Dwarf (monster) - Revision history

Ray Chason: Nopoly flag removed

2026-05-14T03:15:32Z

Nopoly flag removed

Umbire the Phantom: detail

2026-02-21T14:06:32Z

detail

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ detail

2026-02-03T14:08:52Z

‎Strategy: detail

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ word choice

2026-02-03T14:08:13Z

‎Variants: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit

2026-02-03T11:23:54Z

copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: lede

2025-12-01T00:17:45Z

lede

Umbire the Phantom: tweaks

2025-09-02T08:05:25Z

tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: ref

2025-08-15T21:27:14Z

ref

Umbire the Phantom: touch-ups

2025-08-15T17:50:57Z

touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: lede, gen

2025-05-18T01:57:57Z

lede, gen

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
   |resistances=None
   |resistances conveyed=None
-  |attributes={{attributes|A dwarf|tunnel=1|needpick=1|humanoid=1|omnivore=1|nopoly=1|dwarf=1|strong=1|greedy=1|jewels=1|collect=1|infravisible=1|infravision=1}}
+  |attributes={{attributes|A dwarf|tunnel=1|needpick=1|humanoid=1|omnivore=1|dwarf=1|strong=1|greedy=1|jewels=1|collect=1|infravisible=1|infravision=1}}
   |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L421 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 421]
 }}

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], dwarves have two weapon attacks, each with half the die size of their weapon attack in ''NetHack''&mdash;this generally increases their damage output in most cases.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], dwarves have two weapon attacks that each have half the die size of their weapon attack in ''NetHack''&mdash;due to how damage calculations work, this generally increases their damage output in practice.
 In the Gnomish Mines, if the hero is a gnome or a dwarf, most peaceful dwarves are replaced with hostile dwarf zombies during level creation outside of any [[bones]] levels that are loaded, further ensuring that they will have to deal with as many hostile monsters as heroes of other races.{{refsrc|sp_lev.c|854|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ==Strategy==
-A dwarf is generally much slower than an unburdened hero, but has the potential to be well-equipped. For early heroes that are lawful, dwarven or gnomish, this can make dwarves difficult to kill using [[pet]]s, especially when they are peaceful&mdash;there are no direct consequences for using pets to kill peaceful monsters such as dwarves, but the pet may be killed in the attempt. Conversely, angering and killing them directly puts you more directly at risk: on top of the risks of that dwarf being sufficiently-armored or carrying a strong enchanted weapon, attacking a peaceful monster will anger every other peaceful monster that witnesses it, which is particularly dangerous in Minetown and incurs alignment penalties that an early hero often cannot afford.
+A dwarf is generally much slower than an unburdened hero at 6 [[speed]], but has the potential to be well-equipped. For early heroes that are lawful, dwarven or gnomish, this can make dwarves difficult to kill using [[pet]]s, especially when they are peaceful&mdash;there are no direct consequences for using pets to kill peaceful monsters such as dwarves, but the pet may be killed in the attempt. Conversely, angering and killing them directly puts you more directly at risk: on top of the risks of that dwarf being sufficiently-armored or carrying a strong enchanted weapon, attacking a peaceful monster will anger every other peaceful monster that witnesses it, which is particularly dangerous in Minetown and incurs alignment penalties that an early hero often cannot afford.
 Hostile dwarves are a serious danger for very early or under-prepared heroes that opt to traverse an unfriendly Mines, and can be a major deciding factor that diverts heroes towards [[Sokoban]] instead: a dwarf can have around 10 points of [[AC]] from a [[worn]] mithril-coat, iron helm and iron shoes, and can inflict up to 20 points of damage with a successful swing of a [[wielded]] mattock, all of which is possible before the enchantments of their weapons and armor are factored in. As of Feburary 2026, dwarves are ranked at #2 on the [[nethack.alt.org]] [https://alt.org/nethack/topdeaths.html list of top death causes], and have occupied the top spot in previous months.

