The Best and Worst DnD Weapon Designs

One of the most frequent questions people ask me is "do you play D&D?", and also what I think about the weapons in its rulebook. The first answer is no, the second is... well, this. :)
Like any roleplaying game it has designs based directly on historical arms and armor as well as more exotic fantasy stuff that serves the almighty Rule of Cool. How much sense would they make in real life? Is there any practical value to the stranger things in Dungeons & Dragons? Let's take a look!
** Time stamps **
00:00 - 01:27 Intro snark
01:27 - 02:30 Polearms (ranseur, guisarme, glaive, lances)
02:30 - 03:44 Shuriken / nunchucks / scythe
03:44 - 04:22 Longsword / hand-and-a-half sword / greatsword
04:22 - 05:01 Sickle
05:01 - 06:10 Maces / hammers / morning stars / clubs / axes
06:10 - 06:35 Two-handed saber
06:35 - 07:11 "Rapier" (AKA hanger)
07:11 - 09:28 Dwarven Urgrosh / greataxe
09:28 - 10:43 Gnome hooked hammer (y tho)
10:43 - 11:27 Two-bladed sword (ugh)
11:27 - 12:25 Dire flail (yikes)
12:25 - 14:56 Spiked chain (oof)
14:56 - 20:10 Orc double axe (wtf)
20:10 Conclusion
Videos I reference here:
How to Fight an Iron Golem (Logically)
• How to Fight an Iron G...
Best Weapons Without Metal to Fight a DnD Rust Monster
• Best Weapons *Without ...
I Tried Sickle Fighting... It's Wild.
• I Tried Sickle Fightin...
SICKLE vs. SWORD... It's Intense.
• SICKLE vs. SWORD... It...
** Music credits **
“RPG Exploration Level 1” by Hitctrl
opengameart.org/content/rpgex...
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)
"Spirit Waltz" by Horrorpen
opengameart.org/content/spiri...
CC BY 3.0
Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
theslantedroom.github.io/stev...
Used with artist's permission
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[@ViewtifulGene]

There's an undeniable advantage to the double-flail: you can unironically say "this is going to hurt me a lot more than it's going to hurt you."

[@RipOffProductionsLLC]

"I think we found something worse than the Nun-chucks!" - Shad

[@Grandwigg]

And 'dire flail to the knee' made my day, hahaha

[@webbowser8834]

"The important thing to remember about the sword chucks is that they are as much a danger to yourself as they are to your opponent"

[@shawnnerenberg661]

The pain is real. I watched my friend knock himself out with a tri-sectional staff. Right to the back of the head.

[@SameStudent407]

So true

[@carlospomares3225]

"The nunchucks are fine" Shad: "My machicolations are trembling. Something is wrong!"

[@onceuponarevenant9409]

xD poor Shad

[@old_timey_prospector]

That's very interesting.

[@chengkuoklee5734]

For me Nunchucks is makeshift weapon; flails, especially pole flails are modified upgraded from makeshift weapons. Both nunchuck and flail apply same mechanical concept but their design & output are totally different.

[@sihilius]

Be prepared for the next video, explaining why nunchucks are utter bullshit, why none can use them effectively in any situation, why they have no right to even exist and of course why the stick is THE omnipotent weapon.

[@andrasweninger6024]

I believe in STICK supremacy

[@Machintoshhater]

There was one D&D design I saw that was like a tower shield, but designed by Dwarves to fight against taller opponents. It had a spike at the bottom that they could use to stab the enemy's foot, or to plant the shield on the ground to create temporary cover for another ally, and two spikes at the top that pointed up like horns that could be used to gore a human-sized target below the ribs if the dwarf charged them. It was fanart, of course, because nothing that functional would've come out of current WotC.

[@unapatatadanesa1021]

That shield sounds so damn cool

[@Overlord99762]

True enough with your last comment. Also, I am familiar with the artwork, the dwarf depicted there looks too skinny tho

[@StupidIsMyJob]

Maybe a step handle in the middle to help a dwarf with launching themselves up into a leaping wrestling grab would be just as awesome. And maybe in between the two upper spikes, you could have a sharpened metal rim for decapitating your opponent when you take them back down with you.

[@velazquezarmouries]

Probably could work like a spiked pavise or one of tallhoffer's judicial dueling shields

[@SpadeOfAces55]

That last bit hit hard in light of the recent OGL debacle... and new druid Wild Shape... and new Spiritual Weapon spell...

[@thomasdevlin5825]

"If you have a healer on hand that can magically close your wounds I guess that's fine" That is a terrifying concept, this face tanking berserker warrior that runs into battle with reckless abandon that's constantly being healed so he never takes fatal damage

[@nerdicusdorkum2923]

He will take fatal damage... after the healer casts hold person on him to chew him the hell out for his absolutely reckless behavior!

[@robertwildschwein7207]

Kill the healer first LOL!

[@prdurnion83]

I play healer in many of my games and while I may be able to heal wounds and cure ailments, I can't fix stupidity. Also, stop standing in the fire.

[@archlectoryarvi2873]

Noi from Dorohedoro

[@ConnorSinclairCavin]

Its called TF2… medieval edition

[@matthewquan9083]

I think the dire flail matches the name perfectly. Dire in D&D refers to a version that's more dangerous to people like a Wire Wolf or Dire Bear. In this case, a dire flail is more dangerous to the person who tries to use the darn thing in the first place.

[@christianlangdon3766]

Dont forget that batwoman show used it as a legit weapon.

[@Mithguar]

You guys just don't know how to use it right. You grab one of the balls so you only hold the very end of it. Then you start swinging it around in circular motion to build up momentum. At right moment you just let it go. Now you either do some serious damage or hope your enemy picks it up and hurt themselve with it. Then you take out shield and a proper weapon and win.

[@planescaped]

Dire is slang for something terrible too...

[@dragonfell5078]

@@Mithguar this is genius

[@kei4904]

Is the Wire Wolf a good conductor?

[@quint3ssent1a]

In 3.5 spiked chain was considered best weapon because with it you can trip people around you, creating a "big no-go zone". It also had "best of two worlds", being a long weapon (longer than polearms), but being able to attack up close (which polearms couldn't.) Luckily, DnD dodged the questions "how do I swing 15 foot of chain without accidentally hitting my party members and entangling myself in it".

[@ObatongoSensei]

Or a 6 feet greatsword, for that... Reach and bulkiness had always been poorly ruled in that game.

[@Gr3nadgr3gory]

It's simple really, just put a single level into wizard and use "animate rope!" You just need a spiked chain under 10 lb in weight...

[@youngimperialistmkii]

Yeah, I remember all the crazy fighter builds my friends came up with. For the Spiked chain.

[@ObatongoSensei]

@@youngimperialistmkii Quite a common way of thinking back then: find an OP weapon and superspecialize in it... Then someone disarms you or destroys/steals your weapon and you become completely useless. As a DM, I dealt with a score of such characters in that way.

[@youngimperialistmkii]

@@ObatongoSensei lol What a way to find out that you over specialized. I like that 5e makes it much harder to make that mistake.

