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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FireLance" data-source="post: 1810326" data-attributes="member: 3424">Hi Richard,The only unique advantage of the spiked chain is that it is a reach weapon that also threatens adjacent squares. This is most advantageous for creatures that are size Large or larger, as they can benefit from the extended reach and still always retain the option to make a full attack against adjacent opponents. Since even a Large or larger creature can only make a 5-foot step as a free action, it cannot attack a creature right next to it if it is armed with any other reach weapon unless it changes weapons (a move action unless it has Quick Draw) or moves before attacking (a move action, and provokes an AOO too).Because it threatens more squares than any other reach weapon, you may get more use out of Combat Reflexes. This is assuming that the opponents you fight provoke more than one AOO per round, of course.For the same reason, you can potentially attack into more squares when you use Whirlwind Attack, and possibly get more use out of Cleave and Great Cleave.Apart from that, it is a versatile weapon which works well with several fighter feats:It can be used with Weapon Finesse, which means that you are less vulnerable to Strength-reducing effects.It is a two-handed weapon, so you get 2-for-1 on Power Attack.It is a good weapon to use with Improved Disarm, as it gets a +2 bonus on disarm checks on top of being a two-handed weapon.It can be used to make trip attacks, and can benefit from Improved Trip.Like any other reach weapon, you can use it with Spring Attack against an opponent with shorter reach and possibly force him to move through your threatened area every round to counter-attack you.Because it can be used in so many situations, it makes more sense to pump weapon-specific feats such as Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization and Improved Critical into it.However, as cignus_pfaccari has pointed out, doing all of the above requires a heavy expenditure of feats and usually requires above-average Intelligence (for Improved Disarm, Improved Trip and Whirlwind Attack), and good Dexterity (for Combat Reflexes and Weapon Finesse) as well as good Strength (for decent damage).If you are not planning to make use of all these advantages, there is probably a better, non-exotic weapon that you could use.</blockquote>

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