# How many men would it take to defeat someone who was 10x as strong/durable as a normal human? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2020, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707 "2020-07-29T12:24:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/21 "2020-07-29T17:03:26Z")
A good rule of thumb is you can’t have more than five people fighting against a single person at once. They’ll just be getting in each other’s way and not adding to the overall force being directed against their single opponent. Even five is too much unless they have some experience fighting as a group against a single person. The best strategy for a group fighting against one person is to not have everyone fighting the person; tell each person in the group to fight one limb. You say “Your job is to get control of his right arm” and repeat it for all four arms and legs. If he’s got a weapon like a club, you assign one person to get control of the club. I’ll admit I’m not sure how well this would work against a single person who’s ten times as strong as a regular person. You’d be in a situation where in terms of strength, the group would be the outnumbered ones. And you can’t just add more people for the reasons I’ve already mentioned; ten or fifteen people don’t fight any more effectively than five people. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/22 "2020-07-29T17:13:10Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > One armed man is all it takes. Just ask Richard Kimble. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/23 "2020-07-29T17:14:31Z")
To the OP: superman loses, assuming no superhuman durability to go with the strength. Ten opponents could surround him, and some could get shots in from directions he cannot defend himself against. If they have weapons, superman loses. A baseball bat to back of the head hurts, even if you’re strong enough to break that bat with your bare hands. Captain America in MCU clearly has superhuman strength. His helicopter feat required at least 3,000 pounds of force and was strong enough to use a motorcycle as a throwing weapon; his attackers couldn’t match up to 300 pounds each, most likely. (Very few people are that strong. Batroc, maybe?) He also demonstrated super-human fortitude. Tasers had a much less effect on him than they would have on most people. Also, he can fall 30 stories or so and be completely unaffected. He wasn’t just strong, but tough, although not so tough that cumulative injuries could hurt him. They should have just put an anti-tank mine underneath the elevator. ---
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/24 "2020-07-29T18:22:26Z")
The OP explicitly says he has 10x strength and **durability.** It wouldn’t make sense if he had ten times the strength of a normal man but had normal human durability. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/25 "2020-07-29T18:33:50Z")
I bet you could still poke him in the eyes. 10x durable eyes still doesn’t sound all that durable. I think that his opponents still have a chance, even if there is only one of them, but they’d have to fight dirty. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/26 "2020-07-29T18:43:08Z")
Definitely don’t attack him ninja style, one at a time, waiting until each ninja is down and out, then giving the guy a chance to get set before the next ninja attacks. Even if it looks like a reasonable strategy it just never works. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/27 "2020-07-29T18:48:54Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > pretty sure being ten times as resistant to crotch shots means you’re still vulnerable to crotch shots This Viking fought off 40 soldiers until someone came up under him with a spear to cajones. Ouch! > **[How a single Viking's berserker rage changed world history forever](https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/battle-stamford-bridge-vikings/)** > > 1066 was a tough year for Harold Godwinson, also known as Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. This had a lot to do with the two approaching forces who were trying to end his reign way earlier than he expected. One of them would be famou… ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/28 "2020-07-29T18:49:09Z")
First rule of fighting a guy 10X stronger than you… Pocket Sand! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PTAXUYLbFYk/hqdefault.jpg "POCKET SAND") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTAXUYLbFYk) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/29 "2020-07-29T19:05:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > There is still no single correct answer. Sniper. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/30 "2020-07-29T20:01:12Z")
What do you mean by 10 times as “durable”? How do you quantify durability? You have to stab him 10 times before the knife goes through his skin? ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/31 "2020-07-29T20:28:36Z")
Actually I’ve been wondering how to mention, weapons are _fantastic_ force multipliers. I haven’t done any of the math, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a knife could penetrate 10x stronger skin, particularly if it’s a nice long knife (read: sword) that they can get some mechanical advantage with. And of course if somebody brings a gun to this party it’ll be a short party. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/32 "2020-07-29T23:10:03Z")
It depends. Are they playing chess? In Japan, samurais with a lifetime of technical knowledge were defeated by guys with a blunderbuss. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/33 "2020-07-30T02:18:13Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > It would depend on the fighting skills of all involved. > > Absolutely right. I don’t care how strong and durable a person is, there are “kill shots” in hand to hand combat that a martial arts expert could use that would take him out very quickly. This is a person 10x as strong as a normal human. Think of a martial artist trying to “kill shot” an enraged chimpanzee or baboon. And they are only 2x to 3x a human strength. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/34 "2020-07-30T05:06:43Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > What do you mean by 10 times as “durable”? How do you quantify durability? You have to stab him 10 times before the knife goes through his skin? I assume this means the single man can last ten times longer before being too exhausted to keep fighting than a normal person would be able to. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/35 "2020-07-30T05:28:51Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > [@TriPolar](#): > > > > One armed man is all it takes. > > Just ask Richard Kimble.  See post 4. > [@running\_coach](#): > > Dr. Richard Kimble agrees. ---
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/36 "2020-07-30T09:58:43Z")
10x durability means his bones are 10x harder, his skin and muscle are 10x tougher etc. His endurance is still the same. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/37 "2020-07-30T10:00:48Z")
> [@Kimera757](#): > > Also, he can fall 30 stories or so and be completely unaffected. That’s down to Captain America’s vibranium shield, which absorbed the kinetic energy of the fall when he landed on it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/38 "2020-07-30T15:33:36Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > One armed man is all it takes. > [@running\_coach](#): > > Dr. Richard Kimble agrees. Oh, the difference a hyphen can make! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/39 "2020-07-30T16:38:39Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > > [@Kimera757](#): > > > > Also, he can fall 30 stories or so and be completely unaffected. > > That’s down to Captain America’s vibranium shield, which absorbed the kinetic energy of the fall when he landed on it. His shield might have absorbed the energy from the impact. But it wouldn’t have had any effect on the change in inertia inside his body. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707/40 "2020-07-30T20:23:21Z")
I’m not sure how big the parking lot is supposed to be, but I think it’s going to be a lot more than tens of people. The 10x person is going to be much faster than the others, which means that the group is going to have a hard time positioning themselves to encounter him in a group. If they stay in a group, he can likely just evade them. If they spread out, he can attack their flanks or individual members. And the 10x person can likely easily handle 100 or more in sequential 1-on-1 combat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-men-would-it-take-to-defeat-someone-who-was-10x-as-strong-durable-as-a-normal-human/916707.md?page=3)