Summary
Soulslike gamesaren’t exactly known for being the most ‘user-friendly’ in the action RPG genre. They’re immersive, challenging, and come with a steep learning curve, but the vastness of their worlds and combat systems adds an unpredictable element that isn’t found in other action games. For beginners, theoverwhelming number of choices for weapons, combined with the lack of a clear linear progression, can be pretty intimidating.
With that said, the most common and easy-to-master combat style in most Soulslike games ismelee combat. Swords, halberds, scythes, sabers, and even more fantasy-inspired weapons like hammers and rose bouquets (cueElden Ringflashbacks) are all solid choices for melee combat. However, one weapon that stands out for a beginner’s build — not just because of its heavy damage, but also its medium to long range, which keeps players out of harm’s way — isthe spear. While each game may have different stats and nuances for using a spear, the basics remain the same: safe-distance enemy engagement, and very high damage output.
Dark Soulsis the flagship Souls game that essentially started this whole Soulslike and Soulsborne bonanza. It’s the benchmark that most Soulslike games look up to as inspiration for their own renditions of the genre, so naturally, it nails every key aspect of what makes a Soulslike game great. One such aspect is very standard, yet very meticulous spear combat.
Dark Soulshas about ten spears in the game, some more powerful than others. Spear attacks are perfect for players who want to go on the defensive instead of going outright blazing in with their combat, thanks to their long-range attacks. Their distance and long reach can be easily compared tosome of the best ranged weaponsand skills in the game. However, unless players find a very strong spear early on, the damage scaling on these weapons is not that great and may need consistent replacement. The Silver Knight Spear, Demon’s Spear, and Winged Spear are among the best options, with the Winged Spear standing out as an excellent early-game weapon.
There’s not much left to say when it comes to introducingElden Ring— it’s a game that’s already well-known and adored by the industry. IfDark Soulsis the legacy that Soulslike games aspire to, thenElden Ringis the golden child that’s living up to and exceeding it. With how massive the game is, there’s practically no path a playercan’ttake. They can literally do any kind of run they want, with any type of build they want, and still come out the other side as potentially godlike characters.
A spear run inElden Ringisn’t the most common choice considering how, despite the implications, there are better weapons in the game that scale far more impressively. However, if a player does decide to go for it,Elden Ringoffersboth Spears and Great Spearswith some hefty range that are perfect for a good horseback combat build. The Serpent-Hunter, a Great Spear, is the only weapon in the game capable of doing any significant damage to Rykard, and is additionally amazing for high-strength builds that are designed for staggering enemies. The strongest spear, the Bolt of Gransax, essentially turns the player into Zeus — so, it’s a win-win. With the arrival ofShadow of the Erdtree, spears have become even more useful, with a Spear-and-Shield build being one of the first truly viable builds for the expansion’s final boss.
Ashenis a non-FromSoft Soulslike that canonically puts a strong emphasis on spears using a common crafting material found in the game known as a Spear Head. The game is an open-world third-person adventure that focuses on character growth through weapons and builds, making it crucial for players to have a reliable weapon.
Ashenfeatures six spears that are all craftable and throwable. This means spears inAshenaren’t the standard long-range melee weapons typically seen in other games, butare, instead, fully ranged weapons, perfect for taking out groups of unsuspecting enemies from a distance. They’re usually crafted using Spear Heads at Vorsa, and are awesome to have on the side as secondary weapons. While they are a bit difficult to master with their small hitbox and wavering accuracy, a good practice session can easily remedy that. The strongest spear in the game, the Shield Maiden’s Spear, has impressive range and high damage output.
For players seeking a historically-grounded Soulslike experience, leaning more towardsSekirothanDark Souls,Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyis an ideal action RPG. Set during the Yellow Turban Rebellion in a fictionalized Han Dynasty, this 2023 game incorporates Chinese mythology and folklore into its premise and adapts the same intense combat system seen in other Team Ninja titles, particularlyNiohandNioh 2.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyplaces a strong emphasis on spear combat and has some of the strongest spear builds in the Soulslike scene. Since the game isheavily focused on melee combat, it might take some time for players to find a build that suits their playstyle. However, ultimately, a spear build allows players to strike a balanced offensive-defensive approach and may just be the perfect fit for beginners. The game offers five spears to its players, with each one having its own martial arts skill and scaling damage output. The strongest spear — obtained from fighting the boss, Zhao Yun — is an excellent late-game weapon that has a unique Martial Arts skill exclusive to this it alone.
Niohis the second game on this list by Team Ninja that offers a comprehensive spear system. While FromSoftware’s Soulslikes are known for their expansive combat, other developers inspired by the genre, like Team Ninja, don’t hold back either.Nioh, likeWo Long: Fallen Dynasty, blends historical and fictional elements, creating a unique rendition of Japan’s Sengoku Period in the 1600s. The game follows an Irish sailor’sjourney to becoming a Samuraiand aiding Japan in navigating the excessively volatile conflict between the clans of Japan and the evil Yokai.
Nioh’sspear combat, as mentioned before, is exceptional. The game features over 20 spears and numerous spear skills that can be used in various ways to overpower enemies. Most spears are very safe and mobile and are usually used for mid-stance strong attacks, despite being a bit difficult to master. While they are notable for their mid-stance attacks, their high-stance skills, like the Spearfall, have some of the highest damage output in the game and can essentially just one-shot enemies.
Lords Of The Fallenis a 2023 remake/sequel to the 2014 Soulslike game of the same name. The 2014LoTF, despite being one of the first games to attempt to mirror theSoulsformula, wasn’t exactly well-received, which led to the release of the 2023 version. The game is set in a dark fantasy world and follows a Lamp Bearer as they set off to prevent the rebirth of an old tyrannical demon god.
True to its inspiration,Lords of the Fallencaptures the essence ofDark Soulswith its gothic, fictionalized, Medieval-esque world. Naturally, spears are a key part of the combat system. Like in other games, spears inLoTFare long-ranged weapons, perfect for engaging enemies from a safe distance. The game offers 13 different spears, many of which come with strong status effects and buffs such as bleed, poison, smite, frostbite, and burn. Some of the strongest spears in the game, like Veil-Piercer and Skinstealer, have exceptionally powerful frostbite and burn effects, respectively. The Lightreaper spear possesses the highest physical damage in the game, and scales impressively well.
