Pila

This article is about a spear like weapon. For other types of spears, see Spear (disambiguation).

Pila are slightly heavier, thrown ranged weapons which deal a high amount of damage per pilum thrown. They have a very long time between throws, and slightly shorter range and slightly lower overall accuracy.

Note that pila, once equipped, can be thrown infinitely; they are not consumed by use.

Acquisition[edit]

Pilas can be crafted at a fueled smithy or electric smithy once the Smithing research project has been completed. Each requires 70 Wood, 7,000 ticks (1.94 mins) of work modified by the general labor speed of the crafter, and a crafting skill of 3.

Alternatively, pila can be purchased from neolithic war merchants, orbital combat suppliers, tribal and outlander faction bases, or found on the following raiders kinds:

Raider Kind	Chance	Average Quality	Health
Heavy Archer	50.71%	Normal	100%

Analysis[edit]

Each pilum shot deals a great amount of damage - equal to a sniper rifle, and pila have enough stopping power to stagger humans and big animals. However, pila also have a massive aiming and cooldown time, resulting in pila having one of the slowest firerates in the game. Since pila deal heavy damage per shot, they are prone to destroying body parts, making them a poor choice if wanting to capture colonists, and relatively dangerous in the hands of enemies.

Pila have more post-accuracy DPS than a shortbow at any range pila can reach, and have the benefit of staggering foes, but pila are inconsistent. While pila are actually more accurate than shortbows, their extremely slow firerate means that every hit or miss has a greater impact. A short bow deals less damage overall, but any hit can cause bleeding and pain to debuff the enemy, potentially slowing the enemy and allowing kiting tactics.

Overall, pila can perform a supporting role for New Tribes at the very beginning of the game. While a majority of pawns should wield bows or other weapons, a pilum user in the back can stagger foes and occasionally deal great damage. They also are decent hunting weapons, as animals won't get angry from missed shots, thus hunting "guarantees" a high damage hit. They are best used on pawns with great Shooting skill, as accuracy is important with pila.

Recurve bows have more post-accuracy DPS than pilum at any range and retain the ability to stagger humans, so New Tribes should replace pilum with recurve bows quickly. New Arrivals should not bother with pilum as by the time Smithing is researched, they are likely already outclassed.

Stats[edit]

Against an unarmored human, a pilum can kill with 2 hits to the torso, 1-2 hits to the head, or 1 hit to the neck or brain; cripple or destroy limbs in 1-2 hits; and destroy eyes and digits with a single hit. It'll generally take around 3 hits (~36 seconds average) to incapacitate that human from pain shock.

Pila are best paired with careful shooters up to level 6, then with trigger-happy shooters beyond that point.

Attack table

Ranged

Pila			Accuracy (Touch)	Accuracy (Short)	Accuracy (Medium)	Accuracy (Long)	DPS (Optimal)	DPS (Touch)	DPS (Short)	DPS (Medium)	DPS (Long)	Market value
Quality	Dam.	AP	Accuracy (Touch)	Accuracy (Short)	Accuracy (Medium)	Accuracy (Long)	DPS (Optimal)	DPS (Touch)	DPS (Short)	DPS (Medium)	DPS (Long)	Market value
Awful	22.5	9%	64%	56.8%	40%	25.6%	3.47	2.22	1.98	1.39	-	55
Poor	25	10%	72%	63.9%	45%	28.8%	3.85	2.77	2.46	1.73	-	82
Normal	25	10%	80%	71%	50%	32%	3.85	3.08	2.73	1.93	-	109
Good	25	10%	88%	78.1%	55%	35.2%	3.85	3.39	3	2.12	-	136
Excellent	25	10%	96%	85.2%	60%	38.4%	3.85	3.7	3.27	2.31	-	164
Masterwork	31.25	12.5%	100%	95.85%	67.5%	43.2%	4.81	4.81	4.62	3.27	-	270
Legendary	37.5	15%	100%	100%	75%	48%	5.78	5.78	5.78	4.33	-	545

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality. Values shown in Red indicate the weapon is out of range at the reference point for this range band.
The value is provided due to the interpolated nature of accuracy between range points.}

Melee

Feature	Toggle
Attacks

Pila			Shaft (Blunt)					Point (Stab)					Human: Left & right fist (Blunt)					HP	Value
Quality	DPS^[1]	AP^[1]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	HP	Value
Awful	3.98	11.6%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	12.5%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	12.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 37.5%	100	55
Poor	4.08	11.85%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	25%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 25%	100	82
Normal	4.4	12.75%	9	2s	13%	4.5	37.5%	9	2s	13%	4.5	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	109
Good	4.74	13.73%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	37.5%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	136
Excellent	5.08	14.7%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	37.5%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	164
Masterwork	5.92	17.14%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	37.5%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	270
Legendary	6.59	19.09%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	37.5%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 12.5%	100	545

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality.}

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Note: This is the actual base average derived from the melee verb system updated in 1.1.2610, it may sometimes disagree with the listed value in the in-game infobox.
It may also change depending on the stats and the melee verbs available to the wielder if the weapon is wielded by some other than a baseline human.
↑ Chance for attack to be selected, assuming the weapon is wielded by a baseline human. It may change depending on the melee verbs available to the wielder

Trivia[edit]

The pilum is the classic Roman legionary's throwing spear. Along with the melee gladius, it is one of two Roman weapons in the game.

Version history[edit]

0.4.460 - Damage nerfed from 45 to 30
1.5.4062 - Texture recreated with higher quality.
1.6.4518 - Touch accuracy increased from 50% to 80%, and cooldown reduced from 4 seconds to 2.5 seconds.