El Cid: National hero of Spain whose number of legends nearly outnumbers his number of slain Moors…

Vs…

Suleiman the Magnificent: The greatest of Ottoman sultans who nearly conquered Europe.

Who…is…deadliest?

To find out, our team of experts are conducting groundbreaking tests paired with historical data to unlock new data on arsenals of the past. Zivon96 will use the most advanced 21st century technology to show how lethal these legends truly are. Dr. Scarecrow'sMainFan will go deep in-depth to show how lethal the weapons truly are and build the psychological and physical profiles of these past greats. And DeadAliveManiac will dive deep into the tactics that shaped these unrelenting attackers. Only one will be crowned...Deadliest Warrior!

"Finally, we have two of the most influential people in their own areas, El Cid for Spain, and Suleiman for Turkey. We also will look at El Cid's Besiege and Ambush at Valencia against Suleiman's Outnumber and Overwhelm at Mohacs." DAM said.

"With that we also need to start off, as always, with the tail of the tape." Scarecrow said.

El Cid:

Circa: 1094

Age: 51

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 165 lbs.

Weapons, Armor, and Tactics:

Colada

Tizona

Misericorde Dagger

Steel Helmet

Chainmail Hauberk

Besiege and Ambush

Suleiman:

Circa: 1526

Age: 31

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 145 lbs.

Weapons, Armor, and Tactics:

Kilij

Shamshir

Khanjar

Steel Turban Helmet

Ottoman Warrior Cuirass

Outnumber and Overwhelm

Special Weapons:

Misericorde Dagger vs. Khanjar

"The misericorde dagger was a round bladed but came to a very fine point, so it could go between links in chainmail or between weak points in plate armor and finish them off. It was 14 inches long and just over a pound in weight." Dave explained.

The team sets up a ballistic gel torso in the armor and helmet of Suleiman and the expert is given a stab to both. Zivon gives the countdown and, gripping the dagger like a knife, brings it down on the helmet, making a little round hole. He switches his grip and wheels his dagger around and right between two plates and through a small patch of chainmail. Scarecrow removes the armor and says, sticking his fingers in the wounds, "Whoa, this first one is actually hitting brain, not always an instant kill but it will just because it went in far enough to hit brain matter and blood vessels. The next one is right between the circular and arch-shaped chestplates and right through the heart, instant kill. So you've demonstrated both power and accuracy, good work."

"But you limit so much of what you can do by having such a narrow blade, I not only can do more damage with a stab but I can also slash with the khanjar." the Suleiman expert said.

The team sets up another test with a new gel torso in Cid's armor, and the expert is given the same rules except he must slash at an unprotected area, too. Zivon gives the countdown and the expert stabs down onto the helmet, but it only slides off, making an agonizing nails-against-chalkboard screech. He switches his grip and quickly cuts the throat of the target in two, then follows up with a stab in the gut. Scarecrow once more removes the armor and says, "Well, the first shot to the helmet didn't register and the only thing I can think of is his ears may be right from that scratching nose. Then you redeemed yourself and cut his throat and carotids in two, instant kill. Finally, you went right through his intestines and left kidney, that is a very quick kill." Scarecrow said.

So which special weapon gets the edge? "The misericorde has to go through or around the steel plates, whereas the khanjar is supposed to go through helmets and it went through the chainmail hauberk like butter, edge khanjar." Scarecrow said.

"But a blade as thing as the misericorde was being used far into the Medieval era with it being able to go through gaps in steel plate as we just saw, edge misericorde." DAM said.

"It can't slash, but the misericorde will go through a lot deeper than the khanjar, so that give it my edge." Zivon said.

EDGE: Misericorde Dagger

Coming up, it's a fierce saber against a fear inducing sword. Later, DAM dissects the Besiege and Ambush as well as the Outnumber and Overwhelm by these two legends. Finally, the Ottomans signature sword dukes it out with Cid's other famous sword.

Mid Range:

Tizona vs. Shamshir

"The Tizona is El Cid's most famous sword; apparently it could inspire fear into unworthy adversaries just by looking at it. It was comprised of Damascus steel, which was and still is among the finest steels out there. It was 41 inches long and weighed 2 pounds." DAM said.

