa into the face of the Swiss, going straight through his eye and the very tip is out the back of his head (ø). The shocked Swiss quickly assume formation and walk towards the Macedonians. The Swiss quickly lower their pikes and push them forward, most harmlessly pass by the Macedonian, but one goes straight into the chest of one Macedonian and breaks his rib, sending it into his heart (Ø), while another goes straight through the eye of another (Ø) as the assaulting Swiss says, "Ein auge für ein auge." The Macedonians return fire and are shocked when their sarissas bend on the armor of the Swiss. Just before they turn and run, a Macedonian desperately unsheathes his kopis and gives a wild swing, slicing the throat of a nearby Swiss (ø). Seeing that giving charge with their pikes would be useless, they unsheathe their short swords and run on, but one takes the head off his pike and puts it in his baselard's sheathe. They locate the Macedonians, staring in awe at the Alps. Before they can react, a Swiss runs up and puts his hand over the mouth of a Macedonian then slits his throat, then stabs him in the spine (Ø). Another Macedonian retaliates and stabs at his abdomen, but the kopis bends just like the sarissa on the armor, and he is stabbed in the chest by the furious pikeman's baselard (Ø). Before he can free his sword, he is stabbed in the neck by the kopis of the last Macedonian, going in one side and out other (ø). The Swiss charge him but the Macedonian quickly swipes at the first Swiss, cutting his face open from eyebrow, across the bridge of the nose, and down his left cheek, sending him stumbling back. The next Swiss come up but he is nearly decapitated by the angry swing of the Macedonian's kopis (ø). The Macedonian walks to the Swiss, still doubled over in pain as he stealthily unsheathes his pike head. The Macedonian grabs him by the shoulder and spins him around, the Swiss quickly reacts and buries the pike head into the stomach of the Macedonian, then twists the blade and ribs it out, intestines protrude as he falls to the ground (Ø). The Swiss raises his bloody fist in the air and shouts in victory.

Swiss Macedonian

Baselard: 55% Kopis: 45%

Pike: 56% Sarissa: 44%

Armor Fail Rate: Armor Fail Rate:

Helmet: 1% Helmet: 3:

Armor: 1% Armor: 19%

2,637 Wins 2,363 Wins

X-Factors

Training: 94 Training: 94

Ferocity: 87 Ferocity: 88

Endurance: 93 Endurance: 93

Physicality: 86 Physicality: 94

Intimidation: 90 Intimidation: 86

"The reason the Swiss won was because his armor was almost never failing and his weapons didn't bend under stress like the iron weapons of the Macedonian." Robe explained.

Next Week: Two of Christianity's greatest warriors clash:

Charlemagne: Frankish emperor who more than doubled the empire he inherited from his father and grandfather.

Vs.

Richard the Lionheart: English Crusader who defeated Saladin in every open battle he fought against him.

Who will be…the deadliest warrior?