Spears

Spears are two-handed polearms with a blade, a stone or a sharp bone on the end. The group holds the Spear with Metal Head, the Spear with Long Metal Head and the stone, bone and glass spears. Every spear trains the Spear skill. Spears reach further than most melee weapons. Most of them are cheap to make from a Long Stick and a blade.

All Weapons Categories

Best Spears

The top pick for each role, by the game's own figures.

For	Name	Image	Stats	Spawn ID
Hardest hitter	Spear with Long Simple Metal Head		1.7 damage	/additem Base.SpearCrudeLong
Longest reach	Spear with Long Simple Metal Head		1.48 range	/additem Base.SpearCrudeLong
Best crit chance	Spear with Simple Metal Head		20 crit chance	/additem Base.SpearCrude
Most durable	Spear with Long Metal Head		10 condition	/additem Base.SpearLong
Lightest to carry	Spear with Glass Head		2.4 weight	/additem Base.SpearGlass

Skill and Leveling

The Spear skill covers every spear. Its in-game text says it increases attack speed and damage when using spear-type weapons. It also reduces their muscle strain. A higher level raises the critical chance. It helps the character push off a zombie that grabs from the front.

Spear experience comes from hitting enemies with a spear. Level 1 needs 75 XP. Level 10 needs 9,000 XP. Fast Learner raises the XP rate to 130 percent. Slow Learner lowers it to 70 percent, and Reluctant Fighter lowers it to 75 percent.

The skill adds flat bonuses at set levels. Level 3 adds 10 percent damage. Level 7 raises the damage bonus to 20 percent and adds 20 percent range. From level 8, each swing costs 10 percent less endurance.

Knife spears, the Wooden Spear and the Garden Fork all train the skill too. Those items are listed under Improvised Weapons.

Damage and Reach

Reach is the main strength of a spear. The Spear with Long Metal Head reaches 1.48. The Spear with Metal Head reaches 1.45. Most knife spears reach 1.45 to 1.48 as well. That keeps a zombie further away than most axes and bats.

The long spears hit hardest. The Spear with Long Metal Head deals 1.2 to 1.7 damage. The Spear with Long Simple Metal Head and the Spear with Long Stone Head deal the same. The Spear with Long Bone Head deals 1.1 to 1.6.

The short-headed spears deal a little less. The Spear with Metal Head, the Spear with Stone Head and the Spear with Glass Head each deal 1 to 1.6. The Spear with Bone Head deals 0.9 to 1.5. Every spear in the group has a 20 percent critical chance.

Spears also have a special running attack, the spear charge.

Knife and Wooden Spears

Knife spears train the Spear skill even though they sit with the improvised weapons. The Spear with Hunting Knife, the Spear with Fighting Knife and the Spear with Large Knife each deal 1.2 to 1.7 damage. They have 9 condition and a base 1 in 8 chance to lose a point. The Spear with Kitchen Knife and the Spear with Steak Knife deal 1 to 1.6.

Tool spears are a step down. The Spear with Screwdriver deals 1.2 to 1.6. The Spear with Scissors deals 1 to 1.6. The Spear with Plunger deals only 0.3 to 0.6.

Wooden spears cost almost nothing. The Wooden Spear deals 1 to 1.4 damage, with 5 condition and a 1 in 2 chance to lose a point. The Wooden Spear (Fire Hardened) deals 1 to 1.5 with a 30 percent critical chance. It has 7 condition and a 1 in 4 chance. The Garden Fork works as a ready-made spear and deals 1 to 1.5. It has 10 condition and a 1 in 15 chance, which makes it tougher than any crafted spear.

Durability and Repair

Spears are fragile. The Spear with Metal Head and the Spear with Long Metal Head each have 10 condition. Each hit has a base 1 in 10 chance to cost a point. The stone and bone spears have 6 condition and a 1 in 7 chance. The Spear with Glass Head has just 2 condition and a 1 in 2 chance.

The Maintenance skill lowers the chance of losing condition. The Spear skill helps too. Carry a backup weapon with any crafted spear.

Every spear takes tape and glue repairs. Fix With Duct Tape uses 2 Duct Tape. Fix With Glue uses 2 Glue. The metal-headed spears can also be sharpened. Sharpen Blade uses a Whetstone, and Sharpen Blade with Grindstone uses the Grindstone workstation.

Crafting

The simplest spear needs only a stick and a knife. Carve Spear turns a Long Stick or a Sapling into a Wooden Spear. A Rake, a Mop or a Broom also works as the shaft. The knife is kept, and the recipe gives Carving XP. Fire Harden Spear turns the Wooden Spear into a Wooden Spear (Fire Hardened). The Bushcrafter trait knows that recipe from the start.

Bind Spear Head ties a blade onto a Long Stick or a Sapling. It uses 2 Twine, Leather Strips or Zip Ties. It needs Maintenance 1. A Stone Blade gives a Spear with Stone Head. A Long Sharp Bone gives a Spear with Long Bone Head. Broken Glass gives a Spear with Glass Head. A knife gives a knife spear, such as the Spear with Hunting Knife.

Two other binds work the same way. Bind Spear Head With Duct Tape uses 2 Duct Tape. Bind Spear Head With Wire uses 2 Wire and a pair of pliers. Dismantle Knife/Tool Spear takes the knife back off the shaft.

Metal spear heads come from the forge. Forge Spear Head makes a Metal Spearhead at Blacksmithing 4. Forge Long Spear Head makes a Long Metal Spearhead at Blacksmithing 5. Assemble Spear then fits the head onto a Long Stick or a Sapling with a hammer and a sharp knife. It needs Maintenance 1.

Locations

Most spears are made by hand rather than found. Carve Long Stick shapes a Long Stick with a sharp knife. Get Long Stick pulls one from items that hold a long stick, such as a Broom or a Mop.

Spear heads come from many places. Stone Blades come from knapping Sharp Flint Flake. Long Sharp Bone comes from carving animal bones. Knives fill kitchens, camping stores and gun store knife cases. The Garden Fork, a ready spear, turns up in farm, garden and tool stores.

Notes

• A Spear with Hunting Knife deals 1.2 to 1.7 damage, the same as a Spear with Long Metal Head.
• Spears weigh 2.4 to 3.
• The Bushcrafter trait also knows Bind Spear Head and Bind Spear Head With Wire.

All Spears

Name	Image	Damage	Range	Crit Chance	Condition	Weight	Spawn ID
Spear with Bone Head		0.9-1.5	1.45	20	6	2.4	/additem Base.Spear_Bone
Spear with Glass Head		1-1.6	1.45	20	2	2.4	/additem Base.SpearGlass
Spear with Long Bone Head		1.1-1.6	1.48	20	6	2.7	/additem Base.Spear_BoneLong
Spear with Long Metal Head		1.2-1.7	1.48	20	10	2.7	/additem Base.SpearLong
Spear with Long Simple Metal Head		1.2-1.7	1.48	20	5	3	/additem Base.SpearCrudeLong
Spear with Long Stone Head		1.2-1.7	1.48	20	6	2.7	/additem Base.SpearStoneLong
Spear with Metal Head		1-1.6	1.45	20	10	2.4	/additem Base.SpearShort
Spear with Simple Metal Head		1-1.6	1.45	20	4	2.5	/additem Base.SpearCrude
Spear with Stone Head		1-1.6	1.45	20	6	2.4	/additem Base.SpearStone