View source for Polearms

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The '''Polearms''' skill denotes how well your character uses long hafted weapons. Polearms tend to deal less damage than other weapon types, but have an innate [[reaching]] ability, allowing them to attack from 2 tiles away. It [[cross-train]]s with the [[Axes]] skill and the [[Staves]] skill. They use [[Strength]] for the damage calculation.

You may reach with a polearm by pressing '''v''', and any form of [[tab|autofight]] ('''Tab''') will do it for you.

{{skill aptitudes}}

==List of Polearms==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name || Dam || Hit || Delay || Min delay ||  Hands || Size || Cuts Hydras?
|-
| [[Spear]] || 6 || +4 || 11 || 5 (12 skill) ||  One || Any || No
|-
| [[Trident]] || 9 || +1 || 13 || 6 (14 skill) || One || Medium+ for 1H || No
|-
| [[Demon trident]] || 12 || +1 || 13 || 6 (14 skill) || One || Medium+ for 1H || No
|-
| [[Trishula]] || 13 || 0 || 13 || 6 (14 skill) || One || Medium+ for 1H || No
|-
| [[Halberd]] || 13 || -3 || 15 || 7 (16 skill) || Two || Medium+ || Yes
|-
| [[Partisan]] || 14 || +1 || 17 || 7 (20 skill) || One || Medium+ for 1H || No
|-
| [[Glaive]] || 15 || -3 || 17 || 7 (20 skill) || Two || Medium+ || Yes
|-
| [[Bardiche]] || 18 || -6 || 19 || 7 (24 skill) || Two || Medium+ || Yes
|}

==Strategy==
Polearms are generally the strongest of the starting weapons. An extra tile of reach means you'll get 1 "free" hit against a melee enemy. If you are concerned about early Dungeon survival, then start with a polearm (spear or trident).

Polearms can reach over [[deep water]], [[summon]]s, and other [[allies]]. If you have a consistent source of allies, such as [[Summonings]] spells or the [[Hepliaklqana]] ancestor, then these weapons can do you well.

==History==
* Partisans were added in [[0.33]].
* Prior to [[0.10]], polearms could only reach if they had the [[reaching]] brand, but polearms dealt more damage overall.

==See Also==
*[[Melee_weapon#Polearms|List of polearms]]
*[[Species#Melee_.26_Ranged_Combat|Table of species aptitudes]]

{{Skills}}
[[Category:Polearms|*]]
[[Category:Weapon skills]]