The Trident - Mere Fantasy or Practical Weapon?

The trident is an iconic weapon seen in the hands of gods, superheroes, and other characters in roleplaying games and other fantasy fiction. Was it just a tool and symbol in history or was it used in combat as well?
Let's take a look a the design with its practical pros & cons, as well as examples of two and three pronged spears / polearms from various time periods and parts of the world. Of course there is nothing wrong with less restrained fantasy, but those of you who like to incorporate some level of realism into your writing may find this useful.
Thanks to Ace the Super Villain for making the 3D animations for visual reference in this video. Check out his bundle of weapon models:
www.cgtrader.com/3d-models/mi...
If you're looking for reproductions of medieval & renaissance polearms (affiliate link):
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** Sources **
Luristani bronze trident
timevaultgallery.com/large-an...
Viking harpoon / fishgig
www.touchofmodern.com/sales/r...
Sasumata & Sodegarami (Japanese mancatcher designs)
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...
Chinese Tang Pa & Tiger Fork
kknews.cc/news/avj5v2n.html
www.mandarinmansion.com/item/...
African tridents
ancientpoint.com/inf/155480-tr...
www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos...
Vietnamese trident
www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.p...
Brandistocks
www.clevelandart.org/art/1921...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Artwork:
www.deviantart.com/ladyheinst...
ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Ne...
forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wi...
** Music **
"Cavern of Wonders" by Hitctrl
opengameart.org/content/rpg-t...
Royalty-free music by Alexander Nakarada (creative commons license)
• Epic Music No Copyrigh...
Outtakes:
"Little People At Work" by Horrorpen
opengameart.org/content/littl...
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (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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[@Charok1]

Mainly used for moving sea hay for their sea horses and sea unicorns.

[@Psiberzerker]

Zebrafish...

[@VictorianTimeTraveler]

hahaha

[@VictorianTimeTraveler]

@@Psiberzerker sea cows

[@darthXreven]

sea urchins...

[@andreasolsson4539]

@@Psiberzerker Sea lions eat Zebrafish.

[@phenixryte23]

'The pitchfork is a flimsy weapon.' Geralt of Rivia: Coulda fooled me.

[@finngeorgas4090]

"I used to be an adventurer like you, until i took a pitchfork to the guts" -Geralt

[@jongustavsson5874]

Well, in the context of armored warfare, yes, it's flimsy. It's still four pointy metal spikes if you're unarmored.

[@mediocrewolfsif]

I was thinking the same thing

[@whiteraven1992]

This may not be a pitchfork, but: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZe0c56Adst7j9k

[@joshuatempleton9556]

i used mine to defend myself from a very pissed off mule deer i wouldn't call it flimsy lol

[@MrAranton]

When hunting dangerous animals like tigers or boars or bears you don't want maximum penetration. Getting penetrated by a spear doesn't kill the momentum of any of those animals would have while they're attacking. And even with a lethal injury they might still crash into or even bite or hit the hunter before they die, because once the hide of the animal is penetrated there's not a lot of resistance left. With a trident the points go in, but the material connecting them would not, which stops the animal - provided the trident has a sturdy shaft and is solidly planted to the ground. Weapons like the boar spear have "lugs" or wings that serve the same function.

[@acewmd.]

Or you know just plant the spear

[@MrAranton]

@@acewmd. If three hundred kilograms of angry tiger impact the tip of a normal, single tipped spear with nothing to limit its penetrating power at full speed, they'll slide up the shaft of said spear with enough momentum to injure and kill the person planting it onto the ground. When you're hit by three hundred kilograms moving at 50km/h you're in trouble. Whether those three hundred kilograms are a living tiger, a dying tiger, or an ex-tiger that is demised, ceased to be and has gone to meet its maker is irrelevant to the power of its momentum. Besides: I said that even a trident needs to be solidly planted onto the ground. There's no way a human being can decellerate 300kgs from 50km/h to 0km/h within two meters (or however long the spear is) with the strength of their arms alone.

[@koekiejam18]

Im pretty sure the feudal japanese Yari also follows this principle, but then not against a tiger but against an angry cavalryman (or his horse)

[@ElodieFiorella]

@@MrAranton Preventing animals from running up the shaft even after they've been stabbed is the reason boar spears have lugs or wings behind the tip.

[@allangibson2408]

Boar swords also have cross bars.

[@silverhand9965]

As someone whose last Dark Souls character was a bident user named Joe Bident, I appreciate the bident joke

[@Technotoadnotafrog]

I had a pyromancer called Burny Sanders.

[@the-real-zpero]

I had an Abbomasnow (Pokémon) named Obamasnow

[@SirGarthur]

I'm using this.

[@thekingofthisworld2154]

Donald Trumpgaryan rode his dragons and Made Westeros Great Again!

[@hoxo4641]

Danm I just thought of this but somebody already came up with it

[@UncleRJ]

6:22 Skall: "Sometimes a fork without the center spike" Me: "A twork"

[@biohazard724]

So does this mean spears are oneks?

[@EDSKaR]

t'werk: where norveners go to earn money.

[@darkthunder301]

Me: A good baroque

[@zebfirehd9102]

@nah doesn't sound as cool

[@Pyxis10]

@@biohazard724 Unoeks? Fourks?

[@aroenweind7244]

Love this "unconventional weapon" talk. Really interesting to see your more experienced POV and how you bring examples from everywhere in the world

[@VikingTeddy]

I'm so glad I found Sword Jesus.

