Choose your weapon in a gladiator battle

Polearm........

Lightsaber

Katana. Most lethal sword out there.

Pocket knife. And a bazooka

You ever watched Spartacus? Yea that's based on my life

Aquaman's freakin' trident.

Two short swords seem to be the most practical and versatile combination to me. You can attack and defend on both sides while still having more range than the double daggers, less weight than the two-handed weapons, and a larger cutting edge than the axe and most pole arms.

A shield could be used to charge at an opponent, but that's a bit too rash for my style. I wouldn't worry too much about defending against thrown weapons either since that's pretty risky in a one-on-one match.

A spear or polearm would have better range, but I always felt awkward trying to defend with one of those, especially against sword thrusts, so if the opponent breaks through my attacks, I'm pretty much done for. There's no guarantee that it can't be cut/chopped in half either.

Katana

Trident & net. The net to trip/capture & the trident for range & damage capacity.

Samurai sword. Just feels better in my hands, though I could second a short sword and shield.

I may just be overthinking this, but would a Roman gladiator school be effective at all in teaching you how to use the samurai sword?

I would rather just have a full set of armor and no weapons, or maybe a short sword and shield.

I like something i can hide behind and still spam attacks without getting hurt

polearm, specifically a naginata. I like the sword + staff combo, it means reach and cutting power. and if someone chops it in two I'd have a short sword and a short stick set, sort of like eskrima.

sais

Can I have an indigo tribe ring? I feel that would be pretty effective, especially if I'm up against a compassion-less foe.

well I would want a shield as well... so I picked sword & shield

Because I have no armour, I'd pick the sword and shield. Otherwise I'd pick up the poleaxe or a two handed warhammer.

These weapons are extremely versatile, the can be used to stab, smash, poke, bludgeon and slice as well as trip and knock people down. They are light enough to be wielded effectively, but have enough mass to crush shields and snap a parrying blade.

If not available I'd settle for a Bill-Hook or a Halberd.

Spear and Shield is the most simple and most effective combo.

Correction MY life...Not your's.

Double scimitars!

This in a fantasy.

In reality I'd need a damn shield and katana to slash my opponent

Bow and Arrows

@black_lantern_mar_vell:

Yup. Though they may not be the most cool looking or mainstream, trident & net is always the way to go.

A medium sized sword and shield. (Not short)

I want a Mace and Shield. Crack some skulls like Hawkman haha

Shield and sword.

Two handed War hammer and shield.

gilgamesh from dmc4