MSRD:Archaic Melee Weapons

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Archaic Melee Weapons

Most of these weapons deal damage by means of a blade or a sharp point. Some of them are moderately expensive, reflecting their archaic nature in modern-day society.

Table: Archaic Melee Weapons (require the Archaic Weapons Proficiency feat)
Weapon	Damage	Critical	Damage Type	Range Increment	Size	Weight	Purchase DC	Restriction
Battleaxe	1d8	20/x3	Slashing	—	Med.	7 lb.	11	—
Bayonet (fixed)¹	1d4/1d6	20	Piercing	—	Large	1 lb.	7	—
Cutlass*	1d6	19–20	Piercing, Slashing	—	Small	3 lb.	11	—
Falchion	2d4	18–20	Slashing	—	Large	16 lb.	12	—
Flail, heavy*	1d10	19–20	Bludgeoning	—	Large	20 lb.	8	—
Flail, light*	1d8	20	Bludgeoning	—	Med.	5 lb.	7	—
Glaive†	1d10	20/x3	Slashing	—	Large	15 lb.	9	—
Greataxe	1d12	20/x3	Slashing	—	Large	20 lb.	12	—
Greatclub	1d10	20	Bludgeoning	—	Large	10 lb.	6	—
Greatsword	2d6	19–20	Slashing	—	Large	15 lb.	13	—
Guisarme*†	2d4	20/x3	Slashing	—	Large	15 lb.	9	—
Halberd*†	1d10	20/x3	Piercing, Slashing	—	Large	15 lb.	10	—
Hatchet	1d6	20	Slashing	10 ft.	Small	4 lb.	4	—
Lance, heavy	1d8	20/x3	Piercing	—	Med.	10 lb.	7	—
Lance, light	1d6	20/x3	Piercing	—	Small	5 lb.	6	—
Longsword	1d8	19–20	Slashing	—	Med	4 lb.	11	—
Machete	1d6	19–20	Slashing	—	Small	2 lb.	5	—
Maul	1d10	20/x3	Bludgeoning	—	Large	20 lb.	10	—
Naginata†	1d10	20/x3	Slashing	—	Large	15 lb.	13	—
Pick	1d4	20/x4	Piercing	—	Small	4 lb.	6	—
Pickaxe	1d6	20/x4	Piercing	—	Med.	6 lb.	7	—
Ranseur†	2d4	20/x3	Piercing	—	Large	15 lb.	9	—
Rapier	1d6	18–20	Piercing	—	Med	3 lb.	10	—
Saber*	1d8	19–20	Slashing, Piercing	—	Med.	4 lb.	11	—
Scimitar	1d6	18–20	Slashing	—	Med.	4 lb.	12	—
Scythe	2d4	20/x4	Piercing, Slashing	—	Large	12 lb.	7	—
Spear	1d8	20	Piercing	—	Large	9 lb.	6	—
Straight razor	1d4	19–20	Slashing	—	Tiny	0.5 lb.	4	—
Sword cane¹	1d6	18–20	Piercing	—	Med	3 lb.	9	—
Sword, short	1d6	19–20	Piercing	—	Small	3 lb.	10	—
Trident	1d8	20	Piercing	10 ft.	Med.	5 lb.	7	—
Wakizashi	1d6	19–20	Slashing	—	Small	3 lb.	11	—
Warhammer	1d8	20/x3	Bludgeoning	—	Med.	8 lb.	9	—
See the description of this weapon for special rules. †Reach weapon. ‡Double weapon.

Weapon Descriptions

Battleaxe

The battleaxe has a large metal head and is popular with cultists and others who like to leave big, bloody wounds.

Bayonet (Fixed)

The statistics given describe a bayonet fixed at the end of a longarm with an appropriate mount. With the bayonet fixed, the longarm becomes a double weapon: club-like at one end and spear-like at the other. A character can fight with it as if fighting with two weapons, but if the character does so, he or she incurs all the normal attack penalties associated with fighting with two weapons, as if using a one-handed weapon and a light weapon.

Falchion

This sword, which is essentially a two-handed scimitar, has a curve that gives it a keener edge.

Flail, Light and Heavy

With a flail, you gain a +2 bonus on your opposed attack roll when attempting to disarm an enemy (including the roll to avoid being disarmed if you fail to disarm your enemy). You can also use this weapon to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own trip attempt, you can drop the flail to avoid being tripped.