[@sebastianriz4703]

@@VikingTeddy Sword Jesus? Bruh, Skall is an viking, probably an son of Odin. He isnt Jesus

[@VikingTeddy]

@@sebastianriz4703 he's been called that ever since Ian got his nickname. Bruh ;)

[@sebastianriz4703]

@@VikingTeddy I actually have never seen anyone call Scal sword jesus. Ian has had his nick name for years at this point. Everyone usually just recites the pommel meme but I will take your word for it.

[@fromhl7619]

I agree with you man

[@waranyaketkaew1338]

Hi, a Thai here. The Burmese trident you mentioned was common for ancient warfare in south-east Asia. It was used in elephant duels. The reason why it was very decorative is the fact that the only people who mounted elephants to battles were the royalty. Hope this info will be useful to you guys. :)

[@anooprana2346]

Also for defence and hunting of large animals.

[@bloodangel19]

I may be a year late but y'all had elephant jousts? Holy shit

[@troljynx9953]

​@@bloodangel19 That's based af

[@VideoMask93]

@@bloodangel19 There's a particularly famous elephant duel between Naresuan, king of Ayutthaya, and Mingyi Swa, the crown prince of Burma. Allegedly they fought during a battle, Naresuan emerging the victor. Though from what I've read they more likely used glaives in combat.

[@GraemeFaber-ls5wp]

Elephant jousting. Elephant. Jousting. Why is this not in movies???

[@DamonFyrian]

Fantasy tridents also have a thing where they are thrown like spears. So in that instance specifically, the barbs would do some good by making it so the target can't just immediately pull the weapon out without causing serious damage to themself.

[@Spikeba11]

That is related to his comment on barbs for arrows and javelins, a thrown trident would pretty much be a multi pronged javelin and you don't care about pulling it out.

[@lechking941]

@@Spikeba11 and i just realised something a javen sized and weighted trident with a number of large barbes it can fucking ruin a mans day if it hits fleash but even more of a posably problem for spear walls.

[@CazadorSlayer]

Hell, they probably wanted the gladiator's weapons to be as ill-suited for real combat as possible. Makes your valuable gladiator slaves less likely to die, and less well-equipped if they revolted. I love how you really go in-depth with your explanations and show multiple real-life examples. Even after all these years, every video teaches me so much info I never even considered before!

[@Riceball01]

An interesting idea except that only one class of gladiator was equipped with a trident. All others had different kinds of weapons with some using a gladius as their weapon of choice. It all depended on the class of gladiator and not all of them had weapons that would be impractical for war.

[@UngodlyFreak]

@@Riceball01 I think I read somewhere that the retarius was a low-ranking class of gladiator. As such they were probably the least valuable fighters and not expected to survive for long, so why waste good equipment on them? Just give them a crappy trident, a net and a loincloth!

[@jamesharding3459]

It also looks really cool. And since Gladiatorial combat was meant to entertain, that matters.

[@CaptainVincentRiley]

@@UngodlyFreak I think it's not as much about wasting equipment as about making it even harder for them to win. And showing the audience a different fighting style.

[@grantflippin7808]

@@UngodlyFreak not exactly low ranking, but the class was designed to be the underdog

[@sizanogreen9900]

A trident becomes usefull with "channeling", "riptide" and/or "loyalty" enchantments put onto it.

[@misterluppus6727]

You are strong and wise and I'm proud of you

[@pdd5793]

looks like there's a gamer among us

[@hannah1386]

It’s also becomes incredibly dangerous in the hands of a certain pig with a crown

[@croutendo2050]

@@hannah1386 You can put a crown on a pig but it doesn't make him king. It's those three triangles that make him king.

[@polarknight5376]

@@pdd5793 amogus? When the imposter is sus. Sorry. I literally have OCD and couldn't stop myself.

[@SovereignAUS]

I could literally feel Skal's look of rage when he noticed the strip of light on his chest. Also I feel like the Bident with the outward blades would probably be good for trapping/slashing and targeting unarmoured limb sections with the inside of the blades like fixed scissors and stab at the right angle during a slash, which I feel would be useful if you catch an enemies blade in the centre you could quickly move their blade aside and swing back quickly with a slash or stab.

[@poilboiler]

Time to throw a pommel into the sun!

[@classicfrog80]

What you mentioned about bident is basically what halberd does.

[@RabidlyTaboo]

at that point you may as well use a man catcher.

[@SovereignAUS]

@@classicfrog80 I came to a similar conclusion in the end. I get the impression from the design and it's "flaws" that it might have been intended to be a "less lethal" weapon for capturing an armed opponent, so you can fight and wound/disarm them without a huge risk of a kill unless you got their neck in the scissor.

[@SovereignAUS]

@@RabidlyTaboo haha I literally just made a similar point in regards to it being used as a combat alternative to the man catcher because if the enemy is armed you can fight and wound/disarm them in preparation for the capture with a fairly reduced chance of a kill. Kind of like a mediaeval Taser.

[@davidemelia6296]

A lot of the trident stuff goes back to Greek mythology: Poseidon had a TRIdent, and Hades had a BIdent. :)

[@jacolitethepumpkin765]

Alternative title: "Skall shows off his fancy new knife for 24 minutes" Love the content mate!

[@rumpelpumpel7687]

yeah xD he had it in the last few videos too :) love the design, yet i wonder if it's an actual blade or a LARP-weapon. It looks so clunky somehow, I mean the blade's back is rather thick/wide

[@jongustavsson5874]

@@rumpelpumpel7687 definitely not an actual blade. It's thicker than some blades are wide.

