Elven broadsword

English

 • 中文（中国大陆）‎

)
Name	elven broadsword
Appearance	runed broadsword
Damage vs. small	1d6+1d4
Damage vs. large	1d6+1
To-hit bonus	+0
Weapon skill	broadsword
Size	one-handed
Base price	10 zm (+10/positive enchant)
Weight	70
Material	wood

An elven broadsword is a type of weapon that appears in NetHack. The elven broadsword is a one-handed melee weapon that uses the broadsword skill, and is made of wood. It appears as a runed broadsword when unidentified, an appearance it shares with the runesword.

Orcrist is an artifact that can be created by naming any elven broadsword Orcrist.

Generation

Barbarians, Knights, Samurai, Valkyries, and all elven heroes start the game with knowledge of the elven broadsword.

Elven broadswords make up ¹⁄₂₅₀ (0.4%) of all weapon randomly generated on the floor, in general shops or as death drops. Antique weapons outlets and used armor dealerships can also stock elven broadswords. An elven broadsword generated this way has a base ¹⁄₂₀ chance of being made into Orcrist if no artifacts have been generated yet.

Non-undead elves have a ¹⁄₃ chance of being generated with an elven broadsword.

Player monsters, including those on the Astral Plane, have a ¹⁄₂₉₀ chance (roughly 0.34%) of being generated with an elven broadsword before role replacements—an elven broadsword that is generated this way and not replaced has a ¹⁄₂ chance of being made into an artifact, which will always be Orcrist if it has not yet been generated.

Strategy

The elven broadsword is an adequate choice of early-game weapon for roles that can train the skill. Elven broadswords are a solid choice for two weapon combat: they have higher damage average against small monsters compared to normal broadswords, and outperform the long sword (a common two weapon combat choice) as well, dealing 6 damage on average versus the long sword's 4.5; however, the long sword has a better damage average against large monsters at 6.5.

Naming an elven broadsword to create Orcrist can make Stormbringer more likely to appear as a sacrifice gift, particularly for elven Priests and Rangers.

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

Demonbane is the first sacrifice gift for Priests per commit b1a5a9c3, which prevents elven Priests from forcing Stormbringer.

Average damage calculation

The table below details the average damage dealt with an elven broadsword and assumes the hero is skilled in broadswords, which is the highest possible skill level for the weapon with any playable role and gives a +1 damage bonus. A blessed weapon deals +1d4 damage against major demons and undead. The worst case scenario is against a non-undead, non-demon, large monster. The best case scenario is against a undead, demon, small monster.

Weapon	Against regular small monsters	Against regular large monsters	Worst case scenario	Best case scenario
Blessed Elven broadsword +0	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1=\bold{7}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1=\bold{5.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1=\bold{5.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1=\bold{9.5}$
Blessed Elven broadsword +7	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1+7=\bold{14}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1+7=\bold{12.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1+7=\bold{12.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1+7=\bold{16.5}$
Blessed Elven broadsword +9	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1+9=\bold{16}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1+9=\bold{14.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1+9=\bold{14.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1+9=\bold{18.5}$

History

The elven broadsword first appears in NetHack 3.0.0.

Variants

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, upgrading an elven broadsword will produce a normal broadsword, and vice versa.

dNetHack

In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, the elven broadsword has a +2 to-hit bonus, deals 1d6+1d4 damage to small monsters and 1d6+2 to large monsters, and its weight is reduced to 20 aum.

The treasure piles generated in the Grue's Cavern at level creation will contain two elven broadswords: the one belonging to the dead Elvenking or Elvenqueen will be enchanted and made of its default material, while the other is found within a sack in the pile and will be made of silver.

There are two artifact elven broadswords:

• Glamdring is a lawful elven broadsword that favors Nobles and is the first sacrifice gift for dwarven Knights. It has +1d5 to-hit and deals +1d10 damage versus all monsters, along with dealing an additional +1d20 to orcs and demons and warning of both monster types while wielded. Glamdring cannot be knocked out of the hero's hands while wielded.
• The Rod of the Elvish Lords is a lawful elven Noble-favoring artifact that can take the form of an elven broadsword, and engraves at the same quality as an athame in this form.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, elven sergeants and lieutenants may generate with elven broadswords.

An elven broadsword can be created at a forge by combining a scimitar with an elven short sword.