Halberd

A halberd was a widely used member of the poleaxe family of polearms, that could best be described as somewhat of a cross between an axe and a spear.

Description
The business end of a halberd consisted of three parts: the axe-head, the back spike or "fluke", and the spear tip that surmounted it. While many polearms had a similar structure, halberds had a few distinguishing features. Their axe-heads were concave (curving inward) to nearly straight, instead of convex like most axes. And were set at an angle to the shaft, instead of being mounted perpendicular.

The fluke of a halberd, which was fairly short and angled slightly downward, helped to balance the weapon. It was sometimes replaced by a hook for dismounting cavalry. The sharp spear-like spike that surmounted the fluke was usually of quadrangular design, but varied in length and size. Some were long and slender, while others were broader and of a medium length.

The average halberd measured in length,  or longer with their spear tips.

Weaponology
Halberds were extremely versatile against a wide range of opponents due to ability to unleash slashing, thrusting, tripping, or dismounting attacks. Dismounting in particular was a main function of the weapon. And were quite effective against plate armor. However, due to their size halberds were rather slow, unwieldy, and often considered detrimental in close quarters combat.

Halberdiers could attack the flanks of a pike formation with great effect, due to pikemen being unable to bring their much longer weapons to bear in close combat.

Availability
Places in the Realms where one could purchase halberds included:
 * Aunsible Durn, a smithy in the town of Ghars, Cormyr, produced halberds that outfitted a number of local farmhands.
 * The Weaponers of Cormyr.

History
Halberds first became available in the Netheril Empire in.

Around 1372 DR, the Zhentarim were smuggling halberds into Daggerford with the frigate Barracuda.

Prior to 1371 DR, the average halberd cost 10 gp and weighed. After 1371 DR, and up to the Spellplague, the price of halberds remained the same, but weighed.

Notable Halberds

 * Arc Asunder
 * Blackmist
 * Chesley Crusher
 * Chieftain Halberd
 * Daggerford Blade
 * Dredging claw
 * Duskblade, an enchanted halberd that belonged to the shadow Patrick.
 * Fayr's halberd, an enchanted halberd that belonged to Bedwyn Fayr.
 * Gloomgate, an enchanted sentient halberd that belonged to Gamaliel.
 * Halberd of sparks
 * Halberd of swift admonition
 * Halberd of vigilance
 * The Icon of Power, an enchanted halberd that was issued to the garrison of the Black Spires of the Maiden.
 * Long Cleaver, an enchanted halberd that was custom-ordered by the nobleman Pelp Cadari.
 * The Ravager, a powerful enchanted halberd that was wielded by Imix as they guarded the lair of Yaga-Shura.
 * The Wave

Groups

 * The Company of the Black Snake.
 * The Harmonium outfitted a select few of their patrol captains with enchanted halberds that bolstered their strength, but weakened their intellect.
 * The Trading Company outfitted a majority of its mercenaries with halberds.

Individuals

 * Arganon, an adventurer from Long Reach that once wielded the Wave.
 * Bort, a barbarian gnoll.
 * Eagus, a mercenary.
 * Ingot, a gnoll bandit that once wielded the Chesley Crusher.
 * Kane, a monk of the Monastery of the Yellow Rose, was proficient in the use of halberds.
 * Nayeli Goldflower, a paladin of Tyr that wielded a mundane halberd, the Daggerford Blade, and later the halberd of swift admonition.
 * Redtoe, a verbeeg guardsman.
 * Seker's avatars often wielded +3 halberds.
 * Yuan ti.

Races & Sentient Species

 * Black abishai sometimes fought with halberds.
 * Dracon were often fond of using halberds.
 * Hadozee often favored the use of halberds.
 * Halberds were common among gnolls in the Sword Coast and more rarely among gnolls in Amn.
 * Among the oni, go-zu oni and me-zu oni were often skilled in the use of halberds.
 * Among the rilmani, halberds were a favored weapon of many aurumachs and ferrumachs.
 * Among the tanar'ri, halberds were sometimes used by armanites.

Regions & Settlements

 * Castle Hartwick outfitted some members of the Giant Guard with halberds.
 * The Ginger Palace's soldiers were outfitted with halberds.
 * On the Rock of Bral, the ruler Prince Andru was followed around by bodyguards wielding halberds.
 * The guards of the Royal Court of Myth Drannor were outfitted with halberds of vigilance.
 * Halberds were a common weapon among the armed forces of Shadowdale.
 * Halberds were a common weapon among the armed forces of the Sembian cities Ordulin and Yhaunn.
 * The city of Zazesspur outfitted its guardmen with halberds made of bronze during the Tethyrian Interregnum.

Religions

 * The Shrine of Swords, a shrine dedicated to Tempus, typically had a minimum of twenty halberds in its cache of weapons during peacetime.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Ruins of Adventure • Waterdeep • The Ship of Night • Halls of the High King • Keys from the Golden Vault: "Prisoner 13"


 * Novels
 * The Ogre's Pact • The Veiled Dragon • The Council of Blades • War in Tethyr • Star of Cursrah • Lady of Poison • The Rite • Master of Chains • Crypt of the Moaning Diamond
 * Video Games
 * Pool of Radiance • Curse of the Azure Bonds • Secret of the Silver Blades • Pools of Darkness • Eye of the Beholder series (Eye of the Beholder • The Legend of Darkmoon • Assault on Myth Drannor) • Gateway to the Savage Frontier • Treasures of the Savage Frontier • Menzoberranzan • Ravenloft: Stone Prophet • Icewind Dale series (Icewind Dale • Heart of Winter) • Baldur's Gate series (Baldur's Gate • Shadows of Amn • Baldur's Gate II: The Black Pits • Throne of Bhaal) • Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance • Sword Coast Legends • Neverwinter Nights series (Neverwinter Nights • Darkness over Daggerford) • Warriors of Waterdeep