[@Omniseed]

@@rumpelpumpel7687 it's a seax, very much a real knife

[@rumpelpumpel7687]

@@Omniseed i know the knife type is a seax/sax, but look at how thick the spine, backside of the blade is. if it was steel, it would be enough material for two or three blades xD - and if you pause the clip when he points with the knife, (in 7:01 - 7:02 for example) it looks like spray-painted, air-brushed. no reflections on the blade whatsoever.

[@Omniseed]

@@rumpelpumpel7687 but wat if there's big slag inclusions

[@kencoffman7145]

I really enjoy the discussion style content! You are always willing to look at the less obvious ways to use the weapon. Would it be possible to make a video on the shillelegh? I know they are basically just a stick but they are crazy effective. Cheers!!!

[@shubbagin49]

Love my walking stick

[@nevisysbryd7450]

Fandabi Dozi has done some videos on what are basically shilleleghs.

[@jamesharding3459]

Excuse me, the MGM-151 Shillelaghs was much more than just a stick! It was a *boom* stick with a rocket on the back!

[@joshtiscareno1312]

For the shillelagh to be truly effective, it needs a drunken Irishman behind it.

[@zacharyhiland300]

I think the V shaped, bladed ones look like they would be really effective for targeting limbs. You have the chance of spearing the limb with the points, but if that misses, the thrust would turn the sides of the blades into effective slices to the sides of the limb, which would get deeper as the thrust goes further.

[@-Keith-]

That's what I was thinking. Great for immobilizing unarmed arms/legs, one attack would slash both sides of the limb and slice the tendons.

[@Googledeservestodie]

Italian: "I'll slaughter you with my runka" Scandinavian: "with your what?"

[@LuxisAlukard]

I hope I'll live long enough to see at least 10% of Skall "I-would-like-to-test-historical-reproduction-of-this-weapon" wishlist. Also, I would like to see Skall with enough money to do that.

[@lechking941]

also laws can go fuck on off so he can test every weapon in purity

[@Yarblocosifilitico]

You listened to the subs :) Great choice, I know nothing about tridents except as the iconic weapon of Poseidon

[@RevBucktoothJesus666]

Or Neptune in the Roman pantheon. I love tridents 🔱

[@willam1992]

Poseidon/ Neptune is the God of the sea and fisherman there is imagine of him with a net and a trident as a symbol of his control of the seas

[@Yarblocosifilitico]

@@willam1992 yeah, in that sense it's more like a ruling sceptre than a weapon, a symbol of authority

[@Sk0lzky]

@@Yarblocosifilitico especially since it's usually barbed - characteristic for fishing spears/forks

[@So_Iace]

The side blades that are bent outward might intentionally lessen the depth of the stab. You don't need to send your spear all the way out the enemy's back just deep enough to cause sufficient damage and then your goal is getting the weapon out of the enemy for another attack.

[@forgottenrights351]

Same concept as wings on a spear, but with even more stab wounds.

[@jerrycashew651]

The pitchfork-halberd-gun actually made me laugh out loud. history has once again proven it doesn't have to make sense. xD

[@lechking941]

oh now im got to wait and find when it pops in

[@Sorakeyblademaster37]

Why isn't that in Final Fantasy?

[@KonigGustavAdolph]

"This weapon would really shine in use against a single, naked opponent." For those times you want to up the difficulty setting.

[@wumpusthehunted2628]

Wasn't a Trident (plus net) used by a popular class of gladiator? They only fought sword and shield classes (my sources are probably badly out of date), which meant a bit of armor, but the rest was probably bare in a calculated way to look dangerous and make a more impressive fight. Granted gladiators didn't choose their weapons, that went with the class. And the class's weapons were chosen to look cool, have cool fights.

[@acesburned]

@@wumpusthehunted2628 he does mention them in the video

[@KonigGustavAdolph]

@@wumpusthehunted2628 ace is correct. That would be the gladiator class "retiarius".

[@robertagu5533]

@@wumpusthehunted2628 unfortunately for standard Roman troops even at their MOST powerful they ALSO unwittingly trained a VERY elite warrior/slave class in the Gladiator i imagine Rome didn't come to realize until they got crushed most of the time they fought with Spartacus

[@arquentur6226]

I'm sorry that your having to fight with the algorithm, but I gotta say, I do appreciate the new variety and topics you've been covering!!

[@HaHaHaHolowence]

*that you're having...

[@ryanschmidt3319]

I could see tridents being given to soldiers fighting just in front of a pike block or phalanx or shield wall, etc. Use the tines of the trident to control enemy weapons and let a soldier with something far more devastating like a Beac du Corbeu (Spelling?) or halberd get a really solid hit forcing the opponent to either drop the weapon or have their skull look like a dropped watermelon.

[@Steir12]

This fighting style was executed by italians in late medieval with guisarme.

[@calebhamilton8382]

Ooooooooo

[@Emilio-md4bm]

I may be one year late but I think you were going for “Bec de Corbeau” or Crow’s Beak in french. I had no idea there was a weapon bearing that name.

[@VladamireD]

Could also be useful for soldiers defending from inside a castle, especially in Asia, where they would be defending mostly from attackers using ladders to get on the walls (as opposed to siege towers). The side tines could be used to hook a top rung and push the ladder away from the wall without exposing the user to potential archers below, while also being similar enough to the spear that your average soldier wouldn't need extra training to learn to use it effectively.

