With your feet together, lead your attack with a forward step. This can leave you open to attack on the leg, so watch your opponent to see if he’s looking for that and if they are, you can even use it as a feint.

On the other side, look out for a two weapon or sword and shield fighter that brings their back foot up to meet their front foot. That’s a sure sign that they’re going to lunge or try and run the pole. Make them pay by attacking the leg or by being ready to retreat and counter against the sword arm.

Try and close on a group of 3-5 people all using pole arms…you can’t! You have to go around them or start blowing spells/gasses to make a hole. In addition to the ‘Byronic Riposte’ as was described above, do not be above using the polearms superior leverage to ‘sweep weapons’. This is to say, when a person swings a sword it has momentum.

Dip the tip of your polearm down, then snap it up and sweep it out, using its momentum to carry the weapon further out of position. On a particularly good one you can watch someone fumble the sword and jab at them a few times for freebies.

Always beware the disarm spell. Get used to ‘twisting’ your shoulders from the hip to evade these as most (not all, just most) people tend to aim center mass.