Often there is much speculation amongst historians and combat enthusiasts as to which warriors were most dominant in the world prior to the age of gunpowder. There were warriors in all the societies around the world, but determining the most powerful warriors is a much more difficult task. It’s worth noting that a warrior’s prowess in battle was not always indicative of their weaponry and armor. Though of course, warriors who had access to steel weapons and metal armor would have a significant edge over those that didn’t, but wearing heavy armor and wielding a large sword would cause that warrior to be much slower on the battlefield as well. The best warriors had both speed, power, and defense, which gave certain weapons and armor types an advantage against most others.
In terms of weapons, there’s nothing simpler and more effective than the standard sword and shield. This weapon combination provides superior defense with a balanced offense, and is near impossible to penetrate with the proper technique. Chainmail is also one of the best armors to wear, as it is lightweight, but still places a sheet of metal between the wearer and weapon edge. Chainmail could even be effective as a helm in the form of a chainmail coif.