[@rootlord8114]

Man, polearms have really been stealing my interest over the last three years, whether in a fantasy setting or historical, they've become my favorite type of weapon.

[@DemonPrinceofHell]

Range and reach will always prevail over brute strength

[@poodie3887]

The polearm is very cool but I still prefer a semi automatic handgun as my favorite

[@lechking941]

@@poodie3887 your basicly that artificer in every game who will go "nurf this bitch" and pull a glock 18 and blap a bitch.

[@TheGuzeinbuick]

Skall just wanted to say, please NEVER change your outro music. It's so relaxing and pleasant. I always let it play it out.

[@whiteraven1992]

I love the fact that *rakes,* of all things, were once modified into weapons. Gather leaves, plow, & weed the fields of your enemies! *_That'll show 'em!!! >:D_* Make them behold your farming prowess, for their bodies are your crop field now.

[@Candlemancer]

I mean spades have been turned into weapons too. And billhooks are also gardening tools that were turned into weapons.

[@ciarfah]

@@Candlemancer I have heard of weapons disguised as farming equipment, to prevent confiscation by an occupying force. I believe Irish farmers did this under British occupation, but I can't find a source right now. We do have a history of improvised weaponry, though;)

[@rumpelpumpel7687]

@@ciarfah yes, i've come across alot of texts where it said that in times of war, farming tools were made into weapons too. Like scythes get the spout reshaped and fit on a pole like a halberd or lance. Vicious blades ;) same for flails of all kinds - some metal spikes and nails, metal bands to fasten the spikes and reinforce the flail ... taadaaa ready to reshape some full plate armoured opponents :))

[@gaelangaudette9576]

@@ciarfah This reminds me of the martial art capoeira, which was disguised as a dance.

[@muninrob]

When you're a peasant militia, you're using whatever weapons and armor you had on your farm - oh you didn't have any? That sounds like a "you problem".

[@IdentityCrisis1581]

"Did you just kill that guy?" "Yes. I killed him with a trident." "You might want to lay low for a while."

[@lechking941]

i have a feeling its a joke from someonace and i am amused i just dont know the place...

[@nickgreene2971]

That brandistock would probably be hard to legally recreate in most places given how it's kind of an equally dangerous but different version of a sword cane or other walking stick blades. Really liked this video btw thanks Skall

[@unclebear4806]

The one from Myanmar is called a "Tri-soon". Its model after the wepon of Hanuman, a Hindu god/monkey warrior in the Eipic of Ramayana. Its one of the symbol of power of South East Asia Kings, therefore this one is definitly for ceremonial purpose.

[@Skallagrim]

Ah, that makes sense.

[@ratchat123]

Hanuman ji used a gada (mace) not trishul (trident) which is the weapon of Shiv, one of the most prominent gods and who was prayed to by many in the Ramayana including Ram himself.

[@unclebear4806]

@@ratchat123 Well, you're not wrong on that. It depends on which part of Asia you came from. Don't forget Ramayana is a very old story and it has been passed down through many parts of the continent. If you come from Central Asia like India, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, Hanuman is depicted using Gada. But if you came from South East Asia like Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, Hanuman is depicted using Trishul. Moreover, if you come from Tibet and some parts of western China, Hanuman sometime depicted using a Staff (not sure on this but my friend said so). In South East Asian culture, Trishul is a type of weapons that use by many gods and heroes. It is said that Shiva, Narai (Vishnu), and Indra all have Trishul in their arsenal. It’s one of the symbols of power that any king that ascent to the throne must possess (along with many other symbols of power items) in his coronation ceremony. The item in the video, which came from Myanmar, is likely orderly made for that purpose.

[@ratchat123]

@@unclebear4806 I have been to some of those places and have seen Hanuman with a trident shaped weapon in Cambodia but it was rather short like a foot long similar to a sai seemed different from the spear shaped longer trident of Shiv. Also with many kinds of swords and daggers.

[@unclebear4806]

@@ratchat123 That is correct. According to legend, Hanuman’s Trishul is a magical weapon given to him by God (I believe its Indra who gave him, but not sure, different scripture said differently) in order for him to assist Rama in his quest. It is said that Trishul blade is as sharp as daimon can cut and pierce through armor, while the shaft/handle can extend or shrink as the owner desire. There’s a quote in Ramayana (at least, in South East Asian version) that when Hanuman is going to infiltrate Lanka to meet with Sida and deliver the news of Rama, Hanuman ordered his Trishul to shrink to concealable size for him to carry. So, that’s why when you go to temples in South East Asia that have paintings or carvings of Ramayana, you would see depiction of Hanuman holding what looks like a small trident the size of dagger or short sword. That actually is Trishul. However, when you go to museum armory, you rarely see Trishul that size except on plate symbol. You would mostly find longer version with longer shaft from a foot long up to 2 meters or more. As I mention earlier, in South East Asian culture, Trishul is a type of weapons (plural). The main characteristic is to have three prong blades with a shaft/ handle. The length shaft/handle can vary making the weapon to be from dagger/short sword size, mid-range size like club or mace, or even long as spear or polearm. Hence the name Tri = three, shul/soon = stabbing point.

[@nelly5954]

It was interesting hearing you talk about fishing spears and pitchforks, maybe you should do a full video on the effectiveness of certain tools as improvised weapons!

[@lechking941]

there is a lot of shit that does have some strangely good abilities in war.

