Melee Weapon

Melee weapons are weapons designed for direct hand-to-hand combat. Once believed to be obsolete by many, new technology has allowed melee weapons to make a return to the battlefield.

Overview
Melee weapons can be divided into three separate types: edged, pointed, and blunt, though some weapons can simultaneously fit into multiple categories.


 * Edged weapons are designed to cut and dismember opponents. Swords, daggers, axes, knives, and some pole weapons fall into this category.


 * Pointed weapons are designed to stab into a target. They oftentimes possess more reach than either a blunt or edged weapon, with a few exceptions. This group covers pole weapons such as spears and halberds.


 * Blunt weapons apply blunt-force trauma to a target and are useful for both crowd control and eliminating targets. Hammers, maces, flails, and similar devices fall into this category. Solid shields also qualify, as while they may be built to serve a defensive role, they can be used to ram into and bash targets.

Certain melee weapons are relatively effective against energy shielding because the shield will not respond to the weapon if it is slowly pushed through; however, in order to be effective, this often requires the user to catch their target by surprise or to overpower them, leaving them unable to retaliate.

Categories

 * Basic

Basics are 'traditional' melee weapons in that they are not enhanced by any form of technology. The majority of utility knives used by soldiers on the field are of this type. Basics can be laced with poison to increase their lethality.


 * Plasma Blade

Edged and pointed weapons can be fitted with plasma blades which are highly effective against both armor and flesh. Basic models consist of a metal blade with internal components which produce a plasma edge, whereas more advanced models utilize a localized magnetic field to create a blade of solid plasma. Like other plasma weapons, these weapons require both a battery and a fuel reserve.


 * Shock Weapons

Shock weapons are melee weapons which use electricity to shock their target. Some law enforcement agencies use low-power 'stun batons' to incapacitate insubordinate criminals.


 * High-Frequency Blade

High-frequency blades are primarily edged and pointed weapons which vibrate at a very high frequency, greatly increasing their cutting potential. Some blunt weapons, such as maces and flails that feature flanges, can also be built to vibrate to increase their effectiveness against armor. High-frequency weapons require a battery to function. These weapons can be laced with poison.


 * Saw Blade

Saw blades are edged melee weapons equipped with one or more saw or motorized chainsaw blades which are highly effective against infantry. These weapons create grievous wounds that are very difficult to mend under battlefield conditions; like needle guns, many victims die from blood loss. More sophisticated models envelop the blades in an energized field or have them vibrate to increase their effectiveness. The loud noise produced by chain weapons makes them very effective for intimidating enemies; at the same time, it also makes them one of the worst possible choices for infiltration and stealth.


 * Crystal Blade

The Margan also exclusively use bladed and edged weapons made of the crystals that originated from their homeworld. As well as retaining their toxic properties, these weapons are razor sharp and can be forged for countering both armor and infantry.


 * Breacher

While they visually resemble typical melee weapons, breachers are one-time use shaped charges which explode upon impact. They take the form of either a blunt or pointed weapon, and are used to both catch the enemy by surprise and to pierce armored targets. A variety of warheads can be used, such as plasma charges, acid, incendiary munitions, and electricity.


 * Gravity Weapon

Gravity weapons are blunt weapons which utilize gravity manipulation technology to exponentially increase their power. Gravity weapons can easily shatter the bones of a target, and with sufficient force, can violently fling a target across a room. Such weapons usually have no cutting power, but the sheer trauma inflicted upon a target is more than enough to cripple or kill them.


 * Hybrid

Hybrids are weapons which are a hybridization of a ranged and a melee weapon, often with the ability to transform between one or the other or capable of utilizing both weapons at the same time. Hybrids can utilize any of the aforementioned melee weapons, and can range from a pair of gravity-enhanced shotgun gauntlets to a plasma sword which can fire bolts of plasma.