Entangled and Snarled Weapons

Entangled and snarled weapons accounts for situations where the surroundings are disadvantageous to the use of swinging weapons or those that are long or hooked. In tight spaces, such as narrow hallways, small rooms or dense foliage, swinging weapons like flails, swords, axes and such can be fouled by furniture, curtains, hanging objects and fixtures, momentarily disarming the combatant. Other situations include places where nets and ropes are common, such as aboard ship, or in terrain where weapons can become stuck in clay, mud or amongst fallen deadwood.

The time needed to pull the weapon free gives an advantage to attackers, which may offer a turning point in a combat. Thus it pays to choose a weapon according to how much space it requires, to minimise this risk.