Flails

**Flails** are weapons that are used in a limited ranged manner, and inflict melee damage. A flail consists of an object linked to the player by a chain, and is automatically reeled back in after being thrown.

Their best modifier is normally **Godly** or **Demonic**, both of which increase the average damage output by the same amount. The exception is flails found in chests, which have a chance of spawning with a **Legendary** modifier in Celebrationmk10 worlds.

## Types

There are currently 15 different flails available in *Terraria*, 8 of which are Hardmode-exclusive. There are two styles of flails: thrown and launched.

### Thrown

On the PC version, Console version, Mobile version, and tModLoader version, thrown flails have special mechanics unlike any other weapon. Holding down `⚒ Use / Attack` will cause the flail to be rapidly swung around the player, dealing 60% of the flail's listed damage, 35% of the flail's knockback, and hitting either 4 or 5 times a second. Letting go of `⚒ Use / Attack` during this state will throw the flail in the direction of the mouse cursor, dealing full damage and piercing enemies infinitely. After the flail is thrown, holding `⚒ Use / Attack` again will cause the flail to suddenly drop to the ground and stay there, dealing half of the flail's listed damage to enemies for as long as `⚒ Use / Attack` is held.

On the Old-gen console version, Windows Phone version, Old Chinese version, Nintendo 3DSversion, and tModLoader 1.3-Legacy version versions, thrown flails have special physics that allow the player to swing them around continuously without re-firing. When pressing `⚒ Use / Attack`, thrown flails are heavily influenced by gravity, making them good weapon to attack from above with. However, by holding down `⚒ Use / Attack` when throwing, the player can execute a more powerful throw, making the flail fly farther. Thrown flails will ricochet off walls, but pierce through multiple enemies on both their forward and return trips.

### Launched

Launched flails lack the physics of thrown flails, cannot pierce, and cannot be swung around by holding the attack button. However, they make up for this by firing rapidly and being unaffected by gravity (except for the Anchor). This generally makes it easier to aim launched flails, particularly upwards, and grants them higher damage potential. Rather than smoothly stretching and then swinging back, a launched flail will extend at a fixed speed until it strikes a block or reaches its maximum length, and then retract at a slightly faster, fixed speed.

Most launched flails can auto-fire, which makes them extremely effective at short ranges. Enemies that are vulnerable to knockback can be pushed away easily, and enemies that are immune to knockback, like bosses, can be quickly dealt a large amount of damage by the rapidly-firing flail.

## Notes

* The Piranha Gun and the Harpoon are similar to launched flails, but inflict ranged damage.
* Thrown flails are not affected by the autoswing granted by Feral Claws and its upgrades, unless the flail reaches its maximum range and is automatically retracted.

## Tips

* Thrown flails can be used to attack enemies on both sides of the player by throwing the flail without letting go of the `⚒ Use / Attack` button, and heading in the opposite direction when the ball reaches its maximum distance and is about to return, which will make it go to the other side, where the process can be repeated. Furthermore, holding the button and not moving lets the ball part of the flail fall to the ground, where it will damage enemies who walk, fly, or burrow into it, which works exceptionally well against worms.

## History

PC version
* Desktop 1.4.0.5: Should no longer continue spinning when the player is Cursed, Frozen, or Stoned.

* Desktop 1.4.0.1:
	+ Added the Mace, Flaming Mace, and Drippler Crippler.
	+ Changed the combat style of flails.
	+ Rebalanced various flails.

* Desktop 1.3.0.1: Added the Chain Guillotines.

* Desktop 1.2.4: Added the Anchor and Flairon.

* Desktop 1.2: Added the Chain Knife, Flower Pow, Golem Fist, KO Cannon, and The Meatball.

* Desktop 1.1: Added the Dao of Pow.

* Desktop 1.0.6: Introduced with the Ball O' Hurt, Blue Moon, and Sunfury.

Console version
* Console 1.0.750.0: Added the Chain Guillotines.

* Console 1.07: Added the Anchor and Flairon.

* Console 1.02: Added the Chain Knife, Flower Pow, Golem Fist, KO Cannon, and The Meatball.

* Console-Release: Introduced with the Ball O' Hurt, Blue Moon, Dao of Pow, and Sunfury.

Nintendo Switch version
* Switch 1.0.711.6: Introduced.

Mobile version
* Mobile-Release: Introduced.

Nintendo 3DSversion
* 3DS-Release: Introduced.