Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/Equipment

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Weapons
Every character can use two pieces of equipment: one weapon and one armor. A character can change weapon during combat, but he/she would use up his/her turn.

Melee weapons
If the enemies manage to get close the heroes, the melee weapons actually deal more damage and will finish them off quite quickly.

The Mystic Sword can only be obtained by the hero once he/she reaches Avatarhood.

Combat strategies
Ranged weapons offer tactical advantage over enemies capable of melee attacks only, and also they remove the same disadvantage against long-ranged enemies. As Clint Eastwood and Sergio Leone could say: "When the man with the bow meets the man with the sword, the man with the sword is a dead man".

On the other hand, if the enemies manage to get close to the companions, they would better switch to melee weapons, that deal more damage.

A smart strategy against close-combat enemies could be the following:
 * At the beginning of the combat, let the enemies get near, because if they're heavily wounded too early, they would escape out of weapons range.
 * While the enemies approach, arrange your characters on two lines: a smaller number with strong armor on the front line, and a greater number on the back line.
 * When an enemy is just one step from your front line, shoot!
 * (In the unlikely event that many enemies get in touch with your front line, have them switch to melee weapons, while the back line should keep attacking with ranged weapons.)

A completely different strategy is required against long-range enemies:
 * First of all, seek cover behind rocks to avoid the projectiles; split the party in two if necessary;
 * Let enemies walk around the rocks, so that they can be taken down one by one.

Support and debuff spells can be useful against the most powerful enemies. Direct attack spells, instead, can be avoided, being less reliable than long-ranged weapons and expensive on the long run.

NES port
Every character can carry up to three pieces of equipment: a ranged weapon, a melee weapon and an armor (respectively labeled as Bow, Sword and Armour in the menu).

Characters in bold start the game with the corresponding piece of equipment.

"Shops (1)" are in towns on the mainland, and can be accessed since the beginning of the game, while "Shops (2)" are on the islands and can only be accessed when pirates ships start appearing in the seas, i.e. when the characters reach Level 4.

Bows
Ranged weapons give the strategic advantage of hitting the enemy before it can reach you. If all the party is equipped with bows, the battle will be often won before the enemies can land even one blow on the heroes.

The Axe+1 and the Wand are actually melee weapons that can double as ranged weapons if no bow is equipped.

Swords
If the enemies manage to get close the heroes, the melee weapons actually deal more damage and will finish them off quite quickly.

The Axe+2 can be obtained only by giving the scale to the smith in Minoc. For the scale, see the page about ../Side Quests/.

The Sword of Paradise can only be obtained by the hero once he/she reaches Avatarhood.

Armours
The Robe can be obtained for free, but the player must cross a poison swamp and then open a door using the magic key.

The Exotic Armour can only be obtained by the hero once he/she reaches Avatarhood.