Halberd

A halberd () was a widely used member of the poleaxe family of polearms, that could best be described as somewhat of a cross between an axe and a spear.
==Description==
The business end of a halberd consisted of three parts: the axe-head, the back spike or "fluke", and the spear tip that surmounted it. While many polearms had a similar structure, halberds had a few distinguishing features. Their axe-heads were concave (curving inward) to nearly straight, instead of convex like most axes. And were set at an angle to the shaft, instead of being mounted perpendicular.
The fluke of a halberd, which was fairly short and angled slightly downward, helped to balance the weapon. It was sometimes replaced by a hook for dismounting cavalry. The sharp spear-like spike that surmounted the fluke was usually of quadrangular design, but varied in length and size. Some were long and slender, while others were broader and of a medium length.
The average halberd measured in length, or longer with their spear tips.
==Weaponology==
Halberds were extremely versatile against a wide range of opponents due to ability to unleash slashing, thrusting, tripping, or dismounting attacks. Dismounting in particular was a main function of the weapon. And were quite effective against plate armor. However, due to their size halberds were rather slow, unwieldy, and often considered detrimental in close quarters combat. 
Halberdiers could attack the flanks of a pike formation with great effect, due to pikemen being unable to bring their much longer weapons to bear in close combat.
==Availability==
Business and merchants in the Realms where one could purchase halberds from included:
* A number of merchants in Athkatla's market Waukeen's Promenade commonly sold halberds, including the fruit merchant Enge and Ribald Barterman from his store Adventurer Mart. In the Bridge district, one could find them for sale from the innkeeper of Delosar's Inn and at the street-side stall of Bel Dalemark.
* Aunsible Durn, a smithy in the town of Ghars, Cormyr, produced halberds that outfitted a number of local farmhands.
* A number of general stores in the southern districts of Baldur's Gate sold halberds.
* The inn within the hamlet of Friendly Arm sold halberds alongside a variety of armor and weapons.
* Maheer el Saddith, a traveling merchant.
* A small armaments store in Nashkel was known to sell halberds.
* The Tankard Tree, a tavern in Saradush, sold both mundane and generically enchanted halberds.
* Ulgoth's Beard inn owner sold halberds on the side, alongside a variety of general adventuring equipment.
* Weapon merchants in the city of Ust Natha's bazaar sold halberds.
* The Weaponers of Cormyr.
* In many of the bazaars found across Zakhara, one could find a halberd for around 8 to 15 gold pieces depending upon how good they were at haggling.
* The Zephir's owner Zakee Rafeha sold halberds in his inn on the side, alongside a variety of general adventuring equipment.
==History==
Halberds first became available in the Netheril Empire in .
Around 1372 DR, the Zhentarim were smuggling halberds into Daggerford with the frigate Barracuda.
Prior to 1371 DR, the average halberd cost 10 gp and weighed . After 1371 DR, and up to the Spellplague, the price of halberds remained the same, but weighed .
==Notable Halberds==
* Arc Asunder
* Blackmist
* Chesley Crusher
* Chieftain Halberd
* Daggerford Blade
* Dredging claw
* Duskblade, an enchanted halberd that belonged to the shadow Patrick.
* Fayr's halberd, an enchanted halberd that belonged to Bedwyn Fayr.
* Gloomgate, an enchanted sentient halberd that belonged to Gamaliel.
* Halberd of sparks
* Halberd of swift admonition
* Halberd of vigilance
* The Icon of Power, an enchanted halberd that was issued to the garrison of the Black Spires of the Maiden.
* Long Cleaver, an enchanted halberd that was custom-ordered by the nobleman Pelp Cadari.
* The Ravager, a powerful enchanted halberd that was wielded by Imix as they guarded the lair of Yaga-Shura.
* The Wave
==Notable Users of Halberds==
===Groups===
* The Company of the Black Snake.
* The Harmonium outfitted a select few of their patrol captains with enchanted halberds that bolstered their strength, but weakened their intellect.
* The Trading Company outfitted a majority of its mercenaries with halberds.
* The Marsember Watch majority favored the halberd or sword as a martial weapon.
===Individuals===
* Arganon, an adventurer from Long Reach that once wielded the Wave.
* The Ravenian merchant Bendekar had multiple halberds in his home's expansive weapons collection.
* Bort, a barbarian gnoll.
* Eagus, a mercenary.
* Ingot, a gnoll bandit that once wielded the Chesley Crusher.
* Kane, a monk of the Monastery of the Yellow Rose, was proficient in the use of halberds.
* Nayeli Goldflower, a paladin of Tyr that wielded a mundane halberd, the Daggerford Blade, and later the halberd of swift admonition.
* Redtoe, a verbeeg guardsman.
* Seker's avatars often wielded +3 halberds.
* Vax, an Amnian criminal.
* Yuan ti, an officer in Shou Lung's army.
===Races & Sentient Species===
* Black abishai sometimes fought with halberds.
* Dracon were often fond of using halberds.
* Hadozee often favored the use of halberds.
* Halberds were common among gnolls in the Sword Coast and more rarely among gnolls in Amn.
* Among the oni, go-zu oni and me-zu oni were often skilled in the use of halberds.
* Among the rilmani, halberds were a favored weapon of many aurumachs and ferrumachs.
* Among the tanar'ri, halberds were sometimes used by armanites.
===Regions & Settlements===
* Castle Hartwick outfitted some members of the Giant Guard with halberds.
* The Ginger Palace's soldiers were outfitted with halberds.
* On the Rock of Bral, the ruler Prince Andru was followed around by bodyguards wielding halberds.
* The guards of the Royal Court of Myth Drannor were outfitted with halberds of vigilance.
* Halberds were a common weapon among the armed forces of Shadowdale.
* Halberds were a common weapon among the armed forces of the Sembian cities Ordulin and Yhaunn.
* The city of Zazesspur outfitted its guardmen with halberds made of bronze during the Tethyrian Interregnum.
===Religions===
* The Shrine of Swords, a shrine dedicated to Tempus, typically had a minimum of twenty halberds in its cache of weapons during peacetime.
==Appendix==
===Appearances===
===Gallery===
Halberd of Karl Eusebius.png|The head of a ceremonial halberd belonging to Karl Eusebius.
Pole-arm-examples1.jpg|Five halberds alongside a voulge, two pole axes, two bec de corbins, a lucerne hammer, and a partisan.
Flandal Steelskin priest.png|Not to be outdone by the Tempuran, this Flandalian priest wields her own halberd.
MM2 firbolg.jpg|A firbolg wields a halberd against an adventurer.
Lizardman 2e.png|A lizardman stands guard with his trusty halberd.
Halberd iwd2.png|A simple halberd from Northwest Faerûn.
===External Links===
* 
* 
===References===
Category:Weapons
Category:Two-handed weapons
Category:Martial weapons
Category:Melee weapons
Category:Slashing weapons
Category:Piercing weapons
Category:Polearms
Category:0-24 gold pieces
Category:Items
Category:Items from Amn
Category:Items from Cormyr
Category:Items from Faerûn
Category:Items from Nashkel
Category:Items from Ravens Bluff
Category:Items from Sembia
Category:Items from Shadowdale
Category:Items from the Sword Coast
Category:Items from Tethyr
Category:Items from Zazesspur
Category:Items from Zakhara