Spartan: The battlefield butcher of ancient Greece do resisted Persian tyranny.
(A spartan is seen slamming his aspis into a Persian, then finishing him off with his xiphos.)
vs
Scottish Highlander: Fierce Gaelic speaking titans who fought for Scottish independence.
(A group of Highlanders are seen slaughtering a group of English knights.)
WHO IS DEADLIEST?
To find out, we've assembled a team of world class fighters to test history's most lethal weapons. Using 21st century science, we'll see what happens when two warriors go toe to toe.
No rules. No safety. No mercy. It's a duel to the death to decide who is…THE DEADLIEST WARRIOR!
Here in our elite fight club we have gathered doctors, medical scientists and weapons experts to test out the lethal arsenals wielded by each of our combatants to determine who would win a fight between two fierce warriors.
Spartan:
Circa: 480 B.C.
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 165 lbs.
Armor: Bronze Cuirass, Greaves and Arm Guards, Corinthian Helmet
Scottish Highlander:
Circa: 1350
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 175 lbs.
Armor: Chainmail
"Today, we have a battle between two warriors who were very ferocious and defended their respective nations against their invaders. The Highlanders fought for Scottish independence and the Spartans fought against Persian tyranny."
"I'm siding with the spartan." Biomedical engineer Geoff Desmoulin said. " They endured the toughest training ever in history, designed to create the perfect soldier."
"I'm siding with the highlander." Trauma doctor Armand Dorian says." They fought with an unmatched ferocity to preserve Scottish independence."
Coming from the ancient city state of Sparta, every aspect of society was geared towards producing the perfect soldier.
"When an infant was born, they were carefully inspected by the elders. If there were any imperfections detected, you would quickly be cast off the cliff. At the age of 7, a boy would be trained to kill his enemies in one of the hardest training regimes ever known to man, one so brutal it was believed to have been the inspiration behind the grueling regime for today's Spetsnaz operatives," Mack explained.
The Spartans eventually fought their way into history during the Greco-Persian War, particularly at the famed Battle of Thermopylae, in which 300 Spartan warriors led by King Leonidas I went up against a force of Persian warriors numbering in the hundreds of thousands, fighting to the last man.
"These were Spartans we are talking about here. They knew they were outnumbered and likely going to die, but they didn't let that stop them from making one final stand in what could have been akin to an ancient version of the defense of the Alamo. It was their sacrifice which helped save Europe from Persian tyranny," Mack finished.
The bronze powerhouse was outfitted with an assortment of brutal weapons that enabled him to cut down all who stood before him:
Short Range: Xiphos
Mid-Range: Dory
Long Range: Javelin
Special: Aspis
Today the bronze powerhouse goes up against an equally vicious adversary. One who fought to free their nation.
The Scottish Highlanders were peasants who took up arms against English rule in the 12th and 13th centuries. Most famously led by William Wallace. They managed to inflict numerous defeats on their English oppressors but we're defeated just as often themselves.
"The English eventually left but the reason is debatable on why left. Maybe the highlanders were responsible or pressure form nations like Spain and France forces the English to withdraw." Mack explains.
The Gallic speaking titan carried a deadly arsenal that slayed many Englishmen.
Short Range: Scottish Broadsword.
Mid Range: Claymore
Long: English Longbow
Special: Target Shield & Dirk Dagger
Both warriors were fierce close combatants. The spartan will be up first.
"The Xiphos was a short sword measuring only a foot in length and weighing two pounds," weapons maker Dave Baker explained, "It had a leaf-shaped blade which made it easier to thrust and pull out of thick armor while causing more trauma in the process."
Spartan expert Barry Jacobsen stood with his xiphos in hand.
"Okay Barry, we'll have you test out the sword on a torso outfitted in your opponent's armor." Geoff explained.
Barry walked up to the torso, with a mighty thrust. He got through the armor with the entire blade in the body.
Dr. Dorian walks over to inspect the damage.
