Hunt Showdown: 1896 stands out as a unique first-person shooter, cleverly blending both ranged and melee combat. Throughout the game’s swamps and mountains, players realize the importance of balancing these two weapon types. Relying solely on one can put you at a disadvantage in specific scenarios.
One of the standout melee choices in Hunt is the Throwing Spear, which also offers a degree of ranged utility. It’s a valuable weapon for its cost, effective in both PvE and PvP battles, and can significantly enhance a Hunter’s chances of survival.
How to Equip the Throwing Spear
To get your hands on the Throwing Spear, you’ll need to purchase it in the Tools section of your loadout for 150 Hunt Dollars. While this price might seem high compared to other tools, it’s important to consider the exceptional value and flexibility the Throwing Spear provides.
In comparison to Throwing Knives and Axes, the Throwing Spear is a straightforward upgrade, boasting superior damage, greater reach, and a more favorable throwing angle. The only drawback is that you can only carry one at a time, unlike the multiple Axes or Knives.
If you wish to carry more than one Throwing Spear without consuming additional Tool slots, the Frontiersman Hunter Trait grants an extra charge for all your Tools, allowing you to bring an additional Spear along with another Tool.
How to Use the Throwing Spear in PvE
The Throwing Spear becomes your ideal weapon for virtually all minor enemies, with a few exceptions.
Enemies to Target with the Throwing Spear
When dealing with enemies like Grunts, Armored foes, Hives, Water Devils, and Hellhounds, you can generally dispatch them with one or two stabs using the Throwing Spear. Water Devils require a well-timed throw, but they can be easily taken down, and retrieving the spear afterward is straightforward.
Even Hives, often perched on rooftops, are easy targets thanks to the Spear’s throwing arc.
Enemies to Avoid with the Throwing Spear
However, caution is warranted when facing Meatheads and Immolators. A Meathead possesses enough health that a single stab or throw won’t suffice, and their powerful attacks can put you at risk. Immolators are particularly tricky; they detonate and spread fire upon being hit with non-blunt weapons like the Throwing Spear, which makes melee engagement inadvisable. If you throw it, the Spear can take down an Immolator, but be aware that it will ignite the area around it, complicating your spear retrieval.
Tips for Bounty Targets
The Throwing Spear is also effective against Bounty Targets like the Spider, Butcher, Assassin, Scrapbeak, and Rotjaw. Although the spear won’t drastically impact their health with a melee swing, you can repeatedly throw and retrieve it, making it an effective choice. Just keep in mind that Rotjaw can submerge and reappear, which might hinder your ability to get the spear back. It’s wise to carry an additional weapon for fighting Bounty Targets, just in case the spear gets stuck or lost after a throw.
The Throwing Spear is particularly ineffective against the Hellborn Bounty Targets, as they mimic Immolators and pose a significant threat when approached too closely.
How to Use the Throwing Spear in PvP
In PvP scenarios, the Throwing Spear shines as well. It serves as both a melee and ranged weapon, allowing you to maintain a space for two firearms in your loadout. This flexibility greatly enhances your tactical options.
The spear is particularly devastating in indoor encounters, where enemies have limited escape routes. With its long reach and throwing capability, dispatching opponents becomes significantly easier.
In terms of damage, either a heavy melee attack or a throw can instantly eliminate an opponent. A standard melee hit inflicts 105 damage, putting a Hunter down to about one-third health. Importantly, the spear also causes bleeding, so if a Hunter survives your attack, they’ll need to treat their wounds promptly.
In summary, the Throwing Spear is a versatile tool that enriches your gameplay in Hunt Showdown: 1896, proving invaluable in various combat situations, both against monsters and other players.