imported>WELCHA: /* Weapon Damage Type Ratios */ removed % signs from lance for consistency

2025-05-30T08:31:03Z

Weapon Damage Type Ratios: removed % signs from lance for consistency

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Training in the '''Polearm Weapons''' skill supports the use of polearm weapons such as spears, halberds, and lances in melee combat. Polearm weapons come in both one- and two-handed varieties, and the use of two-handed polearms provides a small bonus to the wielder's [[defensive strength]] (+15 DS). Polearm weapons along with [[Two-Handed Weapons]] tend to be the largest and heaviest-hitting weapon types. As such, they are also by and large the slowest.

== Ranks and Training Costs ==
{{skill|
| Bardranks = 2 || Bardcost = 6/1
| Clericranks = 1 || Clericcost = 11/3
| Empathranks = 1 || Empathcost = 14/3
| Monkranks = 2 || Monkcost = 6/2
| Paladinranks = 2 || Paladincost = 5/2
| Rangerranks = 2 || Rangercost = 7/2
| Rogueranks = 2 || Roguecost = 7/2
| Sorcererranks = 1 || Sorcerercost = 14/3
| Warriorranks = 2 || Warriorcost = 3/1
| Wizardranks = 1 || Wizardcost = 14/3
|}}

== Special Features ==
Polearms are unique in construction from most other weapons, and as such, they've a few features to them that are not available to most other weapons.

*'''Tripping'''
:Characters with at least fifteen (15) ranks of the Polearm Weapons skill can make use of the {{boldmono|[[TRIP (verb)|TRIP]]}} verb if they have a two-handed polearm in their right hand. Effectiveness of TRIP can be increased by training in Combat Maneuvers and gaining ranks in the [[Trip]] maneuver.

*'''Ambushing'''
:Two-handed polearms cannot be used to ambush from hiding - the character will only remove themselves from hiding and attack visibly. One-handed polearms are useable for hidden ambushing purposes.

*'''Two-handed vs. One-handed Use'''
:Most polearms are two-handed weapons, however, some are one-handed, and others are switchable. Pilums are one-handed, while, spears and tridents are switchable between one-handed and two-handed use. Use of the {{boldmono|[[GRIP (verb)|GRIP]]}} verb can toggle spear- and trident-based polearms from one-handed to two-handed and back again.

==Damage Factors and AvDs==
{{Weapon table start}}
{{Weapon table pilum}}
{{Weapon table spear}}
{{Weapon table spear 2}}
{{Weapon table trident}}
{{Weapon table trident 2}}
{{Weapon table halberd}}
{{Weapon table naginata}}
{{Weapon table jeddart-axe}}
{{Weapon table hammer-of-Kai}}
{{Weapon table awl-pike}}
{{Weapon table lance}}
{{Weapon table end}}
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==Polearm Parry DS Formula==
One-hand [[Grip]] polearms use the standard one-hand weapon [[parry]] [[DS]] formula.

===One-hand Grip Parry DS Formula===

<div {{prettydiv}}><center><tt>'''((Weapon ranks + (STR bonus ÷ 4) + (DEX bonus ÷ 4) + (enchant bonus ÷ 2)) × stance modifier) + Stance Bonus (see [[#Stance Bonus Table|table]])</tt></center></div>

====Stance Modifier Table (One-hand Grip)====
{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!MODIFIER
|<center>0.20</center>
|<center>0.30</center>
|<center>0.40</center>
|<center>0.50</center>
|<center>0.60</center>
|<center>0.70</center>
|}

====Stance BonusTable (One-hand Grip)====
{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!MODIFIER
|<center>0</center>
|<center>10</center>
|<center>20</center>
|<center>30</center>
|<center>40</center>
|<center>50</center>
|}

===Two-hand Grip Parry DS Formula===

Polearms gripped with 2 hands receive an additional DS bonus (see [[#Polearm Bonus Table|table]]).

