Macestaff (3.5e Equipment)

A macestaff is essentially a mace head on a long staff. A macetsaff has reach, unlike most weapons with reach a macestaff can also strike adjacent creatures. A macestaff it is ideal for punching through heavy armor. You ignore up to 1 point of armor bonus to AC on your target for each attack you would gain from BAB (to a maximum of 4 AC at BAB +16 and beyond). A macestaff can be used as martial weapon without penalty.

However creatures with exotic weapon proficiency (macestaff) gain the following benefits:

Armor Piercing Blow: As a full-attack action you make a single attack as a touch attack, if your base attack bonus is below 6 you become staggered until the end of your next turn. Concussive Strike: As a standard action or at the end of a charge you can make a massively powerful overhead swing, the swing is highly predictable however, doubling the [dexterity]] bonus to AC of the attacked creature. If the attack hit the creature is knocked prone and take an extra 1d6 bludgeoning damage per point of base attack bonus.

Fine Grip: You can use the macestaff as a one-handed weapon, although when doing it does not not have reach.

Short Haft: In this stance you can swing your macestaff around like if it was a quarterstaff. This form of attack is two-handed only and doesn't have reach, but it becomes a double weapon. The other end of the double weapon form of this weapon has the same enhancement as the mace head (where applicable), making it cheaper to enhance than a typical quarterstaff. It also counts as a quarterstaff for the purposes of feats and interactions in this state. This weapon can benefit from both metal and wood materials, with the short haft stance benefiting from the wooden materials.

Whirlwind Swirl: You gain the Whirlwind Attack feat while using this weapon. If you already have Whirlwind Attack, you may make a full attack instead of a single attack. This form does not have reach.

You can make trip attacks with the macestaff. If you are tripped during your own trip attempt, you can drop the macestaff to avoid being tripped.

Those with Exotic Weapon Proficiency may use the macestaff as a finesse weapon, even though it isn't a light weapon.

Any feats and abilities which apply to either quarterstaffs and mace apply to the macestaff.