Glaive

Glaives were a type of reach weapon in the pole arm family.

Description
Glaives were pole arms that, in their basic form, were long wooden poles mounted with a sword-like cutting blade. The blade was often augmented with a back spike, perpendicular to the blade or angled forward.

Weaponology
Glaives were two-handed melee weapons with a reach. Because it was a pole arm, it couldn't be used to attack adjacent foes. They were most effective in large numbers in a phalanx, or when they could be set against a charging opponent. Even though the tip of the blade was sharp and the back spike could be swung to penetrate armor, the glaive was considered a slashing weapon.

History
Glaives first became available in the Netheril Empire in.

Varieties

 * Naginata, as well as its shortened version the nagimaki, were glaives unique to the land of Kara-Tur. They were typically used by footmen and horsemen respectively.
 * Saw-toothed glaives were variety of glaives with a +3 enchantment that were commonly used by creatures on the Lower Planes, primarily bearded devils. They had a treble-hook arranged at their base that curved backwards, allowing the wielder to entangle or snag their foes.

Notable glaives

 * The demon lord Baphomet carried a glaive referred to as "Heart-cleaver."
 * The tiefling warrior Havilar carried a glaive she referred to as "Devil Slayer".

Individuals

 * Dauphal was known to carry a +1 flaming glaive.
 * Syr'daun Hunzrin was renowned for his skill with glaives.

Races & Sentient Creatures

 * Blackguards often favored the glaive over other weapons.
 * The leaders of gnoll packs were often known to fight with glaives.
 * Justice archons were occasionally known to fight with glaives.
 * Whenever a molydeus was a servant of baphomet, they always fought with a demonic glaive gifted to them by the demon lord himself.
 * Oni mages were often known to fight with glaives.
 * Sorrowsworns of the demonic variety were often known to favor fighting with +2 glaives.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
 * Video Games
 * Pool of Radiance • Curse of the Azure Bonds • Gateway to the Savage Frontier