Difference between revisions of "Dagger"

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m (requested feedback, determined this gels better)
(upcoming + multishot + var + strat)
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* [[Thug]]s have a {{frac|2|3}} chance of generating with a dagger.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|313|nethack=3.6.7}}
 
* [[Thug]]s have a {{frac|2|3}} chance of generating with a dagger.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|313|nethack=3.6.7}}
 
* [[Player monster]]s, including those on the [[Astral Plane]], have a ~2.6% chance of generating with a dagger as their initial weapon before role-based replacements.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|155|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment={{frac|2}} to get a random weapon - the designated range of objects covers weapons from the spear to the bullwhip inclusively in objects.c, and uses normal generation odds}}
 
* [[Player monster]]s, including those on the [[Astral Plane]], have a ~2.6% chance of generating with a dagger as their initial weapon before role-based replacements.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|155|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment={{frac|2}} to get a random weapon - the designated range of objects covers weapons from the spear to the bullwhip inclusively in objects.c, and uses normal generation odds}}
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|As part of {{commit|20cbadcf85544cf9d0c3f4e4200b2800bab49c8e|commit 20cbadc}} - which strengthens quest leaders and makes it so that killing them no longer makes the game [[unwinnable]] - [[The Master of Thieves]] generates with 2d4 non-cursed +2 daggers when serving as the Rogue [[quest leader]].}}
  
 
==Dagger skill==
 
==Dagger skill==
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* [[Magicbane]] (athame)
 
* [[Magicbane]] (athame)
 
* [[Sting]] (elven dagger)
 
* [[Sting]] (elven dagger)
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Rogues throwing dagger-type weapons gain a +1 [[multishot]] bonus, while Rangers throwing any projectile ''except'' for dagger-type weapons gain a +1 multishot bonus. Wielding a dagger-type weapon while eating a non-[[blessed]] [[tin]] will open the tin in 3 turns.
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
 
Despite their weight and low base damage, daggers can be very useful in the early game: a ranged volley at sufficient skill can kill monsters before they even breach melee range, and can at least soften them up before they can engage you. They are typically cheap, plentiful, and more durable than [[arrow]]s, [[crossbow bolt]]s and [[dart]]s, but cannot be poisoned by [[dipping]] into a [[potion of sickness]]. A spare, non-cursed dagger can also serve as a makeshift "pick" for [[forcing]] open [[box]]es.
 
Despite their weight and low base damage, daggers can be very useful in the early game: a ranged volley at sufficient skill can kill monsters before they even breach melee range, and can at least soften them up before they can engage you. They are typically cheap, plentiful, and more durable than [[arrow]]s, [[crossbow bolt]]s and [[dart]]s, but cannot be poisoned by [[dipping]] into a [[potion of sickness]]. A spare, non-cursed dagger can also serve as a makeshift "pick" for [[forcing]] open [[box]]es.
  
All roles except [[Monk]]s and [[Priest]]s can attain proficiency in dagger [[skill]], and may wish to do so early on if the circumstances warrant it.
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All roles except [[Monk]]s and [[Priest]]s can attain proficiency in dagger [[skill]], and may wish to do so early on if the circumstances warrant it. [[Rogue]]s and [[Wizard]]s, who can reach Expert and gain multishot bonuses from daggers, gain the most long-term use out of a stack of daggers. If using daggers as a primary choice of projectile, be sure to [[erodeproof]] them when possible, and avoid leaving any near [[metallivore]]s such as rock moles and rust monsters - additionally, avoid throwing enchanted daggers at [[disenchanter]]s.
 
 
If you are carrying a stack of daggers to serve as a primary choice of projectile, be sure to [[erodeproof]] them when possible, and avoid leaving any near [[metallivore]]s such as rock moles and rust monsters.
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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All new roles can reach expert in dagger except the [[Yeoman]], who can reach Skilled.
 
All new roles can reach expert in dagger except the [[Yeoman]], who can reach Skilled.
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===dNetHack===
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[[dNetHack]] adds the [[droven dagger]], [[set of crow talons]] and [[tecpatl]] as weapons that use the dagger skill. Any weapon that uses the dagger skill can be used to carve [[staves]] into [[wood]]en weapons.
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Carrying [[Crystals (dNetHack)|The Air Crystal]] grants a boost to the dagger skill. Andromalius, the Repentant Rogue is a [[Spirits (dNetHack)|spirit]] that grants skill in daggers when bound - his seal must contain two items from a set of several eligible objects, including a standard dagger; successfully binding him will exchange the two items for a thing, which also has a chance of being a dagger.
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===notdNetHack===
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In [[notdNetHack]], in addition to dNetHack details, Andromalius drops a stack of 5-15 daggers upon death, and Balam drops two large daggers upon death.
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===SpliceHack===
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[[SpliceHack]] adds the [[parazonium]] as a weapon that uses the dagger skill, and imports the dark elven dagger from SLASH'EM.
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A dagger can be combined with an [[iron chain]] at a [[furnace]] to create a [[spiked chain]].
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===SlashTHEM===
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In addition to SLASH'EM details, [[SlashTHEM]] adds the [[sharpened pencil]] as a weapon that uses the dagger skill
  
