If the track record of the various Viking berserker-type troops and comparable phenomenoms from other instances and cultures are anything to judge by, skilled warriors who went for the crazed "slay or die" approach to melee combat were rather nasty customers to deal with and way harder to take down than their overall lack of concern with defense and typically noticeable lack of armour as well would make one think.

A projectile, on the other hand, is a dumb object that does not worry about keeping itself alive a few seconds longer, wet its pants in fear, have to concern itself with managing to put in an effective attack while simultaneously trying to stay alive, and generally suffer from the problem human troops have in hand-to-hand combat. Especially against uncomfortably skilled nutcases unconcerned with pain or fear or their own mortality.