[@tvsnate]

I honestly think, especially with the double-double axe, that "rule of cool" applies in game as well. Orcs are stereotypically blustery and aggressive so I can definitely see the biggest one of the bunch after a big fight just get that *ding* moment and run over to the smith and say "PUT AN AXE ON MY AXE" and everyone else throws up the horns because it's so damned METAL. Sure, he probably died in short order but it was a glorious death and he looked awesome so now all the cool orcs want one.

[@CrizzyEyes]

I would see it as being a ceremonial weapon that orcs use in judicial combat trials or something of that nature. Real life judicial champions in medieval Germany used absurd weapons sometimes because it monopolized their profession. If you're legally required to use a weapon nobody else uses in judicial trials, then only a person specifically trained to be a judicial champion can settle your trial by combat for you, as opposed to any old mercenary or soldier.

[@LendriMujina]

@@CrizzyEyes What weapons are these?

[@ashtongiertz8728]

Something I think Skallagrim fails to consider for this weapon is that the double-double axe is likely intended for a different style of combat than a more conventional double-axe. It would likely be wielded less like a pole arm and more like a Bo staff; a more defense-heavy fighting style that has you always ready to block your opponent. And unlike a Bo staff, if the opponent ends in breaking the shaft, you still have decent combat potential because, well, now you have two axes. Basically, you should be fitting the fighting style to the weapon's design, not the other way around. Sure the image in the official D&D book shows a shorter shaft than what would be practical for such a fighting style, but given that there are clearly two grip points and Orcs are larger than humans rather than smaller I think it's safe to assume that the drawing is simply squashed in proportions to save space on the page.

[@Bruh-lq7ev]

@@ashtongiertz8728 I mean yes, but sometimes there isn't a style on earth or toril that can make a design work. No matter how big the bugger is he(Or she assuming orcs are more progressive) they still have to worry about shanking their own wrists, legs or torsos. If it was two one sided ax heads then I could see how someone who's 2.5m tall and 90 percent muscle could use it, but that double head is just an awful idea, especially on such a short handle as shown in 3d edition. And that's ignoring the counter weight making the swings weaker

[@UpliftThrone76]

I had a Cleric who did this "axe on my axe" thing, but with hammers. She didn't fight very often but she was the face of the party, so she got a massive shaft and threw on two big warhammer heads onto it to create something that wasn't near as useful as a regular one, but had that much more intimidation factor. She was awesome.

[@DDSForbbiden]

I think what may happened with the Gnome spiked hammer was that the game designers told their artists that it was "a hammer with a spike on the oppositive end", as in how real war hammers have a single head with both a flat and spiked side; but the artists misinterpreted that as literaly "a hammer with a spike in the other end on the handdle", and then they all decided to just roll with it

[@sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149]

this also feels weirdly in character to some eccentric gnome inventor

[@vladimirgertner3960]

Gnomes make weird shit. But also, skall said that "it could make sense as 2-hander, don't forget, Gnomes are tiny, so they would use it as a 2hander.

[@goransekulic3671]

Well, if Regill is anything to go by, it'd be used two handed, more akin to a Double-Sword or something like that. Still, why put that spike down there when you already have a spike? /weird

[@gustavoaraujopenha8463]

I'ts not caleed an spiked gnome hammer, but an hooked gnome hammer, so nop, the hook was enterily proposital. It also is an double weapon, wich is an weapon suposed to be wielded with both hands which make one attack with each end every turn.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

I always figured it was shown so small because gnomes are small and it wad actually a 2 handed weapon.

[@farsightenclave3511]

The Gnome hooked hammer is supposed to be a two handed double weapon. The reason it looks small is that, as the name implies, it is generally sized for gnomes.

[@Shadowdarkfire182]

@Skallgrim This^^ Gnomes are VERY small in D&D, even smaller than halflings, and the hook hammer is supposed to be held in a similar grip to a quarterstaff or two-bladed sword (think Darth Maul) and is often depicted being spun a lot, often and the ankles or shins of much larger opponents to trip them up then bash in their skulls/chests. The idea being the Gnome is SO small and quick they can dart into your reach and trip you up before you can land a blow on them then trip, CRACK, dead big bad guy.

[@justnoob8141]

@@Shadowdarkfire182 that’s spam account

[@Orthus100]

Also the proportions in the drawings aren't always super accurate.

[@thethan302]

you know, i always thought gnome hooked hammers were supposed to be spun around in one hand. but that would probably be worst. Granted i never thought they were interesting or cool enough to bother with anyway.

[@kamiki40i4]

Yes. It's used with both hands. Gnomes are very small.

[@sevenproxies4255]

Bro! I have an awesome idea for a "double weapon". I call it the "double gun". It's basically two guns, where the barrels point in opposite directions, so you'll have a gun barrel in your face as you point the other barrel towards the enemy! 🤣

[@doublesalopetoimcre]

MURICA FUCK YEAH!

[@ArkadiBolschek]

It's fiendishly clever!

[@quint3ssent1a]

Uhh, it's called a bazooka, and no, you point the other "barrel" over your shoulder to safely vent backblast. Although, if someone managed to sneak upon you from behind, you can use backblast to BLAST him too.

[@jurtheorc8117]

For a moment i thought you were going to say you made two guns into a nunchuck (gunchuck) like Bayonetta with the Sai Fung weapon.

[@Gellert1984]

...You've just invented the recoilless rifle.

[@locustofchiron]

I like how you mentioned at the end "if you're stronger, why bother with the double end instead of just making the main end bigger?" Because in the Pathfinder RPG (1st edition), the Orcs did just that. they took a greataxe, removed the double end, and added more mass to the main blade to make what the humans call a Butchering Axe, throwing a massive 3d6 dice of damage at base. Unlike most weapons you actually take a penalty to hit and damage with it if you don't meet a minimum strength requirement.

[@smilingnid4276]

I like how alot of the impracticality was backed up by the Exotic weapons feat never being worth taking compared to just doubling down on something else

[@monk3110]

Thats very true they are rarely worth it

[@Morrowinder777]

Bastard sword were very worthy, as you could use them 1 handed with the damage of a 2 handed weapon, and if you got a Large sized one you could use it 2 handed for 2d8 damage IIRC.

[@monk3110]

@@Morrowinder777 I mean it’s a long sword that deals 1d10…

[@hyldur]

@@monk3110 An average of 1 extra damage over the longsword, which is not unreasonable for a feat. Not great, but totally viable for a fighter with an abundance of bonus feats. Power attacking 1 with a longsword will give you the same average damage, but cost you -1 to hit, as well as a feat.

[@XanKreigor]

Scythes, for their 4x critical damage.

[@vasilyd8578]

1:43 this DnD guisarme is actually a bill hook, some historians say it's the predecessor of guisarme

[@tommeakin1732]

I honestly don't really understand this bit of weapon etymology. I would refer to the reference image as a bill. Sometimes I see these things referred to as bills. Guisarmes seem like a rather poorly defined thing, covering things I'd call bills, to monstrosities that look very, very different to a bill, other than the fact they're a polearm with multiple protrusions, and perhaps a hooked blade. Is guisarme perhaps supposed to be a broader "category"?

