Only if the wizard doesn't see you coming. [spoiler]Harry Dresden, a powerful modern wizard in another series, made a deal-under-duress to be the champion/servant of the Queen of Dark Fairies, Mabb. (Don't laugh, even a Sith Lord would have shit himself going upon against Mabb. In a later book she took the best shot of Greek GOD....got blasted through the walls of several room of a stone CASTLE..... then got up and walked back to her chair. Mabb is the personification of WINTER....and all that goes with it.) Anyway he wanted to arrange for his own assassination so that she couldn't get her hands on him. He paid an assassin to take him out from a mile away with a sniper rifle. It was only possible because he gave the assassin the information he needed so that he'd be at his most vulnerable. Then made his apprentice wipe his memory, and not tell him it was coming. (Mabb would have sensed the deception if she hadn't done it.) [/spoiler]

Shit a knife could have handled most of their problems.