Current Events > Zombie apocalypse: Spear or Katana

(+) Yeah! (+)

What kinda zombies?

If its the classic, lumbering, dumbass zombies Id choose the katana. If Im in a combat situation with these zombies, its likely that distance has already been compromised and Im being swarmed. My main concern would be with clearing a path as quickly as possible. I actually do have some sword training. Not enough to brag about, but enough that I think I could wield one effectively against the horror equivalent of Mr. Sandbag. >_>

If its the fast, actively hunting zombies, Id pick the spear. They tend to be much more dangerous to engage in close combat and Id want to focus on disabling.

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I'm not so sure I'd want either in this scenario

LordYeezus posted...

I'm not just talking about a regular spears, I mean like the ones you'd find in JRPGs. Choose your weapon.

You don't say...

https://blazblue.fandom.com/wiki/Gallia_Sphyra:_Outseal

Outseal is an Immortal Breaker, a weapon capable of defeating the undead. Similarly to the Izayoi, which was based on a Legacy Weapon, Outseal has the ability to harm immortal beings.

Just ignore that part about only Mai being able to use it.

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Xavier_On_High posted...

I don't know why you think that. A katana absolutely can cut off heads and limbs. Even if it doesn't slice through the bone, the sheer impact can tear the head off anyway.

I'm not a katana cultist, btw; this is true of most swords of similar length, weight and sharpness. A falchion or langmesser, for instance.

There is no way you're slicing off a head clean in one go with a katana on a fresh corpse. Maybe with some practice, or with the proper positioning. But zombies move. The cut will be dirty, and you will certainly be slowed by the bone and mass and the like.

Katanas can cut off limbs, but they're not half as likely as, say, a claymore.
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Katanas are trash swords for actual combat so spear all the way.

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Vyrulisse posted...

Katanas are trash swords for actual combat so spear all the way.

Came in to say this. Ceremonial, fragile, delicate sword that requires expert form or a standard weapon for all civilizations for thousands of years?

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CommunismFTW posted...

Came in to say this. Ceremonial, fragile, delicate sword that requires expert form or a standard weapon for all civilizations for thousands of years?

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nfearurspecimn posted...

A spear is much more practical for most situations.

This.

Against zombies, katana. When the katana is dull it's still a lump of metal to bash in skulls.

Impale a zombie with a spear they'd walk up the shaft and get you.


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Speaking as someone who has tried to fit a shovel into his car, I'll take the katana.

Xavier_On_High posted...

I don't know why you think that. A katana absolutely can cut off heads and limbs. Even if it doesn't slice through the bone, the sheer impact can tear the head off anyway.

I'm not a katana cultist, btw; this is true of most swords of similar length, weight and sharpness. A falchion or langmesser, for instance.

It is true for most swords, but specifically not for katana.

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Spears are better than swords for damn near any kind of fighting that isn't enclosed

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Katana so I can die like a badass and not like a fucking lame-ass spear-guy.

A spear is more practical in most regards since it's more user-friendly and has better reach.

The problem with a katana is that it can only slash or stab, either of which can get your weapon stuck. Conversely, you can use the blunt parts of a spear against zombies, which is actually more effective than trying to just slash when you have multiple opponents where your focus is more a matter of keeping distance.

jumi posted...

Spear is slow, breaks easily, and is useless in close quarters. Katana all the way.

Though a machete would be preferable to both.

A katana is also useless in close quarters. However, spears are much faster than katanas -- a thrust is FAR faster than a swing because you have less start-up. Plus spears don't break easily.

And machetes kinda suck. You'd be better off with a cudgel of some kind.

pogo_rabid posted...

It was the gold standard because they could give them to untrained peasant conscripts and they could be effective with it.

It was the gold standard because it's an absurdly effective weapon as well. The fact that it requires less training is a byproduct of that absurd effectiveness. It actually has fewer problems with upkeep.

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Lol @ spears breaking easily and being slow

Not even a little bit true

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https://youtu.be/txzZYhLd5Ys

can spears do this? didnt think so

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spear is the king of weapons.

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a spear with a katana attached to the end

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ModLogic posted...

https://youtu.be/txzZYhLd5Ys

can spears do this? didnt think so

I mean... if we are using fantasy Katanas... I'd rather this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC7FEQqSpc8

I dunno, Dante sliced through a giant monument thing, but Mai pretty much turns everything in sight into wasteland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAiSI2vJDnM

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Guerrilla Soldier posted...

a spear with a katana attached to the end

that's just a Naginata.

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Wait. I change my answer to spear under the condition I get to be Seong Mina



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Tough choice for me, tbh. I think I would have to go with a Katana because you don't have any protection from the sides with a long spear. Sure, if you're in a hall way and everything is in front if you, you're great. But if you're surrounded, you're fucked.


