diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
index 007338095ff..9224f6f0d87 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/creature.cpp
@@ -236,11 +236,8 @@ namespace MWClass
         }
 
         MWBase::World* world = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld();
-        const MWWorld::Store<ESM::GameSetting>& store = world->getStore().get<ESM::GameSetting>();
-        float dist = store.find("fCombatDistance")->mValue.getFloat();
-        if (!weapon.isEmpty())
-            dist *= weapon.get<ESM::Weapon>()->mBase->mData.mReach;
 
+        const float dist = MWMechanics::getMeleeWeaponReach(ptr, weapon);
         const std::pair<MWWorld::Ptr, osg::Vec3f> result = MWMechanics::getHitContact(ptr, dist);
         if (result.first.isEmpty()) // Didn't hit anything
             return true;
@@ -281,6 +278,9 @@ namespace MWClass
         if (otherstats.isDead()) // Can't hit dead actors
             return;
 
+        if (!MWMechanics::isInMeleeReach(ptr, victim, MWMechanics::getMeleeWeaponReach(ptr, weapon)))
+            return;
+
         if (!success)
         {
             victim.getClass().onHit(
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
index 22c953d27dc..0b61436d113 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/npc.cpp
@@ -572,12 +572,8 @@ namespace MWClass
             weapon = *weaponslot;
 
         MWBase::World* world = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld();
-        const MWWorld::Store<ESM::GameSetting>& store = world->getStore().get<ESM::GameSetting>();
-        const float fCombatDistance = store.find("fCombatDistance")->mValue.getFloat();
-        float dist = fCombatDistance
-            * (!weapon.isEmpty() ? weapon.get<ESM::Weapon>()->mBase->mData.mReach
-                                 : store.find("fHandToHandReach")->mValue.getFloat());
 
+        const float dist = MWMechanics::getMeleeWeaponReach(ptr, weapon);
         const std::pair<MWWorld::Ptr, osg::Vec3f> result = MWMechanics::getHitContact(ptr, dist);
         if (result.first.isEmpty()) // Didn't hit anything
             return true;
@@ -615,6 +611,9 @@ namespace MWClass
         if (otherstats.isDead()) // Can't hit dead actors
             return;
 
+        if (!MWMechanics::isInMeleeReach(ptr, victim, MWMechanics::getMeleeWeaponReach(ptr, weapon)))
+            return;
+
         if (ptr == MWMechanics::getPlayer())
             MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->setEnemy(victim);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/combat.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/combat.cpp
index 5d283214a3a..e7c7342284e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/combat.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/combat.cpp
@@ -578,6 +578,24 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         return dist;
     }
 
+    float getMeleeWeaponReach(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, const MWWorld::Ptr& weapon)
+    {
+        MWBase::World* world = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld();
+        const MWWorld::Store<ESM::GameSetting>& store = world->getStore().get<ESM::GameSetting>();
+        const float fCombatDistance = store.find("fCombatDistance")->mValue.getFloat();
+        if (!weapon.isEmpty())
+            return fCombatDistance * weapon.get<ESM::Weapon>()->mBase->mData.mReach;
+        if (actor.getClass().isNpc())
+            return fCombatDistance * store.find("fHandToHandReach")->mValue.getFloat();
+        return fCombatDistance;
+    }
+
+    bool isInMeleeReach(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, const MWWorld::Ptr& target, const float reach)
+    {
+        const float heightDiff = actor.getRefData().getPosition().pos[2] - target.getRefData().getPosition().pos[2];
+        return std::abs(heightDiff) < reach && getDistanceToBounds(actor, target) < reach;
+    }
+
     std::pair<MWWorld::Ptr, osg::Vec3f> getHitContact(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, float reach)
     {
         // Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'entrate
@@ -614,11 +632,13 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         {
             if (actor == target || target.getClass().getCreatureStats(target).isDead())
                 continue;
+
             const float dist = getDistanceToBounds(actor, target);
-            const osg::Vec3f targetPos(target.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3());
-            if (dist >= reach || dist >= minDist || std::abs(targetPos.z() - actorPos.z()) >= reach)
+            if (dist >= minDist || !isInMeleeReach(actor, target, reach))
                 continue;
 
+            const osg::Vec3f targetPos(target.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3());
+
             // Horizontal angle checks.
             osg::Vec2f actorToTargetXY{ targetPos.x() - actorPos.x(), targetPos.y() - actorPos.y() };
             actorToTargetXY.normalize();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/combat.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/combat.hpp
index 92033c7e776..fa3660a0165 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/combat.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/combat.hpp
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ namespace MWMechanics
     // Cursed distance calculation used for combat proximity and hit checks in Morrowind
     float getDistanceToBounds(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, const MWWorld::Ptr& target);
 
+    float getMeleeWeaponReach(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, const MWWorld::Ptr& weapon);
+
+    bool isInMeleeReach(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, const MWWorld::Ptr& target, const float reach);
+
     // Similarly cursed hit target selection
     std::pair<MWWorld::Ptr, osg::Vec3f> getHitContact(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, float reach);