[@Mirro18]

In my martial arts class (wing Chun) we actually practiced with one of those "man catcher"-esque tridents. There are chinese variants too. It is funnily enough quite... intuitive? Like trying to fight somebody with one arm, but that one arm is extremely long. (We practiced vs unarmed/armed with dagger) opponents. Reason for learning it was less so direct practical reasons but fighting with weapons like that kinda makes you very aware of spacing so that was cool!

[@macekreislahomes1690]

fun random fact: Cisely is known for almost completely taking pichforkes to a brigade of WW2 German Paratroopers. This greatly helped the war end faster due to a much larger than expected force needed to keep it from happening regularly.

[@andreasolsson4539]

I would not mind that "Runka" weapon. Makes for a great conversation peice.

[@erikjarandson5458]

...but not for great conversations.

[@andreasolsson4539]

@@erikjarandson5458 A bit awkward i guess.

[@williamjenkins4913]

Want to see my Runka? *wink

[@martinschultz3441]

Just talk to a danish speaker and he wouldnt understand s*** :)

[@andreasolsson4539]

@@martinschultz3441 EDIT: I was on another thread in another video about differances between Norway, Denmark and Sweden and there was a bit of fun poking at eachother. I confused this thread with that other one so please understand that this comment is out of context. Sorry to my Danish neighbours. No insult was intended. Here is my comment: I live to close to Denmark to make fun of them. I leave that to the Norwegians . Here's a sketch that explains it better: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qV7QgKxui7p4eM0

[@verager2493]

It's in poseiden's hand cuz it's great for spear fishing. 3 shots for the price of one, and won't limit penetration on a small enough target. On a war spear, you'd probably want a crossguard with small, forward facing side tines. Most of the catch without too much loss of penetration Edit: A yari! Exactly what I was imagining, of course you got to it!

[@ismovirtanen7225]

20:24 couldn't stop laughing. Him looking at the word like that is just perfect -a Finn

[@IAOIceland1984]

yeah same we also use the exact same word for it so it really cought me off guard -Icelander

[@Nekonymous]

I lost my serious face when this came up. XD

[@Death1659]

It's funny, I always wondered if his accent was from some Norwegian dialect, but I know he's Canadian, so I figured it was some sort of Canadian accent.

[@arthurfrayn7619]

Those Japanese spears look cool, especially the L shaped head (16:40). No one seems to make that style these days. I would love to see a Yari episode. Love the pitchfork side rant. I anger mobs from time to time so good to know!

[@lokeedgelock1656]

I can see the angled blades being useful when fighting in formation. catching enemy polearms so your buddy can get a clean hit in. Or for striking a couple rows down from you instead of in front of you.

[@grantcox4764]

Exactly what I was thinking. Using it in a sweeping motion to deliver the outside tines to an opponent offset 2 or 3 positions away...

[@richardmonk6171]

Nice to know. I was playing a Tortle character in DnD who used a trident. If I still was in that game, I would be a badass with a trident and a net by using this info. I basically used it because of its reach, versatility (1handed or 2 handed), and throwing properties, plus it just looks cool with an aquatic Tortle character. Great video, brother.

[@Candlemancer]

I'm pretty sure that trident don't have reach, RAW. For some reason they're just heavier, more expensive spears (which also don't have reach because a one-handed simple reach weapon would be kind of OP.)

[@TheWildManEnkidu]

'... I like tortles.'

[@demomanchaos]

@@Candlemancer Trident is literally just a more expensive spear, just like how the Scimitar is just a more expensive short sword and the Glaive is the exact same as a Halberd. 5e is rather crap when it comes to weapon variety honestly.

[@cameronlancefrii7356]

@@demomanchaos agreed, except the scimitar and shortsword. One is slashing and the other is piercing.

[@megavore97]

@@demomanchaos Pathfinder 2nd Edition has more interesting weapons for sure. The trident is pretty solid in that system.

[@konstantinavilov1192]

There's a Russian childish joke: "What is the most dangerous weapon of them all? Table fork! Two hits - eight holes!" P.S. "Вилка: два удара - восемь дырок!"

[@idioluh5838]

Не бойся ножа, а бойся вилки: Один удар - четыре дырки

[@based_prophet]

Amen 🙏

[@It-b-Blair]

Is the a second meaning or innuendo I’m r/woosh 🤥

[@DemonPrinceofHell]

I don't get it..

[@lechking941]

XD that translates suprisingly well for this vid

[@FShani]

There is a Japanese spear similar to the various yari you looked at with a long central blade and two curved hooks (sometimes both curving upwards, sometimes one up one down). Its purpose besides being a fairly standard spear is to hook on the top of walls, ledges, doors or gates and help climb or pull down barriers.

[@rememberstayangry2366]

Could a lot of these designs be about controlling an opponents limbs, neck or weapon. Rather than trying to hit the center mass of the target? Also could the goal of a trident be to bleed out a target as opposed to a critical deep thrust?

[@MrYago-xd7um]

We should imagine the V shaped bidents were useful in a line to control/push a pike or upper arm thus creating an opening for someone else with a deadlier weapon to thrust forward. Not for solo use, had to be duo or team skirmishes. Think jedi force pinata cheese. Best use I see is to catch a polearm in the V then slide down and cut the hand. Could say most "cross-spears" can do that, but I'd say there is less gambling with a bident as a polearm literally guides the strike to both side of the arm.

[@marocat4749]

It makes sense given gladiators were practically doing dangerous wrestling with not trying to kill. And an opportunity for fame and a good funeral, you got a free funeral and gravestone.

[@qtheplatypus]

Like a Sai or a Jitte?

