Brief Description:  A bludgeon is a simple, heavy-headed weapon—such as a club, mace, or cudgel—designed to crush, shatter, or break armor and bone through sheer kinetic force. Instead of slicing through foes, these weapons transfer massive, concussive impact directly through metallic defenses to incapacitate opponents in close combat.

A bludgeon generally consists of a handle and a heavy head, with specific types categorized by their structure and use:

The Mace: A specialized club featuring a heavy metal, iron, or steel head on a wooden or metal shaft. It frequently features flanged, knobbed, or spiked ends to concentrate the force of the strike onto a smaller area. The flanged mace was specifically designed to bite into and deform heavy plate armor upon impact.

The War Hammer: Similar in function but featuring an elongated, hammer-like front (often with a spike or beak on the reverse side) tailored to pierce heavy armor or hook an opponent's shield and armor joints.

The Morning Star: A club-like weapon topped with a heavy, spiked ball. It combines the penetrating power of a puncture weapon with the crushing force of a heavy bludgeon.

The Simple Club or Cudgel: The most basic form of bludgeon, consisting of a short, heavy wooden staff or stick, occasionally reinforced with metal banding or iron studs.