<div {{prettydiv}}><center><tt>'''((Weapon Ranks + (STR bonus ÷ 4) + (DEX bonus ÷ 4) + (enchant bonus)) × stance modifier) + Polearm bonus</tt></center></div>

====Example With Two-hand Grip Polearm====

Weapon ranks 80, STR bonus 24, DEX bonus 28, weapon enchant bonus 25

Offensive Parry DS (stance modifier .27):

:<tt>((80 + 6 + 7 + 25) × .27) + 15 (OFF polearm bonus) = +46 DS</tt>

Defensive Parry DS (stance modifier .94):

:<tt>((80 + 6 + 7 + 25) × .94) + 80 (DEF polearm bonus) = +190 DS</tt>
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====Stance Modifier Table (Two-hand Grip)====
{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!MODIFIER
|<center>0.27</center>
|<center>0.41</center>
|<center>0.54</center>
|<center>0.68</center>
|<center>0.81</center>
|<center>0.94</center>
|}

====Polearm Bonus Table====

{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!DS Bonus
|<center>15</center>
|<center>28</center>
|<center>41</center>
|<center>54</center>
|<center>67</center>
|<center>80</center>
|}

{{top}}

====Additional Notes====

Holding an item in the off hand incurs a severe parry DS penalty with two-hand grip polearms. The amount of DS retained is 1/2 the one hand polearm DS. This includes half of the one hand pole enchant DS bonus. You also lose the entire two-hand polearm bonus. You still receive the full stance/2 bonus.

The parry DS formula for two-hand polearms with an item in the off hand is:

<div {{prettydiv}}><center><tt>'''[Weapon ranks + (STR bonus ÷ 4) + (DEX bonus ÷ 4) + (enchant bonus ÷ 2) × stance modifier) ÷ 2] + Stance Bonus (see [[#Stance Bonus Table|table]])</tt></center></div>

<small>Note: Perform the operations one at a time, working from left to right, and truncate after each step.</small>

Example with item in off hand (DEF stance):

Weapon ranks 80, STR bonus 24, DEX bonus 28, weapon enchant bonus 25, stance modifier 0.7

:<tt>[(80 + 6 + 7 + 25) × 0.70) ÷ 2] + 50 = +91 DS</tt>

This character's defensive stance parry DS dropped from 190 to 91 by holding an item in the off-hand.

[[Ranged]] attacks ([[Thrown Weapons]], [[arrow]]s/bolts and [[bolt]] spells) bypass all polearm parry DS including the stance bonus.
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==Weapon Damage Type Ratios==

This table contains the polearm weapon [[critical]] [[#category:damage types|damage type]] percentages for successful attacks (based on player research).

{| {{prettytable}}
|- style = "background: #DDD;"
!Weapon
!Slash %
!Crush %
!Puncture%
|- align=center
|Pilum
|17
|0
|83
|- align=center
|Spear
|17
|0
|83
|- align=center
|Trident
|33
|0
|67
|- align=center
|Halberd
|33.3
|33.3
|33.3
|- align=center
|Naginata
|33.3
|33.3
|33.3
|- align=center
|Jeddart-axe
|50.0
|50.0
|0
|- align=center
|Hammer of Kai
|0
|?
|?
|- align=center
|Awl-pike
|0
|13
|87
|- align=center
|Lance
|0
|33
|67
|}

Jeddart-axes and Hammers of Kai are not applicable for Skullcrusher flourish requiring over 50% crush damage.<ref>[https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1335284901745922058/1345200806416224398 Discord Flourish discussion Jan 2025]</ref>

==Resources==
*[[Polearm guide]]
*[[Forging]]
*[[Damage factor]]
*[[Material]]
* http://www.play.net/gs4/info/armory/polearms.asp
* http://www.play.net/gs4/info/skills.asp
*[http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Hunting%20and%20Combat/Polearms%20Discussion/view Polearms Discussion Officials folder]
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[[Category:Weapons| ]]
[[Category:Weapon Skills]]

Polearm Weapons - Revision history

imported>WELCHA: /* Weapon Damage Type Ratios */ removed % signs from lance for consistency