I have to agree with you on the ruthlessness but, Xiel. xDD;; Although, I guess that's a minus for me, since, I dunno, I guess I don't like it when they're TOO ruthless and evil or something. ^^;;

Samurais are climbing! 3/4 of the way people! Keep ir goin'!

Ninjas were known for their use of drugs, but also for their ability to kill people with disease... How? Well, if you put your cheap, rusted blade through a few animal carcasses, put their killing drugs and... er...well, you can think up other stuff, they would load their weapons with diseases which could not be cured by antidotes.

I find ninjas are the best when it comes to internet humor, and stuff. ex. Black screen with white caption "There are five ninjas in this picture. Find them." Or the one of the random kitchen with the same idea.

Either way, this is about the best warrior, not the most kills, and whatnot. For the samurai take the pizza.... I mean cake. Oh, and if you want an epic example of an insane samurai, Yoshimitsu. And of course, Afro Samurai.

As for Kenshin, what was the series of his past called? Or wait. That was a prelude movie, eh? I never got far into the series. ._.

Also, let's just say the Samuri Pizza Cats arch enemy was called 'The Big Cheese." Now, go YouTube it!

Manji from Blade of the Immortal has made me love samurais over everything - though I suppose he's not a traditional samurai. ^^;

This is a bit of a tough choice to make. Each side has their own advantages and disadvantages.

Ninjas are masters of stealth and misinformation. Unlike the samurai, many ninjas were villagers who developed unorthodox fighting styles to defend themselves. They were not only using what has been accepted as the "standard" ninja weapons. They would often disguise themselves as workers to get close to their targets, so they can strike when the target is at his most vulnerable. They may not be the best at straight up one on one combat, but their deceptions and cunning tactics would more than make up for that. If I were to try to think of the equivalent of a modern day ninja, I would probably have to point to spec ops.

Samurais are powerful warriors of honor and tradition. The samurai often much more stable and orthodox training regiments. The most variety would be attributed to their respective sword styles. They were fiercely loyal to their lord. They fought for honor, and were willing to die for it. It begs the question, Is it "Death with Honor" or Honor in Death? This willingness to die for what they believed in made them even fiercer warriors. This strong sense of honor is also potentially their own Achilles' heel. A cunning ninja could easily manipulate this sense of honor and spell a grim fate. The modern equivalent to the samurai would most likely to me be the common soldier.

Which is the better warrior, Ninjas or Samurai? It is hard to say. They each have their own advantages and disadvantages. I guess when it comes down to it, it is a question strength versus stealth, courage versus cunning, competence versus efficiency. I am a fan of efficiency, within reason. So I guess I would have to pick ninjas.

Oh, here to throw in another tidbit of fact: People, even commoners did not ow to samurais. The act of bowing in the past in Japan was a sign that meant you trusted your lord so much that you are willing to let them take your head. A samurai however, if drunk (for they some were known to be....uhh people who enjoyed life...) may take up the offer. It's a little frightening, yet amusing.

Samurai X. :3 A very good season. The art style is very different... well, technically, Samurai X is really different from the general Rurouni Kenshin series. There's a lot more blood and stuff. I never liked Tomoe so Samurai X wasn't that interesting, but then again, I didn't like Kaoru, either...

I'd say that if a samurai and a ninja went out to fight, well... it would be freakishly evenly matched. Heck, Samurai Jack or Kenshin versus... what, Naruto?... (The only series I could think of with ninjas, and I hate that series. Sigh!) BOTH of them were warriors that were promoted to be unbeatable in each of their respective series. XD

Ninjas are known for being fast... but there are fast Samurai out there too. If we were talking realistically, I really don't know who could win. It's kind of frustrating to think about.

I'd have to say a Ninja.
Although Samurais themselves are pretty neat. One of my favourite movies was called "The Last Samurai." <33 It was really good.

Mmmh, I would have to say Ninja because, well they are pretty awesome. It all depends on what kind of ninja though. If it's your basic, ninja-throwing, stealthy, smoke bomb - kind of ninja, then that's pretty awesome.
If it is more like a Naruto-based ninja with the study of Jutsu, then that also is pretty wicked.
They are so talented, nimble, and pretty amazing. I love them like crazy. <3

I guess I was right the first time about Samurai X lawl. I'd probably like that series a lot. Battle scenes, and action is my style.

Well if you try to compare Naruto to actual ninjas... they'd kill him as soon as they saw him, because we all know that orange, and blue as well as an uncovered head with blond hiar is stealthy. Also, the Nin Jutsu they show you in there is so... wrong compared to actual Nin Jutsu. XD

A good ninja series though is Ninja Scroll.

@Marxiel: One thing that's a problem avout asking my friends to vote... I have only one friend. Haha.

My opinion is that Ninjas and their like are far more stylish than samurais but I like those better regardless.

It's a difficult debate, that's for sure.

Ninjas are obviously trained to be faster and more lethal. They have superior stealth skills and can probably take someone out without even letting their presence be known. In addition to this, in some incarnations can even use powerful Ninjutsu techniques to wipe out opponents.

Samurai, on the other hand, are slow but a whole lot stronger and usually have armor with them. Said armor can cause problems for Ninjas, especially if the Samurai is good at protecting his weak points. They also (usually) have an undeniable sense of honor, I.E. they won't hit a man when he's down. It's this point that often is the reason Ninjas and Samurais are compared and contrasted as opposites, as Ninjas will kill in secret while Samurais won't kill without a fair fight.