[@khublaklonk4480]

"The nomenclature of polearms" is a rightly infamous chapter in the original 1st Ed Unearthed Arcana. However, much of this nomenclature was the work of Victorian antiquarians, who tried to force a set of terms post-hoc upon a series of weapons that were never conceived or referred to in that way. Indeed, that came from many places over a long period of time, and used by people speaking many different languages. A lot of Gary Gygax's understanding of the period came from such writings, and a lot of it is baked into the underlying assumptions of D&D.

[@CrescentGuard]

You will be quite gratified to know, Skal, that newer versions of DnD rectify the Longsword error. Nowadays the bastard sword/longsword are considered one-in-the-same and has slight damage stat modifications depending on whether you're using it one-handed or two-handed

[@kallisto9166]

Do they mention arming swords? That always felt like a major omission.

[@dynamicworlds1]

@@kallisto9166 "longsword" is just what they call arming swords in D&D. They just now let you also use them as hand-and-a-half swords.

[@sylvarogre5469]

Now, if we could just get people to stop using "in" for "and" and "of" for "have".

[@slyfer60]

@@kallisto9166 the arming sword is not in the official rules.

[@Gear3k]

But they didn't fix the "studded armor" thing yet, right?

[@XanKreigor]

Since you never played D&D, there is a whole category of weapons called "Exotic weapons" that require a Feat to use normally, otherwise you get a penalty on chance to hit with them. Most of these exotic weapons are the weirder ones that have poor designs.

[@CrizzyEyes]

Yeah, but it begs the question of why you'd want to invest time in learning how to use them as a warrior. Of course, I understand what the designers were going for. They're supposed to be from foreign or niche cultures and seem exotic to the reader. But from a practical perspective, if the weapons behaved realistically instead of being a d20 die roll and a damage roll, it would be silly to use many of the exotic weapons. The real-life equivalent of exotic weapons (like the Indian whip sword) were almost never used in actual combat and were instead used for performative purposes.

[@TndrTwn]

@@CrizzyEyes maybe your a crazy priest, fighting with a crazy weapon... The point is it's possible.

[@CrizzyEyes]

@@TndrTwn Another thing I brought up in a different thread, is judicial purposes. The orc double weapon strikes me as a good example of a judicial weapon. In real life medieval Germany, trial by combat was an accepted form of resolving disputes, and judicial champion became a profession in its own right -- like a lawyer, but you beat the shit out of the other lawyer instead of arguing. However, to make sure it's fair, they'd use weird weapons so a skilled swordsman plaintiff couldn't just choose sword and destroy the opponent. So a whole career class of champions that knew how to use these weird ceremonial judicial weapons emerged.

[@CryselleSilverwynd]

@@CrizzyEyes It gets even worse when you think about the fact that exotic weapons was a catchall class. In the world of DnD, if you're a rogue who spent a lot of time and effort in learning to effectively use a hand crossbow as a stealthy and concealable ranged weapon, you can absolutely translate those hand crossbow skills over to proficient use of the orc double axe.

[@CrizzyEyes]

@@CryselleSilverwynd Well, it used to be that exotic weapon had to be taken for EVERY SINGLE WEAPON that you'd want to use. So you'd spend a whole feat slot learning to use one weapon. This made more sense logically but I guess somebody complained it was bad, even though how many characters actually use multiple exotic weapons? Not very many I'd wager, aside from monks who get a few for free.

[@CaptainStupendous]

I remember these double-bladed weapons appearing in the D&D manual right after the release of Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace. That double-bladed lightsaber was SO COOL and had successfully established itself into pop culture. Thanks a lot, Star Wars.

[@webbowser8834]

quick nitpick, Attack of the Clones is episode 2 (which featured surprisingly few attacking clones, especially when compared to episode 3). Episode 1 is The Phantom Menace, which does feature a bad guy with a double bladed lightsaber (and yes, it was very cool for 5 year old me and darn near everyone else at the time).

[@CaptainStupendous]

@@webbowser8834 aw fuck, why did I make that mistake? Thanks for the correction. Will edit.

[@bthsr7113]

Well with a lightsaber, many of the problems of inadequate force fade away (while increasing risk to the user, so I'd rather have a magnaguard staff) and when you have a motorized prosthetic hand like Savage Oppress, you can autospin that thing fast enough to practically become a shield.

[@williambarnes5023]

A lightsaber has the additional benefit that you can make either of the blades appear and disappear at will. So where a normal double ended sword would restrict your movement and chop you in half with the other blade when you try to spin it, you can just TURN OFF that blade of a lightsaber when it gets to you and turn it back on again when it swings for the opponent.

[@MartijnVos]

I was quite surprised about how much hate Kylo Ren's lightsaber with cross guard got in The Force Awakens, while everybody thought the ridiculous double lightsaber was cool. The lightsaber with cross guard was the one thing that made sense in that movie. Do you know how many people in Kylo Ren's family have lost hands in lightsaber duel? Getting some extra hand protection shows he's not as stupid as he looks.

[@arx3516]

The quadruple axe makes perfect sense, you throw it at your enemies like a boomerang, it can decimate an entire army before flying back into your hand.

[@MalloonTarka]

That sounds like the fever dream you'd have after wounding yourself with the axe.

[@arx3516]

@@MalloonTarka no it's something you can do if you believe in getter!

[@HiopX]

The imperial inquisition wants to know your location

[@Klomster88]

Then it can decimate your army as well after you fail to catch this magical flying axe. And then there is no more war! Peace at last!

[@SugaryStarzie]

That sounds absolutely terrifying. What if I get the arteficer to strap rockets to the blades and make a deadly spinning axe? FIGIGET SPINNER OF DEATJ

[@W4iteFlame]

Doublebladed doublesided axestaff...yeah, I am glad you mentioned this monstrosity. It was the first and probably only weapon from DnD I saw and asked myself "Wtf is that and how you supposed to use it?". It was in the Neverwinter Nights. Ah, the nostalgia

[@johannesstephanusroos4969]

It was pretty much made to make best use of Two Weapon Fighting, but IRL? Hell no

[@Inuxxus]

I imagine it might make a nice gladiatorial weapon though

[@pitbullnamedcupcake8485]

The signature weapon of my main man Daelan Red Tiger!

[@Kamiyodesuyo]

In NwN it was a polearm-sized though. So, while still crazy, it wasn't as stupid, as short-handled version is.

[@sephiroaone-of-nine101]

Imagine thinking like a human in how a orc would fight

[@dancarter6268]

If I remember correctly, D&D 3.5 was the first edition to come out after the release of Star Wars Episode 1. They probably saw how popular Darth Maul and his double-bladed lightsaber was, and they decided to go balls out and add in a double-bladed everything to their game.

[@joshalmighty1901]

U had me at DnD. I'm 39, haven't played in 20yrs. God I miss the close friendships, and artistic expression.

[@JindraAG]

I think probably the funniest thing about the 'double' axe is that it ended up becoming two weapons, one a two handed one with a reasonable length haft and everything, and the other, called the orcish double axe, being a one handed monstrosity that effectively is as much metal on a stick as you can manage, sharpened.

[@fenrir509]

I will accept this as canon.

