Long weapon

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A picture of what Spears and Halberds look like in Assassin's Creed II.

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The Spear and Halberd appear as usable weapons in Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, but you can only acquire it by disarming a guard, or killing him then picking up the weapon, because Shops do not have them for sale. Spears and Halberds in the game classify as long weapons due to their length. Once combat is over, or if you sprint away, Ezio will discard the new weapon; since whether the weapon is intact or broken, Ezio would not have enough inventory space to safely keep it. Also, a Spear or Halberd would be too difficult to carry while moving freely across streets and rooftops. The length of the shaft keeps enemies at bay and makes it very difficult to evade. Dodging maneuvers against Halberdiers frequently fail to make sufficient distance. Long weapons can only be countered by Long or Heavy weapons, with the Hidden Blade being an exception as it counters any weapon, although the timing involved makes the maneuver more difficult and risky. Also, if you are equipped with your pistol or poison blade, Ezio will automatically counter with his hidden blade. Maximum Combo length for Long weapon is 3 hits. The Long weapon is usually equipped by the Seekers, though some Brutes have also been seen wielding a Spear or Halberd as well. In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood it is shown that you can throw a spear at long distances (by targeting a guard, holding down X or square, and then releasing) as well as use it in close melee.

Special Technique

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The Spear in action

The Sweep Attack is another charged move that can be interrupted, but is one that can be unleashed at any time during the charge. The longer the Sweep is charged, the greater the arc it will affect. Acquired from Training, it is an attack that requires a long weapon. A brief hold of the Weapon Hand Button performs a quick, short Sweep. Keep it held, and Ezio will turn the Long shaft over his shoulder, changing stance in readiness to perform a long Sweep spin when released. Enemies in front of him will trip and fall to the ground, while those behind are knocked over by a blow to the head. Sweeping more than three times with the same long weapon will cause it to break. There is an achievement that requires this skill.

In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the sweep technique has been changed, as when Ezio performs a sweep attack, all guards within range will have their throats slit by the sharp end of the weapon.

There is also another special technique in which the player can throw the spear in a javelin-like manner at a distant enemy. When the player looks at the enemy and they can hold X or square and then when they release the button, Ezio then throws the spear at the enemy and this will immediately kill them. This is similar to the Heavy weapons' special attack.

Breakability

It is possible to block a heavy weapon's smash attack with a Long weapon. The defender will avoid all damage, but the parrying weapon will shatter in two (bottom of spear/halberd in left hand, top of spearhead/halberd with spearhead in right hand). When a Long weapon breaks, the owner may continue to wield the remaining half as if it were a bladed (or blunt, depending on which half) medium weapon. An individual half can be kept in an empty primary weapon slot for later use, however it will vanish if you save and reload. You may also counter as soon as the weapon is broken, which stabs both pieces into the attacker.

Attributes

Name	Damage	Speed	Deflect
Crosslong	9	5	2
Spear	9	9	8
Bamboo Staff	9	1	9

Trivia

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Ezio sweeping with a long weapon

• Spears and Halberds have the longest reach out of any other melee weapons in Assassin's Creed II, making them very effective at close quarters.
• Out of the many weapons in the Italian Guard's arsenal in Assassin's Creed II, the Long weapons seem to be the rarest melee weapons. However, this is not the case in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.
• Seekers can more commonly be found wielding the Spear than the Halberd.
• Long Weapons are one of the two weapon types used by mercenaries.
• Long Weapons are more challenging to counter than any other weapon in Assassin's Creed II.
• The Papal Staff (aside from the Sword of Altaïr) is the only weapon to have the Damage, Speed, and Deflect stats maxed out in Assassin's Creed II.
• It is possible to wield the Papal Staff for a little while; it involves either poisoning Rodrigo Borgia, or taking a Heavy Weapon from a Brute outside and performing the Heavy Weapon Disarm on him.
• The achievement/trophy "Sweeper" can be earned by sweeping five guards at once using a long weapon.
• Halberds were made to allow soldiers to double as spear or pike units and foot soldier units at the same time the axe blade could be used to cut men limb from limb the hook on the back could hook armor plate on horseman and pull them off also used to kill or wound passing horses and last but not least the spear end would be used to impale men and cause horses to rear up upon being stabbed and throw off their riders theres little the weapon could not do.