Couched lance damage attacks are a technique performed on horseback with certain types of Polearms, essentially any polearm with "lance" in its name, plus other special ones.
Couched attacks are usually performed automatically, but can be switched to manual (using the X button by default) on the options screen.
The lance will be pointed upwards when the horse is not yet moving fast enough. The lance can be lowered into position once sufficient speed has been acquired. Charge an enemy with the lance pointed directly at them, and if done correctly, it will deliver a large amount of damage. This couched attack ignores normal directional blocking with a weapon. The damage delivered is very dependent on speed, so faster horses will inflict more damage. Hitting an enemy charging against you will also deliver higher damage than if he he was running away. However, rarely does an enemy survive a couched lance attack, so investing in a faster horse for this reason alone is probably not necessary. A more armored horse may be a wiser choice, since charging the enemy means a significant risk of melee combat.
When a couched attack is successful, the message "Delivered couched lance damage!" will appear in the game log.
Players should be careful, since the AI is also capable of using couched lance damage, so be on guard when fighting mounted lancers such as those in Jatu armies or in tournaments.
Couched charges can be blocked with a shield, but never with a weapon. Blocking couches with a shield will usually damage the shield greatly, if not break it in one shot. Interestingly, couches can be "chambered" by any weapon with an overhead swing or thrust, but require precise timing.
Remember not to charge directly against a rider which you know it has a longer lance, as he will hit you (and destabilize or knock you) meaning you won't even hit him. It is suggested to dodge the charge or aim him from the flank or back, as the couching can only be aimed 30º to each side. If the lance length difference is small, you risk doing an attack instead of a coach, giving the player up to 60 extra range when moving the lance forward to do the attack. This will result in lower damage than a couch attack, but will still be big thanks to the speed multiplier.
Weapons with this trait
- Tournament Lance
- Light Lance
- Heavy Lance
- Lance
- Blunt Tip Lance
- Double Sided Lance
- Banner of Sarleon
- Long Knight Lance
- Long Dark Knight Lance
- Long Blue Knight Lance
- Long Red Knight Lance
- Long Dawn Knight Lance
- Long Green Knight Lance
- Great Lance
- Long Cavalry Lance
- Long Green Cavalry Lance
- Long Blue Cavalry Lance
- Long White Cavalry Lance
- Long Red Cavalry Lance
- Melitine Lance
- Melitine Impaler
- Jatu Honor Lance