What are the Different Types of LARP Weapons?

Combat and weaponry are an important element of most live action roleplaying games, and after decades of development, the options offered to LARPers in terms of weaponry are plentiful. Most LARP weapons are made safe for mock combat by being crafted with light and flexible materials, and with time, what used to look like puffy foam tubes are now presenting more and more realistic finishes, as well as more varied shapes. If early LARP weapons were merely combat accessories, they are now part of a character's costume, and often bring an aesthetic touch to a warrior's set.

Live action roleplaying game take inspiration from history, mythology and fantasy, with themes and ideas often being burrowed from video games and tabletop roleplaying game such as Dungeons and Dragons. When it comes to weaponry, it means realism or historical reenactment aren't always the priority, with safety concerns, combat systems, and unapologetic ''cool factor'' often driving weapon designs and the way they are used in combat.

LARP Weapon Types

Swords

Swords sub-types

• • ➼ Short Swords
  • ➼ Medium Swords
  • ➼ Long Swords
  • ➼ Bastard Swords
  • ➼ Two Handed Swords

Specialty Weapons

Axes

Cheaper to make than a sword, and hitting with much more impact force, the battle axes were very popular battlefield weapons, and a good compromise between the versatility of swords and the deadly, yet clumsier maces and warhammers. Historical battle axes, such as those often used by the Vikings, were often quite light and nimble in the hand, but in LARP, fantasy design are commonly massively oversized for a more intimidating look. The real life advantages of axes are difficult to mimic with foam weapons, but some designs have reinforced heads, allowing them to be used to hook shields and weapons, giving them interesting advantages in combat for advanced fencing techniques.

• • ➼ Axes

Maces and Warhammers

Some of the simplest and most ancient types of weapons, bludgeoning weapons like clubs, maces, and hammers were easy to use and deadly even in unskilled hands. Historically, there were often seen either as early weapons when metallurgy wasn't quite advanced enough, devastating cavalry weapons, or more often anti-armor specialists. In LARP, the armor crushing and devastating impact force of these weapons cannot be replicated, and they often fall into niche uses, their particular appearance and brutal, effective simplicity giving them some popularity as an alternative to the more common LARP swords. Fantasy designs of those weapons are also often oversized and quite impressive, making them great choices for larger than life types of characters.

• • ➼ Bludgeoning weapons

Polearms

The rulers of historical battlefields, polearms such as halberds, spears, and glaives can also be quite oppressive in LARP combat, the reach advantage they offer being very relevant in most combat systems around the world, and even more in large scale battles on open fields. Their dominance is only mitigated by safety concerns, with most foam polearm designs being only safe to use for hack and slash, and not thrusting. Still, long poking pikes are still a sight to behold in many battlefields, most famously Bicolline, where pikemen phalanxes are often seen as the core unit. Polearms are also more cumbersome to carry around, better suited to a soldier than an adventurer, which sometimes limit their use to those truly dedicated to this fighting style. The only exceptions to that are the combat staves, which can easily be carried casually like walking sticks.

• • ➼ Polearms

Light Weapons

Light weapons is a very broad category, and some of the distinctive traits of these weapons can be also applied to an extend to short swords and smaller axes. What brings light weapons together is that they aren't really meant as a main weapon, their shorter reach making them difficult to use in a fair fight.

Where they shine is as back up weapons, off-hand weapons used while dual wielding, or when the combat situation is anything but fair. For instance, daggers are perfect for assassins that attack at unexpected moments, drawing a short blade in an instant to strike and vanish without giving their target the time to riposte. Even smaller knives can be uses as hidden weapons, or thrown, since the smallest foam weapons often have no rigid core, making them safe to hurl at your foes.

Light Weapons sub-types

• • ➼ Daggers
  • ➼ Throwing Knives
  • ➼ Junior Weapons (for teens and younger players)

Ranged Weapons

The importance of ranged weapons on historical battlefields is a stated fact. Impossible to ignore in siege warfare, skirmishes, and and pitch battles, bows and crossbows provided a way to weaken and demoralize a foe from afar, without risking a melee engagement. In LARP, even if the effective range of these weapons is much shorter than in real life, they certainly keep that advantage and see a lot of use. Perfect for light footed and less armoured combatants, archery offers a different play style than melee weapons, combat revolving much more about aim, positioning, and quickness to recover those lost arrows laying on the ground.

Contrary to real arrows, LARP arrows are soft tipped and slow moving, thanks to the low draw weight of LARP bows, the  goal being to have a projectile that cannot injure by accident, even if the arrow flies into someone's eye. For that purpose, open foam arrow tips are known as the safest in the hobby, while round tipped arrows are more accurate but banned in some events.

Archery gear

• • ➼ Bows
  • ➼ Arrows
  • ➼ Quivers

Shields

In terms of defence, only the best armor can somewhat rival the protection offered by a good shield. For centuries, from Antiquity until the end of the Middle Ages, they dominated the battlefields, used by common soldiers, knights, and irregular troops. Shields can be used to form defensive infantry walls, to block arrows, and to close in safely with foes that wield long weapons such as spears. A good shield can allow to fight against multiple opponents and to survive very dangerous situations. In LARP, all of these qualities are not only true, but made even more valuable as, unlike in real combat, foam weapons will never destroy your shield, and grappling is generally forbidden.

Shield bearers are among the most difficult foes to down in combat, often needing to be overwhelmed by greater numbers and flanked. Bigger shields always offer more protection, but at the expanse of mobility and aggression, since a large shield will limit your angles of attack. Bucklers, on the other hand, provide little cover but are easier to carry and move around to block unexpected attacks.

LARP shields can be made of various materials, but for safety reasons, they aren't used to bash or strike, unlike in real battle. Foam and latex shields tend to be the lightest, but many players will craft more authentic shields of their own. Metal frames and shield bosses can be bought to provide a base, and safety padding must always be added around the edges of such shields to protect both the players and their weapons.

Shield sub-types

• • ➼ Latex Shields
  • ➼ Latex Bucklers
  • ➼ Metal Shields
  • ➼ Shield Bosses (for DIY wooden shields)

What materials are used for LARP weapons?

Where to buy a LARP weapon?

Les Artisans d'Azure hold most of the main brands for LARP weapons, as well as important accessories such as scabbards and belts to carry them during your LARP event. Come visit our store in person for advice and assistance, or shop online to find everything you need to gear up your next character!