The team sets up two pig carcasses, one with armor and one without and marked by spray pain for a slash at the midsection and neck as well as a stab right below the midsection slash. Zivon gives the countdown and steps up to the unarmored pig and, in one overhead chop, completely decapitates it. He brings it to his side and, just as smoothly as the first, cuts the pig straight in two. He then makes his own improvised pierce, going into the chest but not out the back. He steps up to the armored pig and thrusts underhand up into it, but it bounces off the side of the circular chestplate. Undeterred, he brings it under once more and stabs right beneath his previous failure, going right through the chainmail. He brings his sword up again and, just as before, cuts the pigs head right off. "Nice, I see why this sword is so famous. Two clean decapitations, one is cut in half and stabbed through the heart, and the other has a stab through his small intestine and spine, all are either kills or instant kills." Scarecrow said.

"But he had one shot the bounced off, so it still shows he can't go through the plates. My sword will go right through his armor much more easily." the Suleiman expert said.

"The shamshir was a saber nearly as universal to the Middle East as the saif. It was very deeply curved yet had a thin blade that came to a sharp point, so it was still a great piercing weapon. It was 35 inches long and weighed just under 2 pounds." Dave explained.

The team sets up two more pig carcasses, one armored and one marked with spray paint, and the same rules apply. Zivon gives the countdown and the expert slashes into the abdomen, cutting right in the center of the paint and between the ribs. He brings it back and pierces well through the pig. He brings it overhead and chops down, cutting all the way down to the spine. He moves to the next target and thrusts underhand up into the armor, piercing at and the pig. "Well this sword isn't as powerful as the kilij but it's much sharper and thinner, hence why it slid right between the ribs, instant kill. Then you nearly decapitated him, another instant kill. But on the pierce you actually missed the target by about two inches and you'd actually miss any vital structures as you go from one side of the body to another, a lot of pain but no kill. But on the armor you went straight forward and hit the abdominal aorta, instant kill." Scarecrow said.

So which mid range weapon gets the edge? "I'm all in with the Tizona, that sword is legendary and it just proved to me why." DAM said.

"They are really well suited for cutting things up, but they both punctured armor, yeah one went deeper but every shot had the potential to kill from both, edge even." Scarecrow said.

"I see the shamshir as very light and the broadness of the Tizona parrying it may leave the user wide open to it's more devastating cut, edge Tizona." Zivon said.

EDGE: Tizona

Next, it's a reign beginning victory at Valencia against a miraculous recovery at Mohacs. Later, it's a rapier on steroids against among the deadliest sabers in history.

Battlefield Tactics:

Besiege & Ambush vs. Outnumber & Overwhelm

"What was El Cid's method to win battles?" DAM asked the El Cid expert.

"His usual tactic was siege warfare and attack any counterattacks while they're off guard, and there's no better instance than Valencia." He responded.

DAM uses the TouchTable to reenact the battle. "On July of 1093, Cid begins to lay siege to the city after a new Muslim regime overthrew the previous leader who he considered to be his "client". So he gets his logistics in order and builds a siege camp at the city of Juballa just outside the city. The Muslim garrison abandons the city but the new ruler, Ibn Jehhaf, refused to abandon. So El Cid closes closely in day after day and even burns down the cities suburbs to prevent them from getting supplies. As he closes closer and closer to the city, the intensity of his siege progresses and he's starving the people inside to the point of cannibalism. In June of 1094 the city is now his but it's far from secure. He receives intel that another Muslim army is coming to counterattack his position. So in December he takes the initiative and catches them off guard in an ambush, nearly destroying the entire army."

"What was the most prominent approach that Suleiman used?" DAM asked the Suleiman expert.

"He would use his great numbers in combination with the most disciplined soldiers to carry the day, and his finest hour was at Mohacs." He replied.

