Learning goals
- Understand polearms.
- Understand staves.
- Understand scythes and heavy scythes.
- Understand two-handed nikanas.
- Learn why reach and attack arcs matter.
Explanation
Long-reach melee weapons often feel safer because they can hit enemies before enemies get too close. Polearms usually offer reach and sweeping attacks. Staves can have smooth spinning or sweeping flow. Scythes and heavy scythes combine blade identity with broader arcs or heavier commitment. Two-handed nikanas give a larger, more deliberate blade style.
What should I do?
Use long-reach weapons when you want safer melee range, group coverage, sweeping attacks, or a comfortable general melee weapon. Check stance movement and attack speed before assuming range alone solves the mission.
How to avoid wasting time
Range is valuable, but it is not everything. A long weapon with an awkward stance may feel worse than a shorter weapon with smooth attacks.
Common mistakes
Watch for these melee habits while testing, ranking, and investing.
- Choosing only by weapon length.
- Ignoring stance smoothness.
- Assuming all scythes and heavy scythes feel the same.
- Using slow long weapons without watching positioning.
- Thinking reach replaces survivability.
Practical example
A polearm may feel safer than a dagger in Survival because it hits several enemies from farther away. A two-handed nikana may hit harder and look stylish, but it may require more deliberate timing.
Key Takeaways
- Long-reach weapons help with safety and crowd handling, but stance and speed still matter.
Practical task
Reach changes how safe melee feels.
- Equip a polearm, staff, scythe, heavy scythe, or two-handed nikana if available.
- Run a low-risk mission.
- Attack enemies before they fully surround you.
- Notice whether you hit one enemy or several.
- Notice whether the stance moves you forward.
- Compare the safety feeling to a shorter melee weapon.
You can explain why reach can make melee feel safer.