Polearms

Polearms generally have a longer reach than other melee weapons and are highly effective both on horseback and against horses. Polearms lose their effectiveness once an enemy closes distance so high Athletics or fighting on horseback is essential for maintaining distance. Some polearms can't be used with a shield due to their large size or because the weapon is unbalanced. Lances can be used to strike the enemy with couched lance damage, which can be done when on a horse and moving at a high speed. Unless specifically noted below, most polearms can be used with a shield but are then limited to thrusting attacks. Most polearms are limited to thrusting attacks while on horseback, with the exception of Hafted Blades. All polearms receive a 35% penalty to speed and damage when used on a horse. Polearms with a reach greater than or equal to 150 receive a 35% penalty to speed and damage when used with a shield. The penalties do not stack: Spear on horse without shield: 35% penalty Awlpike on foot with shield: 35% penalty Awlpike on horse with shield: 35% penalty Awlpike on foot without shield: no penalty Spear on foot with shield: no penalty While on foot, polearm attacks can stop horses and cause them to rear, regardless of damage dealt, target speed, or the horse's Charge attribute. This unique feature makes polearms an effective anti-cavalry weapon but the effect only applies to polearms with a reach greater than 140. While this effect remains present in Warband, it was removed in v1.006 of the Napoleonic Wars DLC, with horses never rearing as a result of being attacked. In Napoleonic Wars, polearms will instead instantly kill horses when the bearer is kneeling or crouching, in a similar way to couched lance damage. Some polearms, when drawn, initially take up a stance like two-handed weapons before dropping into the polearm stance. This can increase the ready time of the weapon when the user needs to switch from a ranged weapon to engage in melee. List of Polearms[] ▼ Show/Hide Polearms ▼ Weapon STR Speed Reach Swing Thrust Weight Price Modifiers Other Pitch Fork - 87 154 16(blunt) 22(pierce) 1.5 19 BalancedBentCracked Military Fork - 95 135 15(blunt) 30(pierce) 2.0 153 BalancedBentCracked Battle Fork - 90 144 15(blunt) 35(pierce) 2.0 282 BalancedBentCracked Staff - 100 130 18(blunt) 19(blunt) 1.5 36 BalancedBentCracked Quarter Staff - 104 140 20(blunt) 20(blunt) 2.0 60 BalancedBentCracked Iron Staff - 97 140 25(blunt) 26(blunt) 2.0 202 BalancedBentCracked Scythe - 97 182 30(cut) 14(pierce) 2.0 43 BalancedBentCracked Military Scythe - 87 155 36(cut) 25(pierce) 2.5 155 BalancedBentCracked Hafted Blade - 95 135 37(cut) 20(pierce) 2.8 185 BalancedBentCracked No shield Hafted Blade - 93 153 39(cut) 19(pierce) 3.3 350 BalancedBentCracked No shield Glaive - 90 157 39(cut) 21(pierce) 4.5 352 BalancedBentCracked No shield Poleaxe 13 77 180 50(cut) 15(blunt) 4.5 384 BalancedBentCracked No shield Shortened Spear - 102 120 19(blunt) 25(pierce) 2.0 53 BalancedBentCracked Boar Spear - 90 157 26(cut) 23(pierce) 1.5 76 BalancedBentCracked Bamboo Spear - 88 200 15(blunt) 20(pierce) 2.0 80 BalancedBentCracked Spear - 98 135 20(blunt) 26(pierce) 2.3 85 BalancedBentCracked War Spear - 95 150 20(blunt) 27(pierce) 2.5 140 BalancedBentCracked Pike - 81 245 16(blunt) 26(pierce) 3.0 125 BalancedBentCracked No shieldCannot be used on horseback Ashwood Pike 9 90 170 19(blunt) 29(pierce) 3.5 205 BalancedBentCracked No shield Awlpike - 92 165 20(blunt) 33(pierce) 2.3 345 BalancedBentCracked Long Awlpike - 89 185 20(blunt) 32(pierce) 2.3 385 BalancedBentCracked Jousting Lance - 61 240 - 17(blunt) 5.0 158 BalancedBentCracked Couched lance damage Light Lance - 85 175 16(blunt) 27(pierce) 2.5 180 BalancedBentCracked Couched lance damage Double Sided Lance - 95 128 25(cut) 27(pierce) 4.0 261 BalancedBentCracked Couched lance damage Lance - 80 180 16(blunt) 26(pierce) 2.5 270 BalancedBentCracked Couched lance damage Heavy Lance 10 75 190 16(blunt) 26(pierce) 2.8 360 BalancedBentCracked Couched lance damage Great Lance 11 55 240 - 21(pierce) 5.0 410 BalancedBentCracked Couched lance damage War Hammer - 81 120 38(blunt) 38(pierce) 3.0 125 BalancedBentCracked No shieldCannot be used on horseback Polehammer 18 50 126 50(blunt) 35(blunt) 7.0 169 - No shieldCheats only Long Spiked Club - 96 126 23(pierce) 20(blunt) 2.5 264 HeavyChippedRusty Long Hafted Spiked Mace - 94 140 28(blunt) 26(blunt) 2.5 310 HeavyChippedRusty Long Hafted Knobbed Mace - 95 133 26(blunt) 23(blunt) 3.0 324 HeavyChippedRusty Voulge 10 88 175 40(cut) 18(pierce) 3.0 129 HeavyChippedRusty Bonus against shieldsNo shield Long Bardiche 11 89 140 48(cut) 17(pierce) 4.5 390 HeavyChippedRusty Bonus against shieldsNo shieldUnbalanced Great Long Bardiche 12 88 155 50(cut) 17(pierce) 5.0 660 HeavyChippedRusty Bonus against shieldsNo shieldUnbalanced ▲ Show/Hide Polearms ▲ Equipment Melee weapons — One-handed weapons (WF&S) Two-handed weaponsTwo-handed/One-handed weapons Polearms (WF&S) Polearm/Two-handed weapons Ranged weapons — Bows (WF&S) Crossbows Thrown weapons Firearms (WF&S) Armor — Body Armor (WF&S) Helmets (WF&S) Gloves (WF&S)Boots (WF&S) Shields (WF&S) Other — Horses Arena Equipment