Splitnir: The Definition of “Meh” 

I havnt crafted a spear since the flint spear lol

Another not so obvious and counterintuitive disadvantage of spears, is that their primary attack has a lower range than one-handed clubs and swords. Spear primary: 1.9 m 1H-Clubs and -Swords primary: 2.4 m 1H-Club secondary: 2.4 m 1H-Sword Secondary: 2.7 m This aspect would be imo the best setscrew to make spears competitive: Give the spear melee attack a significantly higher reach than other one-handed weapons. A option to two-hand them for higher dmg and knockback, would be also cool. The only melee weapon property spears currently have going for them, is their high attack speed for the first hit. If you want to play very careful, hiding behind a tower shield and only dealing one hit, after the enemy attacked. Then the spear has a slight advantage: Spear: 0.68 s, 0.68 s, 0.68 s, ... -> 0.68 s on average 1H-Clubs and Swords 3 hit combo: 1.14 s, 0.44 s, 0.88 s, ... -> 0.82 s on average, but the 3rd hit does double dmg So if you only get one attack in at a time, the spear is much faster. But even though I sometimes use such a careful play style, I then still don't like the spears, because of their unreliable hitbox, low range and the need to aim them quite accurately to hit at all, and the many mobs with pierce resist. Another reason not to use the spear, is that using a weapon throughout a biome, has also the purpose to raise a weapon skill, useful to defeat the boss(es) of that biome. Since Fader, as well as Lord Reto are both resistant to pierce, that is an additional reason to not use a spear in the Ashlands. Considering, that Queen, Yagluth and Bonemass are also resistant to pierce, most players choosing a optimized play style, likely have higher skills in other melee weapons anyways. This then is an additional reason to avoid spears, and instead further develop a already higher, more useful weapon skill in preparation for the Fader and Lord Reto fights. I would argue, beginning with the swamps, where Bonemass, Abominations, Wraith, Blobs, Oozers are all resistant to pierce, spears make no sense for an optimized play style. And if you want to be prepared in skill for that, it is even better to not use them from the beginning. A side note about Morgens: They are resistant to blunt, slash and pierce alike, but weak to lightning. So a lighting spear with it's relative high attack speed procs the lightning more often , and thus theoretically could be decent here, compared to Niedhögg and Flametal Mace. Especially if you don't want to use the Berserkir axes, over a shield and one-handed weapon, the spear might be a decent choice. But considering that it is more effective to stick with one weapon type to get one skill as high as possible, that is not enough of a reason to use a lightning spear.

Been running spears in my most recent run of the game. It’s difficult and frustrating at times. I’ve yeeted my spears into the abyss or off a mountain too many damn times… that being said there is nothing more satisfying than absolutely sniping something with a good shot, also partying with a shield then following up with a spear throw can be deadly. Someone said it would be cool if it returned to your hand, maybe we’ll get something like that in deep north, I hope they get some kind of buff in the future

Honestly, I feel like people that use spears (Sitting Forgetting, I'm looking at you...) are kinda just flexing, but that's cool. Kinda like, "I'll fight you with one hand tied behind my back".

Spears need an overhaul. W/o a shield i think they should be two handed. Underhand grip with a shield, and use overhand only for the throw. 2 hands should also deal slightly more damage than 1 handed. Basically make it like an atgeir with more options but doesn't cut. Also, why are there soo few enemies vulnerable to pierce, the game is very club heavy. I love clubs irl but thrusts are always more deadly than cuts.

kinda funny that the the atgeir acts way more as a spear aside from its special spin move

Yeah spears are an acquired taste that I haven't acquired either. Still, it might be useful in some other biome??? Look at me trying to be optimistic.

Spears are a hard pass for me.... I'm spoiled by atgeirs

Spear user here, I learned recently that the skill goes up faster than the other weapons, so because I used the spear since the beginning my skill was so high compared to other weapons that it was still relevant, I honestly love the throw cause you it does a lot of stagger damage, I'm in the Mistland now and so far I'm destroying everything, even 1 star seekers or soldiers

I'm wondering if it's a weapon that's intended to "play up" if you will, in the Deep North. Basically, bunch of enemies there weak to pierce, no new pierce weapon for the biome - hence Splitnir becomes solid choice "Up Nort".

