Spear of Longinus

The Spear of Longinus is an artifact of incredible power, the only non-Evangelion object truly capable of penetrating an A.T. Field. Evangelions can use weapons against Angels, but only because the Evas' own A.T. Fields have extended around them and nullified the Angel's A.T. Field. N2 Mines are capable of slightly penetrating some of the weaker Angel's A.T. Fields to cause minor damage, but cannot truly penetrate them. The Spear of Longinus, however, can completely penetrate the active, unneutralized A.T. Field of an Angel.

The exact origin of the Spear is shrouded in mystery, but ultimately it is not of Earth origin, instead having been created by the First Ancestral Race and sent along with the Seeds of Life, Adam and Lilith (the Spear paired with Lilith was lost in ancient times). Thus, the Spear is an extraterrestrial weapon of god-like power. The First Ancestral Race sent along Spears with Seeds of Life like Adam and Lilith, so that if ever a Seed went out of control and threatened their projects, they would have a means of controlling them.

Notes

• The official English dub translates it as "Lance of Longinus", however the original Japanese word could mean either "Lance" or Spear". A computer display of the object during The End of Evangelion, however, refers to it as the "Spear of Longinus". Therefore, EvaWiki officially refers to this object as the "Spear of Longinus". Also, the initial form of the copies of this weapon that the Mass Production Evas wield will be referred to as "Heavy Spears" not "Heavy Lances".