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Note: all of the information i'm sharing can be freely obtained from GW's website as a PDF. Here is a link:
https://www.games-workshop.com/resources/PDF/ShadowWar/SWA_Killteams_ENG.pdf

Consider the profile for a Nemesis Force Sword:
Strength: +2
Damage: 1
Save Mod: -3
Nemesis Force Swords are able to parry.

versus the Nemesis Force Halberd:
Strength: +4
Damage: 1

You pay *20* points for this upgrade. You get +2strength, but LOSE save mod completely, and can't parry. Fundamentally not a huge difference between strength 6 and 8. But there's a massive difference between a 4+ save and NO SAVE AT ALL! If the Halberd was twice as likely to wound a unit with a 4+ save, then yeah, it's a breakeven scenario. Otherwise, the force sword is way better.

Can someone help me understand what the role of a Halberd is in SW:A?

Furthermore, it seems like the best weapon is the Sword.

Your Str modifies the Save so at Str 6 you are at -3 save

1, the best weapon between those two is indeed the sword. Parry has always been OP in Necromunda.

However, with the +S weapons you use the strength modifier to see your Rend, it's not set. Which means not only does the Halberd give -5 rend for being S8.

So, for its points, the sword is a better option. However the power of parries doesn't stop there - in SWA, Falchions are almost certainly the best weapon available for GK for the points.

Don't believe me? Simulate the results of a fight where Rend really should make a difference: GK vs another MEQ or GK. The Falchions do better than everything INCLUDING Hammers, which are 100 points!

Parries. Parries are EVERYTHING in necromunda.

Basically the halberd sucks.

The sword is far cheaper and offers the possibility of defense, so it's more widely applicable.

The Daemon Hammer has the same rend and strength as the halberd, but inflicts d3 wounds.

And falchions are solid attacks and parry machines.

Basically you can't use your grey knights from 40k here and be optimal.