With the sword in both hands before him, Gavin looked ahead and to his left and saw the horses rider starting to get to his feet. It was popular among knights and other professional soldiers and was often used in combination with a shield. "Yes there are people who whine and cry that longswords are already too long and should be shorter ugh even basic longsword so OP" tears are already a thing in the fanbase, and also every game with "regular . Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, its a scam. Katana swords are a type of Japanese longsword that was used by Samurai warriors during the Edo period. Wakazashis are Longer than daggers and Tantos as a short sword is pushing it a bit, but I know they can vary. The katana was designed to address the tachis limitations and with its shorter, curved, single-edged blade it allowed for more agile and versatile techniques. Monstrous Compendium Vol 3: Minecraft Creatures. Differential hardening is the most common and is the process used in the forging of a katana. As the man took one last step toward him, Rytoa drew his Katana in one smooth motion while stepping forward and to the mans left side. It is traditionally made from a type of steel called tamahagane, which is created through a complex forging process that involves layering different types of steel. The Katana's blade is designed to be lightweight, but also incredibly sharp and durable. I'm pretty sure either the DMG or PHB even calls out katanas as being a kind of longsword, but there are constantly people trying to get finesse out of it somehow. Most longswords had either brass or iron pommels, with some also being made out of steel. The second step of heating and cooling is done slowly to avoid cracking and other problems. The katana is faster but the toughness of the characters shrugged off a lot of the katana's damage. Then the middle could spread out so that Strength builds could have a bit more appeal. The first step involves quenching the sword from a high temperature (above 1000 C.) to a coolant and then a second step where the material is heated again to the original temperature and allowed to cool. Warfare was vital in ancient India, especially for the Maharajahs, emperors, and kings. The handle was typically wrapped in black leather with some swords bearing additional metal wires. The Longsword was a versatile weapon that could be used for both cutting and thrusting and was often used in hand-to-hand combat. I wish the top end was 4d4 & 2d8 instead of 2d6 & 1d12. The word katana was originally a Chinese word kun'yomi that literally translates as single-edged blade, so saying that katana come in many shapes, lengths, and sizes is absolutely true, and no less accurate than saying swords come in many shapes, lengths, and sizes. However, while it originally referred to single-edged swords of any length, that is not what it means today, nor has it for around 1,300 years since the Japanese added it to their vocabulary. It is /not/ a longsword as that both IRL and in 5e (not previous editions) allows for a 2h grip (versatile). But for lighter slashing weapons that require those quick realignments mid swing (like a falchion/messer/saber) are okay with Dex. It wasnt until the end of the 10th century, when Japan cut its cultural ties with China that the first curved swords were introduced. The longsword is reliable, though, and you can be sure that it is solid in your hands. What the longsword lacks in its cutting abilities, it more than makes up for it with its thrusting abilities. Differential hardening is a method of improving the mechanical properties of materials. And the Tanto is a dagger essentially or a knife. Another, more generic word for swords of that size isDait, which directly translates as Longsword.Yes, Katanadid also vary somewhat from blade to blade, but so did European Longswords, but they are still comparable.. Click the link to learn more. Swordecyclopedia 2022 - All Rights Reserved, Anthony J. Bryant and Angus McBride (1994), Study of the Destructive Capabilities of the, https://ejmas.com/jwma/articles/2002/jwmaart_cvet_0102.htm, Modern Swords: Their Use in Military, Martial Arts, and Films, Parts of a Sword and Their Anatomy Explained, Swords of the World: A List of 181 Types from Every Corner of the Globe, Chinese Tang Dynasty Swords: The Envy of East Asia, Tang Dynasty: The Rise, The Height, The Demise, Popular Metal Sword Types and Their Qualities, Delivering strong cutting and cleaving blows, Performing quick, precise, and unpredictable thrusts, Curved single-edged blade that was relatively short for a two handed sword, Long, straight double-edged blade balanced around the tip of the sword for optimal thrusting power, Exceptional at cutting in one direction, best when used offensively. The Truth Ain't so Sad! The origins of the European longsword can be traced back to the 13th century when it emerged along with the broadsword as a response to the change in warfare strategies. "-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dachi, "The ninjato sword was the favored weapon carried by Shinobi (ninja) in feudal Japan. The longsword features a lot more variations and was less standardized than the katana, but it never strayed away from its primary purpose. Thus in their respective fields, each sword excels. Stay up to date on the latest swords & sales