The Melee Weapons power set covers different ways to use all sorts of weapons employed in hand-to-hand combat. Note that the weapons themselves can affect the attacks they make, but this is covered in Chapter 4. This power set is about how those weapons get used.\n\nWhen a character selects a Melee Weapons power, they get a melee weapon to use with it. In addition, they must select the type of weapon their power uses—either blunt or sharp—as shown below. Most characters stick to a single type of weapon, but feel free to mix and match.\n\nEach type of weapon has its own special effect associated with it that’s triggered by Fantastic successes on checks made with that power:\n\n- Blunt: Target is stunned for one round.\n\n- Sharp: Target is bleeding.\n\nIn general, sharp weapons have blades, points or other vicious tips or edges. Blunt weapons do not.\n\nAgain, this is a power set that is open to anyone, including characters with the Special Training origin. Many heroes don’t use weapons of any kind, but doing so can add a bit of flair to the character and help distinguish them from others.\n\nImagine Wolverine without his claws. His weapons play a big part in defining him as a character.\n\nWhile a shield can be used as a blunt weapon, there’s a whole power set—Shield Bearer—dedicated to that particular bit of equipment. If you want your character to use a shield, look there too.