"Wow Barry, this sword got all the way into the body. You destroyed his heart and also severed the spine, instant kill."
"But then again, your sword is really small, ours is better and made of superior metals." Highlander expert Kieron Elliot says.
The highlander responds with his own deadly blade.
"The Scottish broadsword had an ornate basket hilt, giving it a great amount of protection on all sides, as well as a straight, double-edged blade the tapered to a fine point. It was 3 feet long and three pounds in weight." Dave explained.
Kieron stands before a torso outfitted with spartan armor. He will be given 3 swings to see what damage he can inflict.
" On 3...2...1...go!"
Kieron roars as he swings his sword horizontally at the cuirass, leaving a very impressive dent, he than loads up for another swing, hitting beyond the first dent denting it further. He finishes with a stab to the armor. Penetrating enough to break skin.
"Wow, I'm very impressed. Your two swings to the armor dented it severely and by the readings we got, he will suffer some broken ribs. And that stab to the armor penetrated enough to cause a flesh wound.
Both sides have shown their damage capabilities. Which gets the edge?
"I'm giving the edge to the scottish broadsword." Geoff started off. " The xiphos does penetrate the chainmail, but the broadsword has the superior materials and does impressive damage to the spartan armor."
"Despite that, I give it to the xiphos, better maneuver ability and penetrated armor." Edge xiphos " Dr. Dorian counters.
The tie break falls onto Mack.
"I still give it to the broadsword, superior materials and has more options. Edge Scottish broadsword."
In short range weapons, the highlander takes the edge with his broadsword.
Coming up, both warriors show off their mid ranged weapons when the spartan's most well known weapon goes against a gigantic sword.
XXXX
Now our warriors will unveil their mid ranged weapons, the highlander will be up first.
"The claymore was a large, two-handed sword used by the Scottish Highlanders," Dave started, "At over 4 and a half feet long and weighing in at 5 and a half pounds it was one of the most intimidating weapons in Wallace's arsenal. With its weight and strong carbon steel it was primarily used as a slashing weapon, able to sever heads with ease ."
Kieron stood before three skulls with meat under them to simulate necks.
"Okay Kieron, for this test, we want to see if you can sever all these heads with ease, up to the challenge?" Geoff explained.
"No sweat. " Kieron replied with a confident smirk.
"On 3...2...1... Swing it!"
Kieron swung his claymore and the blade effortlessly severs through all the heads with the panelists cheering in the background.
Dr. Dorian walked over.
"We have three kills. You lopped through all three meat necks and took the lower jaws off two of the three skulls," Dr. Dorian explained.
"Now let's see what your sword can do against armor." Mack said.
Geoff brings a torso outfitted in the spartan's cuirass, shield and helmet.
Kieron then loads up for a powerful swing at the shield, leaving quite a dent in it. He then stabs the claymore into the armor, getting a good amount of penetration. He finishes with a swing to the helmet which destroys the plume and cracks the helmet.
"Alright, with your swing to the shield, you dented it impressively, but with the readings we got, not enough to break the arm but he'll feel it. Your stab achieved penetration and got into his heart. Instant kill. Your swing to the helmet is impressive. You dented it severely and cracked the helmet and caused a massive skull fracture for a near instant kill."
"Wow. That weapon sucks." Barry yelled from the sidelines. " So slow and unwieldy and we have a shield." Our weapon will poke holes into your armor."
The spartan responds with his famed weapon.
"The dory was the chief weapon of the Spartan hoplite, used most famously in their phalanx formation," Dave explained, "It was eight feet long and weighed five pounds. On one end you have the main weapon, the iron spearhead, and on the other you have the butt spike known as a 'Lizard Killer' that can be used as a secondary weapon, but was mainly used for stabbing downed enemies as they passed over them."
Barry stood ready with his dory spear. A torso wearing Scottish armor is set up.
"Alright Barry, you know the drill man." Geoff says.
With that, Barry thrusts his spear into his target, the spearhead penetrating the chainmail with ease.