 
==Encyclopedia entry==
 
==Encyclopedia entry==

Revision as of 16:03, 23 November 2023

) Dagger.png
Name dagger
Appearance dagger
Damage vs. small 1d4
Damage vs. large 1d3
To-hit bonus +2
Weapon skill dagger
Size one-handed
Base price 4 zm
(+10/positive
enchant)
Weight 10
Material iron

A dagger is a type of weapon that appears in NetHack. It can be used in melee and thrown as a projectile, and is made of iron.

Generation

Various roles start the game with one or more daggers:

  • Human and gnomish Rangers start each game with a +1 dagger as their secondary weapon.[1]
  • Human Rogues start each game with a stack of +0 daggers as their secondary weapon.[2]
  • Valkyries start each game with a +0 dagger as their secondary weapon.[3]

The dagger makes up about 3.0% of randomly generated weapons. In addition to random generation, weapon shops and general stores can stock daggers.

Various monsters are also generated with daggers:

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

As part of commit 20cbadc - which strengthens quest leaders and makes it so that killing them no longer makes the game unwinnable - The Master of Thieves generates with 2d4 non-cursed +2 daggers when serving as the Rogue quest leader.

Dagger skill

Dagger
Max Role
Basic
Skilled
Expert

The following weapons use the dagger skill:

The following artifact weapons use the dagger skill:

Rogues throwing dagger-type weapons gain a +1 multishot bonus, while Rangers throwing any projectile except for dagger-type weapons gain a +1 multishot bonus. Wielding a dagger-type weapon while eating a non-blessed tin will open the tin in 3 turns.

Strategy

Despite their weight and low base damage, daggers can be very useful in the early game: a ranged volley at sufficient skill can kill monsters before they even breach melee range, and can at least soften them up before they can engage you. They are typically cheap, plentiful, and more durable than arrows, crossbow bolts and darts, but cannot be poisoned by dipping into a potion of sickness. A spare, non-cursed dagger can also serve as a makeshift "pick" for forcing open boxes.

All roles except Monks and Priests can attain proficiency in dagger skill, and may wish to do so early on if the circumstances warrant it. Rogues and Wizards, who can reach Expert and gain multishot bonuses from daggers, gain the most long-term use out of a stack of daggers. If using daggers as a primary choice of projectile, be sure to erodeproof them when possible, and avoid leaving any near metallivores such as rock moles and rust monsters - additionally, avoid throwing enchanted daggers at disenchanters.

History

The dagger first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, variants of Jay Fenlason's Hack. It is included in the initial item list for Hack 1.0.

Variants

SLASH'EM

SLASH'EM features three new weapons that use the dagger skill: the dark elven dagger, the great dagger and the wooden stake. There are also new artifact weapons that use the dagger skill:

The dagger skill has also been adjusted:

Dagger
Max Role
Basic
Skilled
Expert

All new roles can reach expert in dagger except the Yeoman, who can reach Skilled.

dNetHack

dNetHack adds the droven dagger, set of crow talons and tecpatl as weapons that use the dagger skill. Any weapon that uses the dagger skill can be used to carve staves into wooden weapons.

Carrying The Air Crystal grants a boost to the dagger skill. Andromalius, the Repentant Rogue is a spirit that grants skill in daggers when bound - his seal must contain two items from a set of several eligible objects, including a standard dagger; successfully binding him will exchange the two items for a thing, which also has a chance of being a dagger.

notdNetHack

In notdNetHack, in addition to dNetHack details, Andromalius drops a stack of 5-15 daggers upon death, and Balam drops two large daggers upon death.

SpliceHack

SpliceHack adds the parazonium as a weapon that uses the dagger skill, and imports the dark elven dagger from SLASH'EM.

A dagger can be combined with an iron chain at a furnace to create a spiked chain.

SlashTHEM

In addition to SLASH'EM details, SlashTHEM adds the sharpened pencil as a weapon that uses the dagger skill

Encyclopedia entry

Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.

[ Macbeth, by William Shakespeare ]

References