Spartan vs. Ninja

Their decision: Spartan
My decision (1v1): it depends. Spartan (absolutely) in a straight fight, Ninja (absolutely) in a real fight.
My decision (war): Spartan

This is an odd matchup bordering on stupidity. Ninja were assassins, not straight up warriors. This means that they didn't kill when the opponent was right in front of them. They attacked when the enemy didn't know they were there. If put in a straight fight, they can't win. Their weapons are built for either escape, injury, or murder. These aren't useful at all in a 1v1 duel. The spartan, on the other hand, was the perfect dueler. His weapons don't mess around. His shield is massive, tough, and packed a heavy punch. In a straight up fight, it's no contest. The spartan would annihilate the ninja.

However, if we take the ninja's weapons and tactics seriously, he would probably win in most situations of real life. That blowgun coupled with stealth is enough. If the spartan has no idea that the ninja is there, he'd be dead in one shot. Ninjas were murderers. They were the best at what they do. One could easily hide on top of a tree or something and aim for any exposed part of the spartan's armor, or even wait until he goes to sleep, and that would be the end of it, even before the fight begins.

In a war, however, the spartan phalanx wouldn't fall for such a trick. Interlocking shields would be able to protect the majority and when the fight gets close, it will be simple destruction. Ninjas have no chance at all.

nah ninja rule they would just use their ultra loud and flashy magic to kill the puny Spartans I mean Naruto himself could take out an army of Spartans with his clones and let's not talk about the ultra powerful daemon spirits

i see you've run out of things to comment against the show :)

I pretty much agree with the OP. If you were to throw a ninja in a battle up against a Spartan one on one, he may be able to do some flashy things to catch the spartan off guard, but ultimately the Spartan is just better equipped for a battle. I think much of it also depends on how either one of them could outsmart each other.

For instance I think the ninja would be better trained to know how to set up a trap for the spartan if the ninja was given the time, whereas it would be difficult for a spartan to setup a trap for a ninja. The ninja is trained to assassinate its opponent, and would not subject himself into a wide open battle. He would lure the spartan into a trap and then somehow disarm him, then disorient, then kill.

In the show they depicted the two just meeting each other randomly. In this case the Ninja would not have time to prepare, and if he could not run away he would likely be killed by the spartan. In real life I would imagine the Ninja would run away since he would realize he is not equipped to kill such a soldier.

Ninja's didn't even really exist to begin with.... At least not in the form as we think about them. Or is this show not about real warriors??

Care to expound on this?

Spartans are severly overrated. Ninjas would take them out, even on the battlefield me thinks. Those fancy chain and sickles would be annoying for the spartans and if the ninjas manage to break their phalanx it's pretty much game over. Ninjas are also sneaky bastards and phalanxes are quite vulnerable to attacks from the rear. Plus, later on ninjas used bombs. Throw some bombs into a packed phalanx and...yeah.

The modern media which made ninja's well known gave a largely false image to ninja's. Some scientists even believe they're weren't even actual ninja's clans and that was just a folk story. They were more of a sort merceneries, mostly doing spy work. The wel known black ninja's costumes might also not really have been used, they were however very good in the usage of different weapons. I actually sort of made a footnote in a paper I wrote about it since I study Language and Culture of Japan (which hencefort will be called Japan studies apparently) and am greatly interested in the likes of samurai and ninja's. I actually really want to write a real paper on it but the right task sadly hasn't been given to me yet.  Before I start to call (and basically post a whole paper on it here) every wrong with as how popular media see's ninja's I first have to see the episode and see if they create a fair image. I never saw the show but am actually quite interested in it. Wil check it out. 

Edit: I just started reading wikipedia on it and imo they sort of mention it but don't really elaborate on it and are sometimes even wrong, for instance ninja's most likely weren't an answer to samurai at all. Most likely they were not wanting to kill themself samurai, who fleed to the mountains and met boedist secte's there with whom they exchanged information and knowledge, contributing to the existing of fighting monks there. 

Well yeah where deadliest warrior fails is that it doesn't take into account tactics. Even in a straight head on head to head fight....

The Ninja could stay out of the Spartans range and beat him with throwing weapons eventually.

Cause the Spartan would never catch up to the unarmored Ninja 1 on 1.

The REAL Travsty was Alexander the Great vs Atilla the Hun, where they gave Alexander the Great an anti-population weapon he himself likely never used because they thought "it looked cool".

Don't know who would win that, but that was just... a stupid stupid weapon to select.

The Spartan would win regardless of circumstance. You have to cast aside preconceptions. Spartans were far more then rank and file. They too were equally adept assassins in their own right. Spartan adolescents were routinely sent out on assassination missions. They would go out in the night to murder any slave or helot they came across. With obvious emphasis on not being caught. Not to mention that their social status being that they were slave owners. Probably had them growing eyes in the back of their heads.

So no a Spartan soldier isn't very likely to be caught grossly unawares, or to be found sleeping by themselves in any exposed location. They were probably quite paranoid, and of a real right to be paranoid. Now if that isn't enough for you by the point they became soldiers they would have already had fifteen years of combat training. That would be primarily training outside of the phalanx. During which time they would have been exposed to a ridiculous regimen of athletics, deprivation, and what amounts to torture.

Spartans were far more individually adept then most give them credit for. The first fifteen years of their training they were absolutely alone. They were pitted against one another. This notion that Spartans themselves were entirely one dimensional is bogus. They were both trained soldiers, and trained assassins. So when you imply that a Ninja has a chance. I am sorry the Spartan is double trouble all the way. Not only does he have both in his stable they are complimenting one another.