[@smokingbobs1344]

This video is very well produced. The pacing, the tone and the supporting visuals are fantastic; a joy to watch.

[@Skallagrim]

Thanks!

[@jonnypeterson3971]

I think the really difficult thing that the creators of DnD face is that if something is effective and practical, then it is likely historical. Sometimes they have to make weapons not very practical to get that fantasy element. I make my characters with semi practical weapons and equipment just because I love historical arms and armor.

[@TheLithp]

Thing is, there are some really exotic weapons in history that could basically pass for fantasy but seem like they would still overall be decent.

[@Grygong555]

Fun fact: Scyths were actually a prominent weapon during the Kosciuszko uprising in Poland, the farmers would rotate the blade 90 degrees to make sort of a polearm :D

[@ReptilianRebel]

As well as the vendee uprising in the French Revolution, peasants running at revolutionary guardsmen armed with reforged scythes into cannon shot. Crazy.

[@DizzyTrendermen]

Yeah, he’s talked about those before huh? Weren’t they referred to as “war scythes”

[@Palora01]

@@DizzyTrendermen not quite, war scythes were proper weapons of war, built from the start for that use while the peasants used their normal not very good for combat scythes because that was the only possible weapons they had access to switching to any proper weapon the moment they found one or switching to a club/staff the moment the flimsy scythe blade broke from combat, which they did often since people are a lot more durable than wheat.

[@Gr3nadgr3gory]

@@Palora01 other polearms are too. Hopefully your shafts are of comparable strength!

[@atomaszfarbaa1650]

Polish socialists from PPS in gdansk in 39 armed themselves with war scythes as well. They dont used them in fight tho cuz they got the guns. Also in kosciuszko uprising when scythes started to become scarce, fighters would equipped themselves with "halabarda's" - common axes for choping wood with way longer handle and "drąg's" - straight wooden clubs enforced with metal on tip.

[@atomicgator5207]

The dwarven urgrosh was always one of my favorite fantasy weapons. I'm glad to hear it could actually pass muster as a real world weapon.

[@quint3ssent1a]

Playing Pathfinder, I thought Urgrosh is just an axe ... until I googled pictures of it. Maybe the design with reinforced and spiky butt of the shaft has some merit, but artists tend to over- exaggerate spike on the end, turning it into some wicked spear with broad head.

[@mitchhaelann9215]

The spike on the other end of the heavily weighted Dwarven Urgrosh would make it good to set against a cavalry charge. The heavy axe head would make a good anchor.

[@GameTimeWhy]

Slash poink. I loved using the urgosh. 3.5 made these weapons feel awesome.

[@definitivamenteno-malo7919]

Came here to brighten your day, then: there's a historical and even ON USE equivalent of it, and it's called shepherd axe.

[@atomicgator5207]

@@definitivamenteno-malo7919 Very cool. Thanks.

[@piotrrosciszewski7950]

Not being D&D player myself, enjoyed the video very much. One thing about the scythe though: these were widely used in Polish uprisings (end of 18th to late 19th century) by peasant infantry but AFTER they had been reworked do that the blade was no konger perpendicular to the pole; that would make them more wieldy and with even greater reach, some even had tips reworked too for thrusting.

[@graveyardshift2100]

I remember in one 3.5 splat book there was a Dwarven rifled crossbow. It was literally a crossbow with a gun barrel at the front, and it shot the bolts through the barrel for a +1 to hit. (May have been +1 damage)

[@davehood2667]

The Palladium Fantasy compendium has that too, calls it a slurbow, and supposedly everything in that book actually existed.

[@datkhornedog899]

​@@davehood2667 It seemed to be true as a hunting crossbow.

[@sharkinahat]

The funny thing is that spiked chain used to be OP. 2d4, 10foot reach, but no penalty at point blank, +2 to trip attack and you were able to let go not to be tripped ( or something like it).

[@clothar23]

Having your cake and eat it too I guess.

[@johannesstephanusroos4969]

You could also tie up almost any creatures with it (and probably have to use a lock)

[@jaycenzimbeck7638]

I should also point out that typically you didn't use it as a double weapon like the picture in the book seems to imply you are supposed to.

[@Y2KNW]

I remember Jackie Chan beating someone up with a horseshoe on a rope and I just went with that as how to use a spiked chain in D&D.

[@johannesstephanusroos4969]

@@Y2KNW That would be an analogue of a meteor hammer, though

[@rayanderson5797]

Here's a clarification, and I'd be curious if this helps its case: But at 6:04 the double-headed light hammer (14) is probably meant as a throwing weapon. In the game it can be thrown, and to me the design seems to indicate that that's its primary function, it just happens that you could also swing it at someone if they're close.

[@Skallagrim]

That would make more sense, yeah.

[@dragonqueenniisan4122]

Light hammers in DnD do have a throwing range!

[@LostLittleNomad]

The best concept of a doubleheaded double bladed axe I have seen was from the Mummy Returns (2001) - the risen Anubis army used polearm-sized double-bladed palm axes.

[@MrEscalus]

I could imagine Quadruple Axe, symmetric heads with long handle, being perfectly wielded by Darth Maul, and suited towards that.. spinny, dancy, unique fantasy style (you get the picture :D ), and not just standing and chopping pretending like its typical axe :D Anyways, love your content Skall !

[@ninjagamer1359]

I always interpret the spiked chain as essentially a chain whip from martial arts. In D&D, the artistic depictions are frequently pretty far removed from the actual weapons, lol.

[@captainmaim]

seems like a good way to disarm/unshield your opponents, but I like Jackie Chan's rope-with-horseshoe weapon better.

[@ninjagamer1359]

@@captainmaim That was a makeshift version of another traditional weapon in martial arts of a similar type to the chain whip, the rope dart. I know they’re similar, but I never got far enough in kung fu to actually learn the specific technique(s) for either :P That’s a fantastic fight scene, though, as Jackie’s always are!

[@captainmaim]

@@ninjagamer1359 is there a traditional name for that weapon type? "Rope-dart" just isn't sexy like "nagamaki" or "tonfa" or "krabi/daab"

[@ninjagamer1359]

@@captainmaim Yeah, it certainly lacks the sex factor 😂 Don’t remember the Chinese name for it, I’m afraid, but I do know that whole category of weapons is called “soft” or “flexible weapons.”

[@ninjagamer1359]

@@captainmaim Okay I just looked it up, and it’s sheng biao! Just means rope dart in Chinese, though :P

[@AndrewJohnson-oy8oj]

The challenge with inventing fantasy weapons isn't that people aren't creative enough. It's that people have always been creative. So, anything that WOULD be effective as a weapon already HAS been made at one point.

[@iallman2504]

Take into account that gnomes are small sizes so to them it is kinda like a pull hammer.

[@Gr3nadgr3gory]

In a fantasy world of mine my character created a direflail imbued with the concept of his own self destruction. He only uses it on enemies he's more durable than and it still honestly hurts him more than his opponent. It is in fact a weapon designed to make fights harder on him because he kind of hates himself.

