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	Balanced Bent Cracked
Military Fork	-	95	135	15 (blunt)	30 (pierce)	2.0	153	Balanced Bent Cracked
Battle Fork	-	90	144	15 (blunt)	35 (pierce)	2.0	282	Balanced Bent Cracked
Staff	-	100	130	18 (blunt)	19 (blunt)	1.5	36	Balanced Bent Cracked
Quarter Staff	-	104	140	20 (blunt)	20 (blunt)	2.0	60	Balanced Bent Cracked
Iron Staff	-	97	140	25 (blunt)	26 (blunt)	2.0	202	Balanced Bent Cracked
Scythe	-	97	182	30 (cut)	14 (pierce)	2.0	43	Balanced Bent Cracked
Military Scythe	-	87	155	36 (cut)	25 (pierce)	2.5	155	Balanced Bent Cracked
Hafted Blade	-	95	135	37 (cut)	20 (pierce)	2.8	185	Balanced Bent Cracked	No shield
Hafted Blade	-	93	153	39 (cut)	19 (pierce)	3.3	350	Balanced Bent Cracked	No shield
Glaive	-	90	157	39 (cut)	21 (pierce)	4.5	352	Balanced Bent Cracked	No shield
Poleaxe	13	77	180	50 (cut)	15 (blunt)	4.5	384	Balanced Bent Cracked	No shield
Shortened Spear	-	102	120	19 (blunt)	25 (pierce)	2.0	53	Balanced Bent Cracked
Boar Spear	-	90	157	26 (cut)	23 (pierce)	1.5	76	Balanced Bent Cracked
Bamboo Spear	-	88	200	15 (blunt)	20 (pierce)	2.0	80	Balanced Bent Cracked
Spear	-	98	135	20 (blunt)	26 (pierce)	2.3	85	Balanced Bent Cracked
War Spear	-	95	150	20 (blunt)	27 (pierce)	2.5	140	Balanced Bent Cracked
Pike	-	81	245	16 (blunt)	26 (pierce)	3.0	125	Balanced Bent Cracked	No shield Cannot be used on horseback
Ashwood Pike	9	90	170	19 (blunt)	29 (pierce)	3.5	205	Balanced Bent Cracked	No shield
Awlpike	-	92	165	20 (blunt)	33 (pierce)	2.3	345	Balanced Bent Cracked
Long Awlpike	-	89	185	20 (blunt)	32 (pierce)	2.3	385	Balanced Bent Cracked
Jousting Lance	-	61	240	-	17 (blunt)	5.0	158	Balanced Bent Cracked	Couched lance damage
Light Lance	-	85	175	16 (blunt)	27 (pierce)	2.5	180	Balanced Bent Cracked	Couched lance damage
Double Sided Lance	-	95	128	25 (cut)	27 (pierce)	4.0	261	Balanced Bent Cracked	Couched lance damage
Lance	-	80	180	16 (blunt)	26 (pierce)	2.5	270	Balanced Bent Cracked	Couched lance damage
Heavy Lance	10	75	190	16 (blunt)	26 (pierce)	2.8	360	Balanced Bent Cracked	Couched lance damage
Great Lance	11	55	240	-	21 (pierce)	5.0	410	Balanced Bent Cracked	Couched lance damage
War Hammer	-	81	120	38 (blunt)	38 (pierce)	3.0	125	Balanced Bent Cracked	No shield Cannot be used on horseback
Polehammer	18	50	126	50 (blunt)	35 (blunt)	7.0	169	-	No shield Cheats only
Long Spiked Club	-	96	126	23 (pierce)	20 (blunt)	2.5	264	Heavy Chipped Rusty
Long Hafted Spiked Mace	-	94	140	28 (blunt)	26 (blunt)	2.5	310	Heavy Chipped Rusty
Long Hafted Knobbed Mace	-	95	133	26 (blunt)	23 (blunt)	3.0	324	Heavy Chipped Rusty
Voulge	10	88	175	40 (cut)	18 (pierce)	3.0	129	Heavy Chipped Rusty	Bonus against shields No shield
Long Bardiche	11	89	140	48 (cut)	17 (pierce)	4.5	390	Heavy Chipped Rusty	Bonus against shields No shield Unbalanced
Great Long Bardiche	12	88	155	50 (cut)	17 (pierce)	5.0	660	Heavy Chipped Rusty	Bonus against shields No shield Unbalanced

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