CHANGED MY MIND about best weapons for a MINOTAUR: FANTASY RE-ARMED 

*a group of adventurers walk into a cave and find a nobless door blocking the way. They decide to knock. It's a Minotaur with a door for a shield.* There's a DnD encounter idea

The image of a Minotaur running into a village and ripping a door off of some poor peasant's house to use as a shield is quite funny.

You know, I just realized that I have some knowledge that might be relevant to discussions of minotaur combat. I grew up raising cattle. 1) In regard to the effectiveness of a goring charge, very effective. I was gored by a nasty Holstein steer, right in the gut when I was 14, so I know what I'm talking about. Bodies getting stuck on the horns are very unlikely because the horns have a naturally smooth, in some cases almost polished texture. Also, the horn will not necessarily penetrate. It varies between individual animals, but some horns are actually quite blunt. In those cases, it would function more like a (historical) warhammer, focusing the force in a small area, breaking bones and damaging internal organs without breaking the skin. As far as the head being exposed, it isn't that much of a problem considering the thickness of a bovine skull. 2) In regard to the increase in strength relative to size, there is a biological justification for this. There is a gene mutation which causes a phenomenon known as "double muscling". An entire breed of cattle has been created around this trait, the Belgian Blue. Google it. 3) In regard to eyesight, there is an often overlooked fact about the eyes of many herbivores. In addition to being oriented more toward the sides of their head, the pupils are often slitted horizontally. This can afford up to a 270 degree field of vision. True, there is less overlap between the visual field of each eye, but this just means that the binocular field is somewhat narrower. They are still fully capable of judging distance, it just may be in a 30 degree arc vs 60 degrees (arbitrary numbers chosen to illustrate) 4) In regard to the NEED for armor, many people use the words "thick hide" as a lazy justification. Take it from someone who has skinned, literally, hundreds of animals, a sharp blade will pierce it easily. The only animal I ever had trouble penetrating the hide, was a bear. 5) Coming back to the issue of musculature, there is one thing many people don't know about cattle. The powerful leg muscles that aid in a charge also mean that they can JUMP! I have personally seen a young, healthy, Hereford bull jump over a 5 foot high fence like it wasn't even there. That's impressive for an animal that weighed 3/4 of a ton. Conceivably, a minotaur could leap right over the first rank, landing in the middle of the group and lashing out wildly on all sides. 6) While not universal, most fantasies depict minotaurs with hooves. It cannot be underestimated how devastating a kick can be. I suffered a dislocated knee and fractured patella from a Charolais once, and he was barely half grown 7) Fun fact, cows kill more people every year than sharks. That means that you should be less scared of a shark-man than a minotaur

Minotaurs using axes is actually cultural, as the symbol of the Minoans/Greeks is the Labrys Axe.

Man, finally after hours and hours of going around in this labyrinth I have reached the exit. Now let me just open this door and...

12:40 "a flat type object that is readily available" no, he doesn't mean a... "it's the DOOR!" at that moment i almost spat out my cola and thought back at a recent D&D session, where our Goliath party member used a door to help the party advance against a tunnel of enemies. gold!

I can imagine that after this video was released, a lot of DnD players found themselves facing Minotaurs with doors.

MIND THE DOOR! MINDDEDOOR! MINNODOR!! MINOTAUR, MINOTAUR! Guy traumatised when confronted with the door assault could only say "Minotaur" afterwards, hence the name.

Adventurer 1: Look! That wall is closing in. Adventurer 2: No worries, It's the classic moving wall trap, we have 5 minutes to solve a puzzle. Adventurer 1: But it's moving VERY fast. And I don't see any puzzle. Adventurer 2: Maybe we have to find a trap door or... Oh f#@k it's nearly here! Adventurer 1: It's not a wall, it's a shie... *SPLAT*

"Close the door Ned, that'll keep the minotaur out!" --Farmer Bragad, last words

Minotaur guarding a labyrinth: tears off a large door and breaks off a hinge to use like a gladius “I DON’T NEED A WEAPON...MY LABYRINTH IS MY WEAPON!”

