Hoplite Combat Guide
Hoplite Combat Guide
Below you'll find everything important to know about Hoplite Combat.
In a Nutshell
Pros
- You can also use Skill Points (SP) from Spears to learn Hoplite Combat.
- Six (6) double-hitting attacks, including the only Easy-difficulty multi-hitters.
- Assuming Hoplite Combat Stance gives small bonus to shield bashes.
- Both offensive (Rising Thrust) & defensive (Defensive Repel) stepping maneuvers.
- Unique weapon & shield combination mechanics that impact both the speed and strength of your attacks.
Cons
- While having a number of either-range maneuvers, Hoplite Combat is best-suited for close range combat.
- More difficult to combine with Spears than one might think. You lose stance bonus for 1H Spear maneuvers and access to many of the more powerful Spears attacks.
- Requires good skill with Shields, an additional skill set for most Spear users.
- No notable defense from Hoplite Combat itself.
Additional Notes
- Both (regular) spears and short spears can be used as weapons for Hoplite Combat. Use the 1wield command to wield a traditional spear in one hand for use with Hoplite combat.
Advice & Tips
- Achieving rank 100 in Hoplite Combat Stance early on is highly recommended.
- When wielding a traditional long spear, you can also perform Spear Jab, Spear Stab, Spear Overhead Thrust, Spear Parting Jab, Spear Throw & Spear Feint while fighting in the Hoplite Combat stance, though they receive no stance bonus from Hoplite Stance.
- While both Hoplite Feint & Spear Feint are available, Hoplite Feint is the preferred choice, as it auto-aims high and benefits from Hoplite Combat Stance.
Weapons
This is the list of short spears that can be used by the Hoplite Combat skill set.
In addition to the below list, spears included in the Spears Guide can be used. For a list of all available shields to use, see the Shields Guide.
| Weapons | How to get it | Est. cost in shops |
|---|---|---|
| A tin-tipped short spear [RF] | Sold by Marinian | 1,000d |
| A bronze-tipped short spear [RF] | Sold by Marinian | 3t |
| An iron-tipped short spear [RF] | Sold by Hiltha | 50t + Reputation |
| An alanti-tipped short spear [RF] | Currently available only from GMNPC vendors | |
| A boison-tipped short spear [RF] | Sold by Hiltha | 175t + Reputation |
| A retalq-tipped short spear | Sold by Hiltha | 250t + Reputation |
[RF]: This item can be Re-Forged by Ferrarius.
Summary
In most cases, you'll want a Retalq Spear & Towering Shield.
A rank of 1 signifies the best in this category.
| Weapon | Damage Rank | Speed Rank | Weight Rank | Overall Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A tin-tipped short spear | ||||
| A bronze-tipped short spear | ||||
| An iron-tipped short spear | ||||
| [Reforged] An iron-tipped short spear | ||||
| A boison-tipped short spear | ||||
| [Reforged] A boison-tipped short spear | ||||
| A retalq-tipped short spear |
Weapon Damage
A rank of 1 signifies the best in this category.
| Weapon | Damage Rank |
|---|---|
| A retalq-tipped short spear | |
| [Reforged] A boison-tipped short spear | |
| A boison-tipped short spear | |
| [Reforged] An iron-tipped short spear | |
| An iron-tipped short spear | |
| A bronze-tipped short spear | |
| A tin-tipped short spear |
Weapon Speed
A rank of 1 signifies the best in this category.
| Rank 90 Reflexes | Maxed Speed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Speed Rank | Average Speed | Speed Rank | Average Speed |
| A tin-tipped short spear | ||||
| A bronze-tipped short spear | ||||
| An iron-tipped short spear | ||||
| A boison-tipped short spear | ||||
| A retalq-tipped short spear | ||||
Weapon round time with outstanding speed (190+):
| Weapon and Shield | Most Attacks | Rotating Bash | Lunge and Strike & Stab and Swing |
Bash and Jab & Slam and Thrust |
Basic Attack | Feint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| wood spear w/ any shield tin short spear w/ any shield alanti spear w/ any shield alanti short spear w/ any shield retalq spear w/ any shield retalq short spear w/ any shield |
1 + MoS | 2 + MoS | 2 + MoS | 2 + MoS | 2 + MoS | 1 + MoS |
| boison spear w/ light shield | 2 + MoS | 2 + MoS | 2 + MoS | 3 + MoS | 2 + MoS | 1 + MoS |
| boison spear w/ heavy shield | 2 + MoS | 2 + MoS | 3 + MoS | 3 + MoS | 2 + MoS | 1 + MoS |
Notes:
- "Most Attacks" include Phalanx Thrust, Shielded Stab, Rising Thrust, Defensive Repel, Shielded Advance, Underhand Thrust, Leaping Thrust, Sweep and Thrust, Spinning Chop, and Whirling Strike.
- "light shields" include bronze bucklers, reed shields, wooden buckler, <more TBA>
- "heavy shields" include hide shields, Iridine wall shields, Kelestian triangle shields, Kelestian towering shields, <more TBA>
- "any shield" includes both light and heavy shields
Weapon Weight
| Weapon | Weight Rank | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| A tin-tipped short spear | ~3 lbs | |
| A bronze-tipped short spear | ~4 lbs | |
| An iron-tipped short spear | ||
| A boison-tipped short spear | ||
| A retalq-tipped short spear | 3.3 lbs |
Moves
Best Options
- Lunge and Strike - A highly-bonused Impossible-difficulty attack. It both hits hard and has a high crit-rate.
- Leaping Thrust - A highly-bonused attack that aims high by default.
- Whirling Strike - A highly-bonused double-hitting attack.
- Bash and Jab - A high damage double-hitting easy attack with some defense penetration.
- Phalanx Thrust - Easy maneuver with favorable block matchups against some weapons.
- Sweep and Thrust - A combined sweep & strike maneuver. Must be trained to high levels to achieve a high chance of knockdown.
Worthwhile
- Shielded Stab - Easy maneuver that hits twice, but is fairly simple to dodge or block.
- Shielded Advance - A good utility maneuver that engages the target and automatically disengages a random enemy if you were already fully surrounded.
- Rising Thrust - A stepping maneuver that enters a more aggressive stance as part of the attack.
- Defensive Repel - A stepping maneuver that enters a more defensive stance as part of the attack, and also retreats from the target.
Less useful
- Underhand Thrust - An average attack with no special bonuses, and which is fairly easy for most weapons to block.
- Rotating Bash - An average attack with no special bonuses, and which is fairly easy for most weapons to block.
- Stab and Swing - Average attack that has a penalty to hit.
- Spinning Chop - Difficult attack that has a penalty to hit.
- Slam and Thrust - Difficult attack that does very good damage but has a large penalty to hit.
Complementary Skill Sets
Complementary Traits
Miscellaneous
- TBD