User blog comment:123chaseyoung/Knights Hospitaller vs Sohei Monks/@comment-2600:1700:F7B1:4D20:B5A5:1A52:587E:2CB0-20171103162334

GT25's Edges

Close Range (Knightly Sword vs. Katana): This one is relatively easy for me to call. The Knightly, or Arming, Sword would be better at thrusts than the curved blade of the Katana and gives the wielder more options in a fight. Despite the fame that the Katana has gained, I'd prefer having a sword that gives you more options than a sword that has a focus on one type of attack. Edge: Knights Hospitaller

Medium Range (Halberd vs. Naginata): This is essentially the Bardiche vs. Alabarda from Deadliest Warrior to me. The Naginata may be better at slashing and possibly could be used for thrusting, the Halberd could be used to dismount a mounted warrior and has more options for the user at their disposal. Add in a slight reach advantage and the Naginata's fate is sealed. Edge: Knights Hospitaller

Long Range (Steel Crossbow vs. Yumi Bow): To be honest, the Sohei are at the biggest disadvantage on this one. I've tried to look up information before regarding if the Yumi Bow could penetrate medieval chainmail and I never found an answer to my question. However, in penetrating plate armor, I wouldn't be surprised if the arrows just bounce off. Even if it can be used on horseback, the Crossbow is easier to be used and might penetrate the do-maru of the Sohei (though, again, information regarding crossbow vs. Japanese armor is hard to come by when I tried to find it). So, I'll give a slight edge to the Crossbow. Edge: Knights Hospitaller

Special Weapons (European Matchlock Musket vs. Tanegashima Musket): Strangely, the European Musket have about the same range as the Japanese Musket and has the larger caliber "bullet" of the two. However, the Tanegashima has a front sight (based off what Elgb333 said, I couldn't find out with a quick google search) which would make it more accurate. I can't agree with Elgb333 on its reliability, as another quick google search lead me to finding them to actually being effected by moisture and rain. However, I'd still give the Tanegashima the edge, but only slightly as it has a front sight and the European musket has the larger caliber "bullet". Edge: Sohei Monks

Armor (Plate Armor, Closed Helmet/Morion Helmet, Chainmail/Gambeson vs. Do-maru, Kabuto): I find this rather weird as the Sohei tend to have a head scarf on their head as shown in profile picture you've supplied. However, even with that, I'm still going to side with the Knight Hospitaller on this one. Essentially, the iron plates and scales of the Sohei's armor won't stand up too well against the steel weapons of the knight, could fail against armor-piercing bolts from the crossbow, and simply fail to the European musket. The Plate armor plus the chainmail or gambeson would be more capable of protecting the wielder from a majority of the Samurai's weapons with the sole exception of the Tanegashima. Another thing is, if the Sohei don't have the mask worn with the Kabuto, the Closed Helmet would be the better of the two helmets. Edge: Knights Hospitaller

X-Factors: Starting off, it's the Knights Hospitaller's 86 to the Sohei Monk's 81.3. The Knights have a massive advantage in battlefield experience while the Monks have an advantage in brutality and both are even in tactics. However, being more brutal only gets you so far while having more battlefield experience gives you more to work with in a fight. So, with the edge in battlefied experience and the higher average, I'm giving this one to the Knight. Edge: Knights Hospitaller

Overall: Yeah, this one is no contest. The Knights Hospitaller have the edge in x-factors and dominate in the weapon categories with the exception with Special Weapons. However, this doesn't really help the Sohei Monks as their other weapons don't have the ability to break through the armor of their newest opponent. Even in a five-on-five battle with mounted warriors, the Knights can use their Halberds to take out the mounted warriors when in reach or simply shot them off with their muskets or crossbows. Once the mounted warriors are taken care off, the Knights would simply mop up the rest. On the other hand, the Sohei Monks can only dismount the Knights on horseback by using their long range weapons as the Naginata would be relatively poor at dismounting like the Bardiche. So, with the better arsenal, x-factors, and armor, the Knights simply have more working for them in this match.