One of the oldest weapons of all humanity, along with the [[CarryABigStick wooden clubs]], is the javelin. Short, light spears that can also be simple sharp sticks, Javelins differs from BladeOnAStick for many things: usually, while spears and lances are melee weapons associated to guards, soldiers, armies and-or cool-headed, calm individuals, javelins are different. They're weapons associated with speed, as its much lighter to carry than the spear.

Javelins are favored by [[BornInTheSaddle horse riders]] who can use it instead of bows and arrows (javelins are much more economic to build and easier to use). Is also a very old weapon, so it's usually seen in the hands of wild, primitive looking cultures. If the work takes place in a sea setting then you'll probably see its water cousin, the harpoon.

Sometimes certain powerful characters won't be satisfied with mere shortspears and will show off by tossing very large spears around to fight. In VideoGames, there'll often be the trick of javelins returning to the thrower or magically respawning in his or her hand.

Often associated with the [[ShockAndAwe Lightning element]] (with thunder gods generally throwing lightning bolts around like javelins). In some cases they'll be [[PoisonedWeapons coated in venoms.]]

There is a weapon itself known as the javelin-thrower, spear-thrower or atlatl which used leverage to increase the power and range of a thrown spear; users of these are also examples of this trope.

See also BladeOnAStick, ProngsOfPoseidon and HarpoonGun for the technological version.
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!!Examples:

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[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]


* Darbula the Demon King from ''DragonBallZ'' can summon and shoot spears at his enemies.
* Crocus from ''OnePiece'' is seen using harpoons with great skill.
* In ''Manga/FairyTail'' Erza's Giant Armor is made for boosting her throwing skills and equipped with an evil-banishing spear, which she throws at Galuna's moon in order to end the curse.
* ''TowerOfGod'': The entire point of the Spear Bearers. Special notice goes to Rak who wields a 5 meter long spear, which he also uses in hand-to-hand combat.
* One EliteMook in {{Berserk}} uses javelins, though given his size they're more like harpoons. In a lightless tunnel, he's lethal... unfortunately, he's up against Guts.

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[[folder: Comic Books ]]


* The DCComics villain Javelin, an Olympic javelin thrower who decided to turn to crime one day.

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[[folder: Film ]]


* ''Wonder Woman'' (1974). The renegade Amazon Ahnjayla uses her javelin throwing skills to trick George into losing a couple of sucker bets. When Wonder Woman shows up riding the burro Ahnjayla tries to skewer her with a javelin but Wonder Woman [[CatchAndReturn catches it and throws it back]]. Watch it [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxuShoY-3zs#t=2m35s here]].
* One of the favored competitors in ''Film/TheHungerGames'' is Marvel, whose WeaponOfChoice is the javelin, with which he scores one of the film's relatively few on-screen kills of a named character.
* The '80s SlasherMovie ''Fatal Games'' features a javelin-wielding murderer killing athletes.

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[[folder: Literature ]]


* In ''TheElenium'', [[BornInTheSaddle the Peloi]], especially those from Daresia, use javelins in battle.
* The MacGuffin from the first book of ''Literature/ThePrismPentad'' is the Heartwood Spear, a magical spear that can even kill a Sorcerer King. Judging from its description is supposed to be a javelin.
* Sranul from ''Literature/Shadowkeep'' is a javelin user. Being a Kangaroo Man, he can throw his spears from great heights.
* In the ''Literature/{{Nibelungenlied}}'' One of the tests necessary to won over Brunild's hand is a spear throwing contest between her and a Siegfried-aided Gunther. Said spear is [[{{BFS}} so big that several men are required to carry it around]], while Brunild herself can [[OneHandedZweihander use it with only one hand.]]
* ''Literature/MobyDick'' has Captain Ahab and most of the Peqod's crew. Justified by the setting.
* In ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'', a Nazgul uses a javelin to almost-mortally wound Faramir.
* Javelins are iconic weapons of otters and hares in {{Redwall}}, as are slings.

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[[folder: Live Action TV ]]


* ''KungFu''
** The opening sequence includes Kwai Chang Caine dodging and striking aside spears being thrown at him by other monks. Watch it [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iaamkUEF_A#t=2m15s here]].
** The pilot episode. After the Royal Nephew shoots and mortally wounds Master Po, he hides behind his chair to reload. Kwai Chang Caine kills him by throwing a guard's spear through the chair.

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[[folder: Mythology and Religion ]]


* Cu Chulain's spear Gae Bulga. It was also said to spread a thousand of shards inside the enemy wound.
* In ''NorseMythology'' Baldr was finally slain by a javelin (or arrow) made of [[KryptoniteFactor mistletoe]].

