Category:Melee Weapons

A melee weapon, hand weapon or close combat weapon is any handheld weapon used in hand-to-hand combat, i.e. for use within the direct physical reach of the weapon itself, essentially functioning as an additional (and more impactful) extension of the user's limbs.

The term melee originates in the 1640s from the French word 'mêlée', which refers to disorganized hand-to-hand combat, a close-quarters battle, a brawl, or a confused fight; especially involving many combatants.

Melee weapons can be broadly divided into three categories


 * Pointed weapons, which cover spears, pikes, lances, and military forks. They typically have a sharp point designed to inflict penetrating trauma, even against heavily armoured opponents, and the length of such weapons gives a range advantage. Certain variants may also hook at enemies to disrupt and disarm them, or pull them from atop horses.
 * Edged weapons, which cover swords, daggers, axes, and war scythes. These weapons are designed to cause cutting, dismemberment, and exsanguination injuries, and are most effective against minimally armoured opponents. These are used to cut, hack, slash, thrust or stab.


 * Blunt weapons, which cover clubs, maces, war hammers, staves, and flails. These weapons are designed to cause blunt trauma, even through armour that would protect against penetration by pointed or edged weapons.

In AniPhobia, Melee Weapons are useful as a last resort option if one has ran out of ammo completely, allowing players to fend off enemies even if at the risk of taking damage themselves due to these weapons being required to be in arms reach to be effective.