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Just going to poke in to say that an expert with a spear will kill anyone dumb enough to come at them with a sword or axe in no time because the spear is so much faster, and has the ability to go from far outside the reach of the swordsman to shorter reach than the same sword and thus make the sword useless if he closes the spearman down.

In response to the mention of a Power Entrenching Tool, they do exist in 40k, in Iron Warriors, one of the iron warriors has one, and they were once common amongst the iron warriors during the great crusade.

I think a lot of people in this thread haven't peiced together many impracticalities in place, such as chain swords (talking about useless). 40k is all about the rule of cool! Bring on more scythes!

Nobody_Holme wrote:
Just going to poke in to say that an expert with a spear will kill anyone dumb enough to come at them with a sword or axe in no time because the spear is so much faster, and has the ability to go from far outside the reach of the swordsman to shorter reach than the same sword and thus make the sword useless if he closes the spearman down.

You do realize that greatswords were the preferred counter to blocks of spear/pikemen, yes?

 Kain wrote:
The Necrons get away with it because theirs can cut through other power weapons in the fluff.

The codex also explains that the warscythes are heavy and awkward. It's the mechanical bodies of the Necrons that allow them to use them with any skill.


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Nobody_Holme wrote:
Just going to poke in to say that an expert with a spear will kill anyone dumb enough to come at them with a sword or axe in no time because the spear is so much faster, and has the ability to go from far outside the reach of the swordsman to shorter reach than the same sword and thus make the sword useless if he closes the spearman down.

That is a broad generalization of weapon tactics. Spears are great but are only useful for a few thrusts before it gets broken, dull, warped or stuck.

It may be fast and has a bit of range but so doesn't a throwing axe. Or an arrow loosed from a bow.

Other weapons can also damage or ruin a spear, with shields making it useless. A spear is most effective when used in two hands (or with a form of brace).