What Is Your Favorite Polearm?

>Other than the Naginata, every single one of these options is from Diablo 2.

I think it's pretty clearly an AD&D-referencing poll, actually.

But yeah, there are those of us who actually practice with polearms for fun on Tuesday nights.

That s pretty much why the lads wielding claymores had one or two flanking guards wielding shorter swords and targes.

That is why many battles were fought with a line or two of polearms behind a line of sword and board. The polearms could thrust over, through and under the shields wall and be very effective in pinning an oncoming formation that could be hit in the rear of flank by cavalry. They were also very effective in stopping cavalry charges. Horses don't like charging into pointy things.

Polearms are great in massed formations but are vulnerable to archery. In one on one engagements the polearm is almost useless. I have seen someone with a sabre start 15 feet away from a target, take two steps and a lung and strike the target. A polearm would have a problem stopping that. Once one gets past the head the polearm is useless.

I've always been partial to the simplest of all polearms.

If a staff doesn't count, then the pike.

Well, it really is [wikia.com] the best.

• Bec de Corbin [wikipedia.org]
• Ranseur [wikipedia.org]
• Bardiche [wikipedia.org]
• Lochaber Axe [wikipedia.org]
• Spetum [wikipedia.org]
• Halberd [wikipedia.org]
• Glaive [wikipedia.org]
• Naginata [wikipedia.org]