[@RabidlyTaboo]

bleeding out an opponent is a poor strategy if the opponent can remain active even for a short time.

[@Steir12]

It is more than capable to deliver deep lethal thrust, skewering your opponent up to the middle of the shaft was never a goal for the spearmen.

[@williamzolla6380]

This is some great food for thought for us fantasy character designers. Love when you do these kinds of critical deep dives!

[@youremakingprogress144]

I love the calm and well-reasoned perspective, combined with clear and conversational language, in these videos. It makes the video very approachable, credible, and enjoyable at the same time.

[@TheDillyum]

What a lovely video, I'm always amazed by how thorough you are with your research!

[@VictorianTimeTraveler]

Sometimes if I'm really board at work, I'll throw pitch forks into a haystack. Its oddly satisfying.

[@poilboiler]

Do you also get really plank? :p

[@CondemnedGuy]

Great, informative video, and the timing was impeccable. I've been meaning to search some trident information for D&D stuff.

[@ShadowofTruth45]

Love these informative videos, main reason I got onto your channel, and the cutting videos, I love the cutting videos

[@riche1601]

Checking back in after a while and I gotta say the style that you made the vid was very relaxing and pleasant to watch

[@tazk3397]

Skall has watched She-ra and the princesses of power, my life is fulfilled

[@JM.....]

My thoughts too

[@the11382]

Not the right one unfortunately.

[@jaojao1768]

This was unexpected but kind of cool

[@malikdespanie4344]

@@the11382 At least he didn't watch the Teela show! That absolute dumpster fire.

[@catqueensina]

She-ra is amazing cx

[@justinb9103]

These are definitely my favorite types of videos you do! The weapons discussion types.

[@brettmartin764]

Always appreciate all the research in putting your videos together- and of course your humor!!

[@sasquatchishere7453]

I really liked this. Great job Skall. Loved the use of a knife as a pointing aid for your presentation! That caught my eye right away.

[@hudsongreenough4753]

Gladiators were the WWE wrestlers of Rome, they weren't meant to kill each other. Didn't happen often.

[@hithere4719]

Actual gladiators got to kill jabronis, right? It would be like going to see a Ladder Match or something one weekend, but the next is The Rock & Mankind killing a dozen slaves with a fire extinguisher and barbed wire baseball bats.

[@theonlineanimal6009]

Actually gladiators killing each other was very common. However the crappy weapons made the fights last longer while still injuring the gladiator. Making the show both last longer and be more interesting to watch.

[@michaelpettersson4919]

The "sturdy" pitchfork are for digging, not shoveling hay and piles of tvigs and branches. Totally different tools. It is like comparing a spade to a shovel.

[@brittakriep2938]

I am german, my parents stopped farming in 2001. The forks with four spikes had been used for annimal shit, the shorter ones with three spikes had been used for hay and grass. No more in use, but in the house, was a rather long fork with three spikes. Formerly they has been used to put wheat etc. bundles into the wagon/ cart.

[@johndododoe1411]

The sturdy one with 4 spikes is good for unearthing potatoes or turning over soil with a lot of small stones. It's pushed into the ground by standing on it with wooden shoes, then levered by holding it down with one foot and pulling back the handle. The flimsy 5+ pronged ones are good for moving around straw and branches.

[@bendover9813]

Not at all, it’s like comparing a meat fork to a pitch fork or shovel

[@brittakriep2938]

@@johndododoe1411 : This tool is in german language a ,Grabgabel' - digging fork. Sidenote: In those regions from which once the Anglosaxons moved to England, a fork is called Forke, not Gabel a usual in Germany.

[@johndododoe1411]

@@brittakriep2938 And in the ethnicallt related country north of Frisia, we call the sturdy tool a greb, the eating tool a gaffel and the trident a trefork, mixing those old words differently in our language.

[@NurseValentineSG]

I just wanna say that I love those videos so much! They help me alot getting inspired for characters that might make it into a novel or not.

[@Jakman01]

Man I love this style of video because it lets me see the variation of designs, though not in any particular order, but just the different takes of what a polearm can look like

[@strider_hiryu850]

i think my favourite design would be this one 20:42. elegant yet practical. the central blade is long enough to make the thrust deadly, and the the prongs would be incredibly useful for catching opposing blades. of course, this would be a really, very, quite highly skilled weapon, for warriors with years of experience.

[@lamia197]

14:37 The Korean one has the same name as the Chinese one, just pronouced differently, 당파(钂鈀- Dang Pa). If I recall correctly they were pretty popular in the late Chosen period by 포도군사(捕盜軍士- Po Do Goon Sa) and it is from Ming. Kind of a mainstay in Korean historical dramas these days. They were popularized in 임진왜란(壬辰倭亂- Im Jin Wae Lan), pretty effective for blocking Japanese swords and about 152cm ~ 232cm. One main different thing from the Chinese trident is that China made it in one piece while in Korea they stuck the two side blades on when forging.

[@keithallardice6139]

Fascinating as always Skal, I really like this series of videos, keep 'em coming please! Take it easy and have a good one pal ;-)

[@seanchan4478]

This was a great video skallsy, very informative, dry humor, exactly what I come to your channel for. Would have liked a weapon test, but still great video, man

[@josipmarinic9663]

"or if the opponent is somehow still able to fight back" Just shake push and pull the haft,they won't be able much longer lol

[@TheOmegawop]

Great discussion. It seems like trident or forked spears were likely really useful against cavalry. As you mentioned, unseating rider could be a lot easier with a wider array of blades, but also stopping the horse itself seems like it would be better done with something like a fork. Tangling it into the legs or making a wall of forks to increase your chances of finding flesh. It seems like sometimes HEMA guys like yourself are too married to the idea of dueling or going mano a mano when a lot of the weapons were likely better served for other purposes.

