Long weapon

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AC2 CA 010 Spears — The heads of a halberd and a spear

Long weapons, also known as pole weapons or polearms, are a class of mêlée weapons characterized by long shafts as their basic structure. In general, the length of such shafts ensure that the weapons necessitate two hands to wield effectively in combat while their overall profile extend the wielder's effective range.

The most basic examples of long weapons include the quarterstaff and the spear, though numerous, far more sophisticated variants exist, such as the halberd, the Guandao, the Pike Hammer, the bec de corbin, and the corseque. Because of their long range, polearms can be employed to effectively keep adversaries at bay, and historically, they have served in dedicated defensive roles such as on the battlefield against cavalry. Seekers, guards specialized in the use of long weapons, were a mainstay of professional armies before firearms rendered mêlée weapons obsolete, and these soldiers were often deployed as guardsmen of entrances and exits.

Description

ACB-Ezio Spear Impale — Ezio impaling a guard

The aptly named long weapons are essentially polearms: weapons whose main bodies are shafts typically longer than their wielders' height. The most basic variant of this is a staff, no more than a long stick typically constructed from wood, and almost all other variants are derived from embedding a deadly object—especially a blade or sharp point—at one end of a staff. Common examples include the spear,^[1]^[2]^[3] the halberd,^[3]^[4] and the pike.^[5]

The function of polearms is to increase the wielder's leverage. The extended reach allows the user to maintain a greater distance from his or her opponent than he or she otherwise would with a shorter weapon such as a sword, keeping enemies at bay and yet still within striking range. For this reason, polearms can be formidable in defensive capacities; historically, solid formations of pikemen served as effective counters against cavalry.^[5]

Because they deterred easy counter-attacks from wielders of shorter weapons, even the legendary Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze struggled to counter Seekers, combatants wielding polearms, for most of his life without relying on his Hidden Blades or an equally long weapon, such as a greatsword or another halberd.^[1]^[2]^[4] Even so, it was not an utterly impossible feat for him to do so with a short sword, as he demonstrated throughout his operations in Spain in 1191, only that it demanded swifter reflexes and more precise technique.^[6] Ironically, Ezio found it easier to combat Seekers when unarmed; wielders of polearms can be more susceptible to being disarmed, as the long handles provide prominent and safe targets for the grasp of an open hand.^[1]^[2]^[4]

Given their size, long weapons can be more cumbersome than shorter alternatives, limiting the mobility of their wielders. Spanish Seekers tended to adopt stationary battle stances^[6] while Ezio had a habit of discarding any polearm on hand before engaging in freerunning.^[1]^[2]^[4] While polearms can hinder a user's ability at parkour, skilled Assassins, such as Arno Dorian and others of the French Brotherhood, have proven that this can be overcome through training.^[3]

Fragility

Historically, the poles of long weapons were constructed out of wood, a material not especially durable against the striking of a metal sword. As a result, they lacked the resilience of swords and could be snapped in two after a few slashes, or one, when used to parry against the Smash Attack of a heavy weapon. However, long weapons could still be used even if broken and even used to immediately counter a heavy weapon by ramming the broken ends into the body of the assailant.^[1]

Combat techniques

Sweep Attack

ACB Ezio Spear Sweep — Ezio performing a sweep attack

A standard technique utilizing a long weapon that pervaded throughout European history is the Sweep Attack, so called because it involved sweeping at an opponent's legs to cause him to trip and fall.

Although a sweep to the legs with a bladed polearm can sever the target's limbs entirely, a proper Sweep Attack is non-lethal, and thus delivered with the shaft of the weapon. The result is achieved by swinging the polearm around the rear of an opponent's legs, and through sheer force alone, knock their feet from right under them.^[1]^[3] A collapsing enemy may even crash into those behind them, further disrupting enemy ranks.^[1]

Correct execution of the maneuver, however, necessitates standing still to prepare for the sweep, effectively rendering its user highly vulnerable to interruption by an enemy attack. To compensate, the sweep can be performed with shorter preparation time, though at the cost of greater efficacy, as the more force placed behind a sweep, the wider the arc of its effect.^[1]

The Sweep Attack was a fairly ubiquitous technique; Seekers throughout Italy and the Ottoman Empire practiced the maneuver during the Renaissance.^[1]^[2]^[4] Assassins, too, were trained in it, and the Mentor of the Italian Brotherhood, Mario Auditore, taught it to his nephew Ezio Auditore.^[1] While polearms were phased out by firearms by the French Revolution, the Assassins, who continued to service the weapons, still provided standard lessons on the technique to their recruits, such as Arno Dorian, during that era.^[3]