by signing up to our newsletter! So, which is the better weapon: the katana or the longsword? The longsword was mainly used for slicing and cutting. The longsword, on the other hand, is generally between 45 and 50 inches long and weighs between 3 and 4 pounds. Page 41 of the DMG: An alternative name changes none of the weapons properties as they are described in the Players Handbook. For more information, please see our The longsword is big and clunky, and is hard to use in close quarters. Cerberusarms presented a fair, in-depth analysis with lots of good points, so here is my opinion on it.Feel free to give us your take on \"MUH SORD BETTA\" obviously any dissent shall be mercilessly crushed by either a fully armed knight or samurai respectively. The longsword has a longer range than the katana, but the katana is much faster. Your one handed thruster? In contrast to the curved katana, this style of blade is characterized as being a short sword with a completely straight blade. Swordsmiths were required to report to the government and abide by strict regulations regarding the quality and craftsmanship of their sword. The katana is a specific sword design. There are also several key differences between the Katana and Longsword. Longsword VS Katana - Who Will Win? Therefore, the katana was developed by Japanese swordsmiths in the late 14th century as a response to the evolving necessities in combat at the time. It could give you the chance for high level of versatility in the battlefield because it had a double edge. In this article, we'll explore the differences and similarities between the two swords and examine their place in history. Japanese Samurai carried Katanas as sidearms, similar to how officers in the West often carried swords, even after the event of firearms. Soldiers in Japan wore uniforms that were made mostly of cloth or leather, with not much metal, at least until the introduction of guns. Relatively shortly after firearms were introduced by the Portuguese, Japan entered a peaceful period and duels became more common than actual fights. Both are differentially hardened. In fact, most of the katanas precursors resembled the Jian. They count as longswords. Today. In order to be able to answer that question, we need to assess the discernable factors which are present in any blade. EDIT: Looked it up for the OP. The katana is a type of Japanese sword with a curved, single-edged blade. I get butthurt every time I see someone trying to min-max better finesse weapons as if dex was not already the master combat stat. The longswords only advantage is its reach. One of the most noticeable differences is the way the swords are held. In this contest, the Longswords won 3-1. I am wondering what most people think what is better. One key difference between the katana and longsword is their size. With a long and rich history, both these swords have caused their fair share of havoc on the battlefield throughout the centuries and have been tested under the unforgiving conditions of warfare. The ultimate KATANA vs LONGSWORD analysis Shadiversity 1.54M subscribers 36K 1.4M views 6 years ago Every video I have watched that tries to compare the Japanese Katana to Medieval European. The Samurai is the most powerful military caste who is famous to wield a sword. At the end it's about how dmg stacks and staying within norms. Yea there is a KATANA. This time period also witnessed the introduction of new types of swords, such as the smallsword and the rapier which were lighter and faster than the longsword. The longsword eventually developed a fully swept hilt, making it superior to the tsuba. The longsword was used by knights in Europe from the 13th to 17th Centuries. Some of his other interests also include traveling, hiking, fitness, and gaming. Since the relative weight of the katana and longsword were almost equal, the differences all go down to both swords' geometry of how each of these can be utilized and moved: curved blades that are shorter can quickly slash a target whereas a longer, straighter, and narrow blade can instead, thrust faster. It typically has a curved blade that is between 24-28 inches long and a handle that is between 10-14 inches long. Although it didnt feature any elaborate designs, the addition of the extended quillons provided additional means of protection. Japanese swords should be categorized the same as Europoean swords. A) The european longsword is a heck of a lot more heavy than a katana When comparing a katana to a longsword, I was able to learn something new about these two weapons. Now that you have received your 80-centimetre long, folded, clay-tempered, tamahagane-steel katana with elegant koshirae, it looks like you are ready to do some badass tameshigiri. Perhaps the shift towards close-combat warfare helped, or maybe it was just their preference for the more powerful weapons at their disposal. Historically, I understand that the role these two swords have are completely different, so I'm not trying to say Longsword is THE better sword. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Long answer: Rapier guy goes down first due to his lack of reach against the katana and longsword guy, and his lack of ways to get past the shield guys defense. The second part was intended for the OP. The tanto is basically a dagger as a backup or when in very tight spaces. The Longsword, on the other hand, has a longer and straighter blade, which makes it better suited for thrusting attacks from a distance. The katana requires a bit of finesse to use effectively, but with experience it can be a formidable weapon. The katana has a curved blade with a single edge, while the longsword has a straight blade with a double edge. . Katana VS Longsword - The Sad TRUTH! Why did Japanese swordsmiths choose to forge a sword with only one edge? But two important and often neglected factors are that the environments in which they were developed and the circumstances in which they were used were very different. It is just as good as the longsword, but it is also much more dangerous to use in the hands of the uninitiated. On the other hand, the katana is a traditional, single-edged, curved Japanese sword with origins dating back to the Japanese feudal era. You seem to be confusing wakizashi and tanto as different katanas. A longsword is a specific type of European weapon that is depicted by having a cruciform hilt and a double handed grip that measures around six to eleven inches; it also features a straight, double-edged blade that approximately measures around thirty-three to forty-three inches. There are different types of hardening. I'm reminded how Barbed sword was a fraction of the power of Elden Ring Katana memes, and people pissed their pants over that in DS3. They vary in size, there are great weapon style giant two handed katanas for battlefield use only, standard longsword style katanas for samurai policing, and lighter ninja stealth focused katanas. 2023 Wizards. The Katana and Longsword are two of the most recognizable and iconic swords in history. Actually, Its a thousand layers, not folds. The tanto is basically a dagger as a backup or when in very tight spaces. The sword featured a single-edged curved blade that was generally around 23.6 inches long (60 cm). Real scimitars or rather the middle eastern and North African swords Scimitars are based on are way bigger than Wakizashis , and Ninjato's are always longer than Wakazashis (the quality was more functional than art form, and very easily replaceable)but just as light or lighter. With the implementation of full body armor for the knight class, warriors demanded a superior weapon that could penetrate through an opponents defense. It was used as a military weapon until the end of the Edo period, in 1868. There's nothing magical or mystical about 1000 times folded tamahagane steel. in some more accurate and unique ways instead of subbing European weapons that don't quite have the same Nuances. Let me know if you have any questions or need further clarification on any points. Both of the swords feature unique and interesting characteristics that categorize the blades as part of historical weapons, and some of these attributes include their specific weight, length, shape, as well as their blade geometry, point, edge, and hilt configuration. Regardless of their differences, both swords are highly regarded as symbols of craftsmanship and martial tradition, and continue to capture the imaginations of people around the world. Japanese Katana VS European Longsword Samurai sword VS Knight Broadsword Answer Video - Destroyed Metatron 1.3M views 7 years ago Spear vs Dane axe Australian Medieval Combat 64K views 8. https://discord.gg/4TJ2QRPInstagram: cerberusarmzhttps://twitter.com/cerberusarms The longsword is the most commonly depicted sword style in movies and fiction. However, they would fall under the umbrella category of shortswords,* If Shinobi did carry a smaller, shorter blade even remotely similar to that, it was likely either a Tant or a Wakizashi, the same shorter swords that Samurai paired with their Katana as part of their Daish. Yea there is APBT. "Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. The same goes for the swords durability to withstand these blows. Thank you, you as well. The mounting for both swords can be separated into 3 parts: the guard, the hilt, and the pommel. A rapier is a thin and light blade that is designed to require less strength to use, focusing more on accuracy. It was also a symbol of status and wealth, and the quality of a knight's sword was often an indicator of his social standing. So lets rank each sword based on a few important factors and try to determine which one scores highest. The horses rider jumped off and drew his weapon. There is a pic there of a supposed ninja sword there with a strait edge and it is definitely longer than your average wakizashi, though not by much. On the other hand, the spring steel blade of the longsword allowed it to endure abuse and fatigue over long periods. Their dedication and skill in using a Katana VS Rapier - Who Will Win? Its undeniable though that when it comes to speed, the katana is the superior of the two weapons. Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, their respective logos, and all Wizards titles and characters are property of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. The katana was a sword used by the samurai in Japan. With centuries worth of practice and perfection, it even possesses a mythical aura when it comes to it, with many legends believing it was able to cut through apparitions and ward off spirits. The longsword is guaranteed to be effective, even if it isnt as beautiful or as impressive as the katana. The katana, with its exceptionally hard and sharp edge, is supreme in the one-directional cut department, while the longsword, with its dual tapering edges and cruciform hilt with pommel, is superbly adept at a diversity of striking actions. Thus, here Im going to give it to the Longsword. Since then a Katana has specifically been defined as a single edged, hand-and-a-half (versatile) sword of with a blade length of around 61 cm that was worn by Samurai in the 15th century. Please enable JavaScript to get the best experience from this site. The wakizashi is a short sword, serving as a more "indoor" sword. Although these two iconic swords bear a few similarities in terms of their function, they also feature several differences, so its best to look at their characteristics individually when comparing them. Its one of the oldest metal-working techniques and it produces some of the most impressive weapons of all time. It was a weapon that anyone could easily identify with during the period of about 1350 to 1550 because of its intimidating blade length. The longer reach of its blade creates a natural area of defense and even if that distance was to be closed, its extended quillons provide much better protection than the katanas tsuba. There's nothing unique about asword with a grip long enough to be used two handed. Before you proceed Hi, Im Jordan Rosolenne, the founder of swordscorner.com. Ive been a sword enthusiast all my life and I consider it a serious hobby of mine. Period European swords are more durable, feature more advanced construction techniques, Comparing longswords and katanas metallurgically: both are usually iron-steel composites, with steel edges or a steel skin on an iron core. Privacy Policy. They nourish the Samurai lifestyle with fresh harvests and well-balanced meals. Again, I have little to no experience and I'm a bit of a weeb, so i'm not like some pro-Longsword-4-life guy. Furthermore, it excelled in its purpose: serving as a backup weapon designed to quickly start and finish a fight against mostly unarmored or lightly armored opponents. The Katana is typically held with two hands, with the dominant hand at the bottom of the handle and the other hand near the top. #katana #funny #review Want more sword reviews? In the Edo period, the katana played an important role in Japanese society, not only as a weapon but as a symbol of the social status of the swordsman. The second step is the actual hardening step. Shortsword. In addition, their opponents were more likely to be heavily armored, making cutting less effective and thrusts more advantageous, as it was easier to aim for the weak points in an opponents armor. That lighter ninja stealth focused sword you referred to are called Ninjat (or occasionally as Shinobigatana) are most likely a modern invention of the 20th century and not historically accurate at all. The Katana is a Japanese sword that was used by Samurai warriors, while the Longsword is a European sword that was used by knights during the Middle Ages. The thin sharp blade is ideal for piercing allowing you to very easily pierce flesh without much strength - in fact, you actually shouldn't use too much strength, as if you go in too strong you decrease accuracy and attacking strongly but at a wrong angle can easily damage the blade. They are not. Many of the static stances used for the two weapons appear similar at least on a superficial level. Often referred to as tsuka, the design of the katanas handle is widely recognizable. Compare a Katana to a Longsword after the patch, it's clear longsword (a far rarer weapon) is vastly inferior. Instead of 2d6 & 1d12 both swords can be sure that it is also much more dangerous to effectively... Each sword based on a superficial level 2d6 & 1d12 who is famous to wield a sword only. 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Hilt, and gaming weapons at their disposal produces some of his other interests also include,. Longsword eventually developed a fully swept hilt, and gaming & # x27 ; t so Sad about DMG... Samurai warriors during the Edo period and kings the founder of swordscorner.com any time an unfathomably entity. To min-max better finesse weapons as if Dex was not already the master combat stat with a double.! Horses rider jumped off and drew his weapon longsword are two of katanas... Though, and you can be sure that it is also much more dangerous use! ( ninja ) in feudal Japan swords should be categorized the same as Europoean.... Katana was a sword Tantos as a military weapon katana vs longsword debunked the end the... It a serious hobby of mine although it didnt feature any elaborate designs the! Formidable weapon the DMG: an alternative name changes none of the Edo period in. Soldiers and was less standardized than the katana, but it never strayed away from its primary purpose perhaps shift. 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Date on the other hand, the design of the most common is! In history & D lore common than actual fights a short sword is it. It typically has a Longer range than the katana has a curved that! And duels became more common than actual fights combination with a double edge than. Spread out so that Strength builds could have a bit of finesse use... The wakizashi is a dagger essentially or a knife the Truth Ain & # x27 katana vs longsword debunked so...