Best reach weapon?

[SethFahad]

What is the best reach weapon? (name and reason)

What do you think?

I say... maybe a weapon that can hit adjacent enemies too... like
whip-dagger (longest reach+trip+adjacent but provokes AoO)

Or a ritiik (hit once, damage twice+trip)

[Grumman]

The Whip-Dagger does not let you threaten the area you can attack. Calling it the best reach weapon ignores the reason why reach weapons are considered good in the first place.

The Spiked Chain is generally considered the best, since it can hit adjacent enemies and also trip.

The Dwarven Warpike is also good if you trade out the Dwarven Weapon Familiarity with the Urgosh, since it becomes a martial reach weapon that does 2d6 damage and trips.

[SethFahad]

The Whip-Dagger does not let you threaten the area you can attack.

REALLY???? Damn... SO, you cant make any AoO then...
If that's so, then whip-daggers qualify for the *utter-crap-weapon-award*...

Hmm, is there a way to change that? via magic or feat or something?

[Loren]

Of the exotic ones I've tried the Sugliin and the spiked chain.

The Sugliin is too feat intensive to be the best in my opinion (although no that bad for a fighter). You need to have exotic weapon proficiency, close heft, weapon focus, and sugliin mastery to use it effectively. It does impressive damage though, particurally when I'm large sized.

Spiked chain is nice because it can be used up close, the damage is decent (2d4), it can trip, and it is good at disarming (+2 bonus and two handed). However, I've yet to put its special abilities other than the fighting in close to use.

I've also seen the ranseur in use. Again, I haven't seen its special ability being used and a halbard would do slightly more damage (as would the glaive, but the glaive has no special ability).


As an added note, in my opinion reached weapons should be paired with combat reflexes. Because opponents need to exit threated squares to approach you, you should get plenty of AoOs.

[Math_Mage]

As an added note, in my opinion reached weapons should be paired with combat reflexes. Because opponents need to exit threated squares to approach you you should get plenty of AoOs.

Just as important as quantity is consistency. There are lots of ways to increase your chances of getting an AoO--Karmic Strike, Robilar's Gambit, Defensive Sweep, the Thicket of Blades martial stance, Mageslayer (to stop defensive casting), and so on.

And to pile on the bandwagon, the spiked chain is *conventionally* considered the best reach weapon. I don't know what madness has been produced by CharOp, though.

[RandomLunatic]

The sugliin is a trap. It takes not one but two feats to even wield properly, and only gets about 1.65 extra damage per hit over a greatsword.

For those keeping score at home, yes, the sugliin is worse than taking WF(Greatsword) and WS(Greatsword).

+1 to the "Spiked Chain is the go-to for reach weaponry".

I also second the Dwarven Warpike as being awesome if you can get it as a martial weapon.

For non-dwarves, the Guisarme is generally considered the best martial reach weapon because it can trip.

[sonofzeal]

I've never been able to track down the book with Kusari-Gama, but I hear it's fantastic.

[Loren]

Oh, I forgot to meantion that spiked chains were also finessable, wich makes them good for dexterous combatants

[RandomLunatic]

I've never been able to track down the book with Kusari-Gama, but I hear it's fantastic.

DMG. It pretty much the spiked chain, but light, so you can TWF it.

[Kaiyanwang]

I've never been able to track down the book with Kusari-Gama, but I hear it's fantastic.

Kusari Gamma appeared in Oriental Adventures and is in.. the DMG!

Nevertheless, the two versions are quite different (IIRC, the version in OAdv allows TWF, the DMG one is a even-more-dex based weapon.

EDIT: Ninjaed.

There is a Spiked-chain like reach weapon in secrets of Xen'drik, called scorpion chain (slashing).

Finally, there is a TWF-Reach chain in Savage Species, the Chain Lash but is 3.0 (like OAdv) I allow 3.0 weapons in my games but not sure every DM would.

[Greenish]

Longspear: cheap and simple.

Go go commoner army!

[Iku Rex]

The spinning sword from Secrets of Sarlona deserves mention. Finesseable one-handed reach weapon, can be used against adjacent opponents, 1d6 19-20/2x.

[Khatoblepas]

REALLY???? Damn... SO, you cant make any AoO then...
If that's so, then whip-daggers qualify for the *utter-crap-weapon-award*...

Whip daggers aren't that bad if you consider martial manuevers that require a melee attack (and if you're quite squishy). With that stance that increases your reach by +5ft, a halfling warblade/swordsage can be Insightful Striking, and activating all kinds of nasty things without ever entering melee range. Except, you know, when you get to Gargantuan monsters. Just make sure you don't have to spend a feat on it if you can :P

Could also be good for scouts that don't want to go the two-weapon fighting or archery routes, as neither of these rely on AoOs.

[AslanCross]

I've also seen the ranseur in use. Again, I haven't seen its special ability being used and a halbard would do slightly more damage (as would the glaive, but the glaive has no special ability).

The halberd is not a reach weapon, however. I really thought it was, but alas, it is not.

Again, the Spiked chain is considered the best. I hear the guisarme mentioned a lot since it can trip due to its curved blade. The glaive deals more damage, though.

Longspear: cheap and simple.

Go go commoner army!

All the other martial reach weapons that deal slightly better damage (2d4) and have abilities on the side. The Ranseur is great at disarming (being 2-handed AND having an additional +2 bonus), while the Guisarme is a tripping weapon.

[Greenish]

All the other martial reach weapons that deal slightly better damage (2d4) and have abilities on the side.

That might be because longspear is a simple weapon (in game terms too).