Minotaur : Knock knock! Human Peasant : Whomst be there? *BASH* Minotaur : THE DOOR!

"Hey Ivan what happened to your door?" "It was ripped off it's hinges during the night by a Minotaur." "Wait WHAT?!" In the distance a Minotaur is running away with a door as a shield. Now people should fear Minotaurs not just for their brutality but also for their tendencies to rob people of their doors. Great. Also sounds like a great start for a D&D quest. lol

Shad always makes me crack up whenever he reaches ideas that will just doom hypothetical opponents to embarrassing deaths. Giant with sling and scythe? Check. Minotaur with tower shield? OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHHOOOOOOO CHEEEEEEECCCCCK!

Random Dungeon Adventurer: "Hey, is it just me or that door in the hallway getting close to us really fast?" Veteran Adventurer: "It's the minotaur! Rrrruuun"

12:33 : the minotaur git gud "knock knock" "who's here?" "THE DOOR!" *slam

Wow, can you imagine the tower shield as part of a war tactic for a race of Minotaurs? Just a frontline of 7-8 foot tall beasts charging full tilt into the opposing army with giant shields in front of them blocking arrow fire and whatnot. That would be devastating.

*watches first video* 'hmm... Shad didn't get super worked up and excited, I wonder if he missed something.' *watches second video* 'That's better!'

Now my players will surely die... and its all your fault...

"As you step into the room, the walls begin to close in on you! Make a Perception check" "25?" "The walls just moo'ed at you. You realize you're trapped between two minotaur shield formations."

Ah one of those youtubers who actually do something with the opinions from the comments, and use it to expend their own knowledge. Great work btw!

Holy cow (pun intended). I am going to give a Minotaur a door in a future campaign.

Man After a Long Day in the fields I can't wait to go home and, *Sees my door is gone* That Damned MInotaur, DAMN YOU MINOTAUR, MY FATHER MADE THAT DOOR FOR ME.

Thanks to this video and the previous one, I made a D&D encounter for my friends that were taken for a ride. Me: Ye adventurers see a door in the far end of the corridor. Player1: I advance to open the door. Player 2: I look about to check any traps in the corridor. Player 3: I turn around to check our backs for possible ambushes. Me: Very well, 1 as you approach the door, 2 is now certain there are no traps within the corridor. However, 3. you realize the entrance behind you has suddenly shut. Players: Oh no... well guess we have to move forward- Me: Then as you turn, 1... you notice that the door before is closer now. Player 1: What? Me: In fact the door is getting closer to you as if picking up speed. Player 2: A mimic? Me: You hear distinct heavy footsteps of something big and heavy. Player 3: I roll nature to figure out what it is!?! Me: You think there is something strong enough to hold the door and it is charging at you. Players: What?!?!?! (players got impacted and smashed back as the door hits them) Me: It stands with notable horns on its bull like head, towering over 1 despite him being a barbarian. Wearing scarps of armor that is poorly mismatch but mostly due to its sheer bulk and size. In one hand... the door it greeted you with. On the other hand. A fearsome looking mace with spikes. Players: A Minotaur? Me: A Minotaur with a Door.

Its funny, for a professional, the minotaur with a door on his left hand is so much more fearsome than a classicly depicted minotaur.

The poor villagers will probably be really frustrated that some beasts always steal there new doors:D

Guest: Is this the door to the bathroom? Me: actually - Guest: * opens door * Me: - its a Minotaur.

Especially if the door has an eye-hole to look through while charging

Shad: 'There is a weapon that would work really well for a charging minotaur' Me: he's going to say a shield. Shad: 'And a minotaur has access to a decent sized shield' Me: he's going to say a door. :D Could you imagine though? One night a minotaur walks into a small village knocks on a random door, the villager answers grumbling about how late it is. As the poor villager turns white, the minotaur says "need shield" rips off his door and walks away. XD XD XD

OMG that depiction of a minotaur charging through a labyrinth with a giant shield is scary as hell! Okay, yeah, I think it goes without saying that the best possible weapon for a minotaur to use, would have to be... a Browning .50 Calibur Machine Gun. (With a heavy tower shield in the other hand of course.)

