Cordyceps or lion's mane mushrooms?

These are different mushrooms studied for different things. Cordyceps research points to physical endurance, while lion's mane is mostly studied for cognitive claims. Neither has a large evidence base behind it, so this is less a comparison than a question of which thin body of research interests you more.

Cordyceps or reishi mushrooms?

In traditional use, reishi is the calming one and cordyceps the energising one. That framing is older than the research, and human evidence for either is limited. If you want one for the evening and one for the morning, that is roughly how they are positioned rather than how they are proven.

Cordyceps or rhodiola for tiredness?

Rhodiola. It has more human trial evidence for fatigue specifically, and that is worth saying plainly rather than sitting on the fence. Ashwagandha is the other adaptogen people ask about here, though it is generally studied for stress rather than for tiredness itself.

Are mushroom complexes better than just a cordyceps supplement?

Usually not, because complexes tend to contain a fraction of a studied dose of each ingredient, so you may end up with too little of anything. Worth noting that the one positive trial in young adults did use a blend, though it also used 4g a day.

Does cordyceps show up on a drug test or breach anti-doping rules?

Cordyceps itself is not a prohibited substance. The real risk for tested athletes is contamination, since supplements are not made to pharmaceutical standards and can contain things not on the label. Third-party certification schemes exist precisely for this.

Are cordyceps supplements suitable for vegans?

It depends on the species. Cultivated Cordyceps militaris grown on grain is, since nothing animal is involved at any stage. Wild caterpillar fungus is not, because it grows on and consumes a moth larva. Given the labelling problem, check which one you are buying.

Cordyceps Review: Benefits, Dosage & Evidence