Dr. Dorian walks up as Barry pulls the spear out.
"Impressive, you managed to penetrate his armor and it was deep enough to destroy his heart for an instant kill."
"Well the claymore will just cut that toothpick in half." Kieron said unimpressed.
Both sides have shown their mid ranged weapons, who gets the edge?
"Despite the dory getting through the highlander's armor, I have to give it to the claymore, it does massive damage to the spartan armor and more blade to it, more blade equals more options." Geoff explained.
"Agreed, the dory can easily be cut in half by the claymore plus it is made of superior metals." Edge claymore." Dorian agreed.
"I couldn't agree more, edge claymore. " Mack finishes.
In mid ranged weapons, the highlander takes the edge with his claymore.
Coming up, two long range weapons will be brought out when a missle goes against a legendary bow.
XXXX
Now our warriors will test out their long ranged weapons, the spartan will show his first.
"The javelin is a three foot long throwing spear with a small bronze tip on a short shaft," Dave explained, "It was typically used by a class of light infantry known as the 'peltast' and was thrown just before engaging their enemies at close range."
Barry stood with two javelins, he will attack a torso wearing highlander armor.
"Alright Barry, on 3...2...1...go!"
Barry tossed his first javelin at the target, the javelin achieved peneteration. The second javelin is tossed and lodges in the torso's face.
Dr Dorian assesses the damage done.
"The first javelin got through the chainmail and managed to get into his lung for an incapacitating injury. The second got into his face and got through his cheek bone, instant death."
"Your javelin belongs in the Olympics, our bow will go through your armor like butter." Kieron said unimpressed.
After reviewing the longbow testing from Mughal Warrior vs English Longbowman and the decision is as easy as ever.
"This decision is too easy. Even with the aspis in the way, the longbow still outranges the javelin. Edge javelin." Geoff starts.
"Even is the javelin can penetrate the highlander's chainmail, the longbow can definitely go through the spartan's armor. Edge longbow." Dorian said.
"You both just spoke for me. Edge longbow. " Mack says.
In long range weapons, the highlander takes the edge with the English longbow
Coming up, two shields will dish out damage and then later, spartan meets Scottish highlander in a duel to the death.
XXXX
The time has come for both warriors to reveal their shields. Up first will be the spartan.
"The aspis is one of the largest shields ever used, four feet in diameter and weighing in at 24 pounds," Dave explained, "It consisted of several layers of riveted wooden planks covered in a layer of bronze with a layer of leather in between to absorb the shock. It can break necks and shatter skulls with relative ease."
To test the lethality of the shield, the panel has set up a crash test dummy with four pressure sensors placed around the body.
"Alright Barry, show us what you can do, in 3…2…1!" Geoff shouted.
Barry whirled the shield back around his hip and swung it sideways, striking the dummy in its torso before drawing back again and striking it in the temple before going for another rapid swing and striking it in the neck. To finish his enemy, he brought the shield up in front of him and charged forward, knocking it from its supports and sending it collapsing to the floor, the weapons expert adding one final stomp to his downed opponent's head.
"Your first shot was swung at an angle that caught your target in both his chest and his upper arm. This man would have broken ribs, damage to internal organs and you've shattered the bones in his upper arm, rendering it useless. Your strike to the temple inflicted 45 G's of pressure, that's enough to cause a depressed skull fracture and send pieces into the man's brain, causing a laceration and with it an immediate kill. Your shot to the neck would have broken the man's C1 vertebrae, instant death," Dr. Dorian explained.
"What's also impressive if that you managed to generate anywhere between 45 and 58 G's with each strike, roughly the same force of a low speed collision or an IED explosion," Geoff added.
"There is the question of fatigue though," Mack added.
"Spartans were trained since early childhood and by the time their training was complete, they would have hefted this shield like it was nothing," Barry replied.
Next, we test the Highlander's weapons to see what damage it can do.