[@revzsaz9418]

Really enjoyed this piece Skall! Thanks for all you make 🙏 Cheers and hope you are well 🍻

[@trident042]

I'm just pleased that there's so much info about my favorite weapon/not-weapon/farming tool.

[@brontsmoth671]

Doing some collabs with similar creators will help the algorithm… even doing something as simple as commenting on other creators videos, and them commenting on yours, can do a lot for visibility.

[@kyle18934]

Commenting g so this gets higher for him to see

[@kyle18934]

.

[@kyle18934]

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[@Tocran]

Ah yes, the good old runkar. I've had much experience with this.

[@childofatom95]

This is right up my alley, needed this today, thanks 🙏

[@FrostyFyre]

Videos are great but I love the Skall bloopers at the end, always crack me up!

[@ScottyAlmondjoy]

The fork on the combination weapon looks kind of like a musket fork.

[@asahearts1]

18:09 Eye of Sauron 18:49 Spear of Longinus from Evangelion

[@stankolo1788]

Another fantastic video Skall!!!

[@carterclarkin5466]

Really liking the videos recently keep it up

[@parryhotter4283]

Non sword people: Whats that? Skall: Oh, thats a pointing seax Also the pitchfork at 1:32 isnt actually a pitchfork but a digging fork. Its used to dig so you dont cut roots you dont want to cut (like with a spade)

[@HCEndgame]

Surprised you didn't cover any slashing with them. Eg. the Shiva trident design is like a double bladed axe that can stab in 3 directions and trap/disarm. Seems like an incredibly potent design.

[@LalitaLunaYogini]

Exactly! That's what I was thinking too! As trishuls are often depicted extra thick on the round side edges. Would definitely sharpen it to function like an axe if I'd ever design a trishul. Also this video made me realise that the downward pointing hooks might not just be for show after all. Actually quite essential if you prefer controlling combat style, which is the primary serious benifit of using tridents in general in my opinion

[@koenkooiman1490]

Enjoyed your puns in the video, love this kind of content. Very nice pointing dagger! Looks like it's rubber/foam. Would love to get one!

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

Man this was so kool... You found soooo many odd ones... Good job brother... You did an amazing job

[@EliotChildress]

Hey you talked about the sodegarami! I have an original one of those hanging in my room. I’ve always wanted to test it but don’t wanna waste money on a yukata to destroy.

[@ImperialistRunningDo]

Buy a second-hand bedsheet and have at it.

[@Randomdudefromtheinternet]

Proposition for DnD 5e tridents: Give them a special trait that makes them better against swarms (advantage on attack and damage perhaps?) (a gimmick trait for a gimmick weapon). And perhaps change the damage die to 3d4? It's an exotic martial weapon (although those with fishermen-related backstories could get proficiency on them), with a crit of 12 piercing damage, still in the norm.

[@leahnzastrzelecki5217]

I really like the idea you're going for, but I think there should be a distinction between war tridents and the actual fishing tool. A war trident would fall under the blanket category of "polearm" and should be treated as such mechanically. A 3d4 is in practice a more effective version of a 1d12 of similar weapons like the lance--because the maximum roll is the same, but the minimum roll is a 3 instead of the usual 1. Guaranteed damage is pretty valuable. For this to be balanced for the bonus, you need to offset it with a cost. For a fisherman trident, it's closer in practice to an improvised weapon like a farm scythe and such, so it wouldn't make that much sense for it to outclass a regular polearm so directly. I'd make the damage die a 2d4 or 1d6 reach weapon against a single opponent. But the bonus instead would be either advantage against beasts, swarms, and small (or less) sized creatures (what such a tool would be primarily designed for anyhow) or a chance to hit 2 opponents standing next to each other with the same attack, but the second creature targeted would fall under the dual weapon attack rules. Your fisherman automatic proficiency is such a cool idea! For a war trident, I'd make the damage die a 1d8 or 1d10 reach weapon, but with battle master-like flourishes such as reaction to disarm a weapon attack against oneself, or an ally if you have the sentinel feat, (probably a strength check/save) X (maybe X=proficiency bonus-1) times per long rest. A failed check/successful save would simply result in the attack being blocked. It's something that could be really useful for a smart player at both low and high levels and could be great for combat and roleplay, but would be a strong boon easily overlooked by someone who just wants to maximize damage.

[@amratat4246]

3d4 would actually make it better than a greatsword. 3d4 trident deals minimum 3 damage, average 7.5, max 12. Greatsword deals minimum 2 damage, average 7 damage, max 12. It scales worse with barbarian crits/half-orc crits, but that is itself a niche.

[@tol9090]

I really don't know why, but I find your way of presenting things way smoother these days. You express yourself quite clearly, you go to the point and there is really not much useless fluff in your talks. I've always liked your videos, just wanted to point out that your speech gets better by the day, in my opinion. Keep up the good work!

[@mankeytamer]

I love the bloopers at the end. Great to end the videos on a high

[@M.M.83-U]

You go trident nerding and Forgotten Weapons go fish hunting on the same day. Is it a coincidence?

[@cristianespinal9917]

Very soon after I take up fishing... The world is my personal simulation.