I have messed about a fair bit with spears in Valheim and after a lot of experience AND thought on the subject I really can't find a reason to use them much past BF and at all past plains (where they're actually quite a good choice for a bunch of reasons). They have 2 niches which set them apart in my mind, one is with a tower shield since they attack very fast and don't have the combos other weapons do you can justify dropping the shield for a single targetted strike then back to blocking. This is good when you're mobbed and have to pick off enemies one by one in a slow and methodical manner. The second niche is in tight areas like crypts and burial chambers, because the spear is just thrusts you don't run the risk of catching walls and doors when you attack. Outside of these two very specific examples I don't see a single good reason to use spears once you hit the Elder really, and this is coming from someone who actually LIKES the spears! In the meadows and BF they are actually very good, they make deer hunting a breeze, they're great for kiting greydwarves around trees and rocks and the pierce isn't a problem for early enemies. They're also pretty good for hunting birds too, although the harpoon is really the king of feather farming if we're being honest (sure it's a spear but only by proxy in most regards). Ultimately I have to agree wholeheartedly with the analysis, the Splitnir is indeed just kinda 'meh'.

What good is in spears what others dont have higher skill gain, since it hits fast and gives 1.5 exp per hit (if i remeber correctly) basicly more than any other weapon

Lets be honest here. They could've made a weapon like bolt of gransax and made that op and it would've been lot of fun. Somehow I feel the weapons were a bit lackluster except for the trollstav.

I recommend throwing the spear pointblank, your character with auto pickup and you can quickly follow up with stabs to finish the target.

I agree with some of the others. the spears are great for throwing... Throw it away and use the AXES !!!

Someone said Connery or Cage. My mind went to 'VPS:Ashlands' 😉😂

Lvl2 thunder Nidhogg feels really nice

abit sad you weren't using Ask Armor for the bonus to mobility, stamina cost when attacking and Pierce damage which helps the spear a long way most enemies are killed with a well placed parry with a buckler followed by what attacks i can get in before having to parry again. Without parry charred marskmen goes down in 2 hits (no stagger) and charred Twitcher only takes 1 parry followed by 2 hits to take them out. asksvins also only takes 1 parry and 3 hits to take out, for Valkyries you can make jump attacks to get some more damage in and make up for the lack of range, Morgens takes a while but the method for them is parry followed by 2 attacks and repeat until it dies, if you trigger the lighting effect then you can stun lock it with pure attacks after the next parry without having to parry it futher. (i am also level 99 with spears which alow me to kill alot of the enemies way quicker in the ashlands, only struggeling with warriors, so i asume my skill level with spears makes up for the lack of damage in a way that made it so i didn't struggle in the ashlands with spears) Appreciate that you gave them a chance though, great video =)

The most common enemies are resistant to pierce. There is nothing you can do about it. This much slash resistance would make axes/swords useless. Hopefully Deep North won't have this many pierce resistance so spears and atgeirs can be useful.

Honestly dont understand why the splitnir didnt get a rework. The weapon would be so much better if it returned to your hand 1 second after hitting a target.

A spear should be two-handed, to make use of it's reach. The dev made us one hand it..... Ok so let's one hand it, but we can use it while covering behind a shield, right? Nope..... Your shield cannot be raised during an attack. Thanks Valheim Dev's, for making spears completely useless.

What does this look like when using the Askvin armor set? +30% pierce and -60% attack stam (-70% with cloak)...that seems like it would be the winning combo.

It's weird they added Splitnir. I felt like the reason there weren't any new knives or atgeirs, was because pierce damage is so weak in Ashlands. But Splitnir exists lol.

Little disappointed that you went with "let's get off this rock" but didn't follow it up with a Connery or Cage voice. Missed opportunity, imo 😅

I hope creatures in deep both are very weak to pierce

I love spears early game. But soon as i progress i tend to switch to swords

Splitnir is great in ALL but Ashlands

The spear moveset is garbage besides the throw. The throw makes it ok.

Awesome video.

what mods do you using ?

I HATE THEM!!

lol do you really need a 20 minute video to show why you shouldn't use a weapon that mobs are resistant too?

Not first!