[@user-fd5nz5lo7m]

Those are pretty old and obscure weapons. If you`re considering a sequel for this video 5E have a lot of art for magical weapons especially in DMG. Some are pretty bizarre (sword of wounding and giantslayer), while some look pretty cool (vorpal sword and Dagger of venom)

[@babbiification]

As someone who started on AD&D, this comment makes me feel fairly old and obscure, but I'm still glad the hobby continues to grow. Keep on rolling! :P

[@user-fd5nz5lo7m]

@@babbiification Thanks grandpa ;)

[@johannesstephanusroos4969]

You're just mentioning magical enchantments, Skall can't review those in the context of practicality

[@user-fd5nz5lo7m]

@@johannesstephanusroos4969 I am mostly talking about the design of each weapon. 5E has official art for them.

[@johannesstephanusroos4969]

@@user-fd5nz5lo7m Sure, but the enchantments imply that they'll still work 'because magic'

[@Ezekiel_Allium]

If you ever want to return to the subject Dark Sun has some awesomely goofy weapons that I adore. The double jaw bone axe thing especially has lived rent free in my head for years. A lot seem fairly reasonable while still wacky though, it's a good time

[@balderfrey20]

I would never think dark sun as wacky😅

[@Ezekiel_Allium]

@@balderfrey20 the weapons for sure are lol

[@junibug6790]

@@balderfrey20 Personally, I can never think of Dark Sun as anything BUT wacky, what with every inhabitant of that world wearing BDSM-leather-gimp-gear in the searing desert sun...but I still do love the setting. ;)

[@balderfrey20]

@@junibug6790 i always found it a brutal slog. But that could be just the Dm

[@dudebucket60]

I'm surprised you never mentioned the double bladed scimitar from the Eberon setting. Would love to see your reaction to that

[@nightsong81]

Having always wanted to play a Klingon in D&D, my go-to was to play a Half-Orc Fighter with a double axe, but envisioned as a bat'leth. I always sorta figured the drawings in the book were like the medieval manuscripts that showed animals the artists had never seen, and were wildly inaccurate to how they actually looked. That was how I justified my clearly Star Trek inspired "orc double axe."

[@clothar23]

Honestly a double ended sword would have imo been a better choice as a stand in for a bat'leth. Since the things are clearly inspired by hook swords.

[@nightsong81]

@@clothar23 Maybe, but with the double axe being the iconic Orc racial weapon, it just kinda fit the flavor of what I was going for.

[@gustavoaraujopenha8463]

@@clothar23 Well, the bat'leth is very heavy ended so an axe still makes sense, specially considering the only diferecen between an double ax and double sword was the crit

[@alexh4436]

You should do a sparring session using the worst D&D weapons where the opponent gets to chose the weapon you use. If you want to be a killjoy you can take steps to make sure the sparring is safe.

[@kamilszadkowski8864]

Holy shit this a great idea!

[@doctord.ph.d.4986]

Yeah, that DND 3.5 "rapier" is probably just a typo. Previous edition have had both the rapier and cutlass, and would describe/illustrate them properly.

[@Prophetbunny1]

In regards to the comment about the Gnome hooked hammer being possibly useful on a longer weapon, check out the Kroot rifles from Warhammer 40k. It's like having two bayonets that are actually scythes.

[@giggityguy]

On the topic of counterweights: physics tells us that objects with weight distributed towards the outside of their center of mass have more rotational inertia than those with the weight more centered. As an example, a wooden disc and a metal ring of equal weight would have very different amounts of rotational inertia. The more rotational inertia you have, the more energy it takes to both start and stop moving it, so it will exhaust the user. Plus having equal weight on each end moves the center of mass and center of percussion closer to the center of the weapon, reducing the overall power of each blow. Incidentally, this also applies when discussing swords. Many inexperienced people assume that the pommel of a sword is supposed to be a heavy counterweight to the blade so that the sword is "perfectly balanced," ie balanced right at the guard. Except that a good cutting sword will not be balanced that far back, and actually benefits from having a center of balance farther up the blade. Plus having a heavy pommel will once again create more rotational inertia, slowing down the weapon and reducing its striking power. Rapiers and smallswords forgo almost all cutting power in favor of point control, but even then you don't want a heavy pommel because it still will create rotational inertia and slow down the sword. Rapiers balance their blades using the weight of the complex hilt, which is centered on the hand itself, rather than in a pommel that acts as a lever sticking out. Consider which do you think, intuitively, you could maneuver faster: This shape? ( )-----------( ) Or this shape? --------( )--------

[@aprinnyonbreak1290]

Answer: I am a lizardman, so I snap you with my tail to knock you off balance, bite you, then poke you with the crazy 3===()==( )=()=====7 that I took off the last guy. Metal is pretty valuable.

[@puddel9079]

I mentioned the double axe and the dire flail in a short you did Skall. Thanks for talking about the impracticality of these weapons.

[@riftdancer1349]

A character I was running used a Spiked Chain that had an enchantment on it to look like a feather boa. I also took Monkey Grip and increased the size of the weapon. The DM loved this idea. So he made a house rule that my first attack in combat, regardless of position, would always count as a sneak attack. As long as my opponent didn't see me using it as a weapon, or the opponent didn't have an ability to see through my devious deception. Because who would dodge a bunch of feathers? Quick Edit: The class was the Jester from the Dragon Magazine Compendium, so incase you were thinking I was a Half-Orc, this was not the case. Thought it would have been hilarious.

[@-Devy-]

Serious cringe, bruh.

[@CrizzyEyes]

@@-Devy- Being ashamed of your hobbies is pretty cringe, bruh

[@punishedwhispers1218]

You can do that without homebrew by taking Flick of the Wrist

[@bobidybilly]

Skallagrim if my favourite blade master! Not only is your content very interesting and informative, I love your genuine passion for the topic (and the skit’s always get a smile out of me 😂)

[@jimbob3332]

I'd love to see you critique every Dynasty Warriors 8 weapon type. Now that's an insane series.

[@Charlie_Xmas]

the fucking boat dude! I love that dumb weapon it's so good in game

[@DrVoodoo]

@@Charlie_Xmas Don't forget the bladed hula hoop

[@anarchy4812]

didnt 1 guy have a pillar?

[@peterwindhorst5775]

@@anarchy4812 which would just be no different from a quarterstaff or a club

[@peterwindhorst5775]

@@DrVoodoo based on the Chinese weapon -> wind fire wheels.

[@ManMadeOfIdiot]

I've always viewed the Gnome Hook Hammer as more of a quarterstaff with bits at the end. Gnomes are like 1/3 to 1/4 the size of a human, so the size of the GHH compared to a gnome could be pretty much the same height. I think it would then be held with one hand either side of the centre of the shaft and kind of pivoted/used to strike from one end and then the other in a quick wiggly motion. I still think it's one of the dumbest of the weapons, just like gnomes. Thank you for coming to my tedx talk.

[@ObatongoSensei]

It was a polearm. All double weapons were. But without the reach property, which made them suck anyway.

[@user-ct8dm7ez4r]

@@ObatongoSensei it is considered dual-wielding, but the weapon in the offhand considered small, while dealing the same damage as the main one.