DAM uses the TouchTable once more to reenact the battle. "Suleiman has the overwhelming advantage of nearly 100,000 troops to the Hungarian 25,000, of which 12,000 are there elite, armored shock cavalry. The battle opens up and the armored cavalry goes storming ahead into the Ottoman center, their only hope is just a wild charge and then kill everything within reach. It actually causes the dispersal of an Ottoman cavalry unit and they move further in, but this is when all hopes of victory are crushed when they come up to a line of cannons chained together in an impenetrable wall and the Janissaries. Then the rest of the knights join the fray to be met with this cannon fire and fought desperately to reach Suleiman, but they were flanked on both sides and another Ottoman surge sent the Hungarians into a route, killing over half the army."

So which battlefield tactic does DAM give the edge? "I am shocked that Suleiman's greatest battle was where he allowed an army to do such a disorganized and audacious maneuver that almost ended up in his defeat! El Cid, on the other hand, did not play around and he took the initiatives in every situation, edge El Cid." DAM said.

EDGE: Besiege and Ambush

Close Range:

Colada vs. Kilij

"The colada was Cid's other sidearm and the second most famous. It was actually the inspiration for swords like the espada ropera because of its thrusting and slashing power. It was 39 inches long and weighed 2 pounds." Dave explained.

The team sets up two more pig carcasses, one marked with spray paint just as in the first test, and the other in Suleiman's armor. Zivon gives the countdown and, in a mighty two-handed swoop, cuts the pig right in two. He brings it back and effortlessly impales the pig through on the sword. He then brings it up and cuts deep into the pig, cutting down to halfway through the spine. He moves to the next pig and thrusts right beneath the circular chestplate, going right through and pushing the chainmail in the back. "The first shot is just incredible, that blade is so thin, so it must be very sharp and have great steel. The pierce is though both lungs and the heart, and the final one is a functional decapitation, instant kills all around. Then to this final shot, right through the guy's liver and out his back, not an instant kill but will definitely incapacitate." Scarecrow said.

"But you still have to get around my plates, the kilij can spear you anywhere on your armor even if it's meant to be a slasher." the Suleiman expert said.

So which close range weapon gets the edge? "You know what, I'm going with the colada on this, it has a much easier time thrusting and outreaches the kilij." Scarecrow said.

"I disagree, I love the kilij, it can cut a man in two in one swoop, and that weight at the tip gives it a spear like thrust, edge kilij." Zivon said.

"But you have to angle that blade to be able to thrust, with the colada; it's just a flick of the wrist and bam, done deal, edge colada." DAM said.

EDGE: Colada

Armor:

Steel Helmet & Chainmail Hauberk vs. Steel Turban Helmet & Ottoman Warrior Cuirass

"Suleiman is incorporating steel plates in his armor, he gets the edge." Scarecrow said.

"The helmets are similar, but Suleiman's armor is just more advanced." Zivon said.

"The entire testing the weapons of El Cid had to go around those steel plates, Suleiman's weapons had no trouble." DAM said.

EDGE: Suleiman the Magnificent

X-Factors

"First up we have strategy, Cid got this for always seeking the initiative to catch an enemy off guard and to attack only when necessary, so he got a 90 to Suleiman's 83 because Suleiman relied on his numbers and training rather than any tactical or strategic finesse. For initiative, again, El Cid thrived on the initiative, if Suleiman had take his initiatives, we may be praying towards Mecca right now, so Cid gets an 86 to Suleiman's 74. For generalship, Cid takes this because after his death his men were able to break a siege and win, Suleiman quickly lost military power after his failures at Vienna and was forced to put down rebellions, so Cid got an 85 to Suleiman's 78. For endurance, Suleiman is constantly on the move with his army, and only when old age gripped him was he forced to ride in carriage to battle, so Cid got an 80 to Suleiman's 85. Finally, leadership, Suleiman brought the Ottoman's to their highest extent, Valencia fell shortly after El Cid's death, so he gets a 71 to Suleiman's 93." Rob explained.

"Two people who crusaded against one another's religious groups in different periods, let's see who's on top this time." DAM said.

