The longsword is reliable, though, and you can be sure that it is solid in your hands. The samurai warriors relied on their tachi, the katanas predecessor which featured a much longer high-carbon steel blade designed to strike down opponents from horseback. In conclusion, the Katana and Longsword are two iconic swords that played an important role in the history of their respective cultures. For general use I'd have said that was true before the patch too, but you are comparing a 2 handed slot to a 1 handed slot. 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. The katana and the longsword are often compared because they were both designed with long blades and comparison is unavoidable since each sword represents both opposite sides of the globe. The Ninjatois described to be more like a short sword but really it's more like a Scimitar, The Wakazashi is really the short sword of the group. When looking at both swords, the most obvious distinction can be seen in the design of the blade. This was then further enveloped in patterned silk or cotton wrapping. In these articles the Odachi is compared to a longsword or a claymore but really for DnD purposes it's more like a great sword. One of the most significant periods in the history of the katana was the Edo period, characterized by relative peace and stability in Japan. The longsword is big and clunky, and is hard to use in close quarters. Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon. But for lighter slashing weapons that require those quick realignments mid swing (like a falchion/messer/saber) are okay with Dex. Longsword should not be finesse - they're too big and heavy. Page 41 of the DMG: An alternative name changes none of the weapons properties as they are described in the Players Handbook. in some more accurate and unique ways instead of subbing European weapons that don't quite have the same Nuances. Cookie Notice )09:38 - 11:53 Single-edged vs. double-edged: Pros \u0026 Cons11:53 - 12:58 Benefits of a shorter blade12:58 - 14:16 Katana advantage: speed (? The longsword evolved to be more lightweight and fencing masters started developing new techniques that focused on agility and accuracy, making the longsword an essential weapon in the art of fencing. 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. Hopefully, this gives you a better understanding of the nuances between . Katana can also be used as a generic term for all three main swords. Being accurate with a slashing weapon will do jack if you lack the strength behind it. Scimitars are curved blades, they are designed to slash, which makes them strength weapons. These are specifically what makes a katana, a katana. At the end it's about how dmg stacks and staying within norms. its always nice to be able to discuss something interesting with someone who also has a passion for and knowledge about a shared interest. Wakizashi would fall under the umbrella category of scimitars.*. 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 more complex guards would actually wrap around the hand, thus protecting it from all angles. The Scimitar as a lighter form of a katana is problematic because Katanas do piercing damage and can be welded two handed. Lol I wanted to know what everything on the list was, and the more I learned the more I realized how much wasnt on the list. I actually developed the passion because of the very, very loooonnng lists of weapons back in 2e. 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. During this time the popularity of the longsword began to wane as firearms and gunpowder started becoming more common on the battlefield. Your one handed slasher? https://www.instagram.com/brandopig/Swords used in this video:https://roninkatana.com/dojo-pro-katana-model-14-30-inch-blade/https://roninkatana.com/two-handed-medieval-longsword-model-2/\"Bang\" by Shiro https://open.spotify.com/album/1PpIMQXAgBKhkgnqrkZrNEHere are the swords I use in the video (this is not sponsored)https://roninkatana.com/dojo-pro-katana-model-14-30-inch-blade/https://roninkatana.com/two-handed-medieval-longsword-model-2/0:00 Intro1:04 Cultural impact4:14 Sparring7:26 Longsword cutting13:34 Katana cutting18:12 Conclusion For business inquiries email me at [email protected] out my gaming channel: https://www.youtube.com/nodeJoin my discord! In order to be able to answer that question, we need to assess the discernable factors which are present in any blade. "Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. This literally goes against everything I have read about katanas. Its small and nimble, and can be used to perform quick and deadly combos. In conclusion, both of these swords are marvels of swordsmanship. When comparing a katana to a longsword, I was able to learn something new about these two weapons. In fact, most of the katanas precursors resembled the Jian. I am wondering what most people think what is better. On the other hand, longswords were generally fashioned out of spring steel and unlike the katana, it has a double-edged straight blade. Today. The crossguard of the longsword on its own offered the same advantages as the katanas tsuba. Its only really folded 10times. It's an intermediary between the standard katana and the standard Wakizashi length wise. Each sword is unique and some stories are simply quite unexplainable. In combat, the ability to stay out of range of ones opponent while still being able to hit themgives a massive advantage. It comes as a result of its straight blade and the fact that its geometry allows its thrusts to hit more quickly than those of a curved blade. Let me know if you have any questions or need further clarification on any points. As swords in Europe were more often used as primary weapons, their length could be longer without encumbering the bearer. 