War Hammer
A blunt weapon designed to defeat plate armor
The war hammer is a specialized anti-armor weapon developed to defeat late medieval plate armor. One side features a flat hammer face for delivering concussive impact, while the opposite side sports a sharp spike (beak) for penetrating armor. Ranging from 60-90cm (one-handed) to 120-180cm (polearm variant), it offers dual attack modes — concussive shock to cause internal injuries through armor, or spike penetration through armor gaps. Became essential for both knights and soldiers in the 15th-16th centuries as full plate armor became universal.
Origin
Emerged in 14th-century Europe in response to advancing plate armor. When bladed weapons could no longer penetrate armor, specialized weapons combining impact and penetration became necessary.
Features
- Dual head: hammer face (impact) + spike (penetration)
- One-handed (60-90cm) and polearm (120-180cm) variants
- Specialized anti-plate-armor weapon
- Concussive shock causes injuries through armor
- Spike penetrates armor gaps
- Weight approximately 1-2.5kg (one-handed)
Usage
Against armored opponents, the hammer face delivered concussions and fractures, while the spike targeted weak points like visors and joints.
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