Good question. Pirates play dirty, but ninjas are so stealth. I'm going with pirates on this one. They'll poison the opponents with grog.

Vikings.

No no! Vikings are too clumsy!

Ninjas would win for two reasons:

A. Ninjas are awesome. B. Ninjas are totally sweet.

Is this a one-on-one match up or are we pitting shipfull o' pirates against rogue band of ninjas? It might make a difference...

I know there is at least 1 ninja here. I see no pirates. I believe that is an automatic win.

i dont like pirates or ninjas

I like them ... on a platter with fava beans and a fine chianti

I don't see the comparison. It's apples and oranges. In a fight, a band of ninjas would annhiliate a group of pirates, but on the open seas I'm not sure ninjas could get their sail unfurled, much less beat a pirate ship.

And ninja stars vs. cannonballs? No contest.

I agree with joe. It depends on context. In a one-on-one brawl, Ninjas would win everytime. In a group spat with no guns, Ninjas still win. In a group spat with guns, I think the pirates would take em'. On the ocean, Pirates. In confined spaces, Ninjas. When raining on land, Ninjas. Over long distances, Pirates.

Although pirates are cool, rugged individuals and party hard, I still think Ninjas are much more badass. Pirates had something like 5 or 6 main weopons: knife, sabre, cutlass, handgun, musket/rifle and cannon. Ninjas have hundreds. They choose which weopon to use based upon the date, temprature, celestial calendar, barometric pressure and eye color of their victim. Plus a pirate would never kill someone with chopsticks.

Dim Mak baby ("death touch")

I think guns or not, ninjas would win hand-to-hand. Pirates have those one-shot muskets that they have to reload every time, right? And with a ninja's evasion abilities, they would have the distinct advantage in that area.

I do agree that ninjas are much more refined and precise and not as clumsy as pirates.

And if you want to take the best of each, try this argument: who'd win a fight between (a living) Bruce Lee and Errol Flynn/Johnny Depp?

Heck, who'd win a 2-on-1 fight between Lee and both of them?

And yes I know Bruce Lee never got his ninja certification, and that's why he doesn't wear the mask or the gi. But still. Come on.

Sorry Joe, I'm still rooting for the pirates. I've seen 'Beverly Hills Ninja' enough times to know what ninjas are really like. Great film by the way!

While you have a singular talent for reviewing music, I must say you are clearly out of your mind. I'd have to consult our resident ninja, but I'm pretty sure Chris Farley (God rest his soul) received an honorary ninja dispensation to make that movie. He was never a real ninja.

And here's the one kicker that you cannot have an answer for (as if Bruce Lee wasn't enough): Batman is a ninja. Ninja himself said so (check his comments, and mine). There's not a pirate alive who could hold Batman's black rubber codpiece, much less dare take him on in battle.

I don't know. That "ninja" a couple rows up looks more like a shadow dancer to me.

...and pirates and ninjas are gay!

Every viking I have ever met has a tramp stamp and drinks with a straw.

I don't know which would win the fight, but the pirate would win the girl...he'd win the girl even if the ninja won the fight.

what if ninjas fought on a pirate ship?

ps. I was born on a pirate ship (holding the tip of my tongue)

Ninjas on a pirate ship would decimate the entire pirate crew. Half of the pirates would be dead before they even knew the ninjas were aboard.

However the ninjas would probably die of mania and/or scurvy once they prevailed because they wouldn't be able to steer the ship back to port.

The only chance pirates have in a fight IMO is if the ninjas are forced to fight ship-to-ship with the ninjas.

What if the ninja's were fighting the undead pirates on the Black Pearl?