Kieron stood ready with his broadsword. With a mighty swing, he managed to dent the shield. He then moves on to his claymore and swings it as hard as he could, the sword leaving an impressive dent. He backs up and stabs the shield, an inch of the blade managed to get through. He then gets the longbow and loads up a bodkin arrow and fires. The arrow penetrating before falling out.
Dr. Dorian walks over.
"I'm seeing decent damage dine to the shield. The broadsword only left a small indentation which won't cause much damage. The claymore however, you managed to swing with enough force to break an a bone in the spartan's arm. Your stab achieved an inch of penetration. Your arrow managed to penetrate although it wasn't enough to damage the guy behind it."
"That shield it way too big and heavy. Ours is deadly and it combined with our dagger its an onslaught." Kieron said.
The highlander responds with his shield and dagger combo
"The target was made of wood covered in cowhide with a steel spike, around 21 inches in diameter and 5 pounds, this protects and attacks, and it was commonly paired with the dirk dagger. "The dirk was a common backup weapon for a sword primarily used for stabbing, but could also slash when necessary. It could vary anywhere between 6 and 25 inches in length, the one shown here being 20 inches, and weighed less than a pound," Dave explained.
Kieron stood ready with his targe and dirk combo. He will be attacking a torso in spartan armor.
" Okay Kieron, on 3...2...1...go!" Geoff yells.
Kieron launches himself at the torso with his shield held in front of him. The spike penetrated all the way through. He then takes his dirk and stabs it through the torso's eye.
Dr. Dorian assesses the damage.
"I'm impressed, your spike got all the way through into the armor. Getting his heart for a near instant kill. And your dagger got through the eye and into the bottom portion of the brain, another instant kill."
Both shields have demonstrated their ability to kill, which gets the edge.
"I like both shields, but the aspis is much larger and hits a whole lot harder, even with the spike and dirk, the targe is miniscule in comparison to the damage the aspis can inflict. Edge aspis." Geoff started off.
"True, I wanted to call it even but the aspis is the superior shield despite being centuries apart. Edge aspis. " Dorian said.
"Agreed, being a offensive as well as defensive give the aspis the edge." Mack concludes.
In special weapons, the spartan gets the edge with his aspis.
Coming up, the X-factors of each warrior are gauged and then after that, we finally have our battle to determine who is…THE DEADLIEST WARRIOR!
XXXX
And now Mack will gauge the X-factors of each warrior.
"Training will be up first. This obviously went to the spartan. They were trained since childhood and the training was ridiculously hard. The highlanders were peasants. The spartan gets a 100 to the highlander's 77."
"Physicality is also considered. The spartan is well conditioned in his training while the highlander was a bigger guy but the spartan is better conditioned. He gets a 95 to the highlander's 87."
"Killer instinct is also factored. Both men fought for their reasons. The spartan fought to prevent Persian tyranny and the highlander fought for Scottish independence. Both are given a 100."
"For ferocity, both are very brutal warriors. Both are given 93 each."
"Lastly we have intimidation. One side you have the larger highlander charging you with deadly weapons and the other is an armored killing machine. Both are given 93 each."
Our scientists and weapons experts are done testing the results and the time has come to decide who will be the victor. To ensure the battle won't be decided by a single lucky blow, the battle will be simulated one thousand times in a duel to the death.
"This is a battle between two of warriors who fought for their respective nations. Let's flip the switch." Mack says.
XXXX
A lone spartan hoplite is walking along on a beach on the spartan coastline. He and his fellow Spartans are at war with a previously unknown group of warriors from across the English channel. He is sent on patrol to see if he can find any foreign enemies. He continues walking when suddenly an arrow lands in front of him.
He jumps back and looks up to see a gigantic man standing atop the rocks. He has met a highlander. The spartan senses danger and let's out a cry challenging the Scottish man.
In the midst of his war cry, the highlander has already fired an arrow at the spartan and it hits him in the chest, penetrating his armor. The spartan was caught off guard. The arrow did cut his skin but he pulls out the arrow and shrugs it off.