[@zarathean8758]

gun jesus and blade jesus 🤔

[@deadcard13]

"I wish I could hear the groans." We know you can.

[@beret4542]

i love how he was using his knife as a pointer, very casual.

[@MrYago-xd7um]

Love that this awesome fork showcase ended on a crazy steameval skewer gun. Great content overall.

[@Zurrech]

Well with the Bollocks daggers it isnt that suprising that it is a weapon called runka...it goes Hand in hand..

[@MadSwedishGamer]

I saw Mermista in the thumbnail and clicked immediately.

[@space8381]

SAME

[@xavier84623]

Fascinating! I wanted to put one in a fantasy world I’m writing and this will definitely help.

[@kd3750]

Keep up the good work. I really enjoyed this.

[@TheNorthlander]

"Runka" Yeah, I'm Swedish. Very awkward. 😂😂

[@andreasolsson4539]

I giggled like a 15 year old.

[@MrThewalkingdead]

I just had to comment that I think Mermista's trident in She-Ra incorporates elements of the trishul (kind of just another word for trident), which to my understanding is an agricultural tool used to steer and direct cattle that is found in more glorified forms as weapons/tools of combat and defense in depictions of Hindu spirits, heroes and deities and the like. Mermista's design overall seems to allude to an Indian ethnicity, so... ion know. Just speculation from an ignoramus. But that's what I saw. I agree, the way they desinged and implemented Mermista's trident is very appropriate and realistic, but frankly, the design language in She-Ra is top notch.

[@SuperSquatch]

Bro you're looking healthy and happy af lately. Keep up the good work with your videos, and take my menial blessings for your future.

[@dimaber2233]

You baited me adding Mermista on preview. So, now i have to watch till the end

[@KristianGravdahl]

As someone who speaks a Scandinavian language, i laughed

[@poilboiler]

Normally sharp pointy or bladed objects should not be involved.

[@jongustavsson5874]

@@poilboiler no, that's something you definitely want far far away from that area.

[@edi9892]

What does it mean?

[@khroevakha3788]

@@edi9892 20:34 Look at Skall's hand gesture...

[@edi9892]

@@khroevakha3788 how did I miss that. Thanks! LOL

[@ct7567CaptRex]

Audaces fortuna iuvat. Gimme them toes. Who understands these references? Anyways, Skala, keep up the good work.

[@Kyrian_W]

INCREDIBILIS *Roman punch*

[@randomman6436]

@@Kyrian_W AD MORTEM INIMICUS!

[@emmeaberg]

Etiam!

[@calebking707]

I like these kind of videos. In depth perspective if unconventional weapons. Nice.

[@haydnmalyon7690]

I had no idea there were so many designs. Thanks for the insight!

[@Huy-G-Le]

Russia: How many pole arms with more than 1 spikes or prong do you have? China: Oh my good Roman friend, since when have I been counting?

[@Intranetusa]

Why is the Russian being called Roman?

[@Huy-G-Le]

@@Intranetusa Cause, while both the Roman empire and the Byzantine collapse. China still think they exist, because when the British come to trade (before the opium war). The Qing dynasty talk to them...in Latin and refer to them as Roman.

[@Intranetusa]

@@Huy-G-Le I don't get it. Why does the Qing Dynasty calling the British traders "Roman" result in the Russians being called Roman? The Romans and Eastern Romans never ruled over Russia. Did the Qing confuse all Europeans as Romans?

[@Huy-G-Le]

@@Intranetusa To the Qing, there is no Russia or British, it's just Western Rome or Byzantine. So yes, not confuse, just don't care.

[@TimParker-Chambers]

18:31: Those things which you are pronouncing 'Bidents', in my teenage years, my mum had an allotment neighbour who was from Italy, and he used something very much like this (but more like a single-sided pick-axe) which he explained was called a bident, and pronounced bih-Den-tay, which he emphasized by first holding up two fingers, and saying 'bih' (not bye) then saying 'den-tay' while tapping his teeth (as in dentition... Always that root Latin creeping in...) The head was mounted on a handle about the length as of a sledge-hammer, fire-fighters long-hatchet, and swung over-head as if chopping with an axe. It absolutely *tore* through the earth compared to a hoe or a shovel... So I just wanted to share how I know the actual Italian pronunciation of that tool, for your future reference. Sadly, you did not mention the one trident, which I had hoped that you might (but suspected that you would not) and that is Finnick Odair's trident from Hunger Games: Catching Fire. When I read the novel, I imagined it to be like the traditional 'Poseiden trident', with the sai-like profile, but when I then saw the movie, and the prop they had created, I was absolutely blown away by both the design, and the ways in which it could be used (disclaimer: Finnick *is* my favorite character in The Hunger Games, and, especially in that genre, a Very Rare exception to having a male antaga/protagonist who has been sexuaIIy abused, but who still retains a genuinely kind-hearted, outgoing and friendly demeanor) A while back, I saw the Man at Arms video where they re-created the trident, and, I'll post a link below for your reference. To be respectful of your time, it is keyed to start at the actual revelation of the finished trident, so you can immediately see Exactly what it looks like (if you're unfamiliar) and of course, if that then piques your interest, you can always rewind it to watch the entire process 🙏🙏🙏🙏 kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2KVlnmfgL-Xn7c Thankyou for another truly fascinating presentation 👍👍👍👍

[@glennnanod3160]

I quite enjoyed this video about Tridents. Nice power point presentation, liked the many views of different types. Mahalo and Aloha.

[@kevinlobos5519]

Very nice video, more of this kind would be neat