20 Bonkers Facts About Eminem, Charlize Theron, And The Very Dignified Sport Of Ferret-Legging
The ball-and-chain flail probably never saw widespread use, despite being present in all of our favorite medieval shows and movies. It makes sense why it’s featured in sweaty, sword-and-sandal combat - the image of the terrifying weapon being clutched by a monstrous warrior as he swings the spiked ball around on its chain, the noise reverberating faster and faster in your head as it draws near, is an effective visual cue that we should be peeing our loincloths.
The morning star, which is a spiked ball on the end of a club, actually was used in real life for one very important reason: with the ball not being on the end of a chain, there was less of a chance you’d accidentally crush your own skull as it swung around.
Alas, the ball-and-chain flail belongs in the “you’d probably hurt yourself more than your opponent” bin of fantasy weaponry, like light sabers and velociraptors.