Imagine at the end of a labrynth you see a door, you walk up to open it and suddenly you get rammed by it Minotaurs are becoming the new mimics

The best weapon for any race is a tactical mind! In a fantasy tactical rpg context with a race of Minotaurs could have an equivalent human intellect or if not; they could be domesticated as soldiers in a human army. One weapon system no one has mentioned is that of siege engines! Even with minimal intelligence a group of Minotaurs can be directed by a human officer to operate simple siege engines like ballista or catapults or just to push siege towers or battering rams. On a basic level Minotaur can combine the role of beast of burden and a laborer! Think of the field fortifications the romans made use of at the battles of Masada or Alesia! Human ingenuity + Minotaur strength = OMG!!! If given appropriately sized slings and heavy shot, Minotaurs could rain down a hail of devastation equivalent of small catapults with very little technical resources. Of course Minotaurs would make excellent shock troops combining the mobility and momentum of cavalry with the defensive and cooperative potential of a phalanx. Since bovines are herd animals a phalanx would be a natural extension of their instincts. Even without weapons they would be formidable in a stampede. Given The sarissa (long spear) and xiphos combined with a roman scutum (tower shield) a Minotaur phalanx would dominate most other foot and give heavy cavalry a run for their money. One thing I know is I wouldn't want to be down wind of the Minotaur latrines.

Minotower shield!

Too soon to say "don't let the door hit your arse on the way out"?

I feel like Shad should be a talent agent for fantasy creatures. 😆

Since the Minotuar originates from Greece I think Greek weapons would be a good fit The Hoplon shield with an over sized Kopis or Xiphos if the Minotuar is smart enough he would still go for a Greek Hoplite weapon set

Shad man can you imagine how much more terrifying dungeoneering would be if you go to open a door but it's a trick from the minotaur and the door pulls back and this giant axe swings down on you. Thats like built for a D&D encounter

Still no mention of maces, clubs, or warhammers. If they weren't in a confined space, they could use their strength and bulk to wield blunt force weapons much more effectively than smaller creatures. A minotaur could be more effective against an armored human while using a hammer rather than a sword. They'd just crush the armor around the human inside.

Shad, your integrity is what keeps me rabidly subscribed. Well done.

ngl i would love to see a creature like a Minotaur, a troll, or an Ork utilizing a door as a shield

Now I have the image of a minotaur smashing humans just with a door stuck in my head XD

Do we finally have justification for DUEL SHEILDS!!?!?!?

Thank you so much for this video! I actually used the minotaur with a tower shield idea in my Pathfinder campaign yesterday and it was a ton of fun for me and the players. The party just couldn't fight their way past him thanks to the huge shield, so to get by they ended up having to bribe the minotaur with with booze.

Please write a "Shadiversity" D&D Monster Manual. I would buy it off of Amazon or Lulu publisher.

Im starting to question how humans could even survive in a fantasy setting.

yeah. Now I'm scared of meeting a shield-wielding cow in a labyrinth X)

Well now my players are going to get gorrila tactic'd by a minotaur hiding behind a door, charging then throwing the door and retreating to the next door. When the PCs figure out countermeasures, I'll just make him hide under a large table and do the same thing.

I imagined a minotaur charging at me with a shield and then smashing me against a labyrinth wall. That would crush a human, armour or not.

also man really appreciate you doing this it shows great humility

I submit that their apparent inability to produce their own weapons and armor might not necessarily indicate a lack of intelligence. In order to be able to produce your own weapons and armor you need to have a complex civilization that is able to produce enough abundance to allow its members to specialize their skills (and that some of them then specialize in metal working). Intelligence is certainly a prerequisite to that, but is not the only thing you need. You also need for your species to be socially inclined enough to form large groups and work together. Minotaurs are typically depicted as loner creatures. We rarely hear about tribes of minotaurs. Even if they are highly intelligent a minotaur without a tribe must learn all of the skills they need to survive on their own, and will not have time to become a specialist in one specific skill (such as making weapons or armor).

