Samurai Warriors vs Mongol Hordes – Which Ancient Warriors Win?

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Under the command of Genghis Khan, the Mongol hordes were once the undisputed masters of warfare on the Asian mainland. But what if their relentless advance was met with the discipline and willpower of Japan’s elite samurai warriors? It’s katanas vs. battleaxes, lances vs. spears, and honor vs. ambition.

Before we introduce the armaments and tactics that would lead one side to victory, it’s worth noting that such a clash very nearly took place in the 13th century. At the time, the Mongol Empire spanned across most of Eurasia—from modern-day Hungary all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis, wanted to expand his family’s empire even further and began the process of adapting to naval combat.

The Mongols attempted to invade Japan a total of three times, and two out of the three were thwarted by massive typhoons that sank thousands of ships and devastated the invading fleets. This incident was later referred to as the “kamikaze” or “divine wind” by the Japanese, as it was seen as a miraculous occurrence attributed to the intervention of gods. The term became more recognizable globally when it was reused to describe the maneuvers used by Japanese pilots during World War II.

But if Japan’s gods were not so protective, and these “divine winds” never came, a powerful enemy would have reached their shores, and a significant battle would have taken place. To even the odds, we’ll imagine that both sides have the optimal weapons and strategies to employ against the other. With all that said, let’s see who wins out and takes the crown of “Asia’s Best 13th Century Warriors!”

Now, let’s talk about the bow and arrow. Since the Mongols preferred to face their enemies on horseback, archery was a core aspect of their combat style. The Mongol composite bow was designed to be drawn by users with greater arm strength than other contemporary bows and boasted a considerable increase in range as a result. Their trade secret was that the curved part of the bow was made from multiple materials, which increased durability and gave the arrows a higher chance of armor penetration. Composite bows were typically built from wood, bamboo, or animal horns—all materials that the Mongols could find in abundance in their homeland.

One of the winning strategies employed by Mongol light cavalry was unleashing hundreds of arrows during a charge. These arrows were sometimes tipped with poison to make long-term engagements even more painful for the opposing army. Botanical poisons were the most common, but snake venom was also used. The mounted archers also used whistling arrows, outfitted with hollow bone accessories that created a noise as they flew, scaring the enemy and reducing their morale.

Contrary to the image of on-foot swordsmen that might come to mind when you hear the word “samurai,” the original warriors who held the title were also trained in mounted archery. Samurai bows, called yumi, were often taller than the archer who wielded them. They were usually made of bamboo and required careful maintenance to avoid losing their signature asymmetrical curve. A yumi could be passed down through generations if properly maintained.

One of the oldest forms of bushido—the samurai code—was “The Way of Bow and Horse,” an ethical approach to warfare that has been compared to the European concept of chivalry. Like many cultures throughout the ancient world, the Japanese took a sporting approach to warfare, and many training exercises for mounted archers were turned into popular games for the nobility.

Aside from the mounted variation, standing archery was also practiced widely in Japan as the samurai class rose to prominence. Several schools were founded to hone archers’ skills, with the Heki School Style proving to be the most effective in battlefield practicality. The practice of archery became so intertwined with Japanese culture that when firearms arrived, the old ways of the longbow were elevated to a method of spiritual training for warriors and athletes alike.

Most battles in 13th-century Japan would have begun with both sides letting loose volleys of arrows before charging in to engage in melee combat. However, when faced with a fighting force as large and intimidating as the Mongol horde, adhering to the gentlemanly fighting ways of the bushido code would be a significant mismatch.

While the Mongols were known for overwhelming their enemies with maneuverability and sheer numbers, their leaders were also infamous for using stealth and implementing sabotage tactics. As Sun Tzu famously wrote in The Art of War, “Every battle is won before it’s ever fought.” The Mongols adhered to this principle, executing well-planned strategies that left the enemy confused and shaken.

Though archery would likely play a role at the start of any Mongol-samurai skirmish, a transition into melee combat would be inevitable. This brings us to the question of which army carries the more dangerous arms for close combat. Mongol soldiers were armed with a vast array of edged weapons—from battle axes to daggers. Their usage was complemented by mid-range weapons such as hooked spears and lassos, which were more useful when used on horseback.

While the weapons themselves were formidable, it was not just their craftsmanship that made them exceptional fighters. The physical prowess of each individual Mongol warrior contributed to their fearsome reputation in melee. Traditionally, Mongols raised children of both sexes to hunt and wrestle, creating a meritocratic structure for capable individuals to become skilled fighters.

The Mongols had to learn to have their food on the move, relying on rations of lamb meat and cheese during long marches. This mastery over the terrain of continental Asia served them well in domestic warfare but would prove to be a challenge in any conflict overseas, such as an invasion of Japan. Once their initial food supplies ran out, the Mongols would have needed time to adapt to the local environment, during which counterattacks from samurai forces could lead to significant casualties.

When a relatively small island nation is attacked by a much larger empire, every bit of technical wisdom the native population can muster becomes an advantage. The samurai were accustomed to finding advantages in unlikely places, such as their ingenious use of “satetsu,” a type of sand dense with iron. Japanese smiths forged satetsu into metal and hammered it into the shape of swords, creating the katana.

Deceptively heavy for its compact size, the katana was ideal for slashing through flesh and bone. In the hands of a trained samurai, it could easily cut through multiple lightly armored adversaries. This would not bode well for the typical Mongol cavalry rider, whose armor was usually made of leather or hide to keep them light and agile.

As for armor, the O-yoroi was the pinnacle of 13th-century Japanese armor but had limitations, such as reduced mobility. This meant that the katana was not the weapon of choice for the most heavily armored samurai, who would either remain mounted or utilize spears to strike at enemies from a distance. The Mongol horde, meanwhile, had more resources to construct armor due to the expansiveness of their territory.

Overall, it was still a major risk for any samurai on the ground to strike at a charging Mongol cavalry rider, and a poorly timed swing could result in the attacker’s sword getting caught in the enemy’s armor. Given the overwhelming numerical advantage the Mongols had, even the finest sword would get worn down in a battle of attrition.

To beat the Mongols in a prolonged war, the Japanese would have to abandon previous notions of sportsmanship in their tactics. We saw this during the second invasion of Japan, where the samurai struck at night without warning and used spears to puncture the hulls of enemy ships.

Even without the typhoons to bring about a miraculous victory, the samurai were determined to be anything but a pushover for the largest empire on the planet. As the invasion progressed, they proved to be adaptable and quick learners, allowing them to develop the tactics needed to seize victory from the jaws of defeat.

It was only after the samurai began to play by the Mongol rules of engagement that the war began to turn in their favor. With an embrace of pragmatism and superior tactics, the samurai could have negated the numerical advantage and potentially won our hypothetical battle.

Now check out “Horrifying Things Genghis Khan Did to His Enemies” to see what the Mongols would have done to the samurai if they won. Or watch “Genghis Khan – Greatest Conqueror Ever?”

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This version maintains the informative nature of the original transcript while ensuring that it is appropriate for all audiences.