Originally posted by Faunus
Since we actually agreed on just about everything else, I figured a response to the rest was unnecessary.Purely from a combat standpoint:
[b]Palpatine
-- I think I've made myself clear on this. I wouldn't call him more masterful or refined as Palpatine, but he's surprisingly close in every category that he actually loses out to. I can see him losing a battle with this one, definitely, I just think it'd go to Bane more often than not on account of the orbalisks (read: ludicrous plot device). Without that suit of armor, as he was in PoD, Palpatine would almost certainly win, albeit with considerable difficulty.Exar Kun -- Kun edges out Bane in the Force department thanks to his amulet (also a ludicrous artifact), but Bane is older, has had far more time to study the Dark side, and has higher showings of raw power. He should definitely win a lightsaber duel, and a Force battle could easily swing his way as well, should he score a hit with his lightning or tremendous wave attacks.
Naga Sadow -- Yeah... don't really know what to say here. RoT notes Sadow to possess "great power," and he was apparently over seven hundred years old as of his death, so the question of who is more knowledgeable in the Force is pretty easily answered. The amulet factors in here again, and considering that Sadow likely has vastly more control over it than Kun did it'd probably be more dangerous. Still, Bane's power and combat showings are virtually unrivaled while Sadow has only one dueling display in a comic book, so it would be hypocritical of me to say that Naga should win. I'd have to give this one to Bane, too.
Caedus -- Bane, with difficulty. Orbalisks mean that Caedus can do very little to him with a lightsaber, and when compared, their Force showings seem to favor Bane.
So, I think Bane has a chance to beat every Sith not called DE Sidious in battle.
[/B]
It's rather amazing, Faunus, that we had such a heated debate and I almost completely agree with everything you said here. While you said that Bane would take on Sidious more often than not, I believe the reverse would apply, but it'd be extremely close. Especially in a lightsaber match. In act, I believe Sidious not to be capable of overcoming Bane in a pure lightsaber match- however, I don't see Bane doing that, either. As I've stated, it's because I believe Sidious to be slightly more technically skilled, more refined (you agreed with me on that point), and appears to be somewhat faster- or at least, on par with Bane on speed. Bane, meanwhile, has the orbalisks (Yup. Ludicrious plot device), immense physical strength and stamina- they both have a sort of a shot here. Sidious, however, is extremely creative, intelligent, and more masterful in the force- due to these traits, I'd give him an extremely slim advantage in combat. If we had RoT Bane with all of his skill and without the orbalisks, Sidious would take him. The orbalisks, however, make Bane the Sith Lord who would have the best chance against Sidious- I could certainly see him physically overpowering Sidious and winning.
Other than that, I agree with every single word. In my opinion, Bane is the second strongest Sith, and extremely close to Sidious circa his RotS incarnation.