Oh my GOD, you got me really hyped up when you were describing the minotaur's fighting style, I'm definitely saving that image in my head. Just found your series, and I am in LOVE, this whole series is amazing for me as a DM.

Just found your channel, and I love it! I love how much passion and enthusiasm you put out when you deliver some of your lines. Frikken Contagious!

Hey shad, at the 9 minute mark you go into how ramming with horns is not a very good use in how they could get stuck ect. From being on an Australian farm with bulls as a kid, i saw them sometimes use them for ramming but not very often. They mostly used their horns for moving objects vertically. with a flick of the horns. This is when they were actually angry and trying to cause harm to another bull. For example if a Minotaur is fighting an opponent, they might gore a person and flick their body into an upright stance again to basically open their body up. That's how real bulls seem to fight, that vertical cutting motion. As you said this exposes them, but it's a far more useful tactic then ramming. Shields could be disarmed by this particular movement too, as the Minotaur starts with its head down and flicks it up to remove weapons and shields.

Great set of videos. I like the sword and large shield combination as well. I just wanted to mention in regard to the stereotypical two handed axe that there is a good reason for the link. The Minotaur of legend was associated with King Minos of Crete, the name being related to both Minotaur and the pre-Greek Minoan civilization of Crete. The Minoan people had a prominent weapon, that was ceremonial if not used in battle, which was a double headed axe called the Labrys. The Labrys is linked to the Minoan word Labyrinth, which is the home of the Minotaur. So it seems pretty reasonable that the Minotaur should use a double headed axe, the Labrys. Maybe he can use it one handed and use a shield in the other hand. I know that isn't what these videos are about, but I just wanted to mention it. Pardon me if somebody else mentioned it earlier.

Two thoughts, first if they charge and knock someone down why not just trample? Tap dance on someone's chest with that much weight? Two: variation of the Targe shield. They realize they can stylize shields to being battering rams, utilizing their natural strength, what kind of shields would they make?

I have 2 small points on the Minotaur's hide. For the overall durability of there head, in a rush, I usually think of a Cape Buffalo, who's skull is hard enough to stop bullets. Some interactions for the power of the Minotaur and other powerful bulls might have come from tails or imports of these beast. Also, when it comes to the original story, the version I always heard was Thesious killed the Minotaur, by using the power of his own charge to get a sword, or broken part of horn, threw the beast thick hide. To me this has always sujested there skin it too thick to be cut or easily pieced. I don't think a Minotaur in a closer area, or in close range has much need from armor. But the piecing power of a long bow or a belista, would require them to use it in an open long range area like a battle field.

OK. But I am gonna watch the previous video anyway :D

Shields and a really big warhammer. And then work lots of mean spikes in to the shield. And then have him scree while charging MACHICOLATION!!!!

You are giving me SO MANY good ideas for the rpg me and my friends are making. love these videos! really helps with world building.

Your videos are very useful for my decisions for fantasy army composition and tactics

Truly, the door is the greatest of weapons.

when you said minotaur with a tower shield I immediately imagined one ripping a door off its hinges and using that XD awesome idea

I love that you came to a conclusion that I used years ago! I made a D&D character that was half minotaur half giant who used a tower shield and an elven curved blade made for his size! He was easily my most op character ever due to his sheer size and when in a hall he was unstoppable due to the shield!😆

I actually thought of this combo in your first video!! Love the content man❤

Man, this got me thinking about a dungeon that has these big handles in the middle of the doors instead of regular ones. Why carry a tower shield with ya all the time when you can rip a door off and use that instead? Good stuff, good stuff!

So you're saying... A big, beefy Minotaur could use some thick Minodoors?

I know this video is old, and I've made comments on other videos, but I've just started watching this channel, and one thing kept me coming back initially. You simply made logical, rational arguments based on your personal knowledge and research, but also completely open to correction, new information, and logical arguments to the contrary. Cheers Shad!

10:25 Well this explains why the shopkeeper in Barony seems to have the minotaur exempt from his otherwise strict "No monster" policy. I did find this out the hard way as the minotaur trampled *all* of my automaton's traps as good 'ol shopkeeper does nothing.