The highlander then draws his broadsword and targe and descends down the hill to face the spartan. Both then mount a charge at each other with their shields held in front of them. They hit each other with the highlander's massive size helping him hit the spartan back and the highlander attempts a swing with his broadsword. The Greek warrior blocks with his aspis and takes out his dory.
The Scottish warrior isn't afraid and both circle each other. The spartan would attack first with a thrust from his dory, but the highlander rolls around it and with a swing of his broadsword, cuts the dory in half. The spartan makes a retreat and the highlander chases.
The spartan quickly draws his javelin and turns around to hurl it at his opponent, the javelin merely flies by his enemy's head. The highlander then approaches and does an overhead chop to the spartan's head but the hoplite lifts his aspis in time to block it.
Seeing an opening, the spartan draws his xiphos and quickly stabs the Scottish man in his side.
The highlander grunts in pain and shoves the spartan away into a tree. The highlander then charges with his shield's spike with the intent to impale the spartan, but the hoplite moves out the way and the spike gets lodged in the tree.
The spartan then stabs the highlander in the shield arm and he lets go of his targe and quickly draws his dirk to stab the spartan. The highlander manages to find an opening and stabs the spartan in his shield arm. The spartan grunts and with his aspis, swats the highlander away.
The highlander, now royally pissed slowly draws his massive claymore. The spartan is not intimidated by this large blade and charges the highlander who in return swings a mighty swing with his claymore at the aspis.
The claymore hit with so much force the spartan felt it and can feel one in his arm get fractured. He shrugs it off anyway and tried to stab the highlander with his sword. The highlander rolls around the spartan's attempt to stab him, he ends up behind the spartan and swings his claymore downward and severs the spartan's legs right from underneath him. The spartan falls to the ground legless and yelling in pain and lifts his shield to protect him.
The highlander then mercilessly beats the aspis down with his claymore. Denting it more and more until the spartan can no longer take the pain of his broken arm from the repeated swings.
He drops his shield knowing he has been defeated. The highlander then stands over him and looks the spartan in his eyes.
With a final nod, he thrusts the claymore down into the Spartan's helmet and stabs him through the opening of his helmet into his eye.
The highlander withdraws his claymore, raises it high above his head then roars in victory.
XXXX
Winner: Scottish Highlander
Scottish Highlander: 512
Scottish Broadsword: 101
Claymore: 266
English Longbow: 40
Targe & Dirk: 105
Spartan: 488
Xiphos: 98
Dory: 155
Javelin: 10
Aspis: 225
In a incredible battle between two titanic warriors, the Scottish highlander narrowly seizes victory. It was thanks to his massive claymore sword and targe and dirk combo. The spartan was no pushover, with his aspis scoring the most kills in his arsenal.
"Wow, I'm actually surprised. I thought the Spartan's shield would be too much for the highlander to overcome. I was proven wrong. When you look at it, the highlander's weapons were made of superior materials while the spartan was better trained. The highlander's claymore proved too much even for the spartan, steel always beats bronze." Geoff explained.
(The highlander is seen walking back to his campsite. Strapped to his back is the spartan's aspis. A souvenir of their battle and homage to a new adversary.)
XXXX
Next time on Deadliest Warrior, two black powder marksman from the 16th century face off.
Ottoman Janissary: The battle hardened slave soldiers who fought to expand the Ottoman empire.
vs
Conquistador: Vicious slayers of the Aztec empire.
WHO...IS...DEADLIEST?
XXXX
Well that concludes this match! There are some who may disagree with this match up. Most people I spoke to gave their edge to the highlander so I went with what they said. For this who have seen my list for the entire season, I would like to say matches I look forward to writing are N.V.A. vs Wehrmacht, Marine Raiders vs Viet Cong and Saxon Huscarl vs Byzantine Soldier. Once again, please contribute to who you think will win. Also, I need to have someone fight the French Foreign Legion and I also plan to have the U.S. Army Rangers go against someone and also Somali Pirates.