• Outside of a Duel, the weapon offers no additional benefits apart from its range of 3.

• During a Duel, the weapon’s ability allows the wielder to treat any card in their hand as an Attack, significantly enhancing their flexibility and resilience in the encounter.

• This ability works both when the wielder initiates a Duel or is targeted by one.

• Duel-Heavy Characters:
  Characters such as Yan Liang and Wen Chou and Xu Chu, who often rely on or benefit from frequent Duels, can make excellent use of the Spiked Iron Mace. The ability to turn any card into an Attack ensures these characters can maximize the pressure on their opponents during these encounters, even with a suboptimal hand.

• Card-Rich Characters:

• Characters like Cao Zhi, Lu Meng, and Zhen Ji, who tend to have large hand sizes or easy card acquisition, can fully exploit the flexibility offered by the weapon. These characters will often have enough resources to sustain a Duel even against a well-prepared opponent, ensuring their dominance.

• Long Range Characters:
  Characters like Huang Zhong always seek out weapons to increase the effectiveness of the abilities. Although he ability of the Spiked Iron Mace does not play a large role in this strategy, but the range is the most desirable. 

The Spiked Iron Mace is a niche weapon, excelling in Duel-focused strategies but offering little outside of this context. It shines when paired with characters who can reliably initiate or sustain Duels, especially those with large hands or resource management abilities. However, its situational nature means it may not be the best choice for every character or game scenario.

For players who favor aggressive, single-target playstyles and thrive on psychological and strategic manipulation in Duels, the Spiked Iron Mace can be an invaluable asset, turning even the most unexpected cards into deadly attacks. This weapon rewards careful planning and strong synergy with the wielder's abilities, embodying the spirit of high-stakes, decisive combat that defined the heroes of the Three Kingdoms era.

The Spiked Iron Mace represents the brutal combat styles of the Three Kingdoms period, particularly tied to the infamous encounter between Gan Ning and Shamoke. Shamoke, a warrior from the Mang tribes, was known for his terrifying appearance and skill in battle. During a campaign against Shu, Gan Ning, despite being ill, mounted his horse to face the enemy but encountered Shamoke’s elite forces.

Shamoke was armed with a spiked iron mace adorned with bone pendants, a weapon that symbolized his savage and deadly nature. Leading his barefoot warriors with ferocious precision, Shamoke’s overwhelming presence caused Gan Ning to retreat, recognizing he had no chance against such an opponent. However, as Gan Ning fled, Shamoke shot an arrow that fatally struck him. Gan Ning managed to reach Fuchikou before succumbing to his wound, where crows gathered around his corpse in an eerie display, as if mourning his death.

In Sanguosha, the Spiked Iron Mace reflects Shamoke’s raw and ruthless fighting style through its unique Duel-focused ability. It emphasizes adaptability in high-stakes one-on-one confrontations, mirroring Shamoke's dominance in direct combat. Players wielding the Spiked Iron Mace can transform even seemingly innocuous cards into devastating attacks during Duels, making it a weapon of choice for characters who thrive on single combat and quick eliminations.

The connection to history not only enriches the weapon's thematic depth but also allows players to relive the drama of the Three Kingdoms era through strategic gameplay.