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. They are not. Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, its a scam. Although they both possess their own advantages and disadvantages, in a head-to-head duel it all comes down to the skill, capabilities, and preference of their wielders. (Its the same reason we dont have an Arming Sword as it would be a Rapier without finesse, or a Longsword without versatile so they would just take up space in the book and never get used.). Thank you, you as well. The blade slashed through the mans armor and deep into his abdomen. Knowing the man would not last more than a few minutes, Gavin quickly retreated back to the line lest he be caught unaware by another soldier. There is a lengthy ongoing discussion of that exact question right here:https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/9988-1d8-damage-versatile-with-finesse. All 3 are curved blades for slashing. https://www.japanbyweb.com/ninja-museum-of-igaryu/. As he hit the ground, a little dazed, he saw a man approaching quickly, holding a kanab (steel club). The Katana's curved blade is designed to increase the cutting power of the sword, making it more effective in close combat situations. My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | FeatsNeed help with Homebrew? It is /not/ a longsword as that both IRL and in 5e (not previous editions) allows for a 2h grip (versatile). Sure the Katana will cut real nice, but it ain't going to pierce full steel plate armor any time soon. We have updated our privacy policy. Differential hardening is done by heating the material and then quenching it or by cooling the material and then reheating it. The katana is a specific sword design. Believed to be an extension of their soul, it is characterized by its curved, single-edged blade with a squared or circular guard and long handle designed to accommodate two hands. The Katana has a bit of advantage in speed, but the double-edge of the Longsword allows the user to use a larger variety of techniques to continually threaten an opponent. but this is DnD not a history lesson and the point is these things exist and there are reasonable categories for them and it would be fun to exist in DnD if you are going to have samurai builds and Shadow builds. Both swords were good at parrying. The only advantage I can think of for the katana is that the "center of mass" is more distributed, so maybe it can push the longsword better? Katana VS Longsword. Some of his other interests also include traveling, hiking, fitness, and gaming. The katana, a long sword, is designed for general outdoor combat and is best wielded with both hands. Thoughts? The answer really depends on the situation. Shortsword. Unlike the katana, the longsword was a much larger sword and therefore required more counterbalancing. I use a bog-standard Longsword as akatana, so dont snip at me. Yep, thats How To Hold a Katana Like a Real Pro (In 4 Easy Steps). Cerberusarms 510K subscribers Join Subscribe 3.7M views 6 months ago #funny. A Longsword or Katana (or an actual historical Scimitar) has more weight behind the swing so power (Str) is more important. With a major passion for swords, fantasy, and history, Viktor loves discovering and learning about both ancient and fictional swords alike, their legendary wielders, and the stories they hold. It's something that I sincerely hope is corrected in 6e. However, it didnt always bear the design of the iconic sword we all know today. . (Maintenance Guide), Ninja Swords: Everything You Didnt Think You Needed To Know. The mounting for both swords can be separated into 3 parts: the guard, the hilt, and the pommel. The katana originated in Japan during the Heian period, approximately the 9th century CE. Its believed that the sword was initially used by knights for close-quarters hand-to-hand combat and to cut through plate armors. Made of harder steel, the Katana flexes less than a Longsword and can hold a sharper edge, allowing more force to be applied consistently across a smaller surface area. For more information, please see our The katana is also more versatile, able to be used in more situations, while the longsword is only good for one thing. This type of sword became popular during the middle ages as European armies adopted a more mobile battlefield strategy. Yea there is a KATANA. It's a scimitar. 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.