[@ObatongoSensei]

@@user-ct8dm7ez4r That's another reason why they sucked. No damage bonus from two-handed use, penalties to attack rolls if you made your extra off-hand attack (which reduced damage per round even more), and no reach... They also didn't cost less to enchant. It's indicative that the only one deemed useful was the spiked chain, despite being even an exotic one: it had reach without the reach handicaps and a bonus to trip attacks.

[@Electric999999]

It definitely is, all double weapons are 2 handed in 3.5

[@ObatongoSensei]

@@Electric999999 Yes, but if you dual-wield it, no extra damage. In that case, they work as a one-handed weapon plus a light one. Same story for the Power attack feat benefits.

[@fatstrategist]

Skall out here saving youtube's medieval content

[@captainmaim]

he goes medieval on all our asses...

[@clbaker8356]

Enjoying your videos. Highly informative and presented in an entertaining way. Well done.

[@MrElath]

Your comment on the longsword being one handed only actually reminded me of a rule from 3.5, One Handed weapons like the longsword and battleaxe could in fact be wielded with both hands to increase your strength bonus.

[@yinnyari]

Thank you for the rundown of D&D weapons, as a person who's been playing D&D for a long time and is interested in history your insights are very useful

[@GA1313E]

I think all the double weapons come from the idea of a centre gripped quarterstaff. Which seems to have a strong grip on the popular imagination. I'm guessing its the same as how movie fencing started out like 19th and 20th century sabre, staff fighting, like in robin hood, was recreated in a "modern" style. So if you have seen fighting with a staff held in the middle, and maybe even done it, playing as a child or in the boy scouts etc. It makes sense to add something like a weapon at each end to make a fantasy weapon you can relate to.

[@planescaped]

I can only hear the Pon Farr music as Spock and Kirk face down and bang the center of their weapons together.

[@l0stndamned]

3.5 had a real obsession with double-ended weapons that made no sense if anyone tried thinking about them. Interesting hearing you talk about the urgosh. I feel it works when you describe it, but not as written in the rules.

[@victoryspath4116]

Super cool analysis. Loved it!

[@sim.frischh9781]

That Orc Doubleaxe would make sense on a rotation style combat with almost dance-like movement, but i cannot imagine this being practically applied anywhere except a training ground either.

[@quint3ssent1a]

It's also should be longer, at least 3/4 of the height of someone who would use it.

[@randombloke82]

I feel like it could be dramatically improved by offsetting the axe blades by 90° like a canoe paddle - not to the point of being really useful but at least slightly less suicidal…

[@clothar23]

@@randombloke82 That is a good idea to help a terrible weapon.

[@captainmaim]

It was the preferred weapon of the Bolshoi Orc tribes of the freezing steppe.

[@jurtheorc8117]

I love epidoes like these, I think they're quite fun. I wonder what you'd think of the weapons in the Mark of Kri games and Mortal Shell. The latter especially might be of aestethical interest to you with its armor designs. Whereas the former is a Don Bluth-styled hodge podge mix of all kinds of culture inspirations. Starting with the main character alone, who looks like a Polynesian Conan... and fights with an armingsword.

[@seventhgnome5375]

i remember reading “double bladed scimitar” and being violently confused

[@Whiteharlekin]

I Love the effourt you put in the analysis.

[@artsy_dragon_creations]

And this is why I never stick to the official designs for my characters. I always design them myself, even if the design doesn’t perfectly fit the exact kind of weapon they’re using like a great axe that’s a bit short or a sword that’s a little too large for its class. That way you get more freedom as well as being able to make the weapons more practical if you want to

[@morrigankasa570]

You should give D&D a chance. It's very fun and will increase your nerd cred by at least d20 points:)

[@Skallagrim]

Ain't nobody got time for that. And you really think I'm hurting for nerd cred? :p

[@VaguelySynthetic]

Dude, Skal is positively ROLLING in need cred

[@morrigankasa570]

@@Skallagrim You can never have too much Nerd Cred;)

[@cornervermelho]

5% chance that he will roll a 1

[@Drejzer]

D&D is a normie system. Going for something else, like GURPS, Savage Worlds or _anything besides D&D_ would also give hipster points. I think. I am not quite sure if I'm using the terms correctly...

[@TulgaVisigoth]

Can't find the actual video about best-value swords, so here I post. Took your advice and bought the Cold Steel Back Sword and you are right, it is a great deal for the money. The grip has much to be desired, but nothing some hockey grip tape won't solve. Balance and fit and finish way above the price point. Thanks much Tulga

[@Nazuiko]

These kinds of videos are neat because they explain WHY things dont work and werent used in reality, which say, I'm writing a medieval low-fantasy story. Maybe i throw in a dire flail, maybe i have the fantasy strong race using double edged axes. Or maybe I would just stick to the practical weapons, that real life warriors had 600 years to come up with and test

[@Hatsworthful]

I dont remember the exact details but curiously enough in the US rangers (and other forest/park field workers) have double axes with different levels of sharpness on each blade. I forgot what was the exact utility of it but it had something to do with the different types of wood or material they'd need to cut through

[@rianfelis3156]

Both sides are sharp, but with different bevels. One side is a wider bevel for chopping across the grain, and the other side is a narrower bevel for slicing along the grain. The wider bevel makes it tougher, so it can retain a working edge longer against the toughness of chopping through branches or roots or felling a tree. The narrower one is a much more effective slicer, making short work of splitting firewood or rough slicing planks for something.

[@cameronwindham8867]

the dull blade is used to de-bark the cuttable surface of the tree, as that saves the sharp blade from dealing with the more durable bark, its sap, and the dust, dirt and sand that may be caught in the texture of the bark.

[@ObatongoSensei]

All the double weapons in D&D were created with 3rd edition. They had invented this "double" concept for the quarterstaff, to represent when it is used to hit with both ends instead of the historically accurate method to use it as a long, thin, double-handed club. Since they had a quarterstaff functioning as wielding "two clubs in one", it just went downhill from that. So we found ourselves with "double sword", "double axe", "double mace", "gnome pick hammer", "spiked chain", "dire flail" and all the other improbable contraptions that were thrown in that game. Besides, I agree with you: the dwarven ugrosh and the double mace are the only two that could be made into real, functional weapons, although with some tweaking. A curiosity: in 2nd edition d&d there was a dwarven chain weapon which worked much like the 3rd edition spiked chain, but was just a long chain with heavy weights at both ends, not unlike some Japanese weapons. Speaking of masochistic weapons, try giving a look at the starknife from Pathfinder RPG.

[@Blokewood3]

I think the weapon designer must have been a big fan of The Phantom Menace, which came out only a year prior to third edition and introduced the double-bladed lightsaber.

[@Erynus]

A double quarterstaff is a halfstaff?

[@ObatongoSensei]

@@Erynus No, it's a quartermess.

[@DzinkyDzink]

Oh man you summoned, Shad... He's comming! I can sense the disturbance in the Force!

[@Suzanne_sf]

Thank you for the video. It is informative and a lot of fun to watch! :)

[@tiltskillet7085]

Quite surprised that great hammer at 5:01 escaped your wrath.

[@Skallagrim]

If it's hollow it's okay(ish).