Throw

From the Fall of Monteriggioni, Ezio Auditore learned a far more radical application of long weapons, one which from then on, he favored far more than the Sweep Attack whenever he had a polearm in his hand. With his expert marksmanship, Ezio could hurl a polearm directly at an enemy with extreme precision, skewering him or her from a distance of more than ten meters. As with a Sweep Attack, this technique requires preparation, as the user has to swing the weapon around to properly position his arms for the throw, as well as take time to accurately aim. Parallel to this, Ezio developed a similar technique with heavy weapons, wherein he threw the weapon at target with a powerful swing.^[2]^[4]

Weapon statistics

Pelopponesian War (5th century BCE)

Ptolemaic Egypt (1st century BCE)

Spears

Name	Rarity	Quality (Max Level 40)	Damage (Max Level 40)	Attributes	Availability
Adamant Reed	Rare	86	337	Bleeding on Hit II Critical Hit Damage I	Unlocked through the Twitch Prime Pack DLC
Cyrene's Spear	Legendary			Critical Hit Damage III Adrenaline on Kill II Health for Critical	Complete One Bad Apple
Golden Feather	Legendary			Critical Hit Damage III Critical Hit Rate II Sleep on Hit	Helix Store, Nomad's Bazaar
Handy Spear	Common	85	340	Critical Hit Damage I	Blacksmith, Loot
Iron Spear	Common			Critical Hit Damage I	Blacksmith, Loot
Lance of Anhur	Legendary	91	337	Critical Hit Damage II Adrenaline Regeneration III Health on Hit	Helix Store, Nomad's Bazaar
Leaf-shaped Impaler	Common	85	334	Critical Hit Damage III	Blacksmith, Loot
Light Spear	Common	84	334	Critical Hit Damage II	Blacksmith, Loot
Needle	Rare	88	344	Bleeding on Hit Critical Hit Damage	Blacksmith, Loot, Nomad's Bazaar
The Phoenix	Legendary	91	340	Critical Hit Rate I Critical Hit Damage III Health on Kill	Nomad's Bazaar
Pilum	Rare	87	339	Critical Hit II Adrenaline on Hurt I	Blacksmith, Loot
Sarissa	Legendary			Critical Hit Damage III Adrenaline on Kill I Cursed	Blacksmith, Loot
Sekhmet's Spear	Legendary			Critical Hit Damage II Critical Hit Rate I Health on Kill	Blacksmith, Loot
The Serpent of Serapis	Rare			Critical Hit Rate II Critical Hit Damage II	Complete Fair Trade
The Trial	Rare			Critical Hit Damage II Adrenaline on Hurt I	Unlocked through Uplay
Was Scepter	Legendary	94	282	Combo Multiplier IV Critical Hit Rate II Health for Critical	Helix Store

Scepters

Name	Rarity	Quality (Max Level 40)	Damage (Max Level 40)	Attributes	Availability
Acacia Rod	Rare	87	277	Combo Multiplier III Critical Hit Rate I	Blacksmith, Loot, Nomad's Bazaar
Alexandria's Light	Legendary	91	277	Combo Mutiplier II Critical Hit Rate III On Fire	Helix Store, Nomad's Bazaar
Apep's Staff	Legendary	92	280	Combo Multiplier III Adrenaline on Hurt III Poison on Hit	Helix Store, Nomad's Bazaar
Bladed Scepter	Rare			Combo Multiplier II Bleeding on Hit I	Blacksmith, Loot
Bringer of Chaos	Common			Combo Multiplier II	Blacksmith, Loot
Ceremonial Staff	Legendary	92	284	Combo Multiplier IV Adrenaline on Kill I On Fire	Blacksmith, Loot
Cotton Swab	Legendary	91	275	Combo Multiplier III Adrenaline on Kill III Health on Hit	Wacky Items Pack
Cypriot Gabbro Head	Common	85	268	Combo Multiplier III	Blacksmith, Loot
Hasanlu Skeptron	Common	85	277	Combo Multiplier II	Blacksmith, Loot
Nubian Scepter	Legendary	92	284	Combo Multiplier II Adrenaline Regeneration III Sleep on Hit	Nomad's Bazaar
Peasant's Scepter	Common	84	277	Combo Multiplier II	Blacksmith, Loot
Pharaoh's Mace	Common			Combo Multiplier II	Blacksmith, Loot
Raneb's Hammer	Legendary			Combo Multiplier III Adrenaline Regeneration I Health for Critical	Blacksmith, Loot
Ritual Scepter	Rare	86	277	Combo Multiplier II Critical Hit Damage I	Tribal Pack DLC
Scepter of Amun	Rare	88	277	Combo Multiplier II Critical Hit Damage II
Scepter of Thaati	Rare	86	277	Combo Multiplier I Adrenaline Regeneration II	Monster Energy Promotion
Scorpion Sting	Legendary	90	277	Combo Multiplier III Adrenaline on Hurt II Poison on Hit	Helix Store, Nomad's Bazaar
Siwan Scepter	Common			Combo Multiplier I	Blacksmith, Loot
Staff of Sehetep	Legendary			Combo Multiplier II Bleeding on Hit I Health on Kill	Complete Bad Faith

