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Create Mace Fighting skill guide

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<div class="creature-backlink">[[Skills|« Back to Skills]]</div>

'''Mace Fighting''' is the skill of fighting with blunt weapons: clubs, maces, hammers and staves. Every hit with a mace or staff also '''knocks stamina out of your target''', which slows their swings and can leave them too tired to run. It's a favourite against heavily armored opponents and anyone who relies on stamina.

This page explains how mace fighting works, which weapons use the skill, their special moves, and how to train to Grandmaster.

__TOC__

== At a glance ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Skill category
| Combat
|-
! Weapons
| Clubs, maces, hammers, the war axe and staves (see [[#Weapons|Weapons]])
|-
! Works with
| [[Skills/Tactics|Tactics]] and [[Skills/Anatomy|Anatomy]] for damage, [[Skills/Parrying|Parrying]] for defense, [[Skills/Healing|Healing]] to stay alive
|-
! Special moves
| Two per weapon, at 70 and 90 skill
|-
! Skill cap
| 100 (Grandmaster), raised up to 120 with Mace Fighting power scrolls
|-
! Stats it can raise
| Strength (mostly) and Dexterity
|-
! Starting gear
| Choosing Mace Fighting as a starting skill gives you a club.
|}

== How to fight ==
# '''Equip a mace or staff''' from the tables below. You need enough Strength to wield it. Staves and the war hammer take both hands.
# '''Switch to war mode''' (Tab by default, or the war/peace button on your paperdoll).
# '''Double-click your target''' to attack. You'll keep swinging automatically as long as you stay next to them.

=== Stamina damage ===
Every hit with a mace, hammer or staff '''drains 3 to 5 stamina''' from the target (the war axe is the one exception), on top of the normal damage. Since swing speed depends on stamina, a target you keep hitting swings more and more slowly, and a target with no stamina left can't run.

=== Hitting ===
Every swing rolls to hit. Your chance depends on '''your skill with the weapon you're holding''' against '''the defender's skill with the weapon they're holding''' (Wrestling if they're unarmed):

<div style="text-align:center">'''Hit chance = (your skill + 50) ÷ ((their skill + 50) × 2)'''</div>

So two fighters with equal skill hit each other '''50%''' of the time. Here's how it works out:

{| class="wikitable"
! Your weapon skill !! Defender's skill 0 !! 50 !! 80 !! 100 !! 120
|-
! 50
| 100% || 50% || 38% || 33% || 29%
|-
! 80
| 100% || 65% || 50% || 43% || 38%
|-
! 100
| 100% || 75% || 58% || 50% || 44%
|-
! 120
| 100% || 85% || 65% || 57% || 50%
|}

Magic weapons with an ''accuracy'' bonus add to your skill while you hold them: '''+5''' (accurate), '''+10''' (surpassingly), '''+15''' (eminently), '''+20''' (exceedingly) or '''+25''' (supremely). That bonus counts toward both hitting and the 70/90 needed for special moves.

=== Damage ===
When you hit, the game rolls the weapon's damage range and then adjusts it:
* '''[[Skills/Tactics|Tactics]]''' is the big one: '''−50%''' at 0 Tactics, no change at 50, '''+50%''' at 100.
* '''Strength''' adds '''+1% for every 5 points'''.
* '''[[Skills/Anatomy|Anatomy]]''' adds '''+1% for every 5 points''', plus an extra '''+10%''' at 100.
* '''Exceptional''' weapons deal '''+20%''' and '''low quality''' ones '''−20%'''.
* '''Magic weapons''' add flat damage before all of that: ''ruin'' +1, ''might'' +3, ''force'' +5, ''power'' +7, ''vanquishing'' +9.
* '''Slayer''' weapons deal '''double damage''' to the creatures they slay.
* A '''worn-out weapon''' hits softer. Damage scales down as the weapon's durability drops, to half at its last point.
* Damage against '''players''' (and damage dealt by creatures) is '''halved'''.
* The target's '''armor''' then absorbs part of the hit, depending on where it lands (body 35%, legs 22%, head 15%, arms 14%, hands 7%, neck 7%). Every hit deals at least 1 damage.

