User blog comment:SPARTAN 119/Monster Rats (Shin Sekai Yori) VS Goblins (Goblin Slayer)/@comment-26395956-20190209072040

'MD 33's Vote: Skaven vs Greenskins, Anyone? No?'

Daggers: Serrated Blade vs Straight Dagger

The Goblins easily win this one. Serrated weapons are more impractical than regular weapons, to begin with since they can get stuck upon an enemy. The rats' blade is shorter, anyway, and it is less versatile compared to the goblins' double-edged dagger. Easy win for the goblins here.

Melee: Katana vs Short Sword

The short sword once again gets the edge in versatility, but it lacks the range these short warriors need to have an advantage in this battle. The Monster Rats take this because of the katana's greater range which will benefit them greatly. The short sword is more mobile, but that ultimately means nothing if the goblins can't get in real close. Power-wise, both of these weapons are going to deal the same amount of damage since none of these guys wear armor, anyways.

Spears: Monster Rat Spears vs Goblin Spears

The rats have the advantage of having superior metallurgy among their spears thanks to the presence of steel. However, they also have simply sharpened bamboos that are basically meaningless against the more uniform goblin spears that utilize stone and metal materials. This one goes to the Goblins. They don't have the best of metals, but they sure have more consistency that allows them to deal with rats with worse spears while also being able to keep up with they who wield steel spears.

Special Weapons: Breech-loading Matchlock Carbine vs Goblin Magic

If Warhammer Fantasy has taught me anything, it is the fact that utilizing the Winds of Magic as a method of smiting scores of enemies is more effective than using hails of primitive bullets to mow down enemy mobs. Problem is, this isn't Warhammer World and the Goblins' shamans are pretty much handicapped. Their magic needs a wind-up time and that is already a disadvantage for the goblins in trying to get the first strike. The carbine needs reloading, but it's quicker to use and is more devastating. Don't get me wrong, getting scorched by fireballs is painful, but not if you can shoot the mage first with your guns. This one goes to the Monster Rats.

Heavies: Mutant Monster Rat vs Goblin Champion

This easily goes to the Goblins. Comparing the Mutant Monster Rat against the Goblin Champion is like comparing a Rat Ogre to a Big 'Un or an Irongut. One is especially big and intimidating to mere men, wielding a giant club that can wreck through enemy waves and sowing chaos overall. The other one, though? It is just as big and strong (perhaps even stronger and definitely bigger) and wears better armor in addition to better weapons. Their weapons are both effective against armor (the flail and club) and flesh (the sword) and they're just meaner and will prove to be demoralizing to the Monster Rats. You wanna unleash a giant to instill fear upon our ranks and inspire yours? Our giants are bigger AND better!

War Beasts: Balloon Dogs vs Wolf Mounts

The wolf mounts grant the goblins a greater amount of mobility while the balloon dogs basically act as single-use frag grenades with the ability to control the crowd. For all the dogs' devastating effect, however, as I said, they're ultimately single-use and they will slowly eat out their own numbers. The wolves can scare the rats, but with a few pokes of spears, they too will die slowly. At the end, which one is the better choice? The suicide bomber or the cavalry? I'll give this one to the Monster Rats. Took me a while, really. I was considering to give the goblins the edge until I remembered their lack of armor. Unlike those Greenskin boar riders and Bretonnian knights, they have neither the endurance nor armor to take damage. As such, the balloon dogs' kamikaze attacks will deliver the bigger damage here and wreck stacks of goblin units no problem.

Leaders: Queek Headtaker vs Skarsnik Squealer vs Goblin Lord

Apologies for the extra Warhammer Fantasy reference. I just can't think of any other things other than that the moment I saw this battle, Spartan (XD). Unlike my analogy, however, the Goblin Lord is actually bigger than both Queek or Skarsnik. Oh and Squealer, too. The Goblin is definitely the stronger leader in this battle and his ax can cleave through those stunted rats easily. He also wears a type of armor that's just as strong as Squealer's own. In a fight between the two, the Goblin Lord is going to outright own Yakamoru. Problem? Squealer's not even going to see him directly due to his lack of preference in direct combat. Instead, we have to judge this based on their capability as leaders. As my comrades have said, the Goblin Lord commands more with fear than respect and has little tactical brilliance. The Squealer, on the other hand, is a true leader whose followers will obey him to death. His weapons are superior, too, mostly thanks to the carbine's presence. I'll give this one to the leader of the Monster Rats for his superior tactics and weapons.

X-Factors: The Hordes of Destruction, Anime Edition

Monster Rats: 74.375

Goblins: 54.375

EDGE: Monster Rats

WINNER: MONSTER RATS

The anime Skaven have triumphed over the anime Night Goblins. The goblins are terrifying opponents in their own rights, having titanic champions to back up their ranks with powerful spears that are generally more balanced than the rats' own. For all their strengths, however, the Monster Rats just bring more to the table. They train harder, they fought more battles, they're tactically superior, and they even have some decent armor to help them win the fight. Not to mention their matchlock carbines that are basically artillery in-battle and can wreck havoc upon the goblin ranks. Then we remember the balloon dogs which can basically render entire goblin lines into nothing but smothering puddles of blood. They can also blow up the wolves, yo! Overall, the Ska-I mean Monster Rats win this for their superior tactics, leader, and better units all around. And weapons.