Is Spear + Shield a Viable Combination

[kultjeger]

Looking for guidance and/or advice regarding spear + shield combination.
I always admired the Spartan Spear/Shield fighting style.

[Urban Champion]

the animations for spear + shield are much more readable and feel awkward compared to just using a spear alone. its doable for large scale, but if youre fighting in smaller numbers its better to 2h the spear.

[MadConsular]

not really. In general the meta is plate armor and mounted archery. Melee weapons are a last resort. Noone uses them for PvP or PvE when they can be using a bow

[kultjeger]

appreciate the information and advice.
yes, I am aware Mounted Archery is the Meta while people scream Magic is OP.
I like punishment by not going meta ... though the reasons given as to the clunky nature of spear + shield in MO2 is logical.
Thanks again!

[CountingWizard]

So many wrong answers in this thread. The shield stops arrows. It stops them even if worn sheathed on your back. It also causes your opponent to equipment hit with their melee weapon if their weapon contacts the shield before your body. This means you don't need to block, you can just wail away with your primary weapon. You'll be taking 5 to 9 damage from their 2h weapon each equipment hit, while they will be taking big numbers from your relentless assault or trying to parry you just so they can get yet another wimpy equipment hit. Most spears have excellent reach and high damage numbers. If they are blocking you consistently, hold down attack a few seconds to let their "parry" expire and then release.

And in melee you will control the flow of battle. If they attack, just back up and keep stabbing with the spear. They will normally miss due to shorter reach of their weapon or expend a bunch of stamina trying to get close enough to hit. If they back up just move with them and keep stabbing, they can't outrun your reach before they die.

Shield and spear are very strong in pvp. However, in pve they suck ass. Npcs don't care about your shield, and at that point it's a bit of a hindrance. Also, spears are useless on horseback, since it won't let you stab with them (not sure why not).

There is no meta. Platemail is just a good idea and makes your role primary. If you can't wear platemail you are a support role. Archery is something you do to kill their mount and keep them from escaping, or something you do to attack them until they get close enough to use melee. It is easily countered by shields, or moving behind a tree, bush, rock, hill, or simply just moving far enough away. Other than killing horses or unarmored targets, archery only excels at pve.

[MadConsular]

Originally posted by CountingWizard:

So many wrong answers in this thread. The shield stops arrows. It stops them even if worn sheathed on your back. It also causes your opponent to equipment hit with their melee weapon if their weapon contacts the shield before your body. This means you don't need to block, you can just wail away with your primary weapon. You'll be taking 5 to 9 damage from their 2h weapon each equipment hit, while they will be taking big numbers from your relentless assault or trying to parry you just so they can get yet another wimpy equipment hit. Most spears have excellent reach and high damage numbers. If they are blocking you consistently, hold down attack a few seconds to let their "parry" expire and then release.

And in melee you will control the flow of battle. If they attack, just back up and keep stabbing with the spear. They will normally miss due to shorter reach of their weapon or expend a bunch of stamina trying to get close enough to hit. If they back up just move with them and keep stabbing, they can't outrun your reach before they die.

Shield and spear are very strong in pvp. However, in pve they suck ass. Npcs don't care about your shield, and at that point it's a bit of a hindrance. Also, spears are useless on horseback, since it won't let you stab with them (not sure why not).

There is no meta. Platemail is just a good idea and makes your role primary. If you can't wear platemail you are a support role. Archery is something you do to kill their mount and keep them from escaping, or something you do to attack them until they get close enough to use melee. It is easily countered by shields, or moving behind a tree, bush, rock, hill, or simply just moving far enough away. Other than killing horses or unarmored targets, archery only excels at pve.

Okay pal tell me the last time you've been killed by someone with a spear and shield. I've got 300 hours in this game and I can tell you 95% of my deaths are from mounted archers

[Skabsticles]

Originally posted by MadConsular:

Originally posted by CountingWizard:

So many wrong answers in this thread. The shield stops arrows. It stops them even if worn sheathed on your back. It also causes your opponent to equipment hit with their melee weapon if their weapon contacts the shield before your body. This means you don't need to block, you can just wail away with your primary weapon. You'll be taking 5 to 9 damage from their 2h weapon each equipment hit, while they will be taking big numbers from your relentless assault or trying to parry you just so they can get yet another wimpy equipment hit. Most spears have excellent reach and high damage numbers. If they are blocking you consistently, hold down attack a few seconds to let their "parry" expire and then release.

And in melee you will control the flow of battle. If they attack, just back up and keep stabbing with the spear. They will normally miss due to shorter reach of their weapon or expend a bunch of stamina trying to get close enough to hit. If they back up just move with them and keep stabbing, they can't outrun your reach before they die.

Shield and spear are very strong in pvp. However, in pve they suck ass. Npcs don't care about your shield, and at that point it's a bit of a hindrance. Also, spears are useless on horseback, since it won't let you stab with them (not sure why not).

There is no meta. Platemail is just a good idea and makes your role primary. If you can't wear platemail you are a support role. Archery is something you do to kill their mount and keep them from escaping, or something you do to attack them until they get close enough to use melee. It is easily countered by shields, or moving behind a tree, bush, rock, hill, or simply just moving far enough away. Other than killing horses or unarmored targets, archery only excels at pve.