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[[folder: Video Games ]]


* In ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresII'' Skirmishers are javelin-wielding archers strong against other archers. Oddly enough, they're unable to strike enemies too close to them.
* In ''VideoGame/AgeOfMythology'' Peltast soldiers are javelineers strong against archers, while the heroine Regenlief use her long spear as a throwing weapon. The expansion has the Turma, Atlantean horsemen who attack by throwing spears. Satyrs can throw ''multiple'' javelins as a special attack ([[TierInducedScrappy but are also notoriously weak.]]
* Some units from ''TheBattleForWesnoth'' can use javelins, the most noticeable being the Javelineer.
* Kratos in ''VideoGame/GodOfWar Ghost of Sparta'' can use the spear from the Arms of Sparta as a javelin. Said spear can magically respawn in his hand after being tossed.
* The ''{{Avernum}}'' series has Javelins as one of the possible weapons. They look like Roman Pila.
* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfDragoon'', [[FaceHeelTurn rogue knight]] [[BlowYouAway Greham]] can [[ShapingYourAttacks make javelins out of light]].
* ''FireEmblem'' has the Javelin, Spear and Short Spear weapons.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}} II'' the Amazon can specialize in javelins.
* The Qunari from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' use javelins.
* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', [[HordesFromTheEast Caesar's Legion]] uses small throwing spears similar to javelins, mimicking the historical Roman pilum. The Gun Runners' Arsenal DLC adds a challenge known as "[[Film/ThreeHundred Even A God-King Can Bleed]]" that rewards you if you kill Caesar with a throwing spear to the head. Spears used by the player can also have [[PoisonedWeapons poison applied]].
* [[LizardFolk Lizardmen]] in ''MasterOfMagic'' got Javelineers with ranged attack strength 3 like Longbowmen, but not long-range. They also move fast and are tough in melee.
* In ''VideoGame/AgeOfWonders'', the Wizard's Throne and Shadow Magic "Throw Spear" ability allows a single rather strong ranged attack. Nomads basic infantry unit Spearman has it, as well as some heroes.
* The Bandana Waddle Dee from ''KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' wields a spear that he uses for this purpose, and Kirby can, as well. Both just pull new spears [[HammerSpace out of nowhere]] when throwing them.
* Arthur from ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins''does this with his {{Jousting Lance}}s.
* In ''VideoGame/MountAndBlade'', throwing spears and axes are a common weapon type.
* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfLegendia'', this is the weapon of choice for Moses. Like some other examples, he generates new javelins to throw out of nowhere.
* ''Age of Chivalry'', a medieval combat-themed VideoGame/{{Half-Life 2}} mod, features the javelineer as one of the three ranged classes, along with the longbow-wielding archer and the crossbowman. Of some note is the fact that he's the only ranged class with any notable close combat abilities, using a longspear and shield as his melee weapons
** Its SpiritualSuccessor ''Videogame/ChivalryMedievalWarfare'' combines the three classes, giving the Archer class the option to wield a javelin -- and adding the ability to throw it while sprinting, increasing its damage dramatically. A javelineer can also now use his javelin in melee combat, doing away with the need to change weapons to defend yourself in close quarters.
* ''DungeonFighterOnline'' has the [[ChurchMilitant Crusader]] subclass, who can use his [[HolyHandGrenade Spear of Victory]] skill to throw a spear of light.
* In {{Final Fantasy XIII-2}} Noel can [[MorphWeapon combine]] his swords into a javelin to attack unreachable enemies. His {{Limit Break}} lets him throw a rapid barrage of javelins from the air.
* Despite the weapon class being named Spear, this is what any character armed with one will do in ''GuildWars''.
* Wardens in ''VideoGame/LordOfTheRingsOnline'' specialize in spears, shields and javelins, and are very good at tanking.
* Nordein Hunters in ''{{Shaiya}}'' use the javelin in place of the Crossbow wielded by Elven Archers of the Light side.

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[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* Chief's weapon of choice in ''{{Goblins}}'' is a magical javelin that splits into multiple projectiles when thrown and teleports back into his hand once it finds its target.

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[[folder: Real Life ]]

* Roman soldiers went to battle armed with "pilum": wooden javelins with a metallic point which could bend, so that any that would hit an enemy's shield would get bent and stuck, making it heavy and unwieldy.
* Hellenic Peltast were armed with throwing spears.
* The african Assegai weapon.
* Most ancient cultures west of India made heavy use of javelins because the javelin's greater weight made it more effective against men wearing armor than most of the bows available, and the bows that were more effective, or effective to a longer range than javelins (like the composite bows favored by the Egyptian nobility) took too long and cost too much to make to really mass-produce.
* Aztecs and presumably many other had Atlatl -- the projectile weapon much like a staff-sling boosting a javelin throw.
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