favorite type of melee weapon?

[jademunky]

Nothing but a spear (or some variation) will do. Call me unimaginative and cowardly but when shit hits the fan, you want 2 things: Distance between you and your opponent (preferably with a shield in the other hand) and a way to still make him hurt.

 

[Riddle78]

Well, the problem is that cutting!=strength, katanas cut pretty well but are too brittle to be practical on armed opponents, the biggest flaw is that they're made with incredibly shitty ore compared to other cultures, they're not bad weapons on unarmored opponents, but you'd have a better chance to poke a knight in the joints than actually try to cut him with it.

I'll just leave this here...

Spoiler

(most relevant section begins at about 6:06, if the time shift, as usual, screws up.)

...With, of course, the caveat that I don't know if the katana they're using is actually made of authentic alloy, if they're actually being wielded with a similar amount of strength, etc. This is a cable show test, not a lab-quality test, to be sure. Still, interesting.

If I was going to take on an armored metal opponent, to be sure, I'd probably be better off with a mace. Or a pike, if they're mounted.

Or a crossbow.

Hate to break it to you,but they're using a blunt broadsword in that video. It isn't even a comparison. There's no edge grind to be seen.

More on topic,gimme a falcata. Screw your helmet,I'll cleave it in half with my sword that thinks its an axe! Physics!

 

[CounterReproductive]

I have practical experience of using and/or fighting with Tonfa, Katana, Bo, Jo, Nunchukaand various sizes and styles of knifes/swords.

i would love to try the ULAKS, or even cooler I would prefer an updated /modernized version of the tonfa with maybe a partially bladed 'long arm' with a stabbing point at at least one end if not both and possibly even a 'pommel' spike at the top of the handle, for added damage.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

It depends on the game. When it comes to any given Fantasy game I go with swords, daggers, etc. If it's something more modern and allows for some creativity, I like using tools as blunt weapons. There's something so satisfying, especially in Dead Rising, about using a wrench to bash a zombie's face in...

 

[Username Redacted]

Been playing a lot of Skyrim recently.

This is my weapon of choice:
http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Mace_of_Molag_Bal_(Skyrim)?file=DA10MaceofMolagBal.png

And this is my guide:
http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Mace_Etiquette

 

[Patrick Buck]

Managed to get my hands on a Strange Eyelander on TF2 a couple weeks ago, so I'm pretty fond of Claymores at the moment. And fond of the big blood crazed Scots wielding them.

 

[Panorama]

If dark souls has taught me anything, Great swords are the way forward in melee, a decent shield and a secondary weapon of a bow.

 

[Senare]

Winged spear. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjqwZrEnJTU] It is easy to use. It has a long range and can be used at short range. It can block, stab and cut. A halberd or similar weapons seem may nice, but they might not be as easy to use.

Unless lightsabers or a magically extending/retracting spear is available. I would also be willing to go with a mechanised suit, á la District 9.

 

[dragonswarrior]

Neither can cut through armor, both are more than sharp enough to cut through limbs and clothing, both are very similar in size and balance, both varied greatly in quality.

Actually... Well. I'm not 100% certain on the historical veracity of this, but I can personally testify that a well made medieval longsword can easily cut through chain armor with barely a nick. I would assume that against a decent strike, plate would also afford limited protection against a decent blade. The way I've seen it, I've always assumed armor was mostly there to protect from the strikes that didn't have too much force behind them but could still do damage to an un-armored opponent. And wealth. It was also definitely about wealth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUh9b_5tg8M

This one is with some sort of concrete/construction material. But I saw the same guys stab through a chain shirt, and chop at a metal anvil a couple of years ago at the Maryland Renn Fest. The blade comes out barely damaged at all, but the anvil... woof. Metal chips flying everywhere.

 

[UmberHulk]

I say you can't beet the classics wooden clubs all the way

 

[RavingSturm]

Do boxing gloves count as a melee weapon? I like those...

 

[Raesvelg]

A bayonet.

Because it's strapped to the end of a rifle.

 

[Demut]

It all depends on the scenario and the fights.

But overall i have some "preffered" weapons:
*Long-Range: Bow. Its efficient, elegant, simple. Granted, crossbows give more power, but are slower. There are lots of other ranged weapons, but bow is my favourite.
*Mid-range/melee: Double Kusarigama. You have a great weapon that can act as a mid range and a melee weapon. You can grapple an opponent, use it as defence, create some distance between you and the foe... they are pretty versatile.
*Melee/Mid-range: Hook swords. You can use them as "regular" swords for melee, or you can "join" them and strike to foes in the mid range. Also you can block blows with them so they are also pretty versatile.

 

[Roganzar]

Chainsword.

I want one. I'd use one for almost every circumstance I could.
Don't need elegance when you have diamond-tipped, adamantium teeth moving at insanely high speeds carving my enemies like a thanksgiving turkey.

 

[KB13]

"An Axe, now that takes me back."(1) but seriously they are fantastic little weapons. Not only can you use them to remove a person's limbs from their torso but you can chop firewood and prepare food with it as well and it's the same as wielding a butcher's knife. Duel wielding axes is the way I usually go if I can.

1. Mama from Adamms family

 

[Xan Krieger]

Chainsword.

I want one. I'd use one for almost every circumstance I could.
Don't need elegance when you have diamond-tipped, adamantium teeth moving at insanely high speeds carving my enemies like a thanksgiving turkey.

and we have Space Marine to thank for putting that glorious weapon in our hands. Sure it's fun to watch squads of assault marines carving things up from a distance but to actually have that thing in your hand was amazing.

 

[TheRookie8]

Recently, I've come to favor the staff. It's a very elegant weapon, and I enjoy the extra reach.

Traditionally, I favor the dagger and hatchet combination. Specifically, the type of hatchet that has a blunt-and-bladed style, for cleaving or for staggering an opponent's stance. Blades can get stuck, so it's nice to have something that can buckle the legs. The knife has a lasting universal appeal, though admittedly requires finesse to use, so it gets better mileage when used for ambush rather than straight-on confrontation.

 

[Uriel_Hayabusa]

Broadswords, more often than not.

 

[FPLOON]

Keyblade... Has the feel of a one-handed sword with the convenience of opening abnormal-size locks...

Other than that... The Penetrator aka the Dildo Bat... Enough said...

 

[Headsprouter]

Axes. Although, the idea of goring somebody to death with a heavy garden rake is a cool concept. Hence my use of the TF2 Pyro's Back Scratcher. Underrated weapon. I wonder if a rake-like weapon has ever seen use in real combat, though?