this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2025
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[–] daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 20 hours ago

100% the knight.

Steel armor is quite resistant, and the lion doesn't have anything that could realistically penetrate it or blunt it.

Even without weapon once they are entangled into a fight there's two outcomes, the lion runs away once it notices it's fighting a moving rock. Or the lion gets tired, once tired the human can beat it to death even without a weapon. Humans are famous for their resistance, we have more stamina for long fights and the presence of an armor will make the fight long.

If the human have a weapon there isn't even a contest.

[–] Fyrnyx@kbin.melroy.org 1 points 15 hours ago

If the knight was equipped with a shield and sword - Knight.

If the knight had neither - Knight.

Even if the knight had no shield or weapons, it would fare better because his limbs become the next weapon being covered in armor a lion cannot penetrate. At least immediately. The only chance a lion remotely has is if it manages to knock the knight's helmet off and go for the face and head following a takedown.

But I also wouldn't say it'd be easy for the knight either because, all of that weight will just fall onto him should he be tackled. A full suit of armor typically weighs 50 pounds all over combined. So if a lion tackles the knight and manages to have enough intelligence to try and use suffocation as a means, that's 50 pounds + the weight of the lion of 420, that knight is not getting up anytime soon.

[–] ICastFist@programming.dev 1 points 16 hours ago

Depends on the "full armor". Full plate? The knight can probably win even without a weapon, as the gauntlets will make his punches more dangerous. Chainmail + gambeson would probably protect the knight enough, but any exposed parts, especially the neck, would make the fight super dangerous for the human.

Keep in mind that certain blunt strikes, or even the strength of the lion's bite, can hurt or even disable a limb, even if it's protected with armor, be it plate or chainmail (the gambeson helps protect against these strikes). Ever seen how dogs can grab a person's arm and twist it hard? Now imagine that dog weighs 150kg and it should be pretty clear how you can still get fucked. Also, the lion will likely run and pounce, taking down the knight who will be at a disadvantage. Humans are strong, but lions are waaaaaay stronger.

[–] PrincessCory@lemmy.wtf 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

You are asking this question like its hipotetical, but it actualy happened in history many times.

It depends does knight have some kind of veapon or not. If not he is more hopless than antilope.

If it does than what kind of veapon? With spear he have a chance because people were surviving lion atacks with spear.

But know this lion is heavy animal that can run like a wind and jump like squirl. They are strong.

Man doesnt have much chance..

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[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 36 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I feel like the armour would slow the lion down more as they’re not used to wearing anything.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Ah the old ~~Reddit~~ Lemmy switcharoo.

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Hold my helm, I'm go... wait, where's the thing?

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Maybe you're at the bottom. I don't know if I've seen it done before on here.

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago

Hahaha that must be it.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The knight keeps an eye on the lion, builds a domicile, raises a family and makes sure his family is wary, the lion keeps finding easier game mostly injured animals breaking from the herd. The lion dies from old age, then so does the knight. We know how this ends. With the knights descendants eventually having to preserve land for the lions and protect them from humans slaughtering all of the lions for fun. The match ends when humanity accelerates the earth into another ice age and is to worried about its own people to think preserving lions would be a good use of their food supplies. Lions go extinct, humans lose a lot... But get a second chance.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 18 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Is a weapon implied?

If so, the knight. People have killed lions with far less. You know humanity has been in Africa all along, right? (Edit: And they were native elsewhere surprisingly recently, like, some of the ones at Roman gladiatorial games would have been local-ish)

If not, it's more of an even match. The knight has to slowly punch or grapple the lion to death, while the lion probably has to manage to get an unshakeable grasp on a limb. I'm kinda liking the lion, but this being a trained knight I might be totally wrong.

[–] Flax_vert@feddit.uk 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The knight has a submachine gun.

[–] Ceruleum@lemmy.wtf 1 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

That only works underwater tho!

[–] tal@olio.cafe 1 points 7 hours ago

And thus it was, the life-and-death struggle between man and beast. The majestic lion, and the knight wearing full plate mail holding a submachine gun in a bucket of water.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 27 points 1 day ago

Lions are pretty strong, right? While the armor could protect from being mauled or clawed, the impact of those hits would add up. That's why things like the mace and other blunt instruments came to be.

And given the title and lack of comma, the lion in full armor is a given, easily.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 24 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

Humans have successfully hunted and killed lions, and lions can definitely kill a human.

