# Muad'dib vs. Vader **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 5, 2000, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257 "2000-08-05T16:35:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/1 "2000-08-05T16:35:55Z")
Who would win in a fight between Paul Atriedes, alias Muad’dib from the _Dune_ books - and - Darth Vader from the _Star Wars_ movies? Paul has his crysknife, but Vader has his light saber… ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/2 "2000-08-05T16:42:17Z")
But Vader can choke from afar… ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/3 "2000-08-05T18:06:16Z")
If it’s a dual with weapons, I would have to go with Vader. Vader has his lightsaber, which supposedly can cut through any material other than another lightsaber blade, and he has all his force abilities (He can anticipate what Muad’dib would do in advance, he could throw rocks and such at him through the force, etc.). Unarmed combat I’m not sure about. I would probably give this to Vader as well. Vader is huge, and most of his human parts have been replaced by robotical parts (I mean, look how easily he lifted Captain Antilles in Episode IV: A New Hope). ---
**Author:** ![APB9999](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB9999](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB9999)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/4 "2000-08-05T19:28:12Z")
The results are in. The unspoken secret of both their powers is receipts. Vader, as a villain, pulled in more at the box office than the Dunedude did, even as the hero. Vader wins. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/5 "2000-08-05T21:50:37Z")
I’m putting my money on Yoda. That old fart can kick some serious butt. ---
**Author:** ![Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/6 "2000-08-06T12:57:48Z")
How about both of them vs. Jackie Chan? ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/7 "2000-08-06T14:14:49Z")
It would be pretty hard for Paul to go, “shaaaa-SAW!” with Vader putting the subliminal choke on him. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/8 "2000-08-06T14:54:58Z")
But Vader had better be careful not to peek into that deepest place in his soul where he dares not look. Because he will find Paul staring back at him. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2000, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/9 "2000-08-06T15:00:53Z")
Oh, and as a last-ditch defense, Paul would of course have his Shield. And while Vader could use the force to anticipate Paul’s moves in advance to _some_ degree of accuracy, Paul’s Spice-enhanced precognitive powers\* would allow him to predict precisely what Vader would do for the next _several years_. \*) Note to you young whippersnappers who have never read the _Dune_ books: The Spice gives its user the power to see into the future. This fact was omitted from the movie. As was the full effect of Paul’s transformation via the Water of Life, afterwhich he had the ability to control his own body at the molecular level. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/10 "2000-08-09T00:26:30Z")
To elaborate on what Tracer said- If you haven’t read the Dune series, you really can’t know the story. Movie was nice, but no great shakes. Read the books, all of them. I know it will take a while, but a good read is ALWAYS worth the time & effort, especially with this genre. ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/11 "2000-08-09T01:14:47Z")
Of course the movie doesn’t cover it…but Vader still wins. Knowing somebody is going to use their mind to kill you really isn’t going to stop it–short of avoiding them entirely. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/12 "2000-08-09T01:22:20Z")
Um … er … maybe Paul could wear his dark-side-of-the-force-proof vest… (Or he could show up in his stillsuit. He’d stink so badly Vader wouldn’t be able to get near him.) ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/13 "2000-08-09T01:23:25Z")
And besides, Vader’s Remote Choke Hold of Death only works on Imperial officers. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/14 "2000-08-09T01:59:22Z")
Well that’s easy; Vader just says “you’re a general now”… **choke** Wheee ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/15 "2000-08-09T09:35:00Z")
I’d have to vote for Muad’dib. He has better precognitive powers, and has the power of eugenics on his side. Remember, he comes from a long line of genetic pairings designed to produce someone who’s virtually infallible. Besides, jedis are overrated (what’s the correct plural for jedi?). ---
**Author:** ![POIUyT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c67d28/32.png) [@POIUyT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/POIUyT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/16 "2000-08-09T13:45:38Z")
Muad’dib being a prophet, would predict vader’s every move and counter them. Jedis are overrated. I like the Dune universe much, much better than the Star Wars universe. Dune is just not as popular because it’s not a movie, and contains Frank Herbert’s mostly incoherent, philosophical rantings. ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/17 "2000-08-09T16:59:49Z")
Well, strictly speaking, Dune \* is \* a movie too, in the same way that there are Star Wars books. But this isn’t a “chime in with your opinion of the series” thread, this is an asskicking thread. And I don’t care how well you predict it, how do you counter being killed from afar with the power of someone’s mind? “Why I’ll dodge this way **CHOKE** ” or “I’ll perform this heroic **CHOKE** ” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/18 "2000-08-09T18:08:56Z")
“Muad’dib” is very close the the Arabic word “mu’adhdhin,” which is the word for the crier who calls people for their prayers, better known as the English word “muezzin.” ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/19 "2000-08-10T04:57:39Z")
Ah, but if Darth Vader’s Remote Choke-Hold of Death is so useful, why didn’t he use it on Obi-Wan Kenobi? Why didn’t he use it on any of the X-wing or Y-wing pilots that were attacking the first Death Star? Huh? Hmm? Huh? Hmm? I’ll tell you why – because like the Jedi Mind Trick, it only works on the weak-minded! And then only when Vader and his victim can see each other. It’s like voodoo – part of its power comes because his victim believes in it and is too scared to resist it. Paul is way too strong-willed to succumb to the Remote Choke Power. However, the Emperor’s lightning-fingers would still affect Paul. I wonder if Vader also has that power… ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257/20 "2000-08-10T05:55:42Z")
The Atriedes would win, or else there would be no fight. Maud’dib is a complete precog. He would have no reason to fight unless he knew he would win or he had a deathwish. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muaddib-vs-vader/28257.md?page=2)