Sword Fighting Prowess

[Comfortable Madness]

I think I'm going to have to go with Rand on this one. For one he's taveren, things will happen just right for him to win, maybe. Two, he is a Blademaster by trial-by-fire, for beheading the High Lord. Above all else he is absoulutely fearless. Oh and by the way he is the freakin Dragon Reborn!.....


Now that I look at the choices I think Drizzt is automatically disqualified unless he uses different swords. This is supposed to be a straight up sword fight and his blades are magical....

[Aen Elderberry]

I selected Other -  Westley from The Princess Bride.   Not sure why . . . he's the one that came first to mind.

[Oldie Black Witch]

Madmartigan. He is, after all, the "greatest swordsman that ever lived."

[Archon]

All of the candidates seem to have magical blades, so if you disqualify Drizzt, you have to pick a whole new lineup.

[The Jade Knight]

Actually, nothing anywhere states that Andúril is magical.  It is certainly a family heirloom, but that's hardly the same thing.

[Loud_G]

Rand can whip anyone magical blade, normal blade, or wooden stick. And has used all three.

[Archon]

I always Anduril to be magical. It's not explicitly stated, but then again, Tolkien's version of magic is always somewhat mysterious and vague. For instance, in the Hobbit, it is said that Gandalf always seemed to just appear places, but it wasn't clarified whether it was through magic, or just craft. I remember something about Anduril and Aiglos together being an unbeatable combination of weapons. Again, it's up for interpretation, maybe Tolkien just meant that Gil-Galad and Elendil were that skilled at wielding them, but I always took Anduril to be more than just an heirloom.

[Aen Elderberry]

Actually, nothing anywhere states that Andúril is magical.  It is certainly a family heirloom, but that's hardly the same thing.

For the non-magical category I'd want to add a few others to the poll:

John Carter
Fafhrd
The Grey Mouser
Conan

And I suppose we should give the women a chance as well -

Red Sonja

If magical blades are allowed then I'm going with Elric of Melnibone.

But if magic sword is okay what about magic user with blades?  Can't we include Vin?  Could any of them compete with her?

[Comfortable Madness]

I'm gonna have to say it is a purely a sword fight. No magical blades and no magic used by the fighter. In which case Vin wouldn't probably stand a chance against any of the other characters mentioned here. I still have to say when it comes down to pure skill with a sword Rand beats anyone. Furthermore even if anyone wanted to use magic against Rand I'm pretty sure they would lose there too. He can just level an the entire continent said person is on with balefire and call it a day.

[Loud_G]

I love Vin, really I do. She rocks. But I have to agree with Comfortable Madness, if we pull out all the stops and bring magic into it, it is even less  of a contest. I've never seen as much sheer earth-shattering power as Rand has. I wouldn't want to be on his bad side.

[Faster Master St. Pastor]

I always Anduril to be magical. It's not explicitly stated, but then again, Tolkien's version of magic is always somewhat mysterious and vague. For instance, in the Hobbit, it is said that Gandalf always seemed to just appear places, but it wasn't clarified whether it was through magic, or just craft. I remember something about Anduril and Aiglos together being an unbeatable combination of weapons. Again, it's up for interpretation, maybe Tolkien just meant that Gil-Galad and Elendil were that skilled at wielding them, but I always took Anduril to be more than just an heirloom.

My conclusion from reading the Silmarilion was that Anduril was magical.  The elves had great craft and would pour some of their being into the things that they made, which is the technique that Sauron tricked them into teaching him in order to forge the One Ring.  It was also the technique responsible for the creation of the Silmarils, which could not be duplicated by the Valar and were even powerful enough to become vitally important in the battle against Morgoth.  Therefore Anduril would be a magical blade.  At least it is if my memory is correct, I read the book back in fifth grade.

[Fellfrosch]

If we're discounting magic and magic swords then I'm still going to give this fight to anyone wielding a lightsaber. Mace Windu would demolish anyone else on this list simply because his sword (powered technologically, not magically) would disarm anyone else on the list in the very first clash.

[GorgonlaVacaTremendo]

A Lightsaber isn't technically a sword.  It's a beam of condensed plasma held together, probably by magnetism.  It's reminiscent of a sword, but it isn't a sword.  Just like a Killer Whale is reminiscent of a whale, but is really a type of dolphin.

[Faster Master St. Pastor]

Which adds even more irony considering they like to kill dolphins.

[Fellfrosch]

Saying that a lightsaber isn't a sword is being far too restrictive with your definition of "sword." It's made out of light instead of metal; big deal. It looks like a sword, you use it like a sword, it's a sword.