User blog comment:FilipinoWarrior/Maharlika vs Aztec Jaguar/@comment-379205-20130116040603

119's "Hunting Jaguars" Edges

Spears: The Tepoztopilli can be used to slash as well as thrust, however, the sibat has a more durable metal head, and is better for thrusting, which typically causes the most severe injuries. Edge: Maharlika.

Swords: While the Filipino swords such as the Dahon Palay and Talibong have metal blades, and would definitely pierce the Aztec's cotton armor, and the king cobra venom could make even a glancing hit fatal, One cannot ignore the greater length of the macuahuitl and its formidable cutting power of the rows of razor-sharp obsidian blades, capable of cutting and tearing flesh in a sawing action. Both weapons have their advantages, so for this one, Even.

Ranged weapons: The Pana bow and arrow can fire further than the atlatl, allowing the Maharlika to pick off the Aztecs from a longer range. Edge: Maharlika.

Special Weapons: The Sumpit Bakakay blowgun fires a dart tipped in a deadly poison such as king cobra venom. This allows the weapon be lethal, or at least severely debilitating with any hit that breaks the skin. The blowgun is also more accurate than the tematlatl. Edge: Maharlika.

Armor: The ironwood shield is harder than the chimali, meaning it will better stand up to the blows of the enemy. The brass chain mail and leather should be able to stand up to the slashing attacks of the Aztec weapons, while the brine-soaked cotton could be pierced by a powerful thrust such as that of from a kalis or other Filipino sword.

X-Factors: The Maharlika take the important X-Factors of training, with their mastery of eskrima/kalis/arnis- and from what I've seen of film of eskrima bouts, even practice fights with sticks can be brutal, no doubt with swords in hand, a skilled practitioner of eskrima would be a formidable opponent to just about any melee combatant. Not to mention that the Aztecs would sometimes try to capture rather than kills, while the Maharlika would always fight with lethal intent.

Overall Winner: In my opinion, the the Maharlika will win this battle for a number of reasons. First, they have steel weapons, which, even more than gunpowder, allowed the Spanish to outclass the Aztecs in combat during the 1521 conquest. The use of king cobra venom on their swords and blow darts only adds to this lethality. The Maharlika also have brass chain mail armor over leather, which will resist the primarily slashing attacks of the tepoztopilli and macuahuitl. Finally, their training in eskrima makes them masters of close combat.