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Message: <blockquote data-quote="James McMurray" data-source="post: 1394997" data-attributes="member: 743">People focus too heavily on the tripping aspect of the spiked chain when they try to explain why it isn't overpowered.Even a spiked chain with just EWP: Chain is nasty. Combine it with combat reflexes and fact that your average damage is 2.5 points lower disapeears in light of the added AoOs you get and the fewer attacks you take from reach creatures because you don't have to close.Tripping is just a fringe benefit, as is the bonus to disarming. Finessibility is almost a non-ssue, because two-handed weapon users should be maximizing strength, not dexterity.The spiked chain is nasty, but it really becomes dangerous when your party wizard or cleric casts enlarge person on you.There is nothing int he spiked chain that requires intelligence or exterity. I you want to fully maimie your use of it you'll want Improved Trip and Improved Disarm. But they are certainly not neessary in order to benefit from a weapon that gives reach both up close and far, something that can normally only be gained via size increase.Except that it deals more damage, and has reach so you don't have to close with that large creature and take an AoO (quite possibly an AoO with Large and In Charge, which will negate your ability to attack that round, and leave you open to a ful attack followed by a 5' step away, negating your ability to attack next round as well.</blockquote>