In Warborne: Above Ashes, players are thrust into a world where combat and strategy are integral to survival. As you progress through the game's dangerous environments, you'll encounter a variety of weapons that offer different strengths, weaknesses, and strategic benefits. Among the many weapon types available, polearms stand out for their reach and battlefield control. If you prefer a playstyle that allows you to control space, keep enemies at a WAA Solarbite distance, and manage the flow of combat, then mastering polearms should be your focus.
Polearms are versatile weapons that combine the benefits of range and power, allowing players to dictate the pace of battle while maintaining a strategic edge. In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of polearms in Warborne: Above Ashes, focusing on how they can help you control the battlefield, the key characteristics of these weapons, and tips for mastering polearm combat to become a dominant force on the battlefield.
What Are Polearms?
Polearms are long-range melee weapons designed to be used in close combat but with a considerable advantage in reach. These weapons come in a variety of forms, but the common thread is their length and ability to extend your attacking range, allowing you to strike enemies from a distance while remaining out of their immediate reach.
Polearms are long-range melee weapons designed to be used in close combat but with a considerable advantage in reach. These weapons come in a variety of forms, but the common thread is their length and ability to extend your attacking range, allowing you to strike enemies from a distance while remaining out of their immediate reach.
The term "polearm" typically refers to any weapon that features a long shaft with a blade or point at the end. In Warborne: Above Ashes, polearms are designed for players who want to focus on crowd control, reach, and sustained damage without sacrificing too much mobility. While they aren’t as fast as some other weapons, their effectiveness in controlling the battlefield makes them highly valuable in many combat scenarios.
Some examples of polearms in Warborne: Above Ashes include:
Spears
Halberds
Glaives
Pikes
Naginatas
Each of these weapons offers unique traits, but all share the same general advantage of long-range melee combat. Let's explore the reasons why mastering polearms is an essential skill for controlling the battlefield.Key Advantages of Polearms: Reach and Battlefield Control
Polearms are built around two fundamental advantages: reach and battlefield control. These characteristics enable players to execute strategies that can turn the tide of battle. Here’s a deeper dive into these advantages:
Polearms are built around two fundamental advantages: reach and battlefield control. These characteristics enable players to execute strategies that can turn the tide of battle. Here’s a deeper dive into these advantages:
1. Reach: Attack from a Safe Distance
The primary benefit of polearms is their extended reach, which allows you to attack from a much greater distance than most other melee weapons. This increased range allows you to engage enemies before they can reach you, providing a defensive advantage.
The primary benefit of polearms is their extended reach, which allows you to attack from a much greater distance than most other melee weapons. This increased range allows you to engage enemies before they can reach you, providing a defensive advantage.
Keep Enemies at Bay: With polearms, you can maintain a safe distance between yourself and your enemies, hitting them from further away while staying out of their immediate striking range. This is especially useful when facing large groups of enemies or dangerous bosses with powerful melee attacks.
Control Movement: By positioning yourself correctly, you can prevent enemies from closing the gap or forcing you into a corner. The long range of polearms gives you the flexibility to choose when and where you engage your foes.
Interrupt Enemy Attacks: The reach of polearms also allows you to interrupt enemies’ attack animations. When using a polearm, you can strike opponents before they can even swing their weapon, disrupting their offensive momentum and leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
2. Battlefield Control: Space Management and Crowd Control
Polearms offer more than just reach—they also provide superior battlefield control. The nature of polearm attacks allows you to control the flow of combat, dictate positioning, and manage groups of enemies effectively.
Polearms offer more than just reach—they also provide superior battlefield control. The nature of polearm attacks allows you to control the flow of combat, dictate positioning, and manage groups of enemies effectively.
Wide Sweeping Attacks: Many polearms, such as halberds or glaives, offer wide sweeping attacks that hit multiple enemies in one go. This makes polearms ideal for dealing with large groups of foes, as you can manage crowd control effectively without becoming overwhelmed.
Pushback Effects: Certain polearms, such as pikes and spears, can be used to push back enemies, creating space between you and incoming enemies. This is especially useful for dealing with multiple opponents at once, as you can knock enemies back, forcing them to regroup and giving you the opportunity to reassert control over the fight.
Choke Point Defense: Polearms are also excellent for controlling choke points or narrow spaces. When fighting in tight corridors or during siege battles, the extended reach and long horizontal sweeps of polearms allow you to keep enemies at bay and create a defensive wall.
Staggering and Knockdown Effects: Many polearm attacks stagger enemies, preventing them from advancing toward you or dealing damage. Some polearms also have a knockdown effect, where enemies are briefly knocked to the ground, leaving them open for follow-up attacks. These crowd-control abilities can be especially valuable when dealing with enemies that rely on overwhelming you with numbers.
3. Versatility in Combat
Polearms offer a unique balance of offensive and defensive capabilities. While you won’t be able to deliver the same rapid, high-damage output as with smaller weapons like daggers or swords, polearms excel in terms of sustained damage and crowd control. Their long reach means that you can land multiple attacks in a short period, making them effective against both single targets and groups.
Polearms offer a unique balance of offensive and defensive capabilities. While you won’t be able to deliver the same rapid, high-damage output as with smaller weapons like daggers or swords, polearms excel in terms of sustained damage and crowd control. Their long reach means that you can land multiple attacks in a short period, making them effective against both single targets and groups.
Additionally, many polearms can be wielded in different ways depending on your playstyle:
One-Handed Polearms: Some polearms can be used with a shield, allowing you to combine offensive and defensive capabilities. This provides additional survivability while still benefiting from the long-range advantages of polearm attacks.
Two-Handed Polearms: For players who prefer maximum damage output, two-handed polearms, such as glaives and halberds, offer more powerful strikes at the cost of defense. These weapons allow you to dish out more damage per hit, while still maintaining reach and control.
Ranged Capabilities: Some polearms, like spears, can be thrown for ranged combat, allowing you to buy WAA Solarbite engage enemies from a distance without compromising your ability to use them in close combat. This adds a layer of flexibility to your combat style.