Glaive

A glaive has reach. You can strike opponents 10 feet away with it, but you can’t use it against an adjacent foe.

Greataxe

This big, heavy axe is a favorite of large Shadow creatures or anybody else who wants the capability to deal out incredible damage.

Greatclub

A greatclub is a two-handed version of a regular club.

Greatsword

This huge sword, including the Scottish claymore, can deal tremendous damage in the right hands.

Guisarme

A guisarme has reach. You can strike opponents 10 feet away with it, but you can’t use it against adjacent foes. Because of the guisarme’s curved blade, you can also use it to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own trip attack, you can drop the guisarme to avoid being tripped.

Halberd

Halberds are extremely rare outside of ceremonial functions or museums, although some Shadow creatures wield them. Normally, you strike with the halberd’s axe head, but the spike on the end is useful against charging opponents. Because of the hook on the back of the halberd, you can use it to make trip attacks. If you are tripped during your own trip attempt, you can drop the halberd to avoid being tripped.

Hatchet

This light axe is a chopping tool that deals slashing damage when employed as a weapon.

Lance, Heavy and Light

A lance deals double damage when used from the back of a charging mount or vehicle (like a motorcycle or bicycle). A heavy lance has reach. You can strike opponents 10 feet away with it, but you can’t use it against an adjacent foe. Light lances are primarily for Small riders.

Longsword

This classic, straight blade is the weapon of knighthood and valor.

Machete

This long-bladed tool looks much like a short, lightweight sword.

Maul

Bigger than a sledgehammer, the maul is a two-handed warhammer of enormous size. Ogres and other brutes favor it.

Naginata

A naginata is a finely crafted Japanese polearm. A naginata has reach. You can strike opponents 10 feet away with it, but you can’t use it against an adjacent foe.

Pick

A pick is designed to concentrate its force on a small, penetrating point. It is a small, one-handed instrument that includes rock cutting picks and picks designed for combat.

Pickaxe

This is a heavy, two-handed tool commonly used for mining and digging dirt. The version listed here is strengthened for martial use.

Ranseur

This curious-looking polearm has reach. You can strike opponents 10 feet away with it, but you can’t use it against an adjacent foe.

With a ranseur, you get a +2 bonus on your opposed attack rolls when attempting to disarm an opponent (including the roll to avoid being disarmed if you fail to disarm your opponent).

Rapier

The rapier is a lightweight sword with a thin blade. A character can select the Weapon Finesse feat to apply his or her Dexterity modifier instead of Strength modifier to attack rolls with a rapier.

Saber

The saber is a long, heavy sword specialized for use in mounted combat. You gain a +1 equipment bonus on your attack rolls when you use a saber while mounted (horse or a vehicle such as a motorcycle).

Scimitar

A curved sword. The curve on this blade makes the weapon’s edge effectively sharper.

Scythe

The scythe can be a powerful weapon in the right hands. The design of the scythe focuses tremendous force on the sharp point as well as allowing devastating slashes with the blade edge.

Spear

This primitive device is a reach weapon. A character can strike opponents 10 feet away with it, but can’t use it against an adjacent foe.

Straight Razor

Favored by old-school organized crime “mechanics,” this item can still be found in some barbershops and shaving kits.

Sword Cane

This is a lightweight, concealed sword that hides its blade in the shaft of a walking stick or umbrella. Because of this special construction, a sword cane is always considered to be concealed; it is noticed only with a Spot check (DC 18). (The walking stick or umbrella is not concealed, only the blade within.)

Sword, Short

This sword is popular with heroes for its concealability.

Trident

This three-tined piercing weapon can be thrown just as a shortspear can be, but its range increment is shorter because it’s not as aerodynamic. Scuba divers and aquatic Shadow creatures make use of tridents.

Wakizashi

The wakizashi is a Japanese masterwork short sword, granting a +1 bonus on your attack rolls. A masterwork weapon’s bonus to attack does not stack with an enhancement bonus to attack.

A samurai’s wakizashi is part of a matched pair with his katana, and—like the katana—is an important part of his honor. Its most prominent use is in the suicide ritual called seppuku.

Warhammer

This is a one-handed sledge with a large, heavy head. It includes large work hammers such as those that can be found around construction sites.

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