Commoners can't use martial weapons.

[Critical]

Spiked Chain, hands down for the exotic.
Guisarme and Ranseur for martial.

[Kaiyanwang]

The halberd is not a reach weapon, however. I really thought it was, but alas, it is not.

You both, are suffering of the common Halberd Delusion. It happened to me, too, nad has been really painful coming out.


Great the Spinning Sword, i completely missed it. It has bonus for being hidden and disguised, too.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

A Ritiik is not a reach weapon.

Being able to hit adjacent targets is irrelevant if you wear armor spikes.

If I was going to spend a feat on a reach weapon, other than a spiked chain, I'd probably go with a Talenta Sharrash from ECS. It can trip, it gets 1d10 base damage, and its printed critical is 19-20/x4. The errata changed it to only x2, but then they went and reprinted it in another book and corrected it back to x4. Alternatively, find any reach weapon which has a 19-20 or better threat range and get one made from Kaorti Resin for a x4 multiplier.

[Kaiyanwang]

A Ritiik is not a reach weapon.

Being able to hit adjacent targets is irrelevant if you wear armor spikes.

If I was going to spend a feat on a reach weapon, other than a spiked chain, I'd probably go with a Talenta Sharrash from ECS. It can trip, it gets 1d10 base damage, and its printed critical is 19-20/x4. The errata changed it to only x2, but then they went and reprinted it in another book and corrected it back to x4.

Didn't know the second correction. Do you know the book? It would be great!

[jiriku]

I am fond of the glaive and the longspear, for the minimal investment necessary to wield them. There's almost always something better to do with your feats than eke out an extra point or two of damage with an exotic weapon, and if you're just trying to stab your opponent with a pointy thing from as far away as possible, these are your go-to weapons.

[Killer Angel]

For non-fighters, the Guisarme is generally considered the best martial reach weapon because it can trip.

Fixed for you.
While the spiked chain is probably the best reach weapon, you need a feat to use it, the guisarme (still inferior) is only a martial weapon. In some builds, feats aren't abundant (Saph's Horizon Walker), so sparing one slot is good.

[SethFahad]

A Ritiik is not a reach weapon.

Being able to hit adjacent targets is irrelevant if you wear armor spikes.

If I was going to spend a feat on a reach weapon, other than a spiked chain, I'd probably go with a Talenta Sharrash from ECS. It can trip, it gets 1d10 base damage, and its printed critical is 19-20/x4. The errata changed it to only x2, but then they went and reprinted it in another book and corrected it back to x4. Alternatively, find any reach weapon which has a 19-20 or better threat range and get one made from Kaorti Resin for a x4 multiplier.

You are right! My bad. It's a pole arm but not a reach weapon...

[Mauther]

Best weapon is the spiek chain hands down, the shear amount of cheese you can bring with it is staggering. Which is shy its essentially banned in our game. Using one is considered gauche.

For style I'd go with the 3.0 duome. It's a long spear with two back point spikes near the head. It gets a +2 when attacking adjacent foes because the spike allow you to attack from the rear while standing in front. Otherwise I do have much love for the common longspear.

[Curmudgeon]

I say... maybe a weapon that can hit adjacent enemies too... like whip-dagger (longest reach+trip+adjacent but provokes AoO)

A whip dagger isn't actually a reach weapon, which is why it doesn't threaten.

Although you keep it in hand, treat it as a ranged weapon with a maximum range of 15 feet and no range penalties.

However, the Ranged Threat feat (Dragon # 350, page 90) will allow you to threaten with a ranged weapon within 15' -- which is perfect for the whip dagger.

[Greenish]

Best weapon is the spiek chain hands down, the shear amount of cheese you can bring with it is staggering.

Yeah, you can trip and disarm. That's bound to break any game!

[JaronK]

Meteor Hammer or Rope Dagger. Functionally, they're like Spiked Chains except with much lower damage but an extra 5' of reach... which is the important part. There's also Spinning Swords which are one handed but otherwise like Spiked Chains (a bit lower damage there too). Then there's lances... double damage on the charge is yummy.

JaronK

[Octopus Jack]

I'm a big fan of the glaive but its got nothing special about it and I have no idea of any good combinations to use with it

[Amphetryon]

At low levels (1-4), I prefer a Guisarme over the exotic weapons. It allows me to use my feats for Trip/Stand Still/Combat Reflexes more efficiently. By level 6, I want the chains, though.

[Keld Denar]

If I'm gonna blow a feat on EWP, its gonna be on a Spiked Chain. If I don't want to spend the feat, Glaive or Guisarme are just about the best bang for your martial weapon proficiency. Unless you are focusing on a specific lockdown AoO type build, not being able to strike adacent squares is seldom a game wrecker. A glaive's 1d10 damage is pretty respectable for a martial reach weapon, and a guisarme, even for a non-hyperspecialized tripper is still passing fair. If you are planning on taking something like Short Haft, I ask you this...why not just spend the feat on EWP: Spiked Chain? That way you aren't burning up your swift actions, you don't take penalties, and you don't lose the benefit of reach just because a goblin got inside your swing radius.

Also, any fighter, not just ones with reach weapons, should have armor spikes. A) spikes are cool and intimidating, rawr B) backup weapon you never have to draw, can be used in a grapple or while swallowed whole.

Best 50g you'll ever spend, reach weapon or otherwise.

[Amiria]

My choice is the Dwarven Warpike from Races of Stone. Better damage than the Spiked Chain and also very versatile (in different ways) without being silly/cheesy.