Who can beat Lu Bu?

[James]

At the time I don't think Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had little experience. As far as i know, at the time, they had no millitary experience except the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Plus i don't think Guan Yu or Zhang Fei spent all their days practicing duels. While I believe Lu Bu at the time has had a far better experience in duels

Worthwhile point, but similarly none of the Three Brothers got killed either. And of the several times Zhang Fei got in a fight with Guan Yu alone he too came out with his neck intact. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei also got themselves in some pretty big fights in their early years too, and they always came out on top in the novel.

Looking at it from an age perspective it is worth mentioning another favorite of people: Zhao Yun. It is fun to imagine how he might have faired should he have squared off with Lü Bu.

[Tan_Binrui]

Looking at it from an age perspective it is worth mentioning another favorite of people: Zhao Yun. It is fun to imagine how he might have faired should he have squared off with Lü Bu.

Eh, I don't know. Most of Zhao Yun's documented kills (even in the novel) weren't from duels, they were from him jumping out of nowhere and stabbing them before they could defend themselves (Qu Yi, Gao Lan, and Xing Daorong [sp?] to name a few). His only duels after that came with the fight against Jiang Wei and Han De (accompanied by his four sons). The fight with Jiang Wei is a non issue, as Zhao Yun's skill could very possibly have gotten worse. The four sons, as well, were not touted as skilled duelists, so could have been sons of a general who didn't know what they were doing (and with how they died in the novel, I'm going with that).

Because of that, I never looked at Zhao Yun as a 90's deserving warrior. 86, in my book, but that's talking stats...

I just realized you could also try to rate him with his Chang Ban run. This, however, is not a way to rate dueling skill at all. Certainly, one uses different tactics against 5 people than against 1. Plus, Zhao Yun had a sword that "cut through armor like wet mud". If we compare this to a similar warrior with a similar feat, we end up with...

Dian Wei. However, consider the change in circumstance. Dian Wei was half drunk, and fought only with a common sword. He was also naked, and eventually had to defend himself with his own hands, using the bodies of the fallen to fell more enemies. Had Dian Wei been in posession of a sword that could cut through armor like Zhao Yun's did, I have no doubt that he'd fair better than the young warrior ever could.

Now, Dian Wei dueled Lu Bu as well. When Xu Zhu was in trouble. The two, together, though, could not overcome Lu Bu.

So, we have a warrior who couldn't beat Lu Bu compared to a warrior who never got the chance to try. Dian Wei's feats, however, far outclass Zhao Yun's (in the subject of martial ability). Therefore, the comparison wouldn't add up, as I see it.

[Dong Zhou]

ya he was equal to Hua Xiong in a duel. I believe Lu Bu was stronger than Hua Xiong.

Sun Jian wasn't a fighter though whereas the novel Hua Xiong showed prowess as a warrior. I'm not sure that history or novel wise, Sun Jian would have come out on top

[Sun Gongli]

Sun Jian is mentioned for having climbed quite a few ramparts and splitting skulls in his day. No mentions of him dueling or killing any enemies in direct combat besides soldiers, of course, so we still don't know how he would have fared in any duel.

I bet Taishi Ci and Sun Ce could've matched Lu Bu, or at least fared well enough to not get maimed.

[Shadowlink]

Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei, Sun jian could probably duel against lu bu or not die. At seem Zhao Yun has alot of stamina and can hold with for a long time ^^. And Sun jian running around chopping enemies with a hungry stomach is a feat too

[Jebusrocks]

ya he was equal to Hua Xiong in a duel. I believe Lu Bu was stronger than Hua Xiong.

Sun Jian wasn't a fighter though whereas the novel Hua Xiong showed prowess as a warrior. I'm not sure that history or novel wise, Sun Jian would have come out on top

No offence, but i think u overrate Sun Jian, sure he was very strong, but i don think he was as strong as even his son, sun ce. I think people overrate him cuz they gave him like a 98 to 100 in ROTK. or it may just be the fact that i do not know a lot about Sun Jian. Sun Jian fans, plz enlighten me about y u guys think Sun Jian is so strong.

[Dong Zhou]

I'm arguing that he isn't, as an excellent frontline commander he did have some strength but he wasn't a warrior or did anything thhat was amazing strengh wise, most of his great moments was becuase of his leadership

[Long]

When Zhang Fei first fought Lu Bu, he didn't posess near the experience that Lu Bu who was in his prime had.

I think that Zhang Fei in his prime could evenly match, if not beat Lu Bu.

Ma Chao could have faired well, but I don't beleive he could have won.

Dian Wei and Xu Zhu were both exceptional, but Lu Bu would have mowed over them individually.


No, only Zhang Fei posessed the capability of possibly defeating Lu Bu.

If Zhang Fei could match Lu Bu for 50 bouts, and he wasn't in his prime yet...

[James]

When Zhang Fei first fought Lu Bu, he didn't posess near the experience that Lu Bu who was in his prime had.

I think that Zhang Fei in his prime could evenly match, if not beat Lu Bu.

I've thought about this before but as I consider it again today this does make a great deal of sense. When Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei faced off with Lü Bu they were all still very early in their careers and it could easily be reasoned that they were still far from their potentials. Lü Bu, as you say, was in his prime.

The events of Hu Lao Gate aside, Zhang Fei clashed with Lü Bu on other occasions through the years to come. Though he never bested Lü Bu, he came out in one piece, and was always eager to resume the fight again. I suppose it might be a different story if Lü Bu fought the Zhang Fei of Changban, or the Zhang Fei that fought in Ba-Shu.

[Long]

Exactly, Zhang Fei in his prime was an absolute nightmare to fight, and despite what many others think, Zhang Fei was the greatest warrior of the era.

Cao Cao's strategists wore his name on their sleeves as reminders of the terror he was.