Okay pal tell me the last time you've been killed by someone with a spear and shield. I've got 300 hours in this game and I can tell you 95% of my deaths are from mounted archers

Yep have to agree its normaly mounted archer maybe one with a healing mage or a bigger group of mounted archer gankers lol

[Willem]

I have been using Spear+Shield for about 600h and it's working fine for me.
But then again everything is "viable" it just depends on the situation.

[CountingWizard]

Originally posted by MadConsular:

Okay pal tell me the last time you've been killed by someone with a spear and shield. I've got 300 hours in this game and I can tell you 95% of my deaths are from mounted archers

People using the popular weapon does not mean that other weapons are bad. Also, I've been killed by a mounted archers maybe twice since launch. Every other time they've killed my horse, and then engaged me on foot in melee. And that was before I started using weapon + shield.

People honestly don't know how to defend against spears and poleblades, or fight against someone that has a giant shield out that constantly gets in the way of attacks.

[MadConsular]

Originally posted by CountingWizard:

Originally posted by MadConsular:

Okay pal tell me the last time you've been killed by someone with a spear and shield. I've got 300 hours in this game and I can tell you 95% of my deaths are from mounted archers

People using the popular weapon does not mean that other weapons are bad. Also, I've been killed by a mounted archers maybe twice since launch. Every other time they've killed my horse, and then engaged me on foot in melee. And that was before I started using weapon + shield.

People honestly don't know how to defend against spears and poleblades, or fight against someone that has a giant shield out that constantly gets in the way of attacks.

except magic and arrows which 99% of people use

[kultjeger]

Originally posted by Willem:

I have been using Spear+Shield for about 600h and it's working fine for me.
But then again everything is "viable" it just depends on the situation.

was looking for a light, fast spear ... any suggestions as to the handle/head combination?

Again, I really appreciate all the input, advice and suggestions

[CountingWizard]

Originally posted by Mukatil:

Originally posted by Willem:

I have been using Spear+Shield for about 600h and it's working fine for me.
But then again everything is "viable" it just depends on the situation.

was looking for a light, fast spear ... any suggestions as to the handle/head combination?

Again, I really appreciate all the input, advice and suggestions

The speed of every weapon is determined by your max strength score and the required strength to use that weapon. If a weapon requirement is above 66% of your strength, it gets increasingly slower right away. Below 66% and it gets increasingly faster.

This is why different weapon heads exist.

[CountingWizard]

Originally posted by Dreaming Prince:

Originally posted by CountingWizard:

The speed of every weapon is determined by your max strength score and the required strength to use that weapon. If a weapon requirement is above 66% of your strength, it gets increasingly slower right away. Below 66% and it gets increasingly faster.

This is why different weapon heads exist.

interesting. is it the same for bows and will the alvarin +10 bow str clades affect this?

Can't say. Haven't tested out drastically different strength requirements on the same type of bow. I can say that closer to your strength score it eats up way more stamina though. At a strength requirement that matches your strength, you'll get maybe 5 shots with a longbow.

[꧁༺Xursed༻꧂]

Originally posted by MadConsular:

Originally posted by CountingWizard:

So many wrong answers in this thread. The shield stops arrows. It stops them even if worn sheathed on your back. It also causes your opponent to equipment hit with their melee weapon if their weapon contacts the shield before your body. This means you don't need to block, you can just wail away with your primary weapon. You'll be taking 5 to 9 damage from their 2h weapon each equipment hit, while they will be taking big numbers from your relentless assault or trying to parry you just so they can get yet another wimpy equipment hit. Most spears have excellent reach and high damage numbers. If they are blocking you consistently, hold down attack a few seconds to let their "parry" expire and then release.

And in melee you will control the flow of battle. If they attack, just back up and keep stabbing with the spear. They will normally miss due to shorter reach of their weapon or expend a bunch of stamina trying to get close enough to hit. If they back up just move with them and keep stabbing, they can't outrun your reach before they die.

Shield and spear are very strong in pvp. However, in pve they suck ass. Npcs don't care about your shield, and at that point it's a bit of a hindrance. Also, spears are useless on horseback, since it won't let you stab with them (not sure why not).

There is no meta. Platemail is just a good idea and makes your role primary. If you can't wear platemail you are a support role. Archery is something you do to kill their mount and keep them from escaping, or something you do to attack them until they get close enough to use melee. It is easily countered by shields, or moving behind a tree, bush, rock, hill, or simply just moving far enough away. Other than killing horses or unarmored targets, archery only excels at pve.

Okay pal tell me the last time you've been killed by someone with a spear and shield. I've got 300 hours in this game and I can tell you 95% of my deaths are from mounted archers

I've got 900 hours and another 3k in MO1. Just shoot the mounted archers horse and wabam they are no longer a mounted archer. It should only take a few good shots to drop it. If you cant use a bow use magic, if you can't use any sort of ranged weapon then yeah a mounted archer is going to be a counter to you. Also try to stay close to favourable terrain. Rivers, trees, rocks, mountains, ect.. when you are travelling on foot.

While I normally prefer swords I've got a ton of kills with spears and seen lots of people use them effectively. They are great for poking people who are not looking at you in group fights or sticky backing divers.

Most higher end PVP ends with people dismounting and fighting on foot anyways.