Welcome to the DC/Marvel swordmaster ToC! Inspired by DTM's martial artist ToC, this tournament will decide who will come on top from 32 of the best blade users in both universes.

All contestants will be dressed in tight, comfortable, unencombering cloths like a Gi or bodysuit, and be equipped with a non-magic, non-exotic weapon that otherwise exactly resembles whatever weapon they're most used to including weight and balance. Fights will take place in an open 20' across courtyard surrounded by stone walls. One duelist wins when the other surrenders, is dead, unconscious, or otherwise unable to effectively battle.



Hawkgirl armed with a spear

Vs

Citizen V/Baron Zemo armed with a sabre


(Sidenote: Hawkgirl does not get her wings)


Round 1
Taskmaster Vs Night Master (Taskmaster leads 4-0)
Shining Knight Vs Ra's Al-Ghul (Tied 3-3)
Manhunter Vs Katana (Katana leads 3-0)

Citizen V gets my vote, she may have the range advantage but his skills are higher than hers and his blade is better for deflection and such

I vote for Citizen V/Baron Zemo as well. He's a remarkably good swordsman, and I think a legitimate contender for the title (there are a few who might beat him, sure).

Hawkgirl while decent, is still mostly aggression and impetuousness. Not something that will net her a bulk win ratio vs a cooler, more experienced, and better skilled foe like Zemo.

She is unusual for being the only one with a reach weapon, and a spear can be used pretty effectively one-on-one, even if it's most famous otherwise (In Japan, bringing a spear to a duel was almost considered 'unfair').

Yes, but it is also a liability if you slip inside it, and there are no rules stopping Zemo from grabbing it after a failed strike and rushing in.

Somewhat, but a spear also doubles as a staff so you can use the body and other end to hit, and you can choke up your grip to make it short for close in work too.

Uh, not really, not that effectively. Inside the main reach and you are struggling to get back out to proper reach.

Plus, unlike a film, wood doesn't do so hot over time when getting chopped up.

She's also not even close to Zemo in skill, she's all ferocity, with minimal skill.

Throw in that she is used to being much stronger than she is here (because she doesn't have her nth metal), and I vote for Zemo.

A shorter spear or other polearm benefits from long reach, but you really can use them close in reasonably well with the right techniques. It is spear-situational, long spears used in formation like a pike not so much, you dropped them when your foe got close, but hers is like 5-6 foot long. A size of polearm I've had personal experience with- you can choke it up without much awkwardness or used staff-like.

You do loss all the benefit of reach which is definitely better to have so the wielder does want to take advantage of that, but you can still stab just fine with the grip shifted near the head and the shaft can still be used defensively as well as for striking.

Although there is a solid argument there for "since when do the Hawks use defense?".

They're fairly hard wood. Most fights won't have that much pounding on it unless a person's specifically aiming for the same part of the shaft repeatedly and has a big enough advantage to get away with it.

It'd also totally suck if your blade got stuck in it too.

Since when was Zemo really that good a fighter anyway?

He had to learn to fight quite well to fill the role of Citizen V for the job of being a Thunderbolt (original, the fake-hero team), as a non-powered with a sword.

I'm assuming Hawkgirl can't use her wings here, and if that is the case, there is no way she could win. Considering she is used to fighting with the ability to fly, without it, half of her experience/strategy gets tossed out the window.

Zemo, easily wins this one.

Im going with Hawkgirl. To me shes Much more of a warrior and fighter than Zemo (whos more of a plotter and planner), and a spear can be just as deadly as a sword, or moreso, in skilled hands. Not to mention HG has enhanced to very lower level superhuman abilities, all of which should trump Zemos own.

The superhuman abilities come from the nth metal, which she does not get here. I think it is an externalized power that she does not have when not in contact to the metal, so in this fight, she is only a very fit woman.

OK then, point taken, though I still thinks she wins due to being a better fighter and stronger overall warrior.