[@tiltskillet7085]

@@Skallagrim Thanks for the reply. But you don't think a huge but hollow hammer head would be counterproductive(ish)? :P Are there historical examples that were clearly meant to be used for battle?

[@Skallagrim]

@@tiltskillet7085 Sure. But by fantasy standards it's alright. :)

[@TheAngryAsianAnimations]

I know you've ranted on two ended weapons but it'd be interesting to see your take on...well...real ones. The Chanchidao or Chinese Cicada Wing Sword (double ended sword). I've also seen it referred to as the Sun Moon Sword. Quiankundao or Chinese Heaven Earth Sword (double ended sword) Langyalian (double ended flail) Crescent Moon Spade or Chinese Monk Spade (which also bears resemblance to the Orc double axe)

[@sometwat]

14:56 or you could just give it to a "dextrose finger Master" to spin it in a single direction, like a lawnmower and do jabs with it. Imagine that thing spinning really faster above your head, take one step forward and extend your arm forwards and do a butterfly knife style gesture to keep it spinning, return back to the original position tilt it down to block, and imagine the stopping power you need to possess to take a hit from it. Now granted it wouldn't do great against something that is semi resistent to concussions, but if the blades are sharp enough the "monk class" could parkour in a advantageous position to cut a weak spot like a artery or expose a pint of weaknesse.

[@itzybitzyspyder]

Dungeons & Dragons!

[@kevinshepardson1628]

Ah, the Dire Flail - easily the most nonsensical weapon in D&D (until you get into supplements, where things get WEIRD). What's the line from8-Bit Theater? "Almost as dangerous to the enemy as it is to the wielder"?

[@jamesedwards1164]

Mechanically the in game advantages of double weapons is that they work under dual wielding rules & mitigate some of the challenges; dual wielding always incurs some penalty to your attack roll in exchange for making more attacks per turn. The penalties are at their lowest while wielding a "light" weapon(dagger, kukri, sickle) in your off hand. However, light weapons do less damage(typically 1d4) compared to "one-handed" weapons(long/arming swords, scimitars) that'll do 1d8 usually, though there are some that do a d6 or even a d10 in damage. Double weapons(for the most part, there are exceptions) balance this out by both heads of the weapon doing the same damage die, typically a d8, while incurring penalties as if the offhand weapon were light weight. In addition, a lot of feats & class abilities that improve combat performance do so with one specific type of weapon- weapon focus, weapon specialization, improved critical, etcetera. So if you're dual wielding & want to benefit from those, you either need to incur greater penalties to hit for fighting with an oversized weapon in your off hand, settle for lower damage dice & use a light weapon in each hand, or use a double weapon- which does usually incur a feat penalty to get proficient in, though some races come with proficiency in them(orcs/half orcs usually get the double axe, elves usually get the double sword). Though sometimes the advantage of the double weapon is that the two heads do different types of damage; weapon damage in d&d is divided into bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing. The dwarven urgosh, for example, does slashing with the axe head & piercing with the spike, obviously. Though if I recall the two also usually do different damage dice. In this case you're probably *not* going to be dual wielding the two ends but rather mainly just using the axe head as a two-handed weapon & switching to the spike when up against something resistant to slashing damage, without having to buy & carry a second weapon & waste actions switching between the two in combat. Which brings up another advantage of double weapons; sometimes you have a monster with a damage reduction" rating which is the amount of damage from any one attack it ignores. There are various ways to bypass it; "DR 5/silver" means that the monster is going to ignore the first 5 points of damage from any weapon or physical attack not made with a silver weapon. If you don't have a silver weapon, the best way to deal with DR is to make sure your attacks are doing significant damage above the DR threshold. One-handed weapons can be swung with both hands to add extra strength damage, but light weapons can't. Importantly, double weapons *can* be used this way, so when confronted with a monster that's best fought with fewer, harder hitting attacks rather than a multitude of less damaging attacks, double weapons provide the benefit of being able to do that seamlessly without dropping or sheathing your off hand weapon. Now, physically how you're holding a double weapon to do that without stabbing yourself, I don't know, but mechanically in game the double weapon option has a lot of upsides, at least in 3.5 & related editions.

[@legiolegat2871]

I had quite a bit of fun going almost historical way and dual-wielding rapier with a parrying dagger and the buckler in the same hand. Without two-weapons fighting feat: the offhand with the dagger and buckler was meant to provide defence, and along with acrobatics bonus and +1 every four BAB from revised "fighting in defence" rules - it sure provided quite a lot. Dex mutagen, shield extract, elven chainmail, completed with swashbuckler's parry feature, and Paragon Surge - and I had quite a tank there, gracefully cosplaying late Destresa style of fencing.

[@paladinslash4721]

The worst part about the spiked chain. It was the best weapon in 3.5

[@Y2KNW]

The chain and Combat Reflexes meant you got to be a massive threat on the field. Be a fighter/rogue and have all kinds of fun driving the DM up the wall because there's no way to know where you're gonna sneak attack from next.

[@paladinslash4721]

@@Y2KNW IRC you take combat reflexes and improved trip. Use your AoOs to trip, get your free extra attack from improved trip. And if they get up you make an AoO and the cycle begins again. Ok I looked up the build and it also involved the vexing flank, deft opportunist, adaptable flanker, vae school feats

[@amadhollow635]

Skall, I think the quad axe is meant to be a longer shaft than standard pole arms, and used in more of a skinny dancy kind of form. Like caopera but with too many axes If you look at the display drawings of the chains and then look at the guy using them, you can see they made the drawings much longer, which would make more sense, as would most of the weapons of drawn longer than they are

[@swissarmyknight4306]

[@hampuskullberg9932]

The double axe makes perfect sense as an orc weapon. The question is just if they are using unpractical weapons because they are less intelligent or if they are less intelligent from using less practical weapons (and thereby repeatedly hitting themselves in the head with the unwieldy weapon).

[@phntmthf5505]

In regards to the Gnome Hooked Hammer, gnomes in D&D average about 2 feet tall. So it makes sense that even weapons that are two-handed for them look tiny in comparison to what a human would wield.

[@Kualinar]

One problem with weapons in D&D is their weight. When compared with real life equivalent weapons, those in D&D are at least twice as heavy, and up to 10 or even more times to heavy. Same goes for the armours... That «rapier» looks a lot like a cutlass or possibly a machete fitted with a guard. The Gnome hooked hammer is dangerous to the user. The dire flail is another weapon that is dangerous for the user...

[@nevisysbryd7450]

Oddly, a lot of their weapons and armor are almost exactly 1.5x their average historical weights.

[@victorwaddell6530]

In original AD&D items were rated by encumbrance, which had little to do with their actual weight in ounces or pounds . For Instance , a bow with it's quiver and arrows weighs the same as an equal weight of rations or coins . But a bow is more difficult to carry because of it's length , and the fact that it requires carrying in the hand for a longbow , or a in a scabbard in the case of a short bow . The issue is compactness of gear . For instance , It's easier to carry a modern carbine and 240 rounds of ammo in eight 30 round magazines in a chest pouch than carry a modern compound bow and 240 arrows in twenty quivers of 12 hanging all around your person . In this vein of thought , I believe the most underrated D&D ranged weapon is the simple sling with lead shot . The slingshot is zero encumbrance .One pound of cheap lead equals sixteen or so projectiles . And even peasant troops can use them to effect . If lead shot runs out smooth stones can be used . What's not to like about the simple sling ?

