Another weapon you commonly see in many fantasy worlds is the mace. It consists of two parts: the handle or club as it’s also known and the large metallic spiky ball anchored atop it. This is a powerful weapon capable of inflicting massive damage to the target. While not as popular as the sword or bow and arrows, the fantasy mace brings something to the table they don’t.
Maces are favored by people who prefer heavy weapons with great power. However, they have one significant advantage over swords. While there are swords whose blades have been doused with poison, mace-users are more likely to sprinkle poison on the spikes. A poison-laced fantasy mace is more likely to kill its target faster than a poison sword could. This is because if the target survives the initial collision, the many sores that popped up afterward will have poison in them, causing him more pain as it saps his life energy.
This is the fourth in a series of articles covering the many different kinds of weapons in fantasy. If you want more, check out our other articles:
Looking into The 3 Unique Types of Fantasy Swords
Learning All About The Popular Fantasy Bow and Arrows
The Different Types of Fantasy Axes You See
With that said, let’s start with the most common version of the fantasy mace: the club.
Of the different weapons within the mace family, the club is the most used. Its elongated shape allows the user to have more room to hold it, though the material used vary. Simple clubs are wooden due to the widespread availability of this resource but the wood used tend to be tough and durable. More advanced clubs are metallic because while they contain more power, the club itself needs to be stronger to withstand the pressure being applied on it.
Due to their potential to inflict massive damage, mace clubs are favored by the forces of darkness. It’s only right behind the sword and bow and arrow in terms of usability. All tiers of dark forces use this weapon. The wood clubs are used by the low-ranking grunts like orcs or those who enjoy hurting their enemies. Metallic clubs are preferred by elite soldiers or commanders.
Constructing one from scratch is no easy feat. Rather, it’s a long process that has many steps. First you have to get the metal used for the large spiky ball and forge it and mold it, which is time-consuming. Secondly, you need to get the material for the club, whether it be wood or metal, and work on it. Thirdly, you need to fuse the two together.
That’s why it’s just better to buy one from an armorer. Many armor shops carry this product. However, the amount they carry is lower than that of swords. Again, it’s because swords are more popular and thus are more likely to sell than mace clubs. Also, they charge a higher price for the mace club than for swords because of the labor-intensive process in creating one but the trade-off is worth it because in the end, the customer will have a decidedly more powerful weapon in his arsenal.
The second kind of fantasy mace is wholly different than the mace club. Actually, it’s different than many weapons you see in fantasy. The reason for the difference is that it’s a large metallic spiky ball attached to a metallic chain. It can be slung as far as the chain will take it which makes it a very devastating weapon to use in battle. The user can spin it around wildly, creating a large area between himself and his enemy. The wild gyrations makes it hard to determine when he’ll sling it against his foe. When he finally does, if his aim is true, it’ll violently crash into his opponent, causing grievous, if not lethal, harm to him.
While it’s large and powerful, wielding one is cumbersome and smart opponents deftly exploit it, using it against their user. If the attack misses, the spiky ball can get stuck in the ground or embedded in an object, costing the user valuable time and perhaps his life.
This style of fantasy mace is used by people who like powerful weapons capable of delivering punishing damage, the Witch-King in Return of the King being one. Elite minions of the forces of darkness include the ball ’n’ chain in their arsenal. They recognize the dangers of wielding such a weapon but they use it nevertheless because they believe they won’t lose.
While this particular mace gets more use by the servants of evil, the good guys use it as well, though not as much as the other side does. It’s because it’s costly to make and it consumes resources that otherwise would have gone towards making more affordable weapons like swords. You would be hard pressed to find an armor shop that carries the ball ’n’ chain.
Magical maces are the third type of this weapon. They usually have effects that augment their already formidable ability to inflict massive damage on the target like poison or fire. These effects help the target perish if he somehow survives the first blow as they’ll quickly sap whatever strength he has left.
By far, the most dangerous power to add to maces is fire. Since fire eats through metal like termites and wood, ensuring that the metal resists fire is the first step in making a magical mace. Alternatively, the metal used could be designed to be impervious to fire or it could be blessed with magical power. The sorcerer then bestows the power of fire on the mace, turning what was already a powerful weapon into a far more dangerous version. In battle, the flames on the mace would consume the shields and armor of the user’s foes. The metal in their swords would melt down, leaving them unable to defend themselves against the mace user.
The same thing applies to the ball ’n’ chain. Imagine one that uses the power of ice. Ice shards would be flying all over the place, piercing the skin of everyone nearby except the user, who would be outfitted in heavy armor to protect himself.
Many top underlings of the dark lord carry magic maces. The underlings are usually sadists who enjoy watching their opponents writhe in pain as they die. They’re also skilled in battle, easily killing their enemies.
Magic maces are very rare to come across. However, those that do exist are among the most powerful weapons in the world and are hidden in faraway places where most people dare not tread. Only a select few exist in the world and only wizards and those who can do magic have the power to create them.
Maces, while not as popular as swords and bow and arrows, have far more destructive potential than them. They have the potential to cause deep gashes on the target, should he somehow survive being bludgeoned by one. Adding magical properties only amplifies their power, making their user one of the most powerful on the battlefield.
When incorporating this weapon in your world, first consider what material you’ll use for the handle and the metal for the spiky ball. Many wooden maces are simple in design whereas metal maces tend to have a bit of complexity. Also consider who it’s for. Villains like their maces to be rough and ferocious in appearance to intimidate their opponents. The same applies for the ball ’n’ chain and magic maces.
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