=== Swing speed ===
Each weapon has a '''speed''' rating. The higher it is, the faster you swing. Your '''current stamina''' matters too: more stamina means faster swings, and a winded fighter slows down. The tables below show seconds per swing with 100 stamina.

== Weapons ==
All of these use Mace Fighting. Click a column heading to sort.

=== Maces and hammers ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! class="unsortable" | !! Weapon !! Hands !! Strength needed !! Damage !! Speed !! Seconds per swing* !! Primary move (70) !! Secondary move (90) !! Weight !! Weaponsmith price
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Weapon_Club.png|link=|Club]]
| '''Club''' || One || data-sort-value="10" | 10 || data-sort-value="16.0" | 8–24 || 40 || data-sort-value="1.88" | 1.88 || Shadow Strike || Dismount || data-sort-value="9.0" | 9 stones || data-sort-value="16" | about 16 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Smith_Mace.png|link=|Mace]]
| '''Mace''' || One || data-sort-value="20" | 20 || data-sort-value="20.0" | 8–32 || 30 || data-sort-value="2.50" | 2.50 || Concussion Blow || Disarm || data-sort-value="14.0" | 14 stones || data-sort-value="28" | about 28 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Smith_Maul.png|link=|Maul]]
| '''Maul''' || One || data-sort-value="20" | 20 || data-sort-value="20.0" | 10–30 || 30 || data-sort-value="2.50" | 2.50 || Crushing Blow || Concussion Blow || data-sort-value="10.0" | 10 stones || data-sort-value="21" | about 21 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Smith_HammerPick.png|link=|Hammer pick]]
| '''Hammer pick''' || One || data-sort-value="35" | 35 || data-sort-value="19.5" | 6–33 || 30 || data-sort-value="2.50" | 2.50 || Armor Ignore || Mortal Strike || data-sort-value="9.0" | 9 stones || data-sort-value="26" | about 26 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Smith_WarAxe.png|link=|War axe]]
| '''War axe''' || One || data-sort-value="35" | 35 || data-sort-value="18.0" | 9–27 || 40 || data-sort-value="1.88" | 1.88 || Armor Ignore || Bleed Attack || data-sort-value="8.0" | 8 stones || data-sort-value="29" | about 29 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Smith_WarHammer.png|link=|War hammer]]
| '''War hammer''' || Two || data-sort-value="40" | 40 || data-sort-value="22.0" | 8–36 || 31 || data-sort-value="2.42" | 2.42 || Whirlwind Attack || Crushing Blow || data-sort-value="10.0" | 10 stones || data-sort-value="25" | about 25 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Smith_WarMace.png|link=|War mace]]
| '''War mace''' || One || data-sort-value="30" | 30 || data-sort-value="20.0" | 10–30 || 32 || data-sort-value="2.34" | 2.34 || Crushing Blow || Mortal Strike || data-sort-value="17.0" | 17 stones || data-sort-value="31" | about 31 gold
|}
<small>* Seconds per swing with 100 stamina. The formula is 15000 ÷ ((stamina + 100) × speed), so a tired fighter swings more slowly.</small>