300: why do we want to be a good person? 1100: why do we desire the truth? 1700: why do objects fall to earth? 2017: would female Minotaurs be able to weaponize breast milk?

Minotaur in a labyrinth with a tower shield, good. Put spikes on the shield, much better!

One thing I feel wasn’t mentioned in this pair of videos was a minotaur’s speed. The style of a minotaur is to build up momentum to exert their brute strength. Since they would have low agility and slow reflexes, I don’t think they would be able to use the full potential of a sword. They would make large slow strikes, which I think gives some credibility to the use of an axe (though defense would still be an important thing to consider).

Awesome video as always Shad. I found this one especially interesting. I'll probably use these ideas in running a D&D adventure some time.

You may not believe this, but right at the start of the video, I wanted to scream “a big shield! A big shield!” :)

I never thought I would ever watch videos about minotaurs....... very good job, thank you.

on one occasion I was able to convince the GM to allow me to play a "Good-aligment" Minotaur. It wasa HUGE stretch, but was able to convince him that wild minotaurs away from their evil-demonic religion influences they could potentially become "Taurens" like in World of Warcraft. So I would basically play a "cow" version compared to the WILD demonic Ox-Bull of classic minotaur. Other than that I played it as a Paladin (wow influenced again), so I changed some things. I played female tauren so had less strength but a bit more dex and better social stats, so I never used full armor, only breast-plate, a heavy shield (never a paves/tower shield) and as main weapon I used heavy Flail, allowing me to trip and push enemies away, giving me advantage when pulled off. d.facdn.net/art/zoelycan/1486067546/1486067476.zoelycan_milktank_nordvarg_1_fullsize.png

The use of a door as a tower shield adds an interesting possibility, especially regarding encounters with a Minotaur in a labyrinth environment. If the Minotaur species is intelligent enough to use deception, can you imagine said monster actually setting up his shield in an empty doorway, waiting for the adventurers to attempt to open it, and then surprise slamming them against a wall or somesuch as an initial attack? Would likely make the adventurers think twice about opening the next door.

I'm now imagining a shield wall of Minotaurs and then in unison they charge at the enemy and decimate a foe, while their beastial roars echo across the field and the foe breaks and scramblers to flee Oooo, now I'm thinking of a fantasy beast army Minotaurs forming the main block with Centaur cavalry filling ranged and melee roles as dragons fly above sowing terror in the ranks

On the subject of a Minotaur using a shield could you imagine a Minotaur charging you if he had torge/spiked shield? OMG that would be hell!! That would be nearly impossible to fight in a labyrinth!!! Theseus would DEAD

Interesting thought I just had. In the original Greek myth of the minotaur, it was said to be a cannibal, eating humans sacrificed to it. Could a minotaur's choice of weapon be more based on a need for butchering people for food? While I don't doubt that if you had to, you could use a sword to butcher an animal, an axe might be a better choice, as it would make cutting through bone a lot easier. Butcher's cleavers, while not exactly an axe, are made thick and heavy specifically because you'll need to be able to chop through bone and gristle while butchering. If we assume a minotaur is at least smart enough to use weapons, we could also assume it's smart enough to butcher it's meat instead of just eating it unprepared. So the 'axe' it might use for killing people might not be an actual axe, but an extremely over-sized meat cleaver with an extra-long handle. Update: I just did a quick google search cause I was curious, and yes, two-handed meat-cleavers are a real thing. They're used for splitting large animals before butchering them down into smaller cuts, and were also used by whalers for cutting through blubber. Basically they're shaped like a curved meat-cleaver, where the blade is as long as your arm, with a handle about twice that length. So yeah, a minotaur could probably use one of these as a one-handed axe.

In a lot of Fantasy settings that i've seen, Minotaurs actually have a superior memory to humans, it's what allows them to so easily traverse their maze-like Labyrinths. They remember all the correct turns.

That idea for a minotaur with a shield in the labyrinth is a great idea. I want it in a game now. You just turn a corner in the maze to see a iron-banded wall in the narrow corridor. Then the wall comes rushing at you to the sound of furious, stomping hooves. "OH SHI-" I like the idea of them having short stabbing sword better. So that when they smash you into a wall -and somehow don't kill you outright- they can stab you to end you rightly, no unscrewed pommels required.

