Long weapon



The Spear and Halberd are weapons that can only be acquired by disarming a guard.

Size and disadvantages
Spears and Halberds classify as long weapons. Once combat is over, or if sprinting away, Ezio would discard the weapon; since whether the weapon is intact or broken, there isn't enough space to safely keep it. Also, a Spear or Halberd would be too difficult to carry while moving freely across streets and rooftops.

Combat
The length of the shaft kept enemies at a distance and made it very difficult to evade. Long weapons could only be countered by another Long or Heavy weapon, with exception of the Hidden Blade, since it was able of countering any type of weapon. However, the timing involved with countering using the Hidden blade made this maneuver more difficult and risky.

The Long Weapons were usually equipped by the Seekers, though some Brutes had been seen wielding a Spear or Halberd as well. After the siege of Monteriggioni, he had the ability to throw a spear from a long distance as well as use it in close melee.

Special Techniques
The Sweep Attack was another charged move that could be interrupted, but was one that can be unleashed at any time during the charge. The longer the Sweep is charged, the greater the arc it would affect. Acquired from Training, it was an attack that required a Long Weapon. Enemies in front of Ezio would trip and fall to the ground, while those behind were knocked over by a blow to the head. Sweeping more than three times with the same long weapon will cause it to break. There is an achievement that requires this skill.

In Rome, the sweep technique worked differently; as when Ezio performed a sweep attack, all guards within range would have their throats slit by the sharp end of the weapon.

There was also another special technique in which the user could throw the spear in a javelin-like manner at a distant enemy. This was similar to the Heavy weapons' special attack.

Breakability
It was possible to block a heavy weapon's smash attack with a Long weapon. The defender would avoid all damage, costing the parrying weapon to shatter in two (bottom of spear/halberd in left hand, top of spearhead/halberd with spearhead in right hand). When a Long Weapon broke, the owner could still continue to wield the remaining half as if it were a bladed (or blunt, depending on which half) medium weapon. An individual half could be kept in an empty primary weapon holder for later use, however it would vanish if one were to save and reload. Countering as the weapon is broken, will result in the stabbing of both pieces into the attacker.

Trivia

 * Spears and Halberds have the longest reach out of any other melee weapons in Assassin's Creed II, making them very effective at close quarters.
 * The maximum combo lenght for Long Weapons is 3 hits.
 * Out of the many weapons in the Italian Guard's arsenal in Assassin's Creed II, the Long weapons seem to be the rarest melee weapons. However, this is not the case in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.
 * Seekers can more commonly be found wielding the Spear than the Halberd.
 * Long Weapons are one of the two weapon types used by mercenaries.
 * Long Weapons are more challenging to counter than any other weapon in Assassin's Creed II.
 * The Papal Staff (aside from the Sword of Altaïr) is the only weapon to have the Damage, Speed, and Deflect stats maxed out in Assassin's Creed II.
 * It is possible to wield the Papal Staff for a little while; it involves either poisoning Rodrigo Borgia, or taking a Heavy Weapon from a Brute outside and performing the Heavy Weapon Disarm on him.
 * The achievement/trophy "Sweeper" can be earned by sweeping five guards at once using a long weapon.
 * It is possible for the player to carry a spear on the rooftops in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. Just go to a lift while carrying a spear.
 * During The Bonfire Of The Vanities DLC for Assassin's Creed II one of Savonarola's Lieutenants (the farmer) has a unique long weapon; a Pitchfork, but once he has been killed the Pitchfork turns into to a Halberd when dropped by the farmer.