Weapons draw from a pool of four major properties:

* Parrying. Weapons such as short swords, rapiers and quarterstaves are particularly good at parrying incoming strikes. Although you may attempt to use the Parry skill without a Parrying weapon in-hand, it won't work as well. (Remember from our explanation of attacking and defending that an attack may be Dodged, Parried, or Deflected—the game automatically chooses the best defensive mode versus any given attack.)
* Penetrating. Axes, maces, spears, arrows, bolts and some polearms are designed to either cleave or pierce through armor or transfer momentum and energy through it. Armor is not as effective at absorbing damage from Penetrating weapons.
* Flexible. Flails are articulated and can wrap around obstructions. They are difficult to deflect or parry.
* Rapid. Because of their tremendous velocity, arrows and bolts cannot be easily dodged or parried.

Weapons may possess more than one quality—for instance, a bow is both Penetrating and Rapid.​