Stoneshard – Beginners Spear Guide

Newbie Spear Guide

The Foundation

The basic setup is to unlock the first 4 skills in the spear tree. Put all stat points into agility. The first two skills are impaling lunge and nail down. These are the main skills for the class. Use them in this order: nail down, then impaling lunge twice. This combo works well for the next few levels.

The third skill is precise hit. It helps the combo by making enemies less accurate and easier to hit. The fourth skill is no retreat. This skill gives you some defense when nail down doesn’t work, and when fighting multiple enemies.

Ramping Up

Next, save your skill point until you reach agility level 15. Then unlock both pikeman stance and determination at once. Pikeman stance is very important for this class. It gives all spear skills a chance to push back and stop enemies. This helps a lot in one-on-one fights and when fighting groups. Determination usually gives you two free, stronger hits. These two skills really define the spear class.

In my game, I did something different. I increased perception to 15 and got determination and mighty kick. This worked, but pikeman stance is better. I suggest getting mighty kick later and then focusing on other skills.

God Combo

This is the best combo now:

• Use pikeman stance
• Use determination
• If the enemy is pushed back, wait
• Attack again

Usually, start this when the enemy is 2 spaces away. If they can dash, adjust for that.

From here, two things can happen:

If determination only pushes back (or doesn’t):

• Nail down
• Impaling lunge twice

If determination also stops the enemy from moving:

• Impaling lunge
• Nail down
• Impaling lunge twice

The goal is to push enemies back so they waste a turn moving, or to keep them close and use impaling lunge a lot.

As you use pikeman stance more, impaling lunge can start to push back and stop enemies by itself. If you’re lucky, you can keep using impaling lunge over and over. Use nail down to reset if this doesn’t work.

Later into the Game

At level 5, you can start some fights without getting hit, especially in Osbrook and some Mannshire dungeons. Next, increase perception and strength to 15. Put some points into vitality for more energy and health when needed. Also, max out the spear tree skills. Other good skills to get are opportune moment for energy, setup for better accuracy, mighty kick, and push the falling. Push the falling gives more energy and staggers enemies. These skills make the class even stronger.

Problems with the Class

Ranged enemies are tough to deal with. Bowmen are annoying, but crossbowmen are the worst. They can stop you from moving, push you back, and make you bleed while you’re fighting other enemies. Mages are an even bigger problem, especially pyromancers and electromancers. They can do a lot of damage and are hard to catch.

To deal with these enemies in open fields, I use a trick. I lead the group to the edge of the map. Then I make the melee enemies follow me to the next area. I defeat them first, then go after the ranged enemies. Sometimes I can appear right next to ranged enemies by moving between map areas in a certain way. This might seem unfair, but it’s hard to deal with them otherwise, especially in dungeons.

Other spear users can be tricky too. When you’re level 5, start the fight from three tiles away instead of two. Use determination, then move back two tiles. This makes them follow you and lets you attack for free.

Walkthrough

For your starting character, Velmir is good for better accuracy. Jorgrim works too if you want more damage and critical hits, but he can’t get blessings from shrines.

Sell your starting weapons, map, and mead to get money for medicine. Buy enough medicine that you feel comfortable. I usually get 2 salves, 1 bandage, 1 splint, and 1-2 antitoxins. I also pick up fly agaric for pain treatment to save money.

Do side quests to get free medicine and more money. The carpenter quest lets you fight easier enemies instead of tough mercenaries at the brewery.

For equipment, get the fang amulet from the beggar outside the tavern and some falconer gloves to use skills more easily. For weapons, start with a militia spear, then a war pitchfork, and finally a Brandiestock in Brynn.

For armor, use medium armor from Mannshire. The Hauberk, mail gloves, and soldier boots work well until you reach the mage dungeon in Brynn.

For other items, try to get ones that improve accuracy, reduce fumble chance, give more energy, and increase critical hit chance and damage. Aim for about 10% fumble chance. Make sure your accuracy feels good to you, and get as much damage as you can without making accuracy or fumble chance worse.