[@Kualinar]

@@victorwaddell6530 AD&D weight (average historical weight) Hand axe : 5 pounds ( 2 pounds) Battle axe : 7.5 pounds (about 2 pounds) Short word : 3.5 pounds ( about 1.5 pound) Mace : 10 pounds (2 to 3 pounds) Military hammer : 5 pounds (2 pounds) Also, 10 coins = 1 pound. NO coin that heavy where ever minted in human History.

[@Drejzer]

A scythe is an exotic weapon (and thus requires a feat (rather precious character build resource) to use without penalty (and it had one of the best critical multipliers, x4 damage on a crit (so a dream to use for coup de grace builds)) I think scythes were exotic, might have been martial...

[@zachfarrellEL]

Scythes are indeed martial.

[@andreyr3611]

They are martial in 3,5.

[@dynamicworlds1]

Exotic in NWN. Martial in tabletop.

[@Electric999999]

Nope, just a martial weapon. Best used by low level wizards for the classic sleep into coup de grace combat (coup de grace being an automatic crit).

[@clothar23]

An exotic weapon....The thing every crap covered peasant started using as a small child. The entirely of central Europe would like a word with you D&D 3rd edition. Do you know how many Knights died at the end of a scythe wield by angry peasants ? If a few rebellious farmers can figure out how to kill people with them why would a trained adventurer need to seek some wizened arms master to learn to do the same ? A Katar or a punch dagger sure but a farming tool. Now they're just taking the piss.

[@edwardson6825]

Stopped with 3.5 edition, but the halberd was one of my favorite weapons in the game. The reach and range of options (slash, piece, trip, etc) was great. But as for exotic I had a human fighter with the feats to use the spiked chain. He had feats to take extra attacks of opportunity and great cleave and improved trips. The party healer usually reserved an enlarge person spell to cast on him during big fights. It was like turning on a 12 foot tall blender with a 25 foot reach. Good memories.

[@VMSelvaggio]

This was very entertaining, as I've been playing D&D in some variety since 1989.

[@KnightsWithoutATable]

The double axe only exists because of it being in an episode of Star Trek: the Next Generation in the first season.

[@flyingninja1234]

My theory on the two bladed sword in 3.0, is that The Phantom Menace came out in 1999 a year prior to 3.0's release.

[@achimsinn6189]

Designwise I would prefer the chain over those double-somethings. Mainly because I could imagine a martial arts master hero like a monk weild that in an elegant and efficient way, but those doubleweapons - I really couldn't imagine them being used well outside of spinning them around over your head for showboating.

[@rogerwilco2]

You just look like my last D&D character. Looking forward to your scythe video. I have used them and think they are a pretty scary weapon, as far as implements not designed for combat go.

[@Varizen87]

Skall, I believe your defense when dual wielding flails is that you look so insane, no reasonable person would come near you, thus, by extension, you have extremely high defense and evasion.

[@basdejong1598]

Maybe the scythe isn't the best weapon of choice, but it sure is really intimidating.

[@wagnersantos6348]

Thanks for that, man. You have no idea how badly I wanted this video. As a long time RPG fan, I can only ask for you to rate all the EXOTIC weapon types, because, oh boy, do they have a fertile imagination behind them.

[@mikelazure7462]

You always provide ideas that help the martial stuff in what I write - even when being an overmentalizing Richard Cranium. Keep it up Skall.

[@Ishlacorrin]

Based on past Jackie Chan movies I have seen, the spiked chain is certainly a usable weapon for someone trained in it's use. I would go so far as to say that an expert in that weapon could be very hard to fight because of all the options it would give them. However, knowing how many injuries Jackie sustained filming those kinds of action scenes, I would also say that if you are NOT an expert then it's just as deadly to it's wielder.

[@captainmaim]

arrow to the knee? Horseshoe to the nose?

[@swissarmyknight4306]

"Based on past Jackie Chan movies I have seen..." play him off keyboard cat.

[@mikemurphy5898]

That double spiked chain thing around 13:00 looked like something you'd see a shaoilin monk or someone like that come out and do absolutely crazy shit with it

[@azazelthedark1]

In defense of the spiked chain, if treated like a lethal version of a bolo it isn't *entirely* useless. Imagine grabbing the large middle ring, spinning, and throwing it instead of using it in melee combat.

[@junibug6790]

There are less painful ways of committing suicide than clumsily hurling your own cumbersome, awkward, non-aerodynamic hunk of spiky metal at a target. :b

[@nathansalvetti8232]

09:00 Wait Skal, didn't you use to have a symetrical double bladed axe that would cut like sh!t due to having a lot of weight on the backside when hitting and this made the axe "roll" on impact instead of cutting? Ps: And on the subject of the Spiked Chain, would you believe that this weapon was meta back in the day?

[@jlan7844]

If I'm remembering right that axe also happened to be a mall ninja wall hanger. So that may have had as much, if not more, to do with it being bad. Double headed axes have always very much been a thing in reality. People just tend to forget that the twin head design is almost always restricted to woodcutting axes for a reason (two different edge types on one tool).

[@planescaped]

@@jlan7844 Yeah, one is usually a maul and the other a blade. Or if it is two blade's it is more of a durability thing than anything. War axes meant to actually be used were rarely double bladed, as it just added weight with no benefit. And when it was done it was more so just for aesthetic reasons.

[@mr.zendar885]

Finally, thank you!

[@bboy2278]

Enjoyed your call on most of these. Have to point out that Gnome hooked hammer is a Polearm to a Gnome who is 3'3"ft Tall.

[@geraiapowen2]

Nice to see the That Works falchion again! What an awesome weapon!

[@umbraelegios4130]

"Skalchion" as they nichnamed it.

[@esquiremadhatter3705]

The longsword in dnd actually is a hand and a half weapon, due to it's "versatile" trait it can be used with either one or two hands

[@ZenoDovahkiin]

That's a new feature. Historically, D&D has used "longsword" to mean arming sword for decades and has contributed in large parts to the perception of longswords being one handed.

[@Renesh2]

@@ZenoDovahkiin Even in 3.5 longswords were one-handed weapons which specifically had the option of being used in two hands, so it's really not recent. It's just that in a two-hander build a longsword is a poor choice compared to a greatsword, so they basically were only ever used one-handed in a sword-and-board build.

[@pokemon1895]

I saw the 3e thumbnail and had to hop on. I still play 3.5. Never moved to 5e.

[@TheElectronMage]

The correct decision. Strict adherence to ze rules is having ze fun!

[@kallisto9166]

What is this new fangled 3e of which you speak? THAC0 lives on in my campaign!

[@alphabetbeer]

My D&D game in college used to make fun of the Orcish Double Ax all the time. Best we could figure, the only way to fight with it is to get a wide grip, hold it parallel to the ground, tuck your elbows in, and madly fist pump like you're on a rowing machine. Then you just wade into combat like some kind of rave club thresher.