The Poleaxe is currently the strongest weapon in Half Sword. Sure, you can spam overhead strikes and win most fights — but this guide is for players who want to fight technical and tactical. Let's dive into some seriously cool techniques.

Technique 1: High Guard Hand-Swap

This opener is cheeky but effective. You're baiting the enemy into thinking you'll throw a horizontal overhead — then you crash down on their skull instead.

⚔️ How to Execute

1. Hold your poleaxe in a high horizontal guard
2. Don't move your mouse — keep it still
3. Press your Swap Hands key
4. Watch the poleaxe crash down onto their head

High guard hand-swap technique demonstration — The hand-swap causes the poleaxe to crash down from high guard

Why This Works

Even if you don't knock them out, this technique disrupts their equilibrium with a concussive blow. Follow up with a few more shots and they'll be forced to surrender.

Technique 2: Looping Horizontal Strike

These big looping strikes hit like a Mac truck. The secret? Using hand-swap to wind up extra momentum.

🔄 The Looping Motion

1. Pull your poleaxe up towards your shoulder (winding up)
2. At the peak where you'd normally strike down, hit Swap Hands
3. The weapon loops all the way around to the other side
4. Throw your horizontal or diagonal strike with devastating power

Looping horizontal strike with hand-swap — The looping motion generates massive striking power

Technique 3: Footwork + Reverse Strike

This technique combines movement and positioning to land a devastating back-of-the-poleaxe hit.

🦶 Footwork is Key

1. Bait the enemy into missing — ideally an overhead attack
2. As they miss, move in towards them and to their side (almost behind them)
3. Move your mouse forward then straight back
4. Hit them with the back of your poleaxe

Reverse strike with footwork positioning — Position yourself to their side for the reverse strike

🎯 Head Target

Aim high for a concussive strike that knocks them out or off their feet.

🦵 Leg Target

Aim low — most enemies have no armor on the back of their legs. Potential kill strike!

Technique 4: Subtle Hand Switching

Hand switching is super powerful even without fancy techniques. The physics create a natural pull-and-release motion that generates strikes on its own.

🤲 The Physics Trick

When you swap hands, the poleaxe:

• Pulls back on one side
• Releases forward on the other
• Creates subtle but effective swings

Simple But Deadly

You can win fights just by subtle hand swapping without any complex techniques. Great for concussive blows and slipping strikes between armor gaps.

Blocking with the Poleaxe

Blocking can be good but finicky. The key insight: block early, not late.

🛡️ Blocking Principles

• Block early in the enemy's attack, not when it's about to hit
• Aim the tip of your poleaxe at their weapon shaft
• Stop their momentum before it builds
• If they hit with full force, they'll push through your block

Proper blocking stance with poleaxe — Aim your tip at their weapon shaft to intercept early

Active Parrying

Instead of passive blocking, try meeting their blade with a strike. This can knock their weapon away and open them up for a counter.

Positioning Matters

Try to get your poleaxe above theirs when blades clash. If you're below, they can just bash you in the head even after you block.

Putting It All Together: Combos

This is where Half Sword looks prettiest and feels most rewarding. One technique flows naturally into the next.

🔥 Recommended Combo Chain

1. Horizontal Hand-Swap — The opener that disrupts their balance
2. Looping Hand-Swap Strike — Devastating follow-up with massive power
3. Half-Sword Horizontal to the Head — The finisher

Full combo chain execution — Chain your techniques for devastating combo sequences

Mix in Kicks

Kicking between combos works really nicely. It creates space and can stagger enemies for your next technique.

If the first two strikes land and they're not down, they'll be reeling like they're drunk. The half-sword shot to the head finishes them — they go down, you force surrender.

Key Takeaways

🔄

Hand-Swap is King

Most techniques rely on the swap hands key

🦶

Footwork Matters

Position yourself for reverse strikes

🛡️

Block Early

Stop momentum before it builds

⛓️

Chain Techniques

One technique flows into the next

Now get out there and develop your own combinations. The poleaxe is oppressively strong — with these techniques, you'll be unstoppable.

Source: YouTube Channel Stridah's Angels