=== Staves ===
Staves are two-handed, so you can't carry a shield with them. A shepherd's crook is also the tool for [[Skills/Herding|Herding]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! class="unsortable" | !! Weapon !! Hands !! Strength needed !! Damage !! Speed !! Seconds per swing* !! Primary move (70) !! Secondary move (90) !! Weight !! Weaponsmith price
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Weapon_BlackStaff.png|link=|Black staff]]
| '''Black staff''' || Two || data-sort-value="35" | 35 || data-sort-value="20.5" | 8–33 || 35 || data-sort-value="2.14" | 2.14 || Whirlwind Attack || Paralyzing Blow || data-sort-value="6.0" | 6 stones || data-sort-value="22" | about 22 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Weapon_GnarledStaff.png|link=|Gnarled staff]]
| '''Gnarled staff''' || Two || data-sort-value="20" | 20 || data-sort-value="20.0" | 10–30 || 33 || data-sort-value="2.27" | 2.27 || Concussion Blow || Force of Nature || data-sort-value="3.0" | 3 stones || data-sort-value="16" | about 16 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Weapon_QuarterStaff.png|link=|Quarter staff]]
| '''Quarter staff''' || Two || data-sort-value="30" | 30 || data-sort-value="18.0" | 8–28 || 48 || data-sort-value="1.56" | 1.56 || Double Strike || Concussion Blow || data-sort-value="4.0" | 4 stones || data-sort-value="19" | about 19 gold
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Weapon_ShepherdsCrook.png|link=|Shepherd's crook]]
| '''Shepherd's crook''' || Two || data-sort-value="10" | 10 || data-sort-value="7.5" | 3–12 || 30 || data-sort-value="2.50" | 2.50 || Crushing Blow || Disarm || data-sort-value="4.0" | 4 stones || data-sort-value="20" | about 20 gold
|}
<small>* Seconds per swing with 100 stamina. The formula is 15000 ÷ ((stamina + 100) × speed), so a tired fighter swings more slowly.</small>

== Special moves ==
Every weapon knows two '''special moves''': a '''primary''' move you can use from '''70''' skill in that weapon's fighting skill, and a '''secondary''' move from '''90'''. To use one:
# Open your '''combat book''' (the ''Open › Combat Book'' macro), or set up the ''Primary Ability'' and ''Secondary Ability'' macros. You can drag the move icons out of the book onto your screen.
# Click the move to ready it. It stays ready until your next hit lands.
# When that hit lands, the move goes off and its '''mana''' is used up. If you miss, the move stays ready and no mana is spent.

Some things to know:
* '''Mana cost drops with experience.''' Each move has a base cost, but if your Swordsmanship, Mace Fighting, Fencing, Archery, Parrying, Lumberjacking, Stealth and Poisoning add up to '''200 or more''', every move costs 5 less mana; at '''300 or more''' it costs 10 less.
* '''Don't chain them too fast.''' Using another special move within '''3 seconds''' of your last one costs '''double mana'''.
* If you don't have the skill: ''"You need 70 weapon skill to perform that attack"'' (or 90). If you're short on mana: ''"You need 30 mana to perform that attack"''.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! class="unsortable" | !! Move !! Base mana !! What it does !! Weapons
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_ArmorIgnore.png|link=|Armor Ignore]]
| '''Armor Ignore''' || data-sort-value="30" | 30 || A precise strike for 90% of normal damage. Armor still absorbs part of the blow as usual. || Primary: Hammer pick, War axe
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_BleedAttack.png|link=|Bleed Attack]]
| '''Bleed Attack''' || data-sort-value="30" | 30 || The target bleeds for 10 seconds, taking damage every 2 seconds: 15 to 30 in total against players, 30 to 60 against creatures. A bandage stops the bleeding. Some creatures, and anyone in lich or wraith form, can't bleed. || Secondary: War axe
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_ConcussionBlow.png|link=|Concussion Blow]]
| '''Concussion Blow''' || data-sort-value="25" | 25 || Deals 10 to 30 extra damage on top of the hit. The bigger the gap between the target's health and mana (as a percentage), the more it hurts. || Primary: Mace, Gnarled staff<br>Secondary: Maul, Quarter staff
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_CrushingBlow.png|link=|Crushing Blow]]
| '''Crushing Blow''' || data-sort-value="25" | 25 || The hit deals 150% damage. || Primary: Maul, War mace, Shepherd's crook<br>Secondary: War hammer
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_Disarm.png|link=|Disarm]]
| '''Disarm''' || data-sort-value="20" | 20 || Knocks the target's weapon into their backpack, and they can't re-equip a weapon for 5 seconds. || Secondary: Mace, Shepherd's crook
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_Dismount.png|link=|Dismount]]
| '''Dismount''' || data-sort-value="20" | 20 || Knocks a mounted target off their mount, and they can't remount for 10 seconds. If you're on foot they also take 15 to 25 damage. You must be on foot to use it, and you can't mount up yourself for 10 seconds afterwards. || Secondary: Club
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_DoubleStrike.png|link=|Double Strike]]
| '''Double Strike''' || data-sort-value="30" | 30 || You strike twice in one swing. Each hit deals 90% damage. || Primary: Quarter staff
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_ForceOfNature.png|link=|Force of Nature]]
| '''Force of Nature''' || data-sort-value="40" | 40 || For up to 6 minutes your hits on that target deal 165% damage, but each of those hits also burns you for 25 to 34 energy damage. || Secondary: Gnarled staff
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_MortalStrike.png|link=|Mortal Strike]]
| '''Mortal Strike''' || data-sort-value="30" | 30 || Mortally wounds the target: they can't be healed by bandages, healing spells or heal potions for 6 seconds (players) or 12 seconds (creatures). || Secondary: Hammer pick, War mace
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_ParalyzingBlow.png|link=|Paralyzing Blow]]
| '''Paralyzing Blow''' || data-sort-value="30" | 30 || Freezes the target in place for 3 seconds (players) or 6 seconds (creatures). They can't be paralyzed this way again for 8 seconds after it wears off. || Secondary: Black staff
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_ShadowStrike.png|link=|Shadow Strike]]
| '''Shadow Strike''' || data-sort-value="20" | 20 || Deals 125% damage and you instantly hide. Needs 80 Stealth. || Primary: Club
|-
| class="nb-art-cell" | [[File:NB_Move_WhirlwindAttack.png|link=|Whirlwind Attack]]
| '''Whirlwind Attack''' || data-sort-value="15" | 15 || Also hits every other valid enemy standing next to you. || Primary: War hammer, Black staff
|}