I think it depends on the arena. Believe it or not, I think the human has better chances in the wild. Human endurance is our superpower, and you could keep scaring the lion with loud armor noises until it collapsed from exhaustion.

In a cage match, I think the lion wins. A knight's sword in any era is not designed for hunting. If the knight was using a lance or a pike, that would be a better choice, but I think maneuverability is the biggest liability for the knight. Mail armor would deflect scratches, and full plate armor might prevent bites to the covered areas, but once the lion has the knight on the ground, it wouldn't matter how much protection he has. Proximity benefits the lion, and there's no question who is faster and stronger.

Still, humans have killed lions without any armor, so it's any given sunday and all that.

Edit to add a dramatic reenactment of such a battle.

[–] Ugurcan@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I think one point not to miss is it’s human”s” hunted lions. Probably a single human doesn’t stand much chance.

[–] TeamAssimilation 8 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Even two spear-wielding humans would be a huge challenge to a single lion. He could even hurt/kill one, but receive a fatal wound from the back as a result. We are too clever and well-coordinated.

[–] Ugurcan@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago

Definitely. That’s still human”s”.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

So here's the thing, I have never hunted a lion, so I really am just speculating. I know that individual humans have hunted and killed lions, and theoretically a single human could do it. I don't think that, even with 10 hunters, the humans are guaranteed to come out unscathed. Modern hunters with rifles and jeeps and tranquilized lions still get mauled to death on occasion, so like I said, any given sunday.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 1 day ago

Human endurance is mostly nullified in a full suit of armour. They breath as well as you'd expect.

While I'd prefer a spear, a sword will kill a lion just as well, and the armour mostly fixes the problem of how to get close (they maneuver well enough).

[–] meco03211@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Animals are pretty predictable in their attacks. A sword would give any half intelligent armored knight the absolute edge. A competent swordsman will know a few cuts will send the lion reeling. If they're well placed, it's deadly.

[–] TeamAssimilation 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The knight would have to be very competent. A lion’s swat is very fast and powerful, that medieval sword is going to fly if it’s not handled skillfully.

[–] meco03211@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not at all. Watch some lion fights. They get very close in a display of dominance. Well within striking range of a sword. They don't understand a straight line piercing attack to their vulnerable chest and belly. This likely means they won't defend a quick thrust.

[–] TeamAssimilation 6 points 1 day ago

You might be right, they would need cat-like reflexes to evade that kind of stab.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

It really depends on what sort of knight we're talking about. Despite how they are portrayed in movies, swords were more for ceremony than for fighting, and could have been anything from a dagger to a saber to a broadsword. Full plate armor is designed for mounted combat, and most duels were won by whoever knocked the other guy down first.

One good swing could kill a lion, I'm sure, but if you miss, or it doesn't kill the lion, then the lion will pounce and knock down the knight. Even lightweight armor would be 30-60 lbs, and once you're down, the lion has won.

[–] SirBucksworth@lemmy.world 1 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Who would win in a battle to death, a lion or a pilot in a B-29 including it‘s load?

[–] bradorsomething@ttrpg.network 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Can the lion start in the plane?

[–] ICastFist@programming.dev 1 points 16 hours ago

Yes, but to make it fair, neither the lion nor the pilot can take parachutes

[–] Smokeydope@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Almost certainly the lion, this isn't an anime where a knight can just casually bisect a 800lbs raging bag of muscle with the flick of their wrist and a marketing beam energy swipe. The lion would absolutely knock down, crush, and maul even if it couldn't penetrate armor right away. Like, id give it a 1/50 chance of striking a lucky blow as the lion plunges or if you're smart you might be able to come out alive by going limp and playing dead.

[–] mlfh@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Does the lion get prep time?

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

I vote we give the lion steroids or PCP or something. Whatever helps.

[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago (5 children)

The lion lacks a can opener.

But the setting was a fight to death, therefore we have to assume that the lion actually wants to kill, not just eat.

So the lion strikes once, and the knight goes down immediately from the blow. Then it's over because of the immobility caused by the full armor.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You can absolutely get back up while wearing a suit of armour.

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[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Kinda hard to see how a lion would win this. Lion probably dies immediately to a sword stroke. If it gets past the sword and tries to bite or swipe at the knight, it might have a chance, but even then the knight still has a chance to draw their dagger. If the dagger doesn't work (bit hard to stab a lion with a dagger), I can't imagine that the lion would actually stick around to gnaw the tin can to death.

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