Italian Renaissance

Name	Damage	Speed	Deflect
Halberd	4	3	4
Spear	3	5	3
Papal Staff	5	5	5

French Revolution

Name	Level	Damage	Parry	Speed	Range	Cost	Modifiers	Availability
Guisarme	*	1	1	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Voulge	*	1	1	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	Complete The Body in the Brothel
Fauchard	* *	2	2	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	Play Assassin's Creed: Initiates
Bident	* *	2	2	3	4	250₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Cogneur	* *	2	2	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	Complete Ancestral Vengeance
Hallebarde croissant	* *	2	2	3	4	250₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Halberd	* *	2	2	3	4	250₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Razorhead Spear	* *	2	1	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	Purchase the Guard Pack or Secrets of the Revolution Pack DLC
Hooked Impaler	* *	2	1	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	Purchase the Secrets of the Revolution Pack DLC
Golden bec de corbin	* *	2	1	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	Uplay
Spear	* * *	3	3	3	4	1,000₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Bec de corbin	* * *	3	3	3	4	1,000₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
L'étoile polaire	* * *	3	3	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	Complete Bones of Contention
Light Halberd	* * *	3	3	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	Complete September Massacres
Spontoon	* * *	3	3	3	4	1,000₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Bisento	* * *	3	3	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	Collect all artifacts in Les Invalides
Lance of the Strong Arm*	* * *	6	2	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	Complete Last Rites
Crescent Glaive	* * * *	4	4	3	4	5,000₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Lochaber axe	* * * *	4	4	3	4	5,000₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Sparth	* * * *	4	4	3	4	5,000₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Spiked staff	* * * *	4	4	3	4	5,000₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Corseque	* * * * *	6	6	3	4	N/A	Additional damage: +25%	Complete A Dash of Poison
Crusader's Corseque	* * * * *	6	6	3	4	25,000₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Ceremonial long mace	* * * * *	6	6	3	4	25,000₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Lance of Saint Denis*	* * * * *	6	6	3	4	N/A	Additional Damage: +25%	Complete Last Rites
Ceremonial partisan	* * * * *	8	8	3	4	125,000₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A
Pike Hammer	* * * * *	8	8	3	4	200,000₣	Additional Damage: +25%	N/A

*Only available after downloading Dead Kings

Trivia

Combat

Spears and halberds have the longest reach of any melee weapon in Assassin's Creed II, and are the most difficult to counter.
The maximum combo strikes for long weapons is 3 hits in Assassin's Creed II.

Use

An individual half of a long weapon can be kept in an empty weapon sheath for later use, however, it will vanish upon a save and reload.
If a long weapon equipped by either Ezio or Seekers is broken in half by a Smash Attack, it effectively functions as a sword and can even be used to perform pistol executions.
Seekers can more commonly be found wielding the spear than the halberd.
The Papal Staff is the only weapon, aside from the Sword of Altaïr, to have the Damage, Speed, and Deflect stats maxed out in Assassin's Creed II.
It is possible to wield the Papal Staff by either poisoning Rodrigo Borgia, or by taking a heavy weapon from a Brute outside the Sistine Chapel, and performing the Smash Attack on Rodrigo.
During the Bonfire of the Vanities, one of Girolamo Savonarola's lieutenants, the Farmer, carries a unique long weapon, the pitchfork. However, once he is killed, it turns into a halberd.

Other

The "Sweeper" achievement can be earned in Assassin's Creed II by sweeping five guards at once using a long weapon.
It was possible to carry a spear onto the rooftops in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood by using a lift, ladder, or by throwing it at a rooftop guard.
The "Strong Arm" achievement can be earned by throwing a heavy weapon, a long weapon, and a smoke bomb more than 10 meters at a guard.
In Assassin's Creed II, two of the patrolling guards on the western side of the Cannaregio District carry halberds.
In Assassin's Creed III, Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and Assassin's Creed: Rogue, muskets equipped with bayonets effectively function as long weapons when used in melee by the protagonists. Unlike in the previous games, they do not drop them when they enter high-profile.
After the siege of Monteriggioni, Ezio's proficiency with a long weapon improve. His sweep attack no longer trips guards, but instead slit the throats of all enemies within range.^{[citation needed]}