Editing Spear

{{Infobox main|weapon
| name = Spear
| image = Spear.png
| type = Equipment
| type2 = Weapons
| description = A polearm tipped with a sharp point for stabbing opponents.
| tech level = Neolithic
| class = Neolithic
| mode = Melee
| meleeattack1dmg = 13
| meleeattack1type = blunt
| meleeattack1part = shaft
| meleeattack1cool = 2.6
| meleeattack1ap = 20
| meleeattack2dmg = 13
| meleeattack2type = poke
| meleeattack2part = shaft
| meleeattack2cool = 2.6
| meleeattack2ap = 20
| meleeattack3dmg = 23
| meleeattack3type = stab
| meleeattack3part = point
| meleeattack3cool = 2.6
| meleeattack3ap = 50
| MeleeWeaponAverageDPS = 7.35
| MeleeWeaponAverageAP = 38
| production facility 1 = Fueled smithy
| production facility 2 = Electric smithy
| research = Long blades
| resource 1 = Stuff
| resource 1 amount = 75
| stuff tags = Metallic, Woody
| skill 1 = Crafting
| skill 1 level = 4
| damage type = Sharp
| mass base = 2
| work to make = 12000
| weaponTags = NeolithicMeleeAdvanced, MedievalMeleeAdvanced
}}
The '''spear''' is a [[Weapons#Melee Weapons|melee weapon]] that does a large amount of [[damage]], has a fairly long cooldown, and deals [[Damage Types|sharp damage]].

== Acquisition ==
Spears can be crafted at [[fueled smithy|any]] [[electric smithy|smithy]] once the [[Research#Long blades|Long Blades]] research has been completed, from {{Required Resources}} and {{Ticks|{{P|Work To Make}}}} of work.

Spears can be purchased from any combat supplier or war merchant, or obtained from several kinds of melee [[raider]]s.

== Analysis ==
The spear is a sharp weapon with a ''very'' similar damage output to the [[longsword]], despite the in-game tooltips stating otherwise. This is because the game does not account for the [[Weapons#Melee formulas|melee verb selection]] mechanic introduced in 1.1. Spears and/or longswords are the best sharp melee weapons that colonists can craft.
 
As is typical with any sharp weapon, spear attacks cause bleeding, but most [[armor]] have higher Sharp armor values than their Blunt armor values. The [[mace]] requires less research and resources to create, and can outperform the spear against high armor, from [[flak vest]]-level equipment onwards. Higher ranking [[Factions#Tribes|tribals]] often use spears for melee fighters.

===Compared to longswords===
<!-- Cut v Stab sources: https://steamcommunity.com/app/294100/discussions/0/3042732243097084212 & https://steamcommunity.com/app/294100/discussions/0/3111394035968026504 . You can test the x1.4 damage multi by going into devmode and hitting things with a plasteel knife. -->
Spears have very slightly less {{DPS}}. The longsword is {{+|{{%| (7.96 / 7.88) - 1 round 3}}}} stronger in ''raw'' DPS than the spear, after considering melee verb selection. In exchange, the spear has noticeably more {{AP}} and costs {{icon small|stuff}} 25 materials less. This makes the spear numerically superior, but that is not the full story.

Longswords can either ''Cut'' or ''Stab'', while spears can only ''Stab''. Cut damage has a chance to ''cleave'' through body parts. This increases damage per swing by 140%, but its damage is split between body parts. The spear can only stab: its damage is weaker, but always concentrated on one body part.

If a cut happens to reduce a body part to 0 HP, it is more likely to be destroyed. But since ''cleave'' will spread out damage in the first place, Cut remains less likely to destroy larger limbs (like the arms and legs). Also, stabs are more likely to hit internal organs. However, both of these factors are ''much'' less important than the aforementioned cleaving.

Overall, which option is better depends on weapon [[quality]] and expected targets:
* At normal to excellent qualities, longswords are often better (at least more consistent) for fighting against unarmored humans, lightly armored humans, and light mechs like [[scyther]]s and [[lancer]]s. This is due to the increased damage from cleaving. Spears would be better for fighting against armored enemies, due to the higher {{AP}}.

* In contrast, a masterwork [[plasteel]] spear / sword is able to one-shot a human's torso, the largest and most likely part to be hit. The masterwork spear will more consistently one-shot human enemies, as the damage won't be spread out. With this advantage, the spear becomes ''practically'' better against any sort of humanoid enemy. Spears still have more {{AP}}, so are better against armored enemies.
It's worth noting that the spear faces heavy competition with the [[mace]] as a cheaper, anti-armor weapon. With longswords better (more consistent) against light armor, and maces better against heavy armor, spears before masterwork struggle to find a niche beyond being a cheaper longsword.

====With strong melee gene====
With the [[Genes#Strong melee damage|strong melee ''damage'']] gene,{{BiotechIcon}} the comparisons change drastically. 

# High quality longswords can now one-shot the torso. Legendary plasteel swords can one-shot the torso even in a cleave attack, assuming it split between 2 parts.
# When an excellent plasteel longsword (or better) does a ''cleave'' attack, its damage so high that it causes [[pain shock]] in a single swing. 
# Meanwhile, the spear can only ever hit a single body part. If a 62 damage spear hits a 25 damage arm, the arm is destroyed and 37 damage (over {{%|1-(25/62) round 2}} of the attack) is wasted. If a sword cleaves, much less damage is wasted. 
# Strong melee damage also boosts the {{AP}} of a weapon. Masterwork plasteel swords have enough AP to ignore the armor of a [[centipede]] and any other mechanoid, [[Biotech DLC|DLC]] or not.

This results in high quality swords ''with the damage gene'' being virtually better against all targets, short of [[tough]] pawns. Against humanoids, a sword can either (1-shot torso/head or cleave to pain shock), while a spear can ''only'' (1-shot torso/head). Against mechanoids, the cleave damage results in the sword coming out ahead regardless.
<!-- Gene + Sword > Gene + Spear should be clear for humans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXpLrQR7jI4 , 9:50 in particular is empirical proof that sword > spear for big mechs w/o pain shock -->

The masterwork steel longsword given at the start of the [[Scenario_system#The_Sanguophage|The Sanguophage]] scenario reaches both relevant thresholds. With your [[sanguophage]], it can one-shot through a torso stab and one-shot through cleaving pain. This longsword is actually stronger per-hit than an excellent plasteel longsword, and likely better than any weapon you'll be seeing for a while.

{{Weapon Quality Table}}

== Version history ==
* [[Version/0.7.581|0.7.581]] - Added

{{Nav|weapon|wide}}
[[Category:Equipment]] [[Category:Weapons]] [[Category:Neolithic Weapons]]
[[Category:Melee Weapons]] [[Category:Sharp Weapons]] [[Category:Spears]]