Depending on the situation, it can go either way. But I'm going to have to say Ninja; If the Ninja takes the Samurai by surprise, he'll win, while opposite isn't as likely.

Actually samurai were quite fast, they were also fairly masterful on a horse, which considering the endurance training that ninja's had may be the only way they could give chase for even slightly long distance. The only thing that slowed a samurai was traditional armor, and even that due to its plate design allowed great range of movement with little resistance and low weight. At least low compared to others. Not to mention the fact that certain samurai would forgo the armor for certain battles, and a duel against a ninja may instigate the fact.

If you do not believe that a samurai was quick just look up kenjutsu on youtube and you'll get a better look at the reflexive speed of the samurai.

Honor also doesn't mean stupidity. A samurai does not wait for the opponent to rise in life or death situations. That is a western tradition. If an opponent is grounded it is because they did something wrong and gives a samurai honorable right to strike them. Only in a simple duel will they not, as a knockdown is a sign of victory.

Ninjas were not faster but in fact just a bit more desperate in fighting. They held their throwing knives and would toss them at an opponent as a distraction so they could rush in and deal a severe blow. That is an example of a ninjutsu technique since kunai and shuriken were basically useless as real weapons to them. The only possible magic that ninja had ever held was a form of visionary, they were said to be able to look to positions they weren't at yet, like psychics, and even that is heavily disputed.

I was talking in general - the first poster never stated if we were keeping In Real Life terms. Though, I probably shouldn't have assumed we weren't. My bad. That's why I said 'depending on the incarnation.' I'll move into more realistic terms now, though.

I never said the Samurai weren't quick - I just said that Ninjas are generally faster. While Samurai have quick reflexes and movements, Ninjas are probably a whole lot more agile and flexible.
As for not hitting while the opponent is down, I meant as in a duel, which is the type of battle I was basing my conclusion on. I recall several Samurais waiting until their opponent rose as as a courtesy, though it might only be a particular theology that does that.

In terms of battle, if it were something more along the lines of an epic battle of massive armies, then it would be quite different. I wasn't aware Samurai ever rode horses, which contributes to this fact. I stand by my previous statement as Ninjas would win if they could strike a killer blow quickly in a duel, but in terms of army vs. army, Samurai would probably have the advantage.

Also, I'd make a point on how Ninjas have ranged weapons while Samurai do not, but I'm not certain of this fact, and hence Samurai win the army vs. army deal in my book.

Samurai often practiced archery. In fact you could almost say that there were some even more proficient with their bow than with their sword. As for horses, the horse of Japan wasn't very capable, it was diminutive, but it was good enough for battle and transport.

As for agility and flexibility I will likely agree on flexibility, but agility was an absolute necessity in kenjutsu, along with reflexes. What ninjas had with them is they could run faster and for longer, see no matter how long a samurai trained they couldn't often match the conditioning of a ninja which started when they were five then ended when they were twenty, with regimental conditioning afterward.

Also I haven't voted because I don't particularly have a side. There have been many battles between ninja and samurai, and there are so many factors it is just terrible. From the superstition of the samurai to the previous doings of the ninja and what tools he had left, if the samurai was wearing armor, how long he had served as a samurai, ect. So meh why vote when I can't decide. Hence why I keep devil's advocating around here.

One thing is for sure, you know a whole lot more than I do.

You know, I think the main issue here is that it is 'Ninja vs Samurai' instead of something more specific; Like, say, 'Ninja vs Samurai... in a 1v1 duel on a small barren island with only a sword each and sharks surrounding them.' That'd probably be easier to vote on, cause it's anyone's call in a general competition. XD

Samurai did not always wear their armor, thus they were faster then, but if you notice, bamboo is not very heavy, and their armor did consist of that substance in various areas, thus they were quick as well. They were taught to kill with the fist attack. If not, then they would enter the battle on more even grounds.

Samurais, though bound to honor, were not merciful to the ninjas. For the most part they were to kill any ninja they came across. Most had learned that if you let them survive, they will kill you later without thinking of the mercy you gave them.

There is an evolution to the fighting styles of hand to hand combat between the samurai, and ninja. As the ninjas created their jutsu, they learned to counter all of the samurai's attacks, as well as create their own, and counters for their own, and counters for those counters, etc... The samurai did the same, and learned to counter the ninjas. Thus both have become complex with their hand to hand.

Another interesting thing I learned in the preliminary class for Ninjutsu was the elements. Earth, Water, Sky. They used these not in a magical sense though, but instead like so. Earth: To hide within the shadows of something, and 'become' apart of it. Such as if you were to hide under a desk, and meld into the shadows. Sky: To go above the line of vision, such as the ceiling of a room, and hide there. Water: Remove all traces of where you have been, and to not let the enemy become suspicious.

Unfortunatly, I have not went through a preliminary class for the Way of the Samurai yet. When I do, I will make sure to send you guys word. I do in fact have a friend learning some right now though. They are learning Ju Jutsu though. The hand to hand combat, and not weapons.

@Marxiel: Yeah, I think about a week now.

ninja's are better defidently ^^

Ninjas don't fight mech. Samurais do! Afro Samurai, and Samurai Seven. Haha.

Actually Samurais used bows a lot more than people think. As well as they caught on to the diversion attacks that the ninjas used. And that's all I feel like posting this round XD