== Crushing blows ==
With the '''war hammer''' (the two-handed hammer), fighters who know their anatomy can land a '''crushing blow''' on their own, with no mana and no readying:
* You need at least '''80 [[Skills/Anatomy|Anatomy]]'''.
* Each hit has an '''Anatomy ÷ 4''' percent chance (25% at 100 Anatomy).
* The hit's base damage is multiplied by '''1.5''': ''"You have delivered a crushing blow!"''

== Training Mace Fighting ==
* '''Every swing''' can raise Mace Fighting, '''whether it hits or misses'''. The game checks for a gain each time you swing at something.
* '''Below 10.0''' you gain on every attempt, sometimes several tenths at once. Above that, each attempt has a chance to gain 0.1.
* The '''harder the attempt''' is for your skill level, the better your chance to gain. Your chance also drops as you get closer to your Mace Fighting cap and to your total skill cap of '''700'''.
* If you've set Mace Fighting to go down (the arrow in your skills list), gains elsewhere can lower it to make room under your total cap. Lock skills you want to keep.
* Reaching 100.0 adds Mace Fighting to the '''Skills Mastered''' count on your achievements.
* Fighting also trains [[Skills/Tactics|Tactics]] and [[Skills/Anatomy|Anatomy]] on every hit, so they climb alongside Mace Fighting.
* '''Pick opponents that are a fair match.''' The less certain your hit, the better your chance to gain. If you're guaranteed to hit (your skill + 50 is at least double the defender's skill + 50, such as 50 skill against a defender with none), that swing teaches you nothing.
* Blacksmiths, iron workers and warrior guildmasters will train you for gold: up to a third of their own skill, at most '''42.0''', for '''1 gold per 0.1''' points. Ask them (or use their context menu) to train the skill, then drop the gold on them.

'''Stats:''' each successful use has about a 3% chance to raise Strength and a smaller chance (under 1%) to raise Dexterity by 1 point. Each stat can rise at most once every 10 minutes, and only if it's set to rise.

