A spear run?

[Sabaithal]

Basically since the two options for ranged weapons are bow and arrow, then spears, and everyone constantly recommends the former for late game, I thought I'd see how it is to use the spear constantly instead.

Aside from it being very fun and challenging to hunt things with it, it also trivializes troll fights even with a bronze upgraded spear and buckler (parry, then hit him 6 times, dead).

Also capable of hunting leeches with it, due to its high damage output and the fact that you can retrieve it without actually going into the water.

Even managed to down drakes with it. Since they are so kind enough to stop in place when firing at you, hitting them is actually pretty easy, and the spear loses all momentum upon contact so falls right back down.

Only hard cap I've had so far is serpents. Can't exactly throw a spear at one, then swim out to retrieve it with that thing still around.

Thoughts?

[404]

Since i began playing, i have used the spear exclusively as my weapon of choice.

When it comes to serpents, if you are a heavy spear user like i am they become rather trivial too because you just use the harpoon which i believe still gets its skill pool from the "Spear" section.

[Ryzilynt]

No shield, leather armor, stone axe only run. That's the magic.

112 days (in-game)

*48 of those in-game days were Bonemass alone - FYI

[SwampDragon]

I have been using spear only on one of my characters. Mainly because of a sense of alt-meta; I like using weapons that other people hate. It's fun to use but has severe limitations. Clearing burial chambers in very early game when everything is resistant to pierce was.. challenging. When it came to killing Bonemass I gave up and used a mace.
The most annoying aspect of spear is the fact that I can't hit things right in front of me (especially wolves in mountains on difficult terrain) because the melee hit box is janky. Grats for killing Drakes with spear, though.

[Vexov]

I would certainly consider the harpoon a spear. Use that and drag the serpent to the land.

[Planetfall Survivor X]

I love the spear! I would've starved without it early on, because I couldn't hit deers with the crude bow. Now I have a fully upgraded ancient bark spear and it's such a great feeling to be charging trolls head on finally, instead of kiting and bulletsponging them. At least the blue ones. The trolls with stars are tougher again.
Spear, mace, bow is my core arsenal. Hardly ever use the sword or two-handed weapons, although, as I'm still collecting more iron I do carry iron sledge around in swamps.
Only downside of the spear is trying to hit "shorter" enemies. Necks, boars, perhaps wolves, but I'm not there yet. Spears really don't deserve the bad rep they have.

[N1nj4]

Originally posted by Vexov:

I would certainly consider the harpoon a spear. Use that and drag the serpent to the land.

Yup! I mean its a spear designed for throwing right? So if you're already throwing your normal spear... Adding a rope to it doesnt make it a different weapon.