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Bad_Mojo posted...

Tough choice for me, tbh. I think I would have to go with a Katana because you don't have any protection from the sides with a long spear. Sure, if you're in a hall way and everything is in front if you, you're great. But if you're surrounded, you're fucked.

You use the range and back off, maneuvering around your opponent since they can't get to you

In a fight between a sword and a spear, unless in an enclosed area, the spear has a tremendous advantage. Far easier to keep an opponent on their toes using the range. You can basically toy with them until they open up. But obviously zombies are not a regular opponent

If you're surrounded by zombies you're probably fucked either way tbh

But the point of a spear is to not let that happen. A katana is a side arm for when you lose your spear or other main weapon

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In what way would a katana give you more side protection than a spear?

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Guide posted...

In what way would a katana give you more side protection than a spear?

A spear has two major flaws. Anyone with enough strength can grab that from you and suddenly your weaponless, and its more of a wide ranged melee weapon. A sword, has overall less surface area for grabbing that isn't pure blade (assuming we are talking a freshly sharpened katana). Sure, the spear is great if your opponent is 5 feet away from you, plenty of room to swing, shove and twist. But as they get closer, suddenly you have no more room to defend yourself; and in places that are closed quarters you don't always have 5 feet to make full use of the weapon.

I'm more partial to the Tonfa myself, but the question was Spear vs Katana. In a closer quarter fight, with not a lot of room to maneuver, the smaller 2 1/2 foot katana nearly always beats the 5-6 foot polearm. That isn't to say that a sword can't get knocked away from you, it can.

Both sides have their advantages and disadvantages.

Is the katana atleast somehow always sharp?

I can sharpen a spear on the side of the road basically. A katana might night ten pounds of different water stones a day

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Akshually the best option is the Shaolin spade

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Itt: weebs thinking katana is magically sharp and they can easily cut trough limbs and skulls like in the walking dead.

Most likely it will get stuck in ribs or other bones and you will be bitten.

Spears are thin and less likely to get stuck. and despite the look it require less precision since you don't have to line up the perfect angle to make actually decent cut.

Honesly given the choice, non trained people would be better off using a bat than a katana or any kind of swords.

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apolloooo posted...

Itt: weebs thinking katana is magically sharp and they can easily cut trough limbs and skulls like in the walking dead.

Most likely it will get stuck in ribs or other bones and you will be bitten.

Spears are thin and less likely to get stuck. and despite the look it require less precision since you don't have to line up the perfect angle to make actually decent cut.

Honesly given the choice, non trained people would be better off using a bat than a katana or any kind of swords.

Exactly this.

In THEORY, under the correct conditions, you can cut a limb off with a katana. It requires a lot of force and knowledge of where to strike, but it's possible.

It just isn't feasible that you will get the best conditions and know how to use it. A spear is simple, it has a specific function that is key to surviving zombies(keep the fuck away).
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Slayer_22 posted...

Exactly this.

In THEORY, under the correct conditions, you can cut a limb off with a katana. It requires a lot of force and knowledge of where to strike, but it's possible.

It just isn't feasible that you will get the best conditions and know how to use it. A spear is simple, it has a specific function that is key to surviving zombies(keep the fuck away).

Assuming the spear is good quality you can do more than thrusting too. Sweeping legs is one use i can think. Also it as a bar to push. Maybe the downside is zombies can grab it but thats it.

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A dull katana is still a big lump of metal with which you can bash in skulls with.

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Also this isnt some shitty tower defense game where you jab at the zombies chest aimlessly. You can easily use a spear for a precise disabling attack to the legs or neck.

It also has the advantage of being easily used with one hand, so you can use a makeshift shield with the other. Having a trashcan lid to bash and prevent bites would be a big factor.

Or go with a more decked out polearm like a halberd or poleaxe. "Spears" come in many flavors.

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apolloooo posted...

Assuming the spear is good quality you can do more than thrusting too. Sweeping legs is one use i can think. Also it as a bar to push. Maybe the downside is zombies can grab it but thats it.

A zombie wouldn't grab at it while you are right right. It'd try for you first. It's why they walk into traps, cuz lack of brain function.

Being able to hit them with the backside to cave their skull in is also an option.

Perthboy posted...

A dull katana is still a big lump of metal with which you can bash in skulls with.

A lump of metal that can easily get stuck.
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Slayer_22 posted...

A lump of metal that can easily get stuck.

So can a spear. Big difference is lump of metal won't break where was a long wooden shaft can.

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BFG ofc.

if only Doom guy will let me borrow his. >_>

jumi posted...

Spear is slow, breaks easily, and is useless in close quarters. Katana all the way.