I literally just finished watching your original video.

Thanks for these videos they combine science and magic together and they've given me some good ideas!🤓🤓🤓👑

I love taurs im glad you took time on this

A large shield is good, however... as pointed out the Minotaur is way more massive than a human. More mass in motion equals more inertia, which makes it harder to stop. The simple solution is to just run around the corner and wait for the Minotaur to slam into the wall. Furthermore, if the floor is made of stone, or even slightly hard wood, the Minotaur would probably have less grip due to the hard hooves. That would make it even harder to stop. Taking this into consideration, it is my opinion that a full-on shield charge would be a very unwise move. Still, the other advantages such a huge shield has, both in defensive and offensive capabilities, makes it a most excellent choice. I particularly like the note about edge-slamming downed opponents made earlier in the comments. Thank you for being awesome in so many ways Shad!

Thanks shad now i gonna have nightmares of minotaurs with 6 foot tall spiked shields dashing against me...

It would be really awesome to have a Minotaur in a labyrinth that pulls off doors and grabs doors rearranging the maze as he goes! And if I can make a request on the next creature you might do one of these on. I really wanna see harpies (not a fan of the ugly monster harpy but hey what can you do?) but harpies that have wings for hands rather than being like angels, the first thing that comes to mind is metal talons to swipe at people with, or maybe they’d be better at using bows cause they’d have a different muscle structure similar to how birds have arm muscles anchored onto the middle of their chests.

Great to know you actually read the comments. Some people said you've accepted, you were WRONG, but this was more a further explanation with reconsidering and extra information/thougts, than a total correction. Keep it up!

You’re level of dork is breath taking and admirable.

I actually think this fighting style would be thematically appropriate too. If the minotaur is using a short sword or even a short spear in addition to the shield, they would be using a fighting style very similar to the greek soldiers, fitting of their mythological origins.

The fact that this expands our imagination and teaches us something makes this an amazing channel.

I love the thought of the DM describing a fierce Minotaur coming around the corner holding what appears to be a door as a shield. I think part of the goring rush is the mass and momentum behind the hit. If you get smacked, even if not pierced, you should feel quite a wallop (mechanically speaking, knocked back or prone).

I love it when you revisit videos you do. It allows for more analysis on the subject.

I still think this discussion lacks the evaluation of udders.

Shad you should start debunking movie battles. And if i can make a recommendation please do "the battle of helms deep" from the lord of the rings.

DOOM ETERNAL has a boss fight, The Gladiator. It's bassically a minotaur, but much smarter, as it only ever charges you with jumps. It has a wall shield that covers it entirelly, and it uses a sort of ball and chain whip sort of weapon to keep you on the other end of the room, but the shield itself can throw a progection, bassicly making it a shield charge without ever needing to get close. Pain in the ass fight first time around.

Shad, if the minotaur is not so intelligent wouldn't a club or a mace be more suitable for it? It would make an even biggger strike with the minotaur strength and it would not need to care about edge alignment and proper technique as it is needed with a sword. Also would be really usefull in confined space, and it could use pretty much a piece of anything of that shade, no craft skills needed. I really like this discussions and your videos as well.

But Shad, if an interesting female Minotaur used a bag of pommels to knock down the matriculations on a castle while a dragon flew over breathing fire on dwarves shooting arrows...Could we still weaponize the udder milk?

A minotaur with a tower shield charging you would be like getting hit by a car! If the minotaurs are civilised, Imagine the absurd battlefield force and presence of a shield wall line of minotaurs CHARGING AT THE ENEMY LINE! Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, the arrows bounce off the top shields, and the cavalry are pushed aside nearly as well as the infantry! You'd need a volley of SIEGE WEAPON FIRE to do any notable damage, and siege weapons are very weak to being overrun in the ensuing melee! You'd have no defense against that save largescale traps and terrain advantages!

Metatron and shadivercity collab. ALSO if there is no doors in the labrith he could just use a corpse since they are strange enough to lift it and the bodies would be heavily armoured