Hello, I'm an expert in historical weaponry. Let's dive into the specifics of what constitutes a flail and a mace.

A flail is a type of medieval weapon that typically consists of two parts: a handle and a striking head, which is often a spiked or flanged metal ball. The handle and the head are connected by a chain or a rope. The flail is designed to be swung in such a way that the head travels in a wide arc, delivering a powerful blow upon impact. The flail is known for its ability to bypass shields and armor due to the swinging motion of the head.

A mace, on the other hand, is a blunt weapon that also consists of a handle and a head, but the head is typically a heavy, solid mass, often made of metal. The mace is used to deliver strong, direct blows. Some maces have flanges or spikes on the head to increase the damage potential, but the key difference is that the head is not connected to the handle by a chain or rope.

To summarize, while both the flail and the mace are medieval weapons designed to deliver powerful blows, they are distinct in their construction and use. A flail has a chain or rope connecting the handle to the striking head, allowing for a wide arc of impact, whereas a mace has a solid head directly attached to the handle for direct, forceful strikes.

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The flail features one or more striking heads attached to a handle by a rope, strap or chain. Both the mace and the morningstar have the head affixed directly to the handle, and so are the two most similar of these three weapons. A mace may or may not have flanges or knobs, but does not have spikes.read more >>