Though a machete would be preferable to both.

In what world do spears break easily? Katanas are the ones that damage easily.

The only problem I see with spears against zombies is, will stabbing them do anything. Since Zombies dont feel pain.

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Can I swap one for a BoomStick?

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Double-sided naginata
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I voted katana but meant a spear. I feel like a good, small hatchet would be best though. Easy to swing and dislodge if it gets stuck. Light

Slayer_22 posted...

There is no way you're slicing off a head clean in one go with a katana on a fresh corpse. Maybe with some practice, or with the proper positioning. But zombies move. The cut will be dirty, and you will certainly be slowed by the bone and mass and the like.

Katanas can cut off limbs, but they're not half as likely as, say, a claymore.

But even a dirty cut from a katana would be more disabling than a thrust from a spear to a zombie. Obviously, against a living human a single spear thrust can be disabling, but a zombie isn't going to bleed out, or collapse due to pain. Halfway hacking through an arm would still render it useless.

Removing the fact that it's a katana from the equation, I would choose any cutting sword over a spear against zombies specifically.

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Xavier_On_High posted...

But even a dirty cut from a katana would be more disabling than a thrust from a spear to a zombie. Obviously, against a living human a single spear thrust can be disabling, but a zombie isn't going to bleed out, or collapse due to pain. Halfway hacking through an arm would still render it useless.

Removing the fact that it's a katana from the equation, I would choose any cutting sword over a spear against zombies specifically.

You just gotta poke it in the face, it really isn't hard to thrust into something's face with a spear when it's shambling towards you with such a long ranged weapon.
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Lol @ noodle arm nerds thinking they can swing a katana with enough skill and force to behead a zombie.

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Slayer_22 posted...

You just gotta poke it in the face, it really isn't hard to thrust into something's face with a spear when it's shambling towards you with such a long ranged weapon.

If you get it in the eye sockets, sure, but the skull's curved shape deflects blows, so it wouldn't exactly be reliable.

I'm not saying that the sword would be reliable, either, but out of the two it's what I would prefer.

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why are we pretending you can't stab with a katana...?

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Okay so spear detractors:

This is a zombie apocalypse. Why are you in close quarters with slow things trying to bite you?

You don't need to destroy zombies. A spear can be used to hold a zombie at bay almost indefinitely, or you can shove it out of the way with the blunt end.

You can also hold the spear nearer to the sharp end if you need to for whatever reason to make it more wieldy in certain situations. Again, what are you even doing that this is necessary?

Katana has to be sharpened and maintained. If it breaks it becomes useless.

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Itachi157 posted...

Spear. I don't have faith that I'll use a katana effectively and it'll probably be less durable.

You know they fold the steel like 1000 times so the blade is super durable

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https://youtu.be/-meKUuISfqQ
So this a group of skilled dudes doing some fairly impressive cutting on tatami. I can't stress enough that regardless of how easy these dudes make it look, it is hard as fuck to get those multiple cuts in. I've watched dudes who can't even cut a pool noodle because their technique is so bad.

You'll notice that they don't really generate a ton of power when they swing because with proper technique the sword does most of the work. It is essentially just a giant scalpel. Even then you'll also see a couple of fuck ups in there where the geometry or trajectory is a bit off and they get stuck.

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Would a spear even hurt a zombie? It would be less of an effect than bullets, and as we know unless you put a bullet in a zombie's brain, you're not doing anything.

Unless my spear can slash, I'm taking the katana. Against humans, the spear is obviously the better choice. Furthermore, the zombie will likely push itself forward into my spear making it harder to get out.

Not that the Katana is much better, but removing or severely damaging (taking enough of it that it doesn't function properly is better). I'm not confident in my ability to put a spear through a skull.

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Ivany2008 posted...

A spear has two major flaws. Anyone with enough strength can grab that from you and suddenly your weaponless, and its more of a wide ranged melee weapon. A sword, has overall less surface area for grabbing that isn't pure blade (assuming we are talking a freshly sharpened katana). Sure, the spear is great if your opponent is 5 feet away from you, plenty of room to swing, shove and twist. But as they get closer, suddenly you have no more room to defend yourself; and in places that are closed quarters you don't always have 5 feet to make full use of the weapon.

I'm more partial to the Tonfa myself, but the question was Spear vs Katana. In a closer quarter fight, with not a lot of room to maneuver, the smaller 2 1/2 foot katana nearly always beats the 5-6 foot polearm. That isn't to say that a sword can't get knocked away from you, it can.

Both sides have their advantages and disadvantages.

Not that HEMA use katana, but they've long since re-proven that a spear will beat a shortsword any day of the week. You can just have a higher grip on the spear for shorter range. Like, that anime "closing the distance" stuff isn't actually real.

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