=== Suggested path ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Mace Fighting !! Where to train
|-
| 0 to 25 || Practice on a '''training dummy'''. Double-click it with your weapon in hand. Carpenters can build them. It stops teaching you at 25.0.
|-
| 25 to 50 || Weak creatures that hit back softly: [[Bestiary/Giant Rat|Giant Rat]], [[Bestiary/Mongbat|Mongbat]], [[Bestiary/Skeleton|Skeleton]], [[Bestiary/Zombie|Zombie]], [[Bestiary/Headless One|Headless One]], [[Bestiary/Ratman|Ratman]].
|-
| 50 to 70 || Tougher camps: [[Bestiary/Orc|Orc]], [[Bestiary/Lizardman|Lizardman]], [[Bestiary/Gargoyle|Gargoyle]], [[Bestiary/Ettin|Ettin]].
|-
| 70 to 90 || Bigger targets with lots of health: [[Bestiary/Troll|Troll]], [[Bestiary/Ogre|Ogre]], [[Bestiary/Earth Elemental|Earth Elemental]]. Your primary move opens up at 70.
|-
| 90 to 100 || Strong creatures you can still win against, such as [[Bestiary/Ogre Lord|Ogre Lord]], [[Bestiary/Lich|Lich]], [[Bestiary/Wyvern|Wyvern]]. Your secondary move opens up at 90.
|}

=== Power scrolls ===
[[File:NB_PowerScroll.png|right|link=|Power scroll]]
Mace Fighting tops out at '''100.0''' unless you use a '''Mace Fighting power scroll'''. There are three kinds: ''exalted'' (110), ''mythical'' (115) and ''legendary'' (120). Double-click one to raise your Mace Fighting cap to that number: ''"You feel a surge of magic as the scroll enhances your Mace Fighting!"''

* Mace Fighting power scrolls come from '''champion bosses''': [[Bestiary/Barracoon|Barracoon]], [[Bestiary/Lord Oaks|Lord Oaks]], [[Bestiary/Mephitis|Mephitis]], [[Bestiary/Neira|Neira]], [[Bestiary/Rikktor|Rikktor]], [[Bestiary/Semidar|Semidar]] and [[Bestiary/Silvani|Silvani]]. Each champion boss leaves '''6 power scrolls''' in random fighting, magic, bard and animal skills, handed out among the players who helped kill it. Each scroll is a 110 (60%), 115 (35%) or 120 (5%).
* A scroll only works if it's higher than your current cap. Otherwise: ''"Your Mace Fighting is too high for this power scroll."''
* Champion power scrolls are '''cursed''': they always drop when you die, even from a blessed container. Use them or bank them quickly.
* Raising the cap doesn't raise your skill. You still have to train the extra points.

== Messages you'll see ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Message !! What it means
|-
| ''You need 70 weapon skill to perform that attack'' || You don't have enough skill for that special move yet (70 for primary, 90 for secondary).
|-
| ''You need 30 mana to perform that attack'' || Not enough mana for the move you readied.
|-
| ''You have delivered a crushing blow!'' || Your war hammer landed a crushing blow (or you used the Crushing Blow move).
|-
| ''Your skill in this weapon cannot improve any further by simply practicing with a dummy.'' || You've reached 25.0. Time to fight real opponents.
|-
| ''You have to wait until it stops swinging.'' || The training dummy is still moving from your last swing.
|-
| ''You feel a surge of magic as the scroll enhances your ~skill~!'' || A power scroll raised your skill cap.
|}

== Tips ==
* '''Grind them down.''' Stamina damage stacks up hit after hit, so maces shine in longer fights and against fleeing targets.
* '''Tactics is not optional.''' At 0 Tactics you deal half damage. Train it alongside Mace Fighting.
* '''Quick or crushing?''' The quarter staff and club swing fastest; the war hammer, war mace and maul trade speed for bigger hits.
* '''Free hand?''' One-handed maces let you carry a shield and use [[Skills/Parrying|Parrying]].
* '''Carry bandages.''' [[Skills/Healing|Healing]] is the classic partner for any warrior.

[[Category:Skills]]

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