Cid OOOOO

Suleiman ooooo Ø ø

The battle begins in the Iberian Peninsula as El Cid and two of his four men search a clear, green, flat pasture for any ways to set up ambush for his next battle against the Moors. But a different Muslim intruder is nearby, Suleiman the Magnificent and his troops have wheeled around Africa and into the Iberian Peninsula, hoping to crush Europe on two ends. He and his Ottomans rise up a hill to this flat area and see El Cid and his men. Suleiman orders his men forward and everything about their walk is in-sync, from their legs lifting and feet hitting the ground. El Cid and his soldiers, not impressed, simply wait for them to get in reach. When the Ottomans get within 10 yards, two Castilian knights pop up and flank the Ottomans, one digging his dagger into the neck of an Ottoman, while the other impales another on his dagger through the chest (ø, ø). But they both meet the same fate as the other two Ottoman soldiers turn, raise their shamshirs, and slice them over the face backhandedly, once again completely in-sync (Ø, Ø). El Cid sends his other men forward to deal with the heathens, but the favor quickly turns as their marching onslaught continues with Suleiman chopping the head off one Castilian and quickly unsheathing his dagger and stabbing the other in the throat, letting him fall forward and force the entire blade out the back of his neck (Ø, Ø). Suleiman suddenly stops and has his men take on their last adversary, who unsheathes his colada. As they continue their slow walk, Cid wheels around to the one on his left and rips the right side of his neck wide open, from throat to spine, with a wicked swing (ø). He turns just as the other Ottoman brings his shamshir back underneath him and thrusts at him. Cid barely dodges this and stabs the Ottoman in the chest, who, in his last breath, grabs the blade and falls with it ripping it from Cid's hands (ø). He unsheathes his Tizona but can't turn as Suleiman slashes him across the thighs, forcing him to his knees in a shriek of pain. Suleiman walks around El Cid and kneels in front of him, sitting on his haunches, and simply smirks and shakes his head at him. He rises and goes behind Cid, who feels a cold steel against his neck. Suleiman brings it to his side to behead his adversary and swings, but El Cid drops to the ground at the last moment, rolls over, and swings at Suleiman, cutting off both his hands and sending the sultan to the ground, hunched over in agony on his knees. Cid slowly rises and raises his sword up above his head and brings it down, cutting Suleiman's head right off (ø). He raises his sword, with a smile, and shouts, "El Tizona!"

Cid: Suleiman:

Colada: 51% Kilij: 49%

Tizona: 54% Shamshir: 46%

Misericorde Dagger: 46% Khanjar: 54%

Armor Fail Rate: Armor Fail Rate:

Helmet: 2% Helmet: 4%

Armor: 32% Armor: 14%

2,509 Wins 2,491 Wins

X-Factors:

Strategy: 90 Strategy: 83

Initiative: 86 Initiative: 74

Generalship: 85 Generalship: 78

Endurance: 80 Endurance: 85

Leadership: 71 Leadership: 93

"The reason El Cid won was because he had superior steel in his swords, and he was adept at setting ambushes and traps. But Suleiman's armor was holding out much more and his more disciplined troops nearly carried him to the day, but Cid just had the swords and X-factors to back him up." Rob explained.

Next Week: It's a match-up so insane, so controversial, and so secret; you'll have to tune in next week to find out what it is!

June 1st: The four-part Back for Blood special returns, with the two deadliest warriors and two deadliest generals squaring off to see who can dethrone Hannibal and the landsknecht dopplesoldner

August 17th: Simón Bolívar vs. George Washington

Wow, just one more to go! I'm really gonna miss uploading these until June, oh well! Also to clear up any confusion, the poll was for the show Deadliest Warrior, not the story. Now for the first part of big news…Deadliest Warrior will end after Season 5. Season 5 is confirmed but the date is pending, I'm just out of original match-ups of ancient or semi-modern warriors to fight, maybe if I do more research and come up with/get ideas from you guys Season 6 may be a possibility, keep your fingers crossed. To find out what my future plans are for FanFiction after this all ends, tune in next week to find out! And as always, follow me on Twitter DeadAliveManiac. Wish me luck at state for forensics today, I'll tweet the deats about how I did!