Are goblin pikes worth using over pikes/billhook/long axe?

[Morbiusly a Beast]

Had to fight a huge group of foot goblins and needless to say their pikes shredded my armor pretty quickly - luckily I didn't lose anyone and I got a couple of their pikes. Is the lesser damage compared to normal pikes outweighed by the bleed they can apply? Also, it looked like some goblins were moving two tiles and still able to attack, not sure if that's due to goblin AP or the weapon itself.

[Something completely different]

The weapon, they use 5AP to attack so you can move twice (on easy terrain) for 4ap and then use the last five to stab.

I think many use them on archers and the like but I'd never use them on heavies as their damage is far inferiour to heavier pikes and you can't attack more with them.

[Morbiusly a Beast]

Originally posted by Something completely different:

The weapon, they use 5AP to attack so you can move twice (on easy terrain) for 4ap and then use the last five to stab.

I think many use them on archers and the like but I'd never use them on heavies as their damage is far inferiour to heavier pikes and you can't attack more with them.

Interesting, thanks for the info

[nightworg]

Originally posted by youghourt:

Originally posted by Something completely different:

The weapon, they use 5AP to attack so you can move twice (on easy terrain) for 4ap and then use the last five to stab.

I think many use them on archers and the like but I'd never use them on heavies as their damage is far inferiour to heavier pikes and you can't attack more with them.

Interesting, thanks for the info

Defiantly worth using. They deal less damage but make up for it with bleed effect and two tile moves. It also take up less fatigue to carry.

[Tephros83]

Originally posted by youghourt:

Had to fight a huge group of foot goblins and needless to say their pikes shredded my armor pretty quickly - luckily I didn't lose anyone and I got a couple of their pikes. Is the lesser damage compared to normal pikes outweighed by the bleed they can apply? Also, it looked like some goblins were moving two tiles and still able to attack, not sure if that's due to goblin AP or the weapon itself.

Well I run mostly bags and quick hands builds, and it is useful to have them in addition to regular pikes in your inventory (I literally may carry both on the same guy into a battle with goblins or geists, though). They have a lower accuracy bonus, lower damage, and worse vs armor. But 5 ap is important.

For bags/quick hands you can switch from a shield to the jagged pike, use the pike, and still have ap to switch back to the shield. Makes it good for fights with dangerous archers.

For bags and quick hands you can use it, proc berserk, switch to a 4 ap weapon and use it twice.

Can move and use in murky water (swamps) or hills in forests, in 1 turn.

Can move 1 tile, use, and move 1 tile back, assuming okay terrain or pathfinder. Good for lindwurms or any enemy with 2 tile range being tanked by another brother.

Can move 2 tiles and use.

Lower fatigue to equip and use.

Probably more.

[Morbiusly a Beast]

Wow, never thought that they could be so versatile!

[BloodyAstartes]

I like them but I've found ancient bladed pikes are more bang for your buck, the extra movement is nice but I've dropped an orc warrior from full armour and health to almost dead and fleeing with 4 ancient pike hits. Because I'm lazy I don't like switching out my archers pike weapons a lot so I stick with ancient pikes. But I still keep 3 gobbo pikes for special occasions.

[Something completely different]

Why do you use ancient pikes? Billhooks do both better raw and better armor damage.

Do they have an advantage I am missing here?

[Tephros83]

Originally posted by Something completely different:

Why do you use ancient pikes? Billhooks do both better raw and better armor damage.

Do they have an advantage I am missing here?

They have +10% chance to hit, and still one-shot goblins with killing frenzy (sometimes without killing frenzy).

[Stal Hamarr]

Also, billhooks are expensive, while ancient pikes are free.
Good option in the early game.

[Tephros83]

Originally posted by Shizu:

Also, billhooks are expensive, while ancient pikes are free.
Good option in the early game.

Both should be free, you're just more likely to find ancient pikes first. I don't think a non-unique polearm is the kind of weapon I would actually buy. With the exception of greatswords and 2h hammers, weapons are use what you find early on. Or if not, that would explain why some people have trouble with the game economy.

[Stal Hamarr]

Correct, both are free, but it can be a very long wait for a free billhook.
I usually want at least a billhook when I start facing orc warriors and fallen heroes, so I usually end buying a damaged one from the market, if available. Or I recruit a militiaman with a billhook.

[Legas]

Goblin pike is the best backup weapon for archers and the best weapon to kill lindwurms (you can reach hundreds of damage per turn through Bleed.)

[Tephros83]

Originally posted by Legas:

Goblin pike is the best backup weapon for archers and the best weapon to kill lindwurms (you can reach hundreds of damage per turn through Bleed.)

Oh yeah forgot about that one. I also use them to train new recruits who don't have quick hands yet so they can keep their shield out until the moment they attack from the backline. I don't typically put it on archers though, since I want to maximize their fatigue and initiative so they always get daggers. The enemy that is a threat to archers in melee is orcs warriors (others are a threat, but typically don't get a chance to attack the archers in the first place), and a jagged pike won't help much against an orc warrior. Better to use footwork or rotate them out.

[Tephros83]

Originally posted by Shizu:

Correct, both are free, but it can be a very long wait for a free billhook.
I usually want at least a billhook when I start facing orc warriors and fallen heroes, so I usually end buying a damaged one from the market, if available. Or I recruit a militiaman with a billhook.

Yeah I'll buy a damaged one for a good price. Otherwise, though, it'd be better to invest in a few 2h hammers to deal with orc warriors.

[BloodyAstartes]

I had billhooks equipped but I just found they weren't as effective with archers who don't have super high melee. All my archers use footwork so they're never really in next door melee plus I like their stagger ability as archers will always go first and make sure anyone who might be in trouble can have the enemy who is bothering them knocked to the back allowing melee bros to slaughter that enemy. The bleed is good but it doesn't always happen and it doesn't help against every enemy.

I'm a lazy min maxxer and ancient pikes do great armour damage, hit often and hurt everyone. I keep goblin pikes but I'm too lazy to switch them in frequently. =P ancient pikes are devastating and can take enough HP to force a morale check. Goblin pikes not so much.