@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 ==Variants==
-Some ''NetHack'' [[variant]]s grant dwarves and other monsters AC bonuses for wearing [[racial equipment]], and may additionally generate them with a [[potion of booze]]. Variants may also make adjustments so that dwarven women do not change gender when growing up and are given a properly named form.
+Some ''NetHack'' [[variant]]s grant dwarves and other monsters AC bonuses for wearing [[racial equipment]], and may additionally generate them with a [[potion of booze]]. ''NetHack'' variants may also make adjustments so that dwarven women do not change gender when growing up and are given a properly named form.
 ===SLASH'EM===

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
   |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L421 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 421]
 }}
-A '''dwarf''', {{monsym|dwarf}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The dwarf is the most basic type of [[Dwarf (monster attribute)|dwarf]] that acts as the "base" monster for a [[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarven]] [[hero]], and may be among the first [[Humanoid (monster class)|humanoids]] that the hero encounters. Dwarves are [[strong]], [[omnivorous]] [[humanoid]] monsters with [[infravision]] that are capable of [[tunnel]]ing around a level if they have a [[digging tool]]&mdash;hostile dwarves will also pick up [[armor]], [[gold]], [[gem]]s, and other items.
+A '''dwarf''', {{monsym|dwarf}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. They are the most basic type of [[Dwarf (monster attribute)|dwarf]] among the [[Humanoid (monster class)|humanoids]], and act as the "base" monster for a [[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarven]] [[hero]]. Dwarves are [[strong]], [[omnivorous]] [[humanoid]] monsters with [[infravision]] that are capable of [[tunnel]]ing around a level if they have a [[digging tool]]&mdash;some dwarves will also pick up [[armor]], [[gold]], [[gem]]s, and other items that they come across.
 A dwarf has a single [[weapon]] attack.
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 Randomly-generated dwarves are always peaceful towards dwarven and [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomish]] heroes, and will mostly be peaceful towards other [[lawful]] heroes. Dwarves are not a valid polymorph form, and do not appear in [[Gehennom]] due to being lawful. A dwarf can [[grow up]] into a [[dwarf lord]].
-Dwarves are especially easy to find in the [[Gnomish Mines]]:
+Dwarves are especially easy to find among the humanoids generated in the [[Gnomish Mines]]:
-* Two dwarves are generated on each of its filler levels at level creation.
+* Two dwarves are generated on each of its filler levels during level creation.
-* At least one dwarf is generated in all variants of [[Minetown]] at level creation, minus Orcish Town:
+* At least one dwarf is generated in all variants of [[Minetown]] during level creation, minus Orcish Town.
-** One dwarf is generated outside of the main area in Town Square, Alley Town, College Town, and Bazaar Town at level creation.
+** One dwarf is generated outside of the main area in Town Square, Alley Town, College Town, and Bazaar Town during level creation.
-** Three dwarves are randomly placed on the level in Grotto Town and Bustling Town at level creation.
+** Three dwarves are randomly placed on the level in Grotto Town and Bustling Town during level creation.
-* At least three dwarves are generated in The Mimic of the Mines and The Gnome King's Wine Cellar variants of [[Mines' End]] at level creation.
+* At least three dwarves are generated in The Mimic of the Mines and The Gnome King's Wine Cellar variants of [[Mines' End]] during level creation.
 * Some of the above monsters may be replaced with random monsters for dwarven and gnomish heroes.
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 A [[dwarf zombie]] or [[dwarf mummy]] will leave an aged dwarf [[corpse]] behind upon death;{{refsrc|src/mon.c|147|nethack=3.6.7|name="undead_to_corpse"|comment=Converting monster index of undead to corpses of their living counterparts}}{{refsrc|src/mon.c|372|nethack=3.6.7|name="make_corpse"|comment=Undead corpses and their ages are handled with other "special" death drops}} player dwarves that are killed and leave [[bones]] will have a dwarf corpse atop their grave, unless they were killed by certain monsters, killed by [[stoning]] or else [[disintegrated]]. Dwarves can be generated by zapping a [[wand of undead turning]] at a dwarf corpse ''not'' left by a mummy or zombie, or selecting dwarves when reading a [[cursed]] [[scroll of genocide]].
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|0c3b9642e4207ed3c0b756585b83477f59116305}}, a dwarf will grow up into a dwarf leader of the appropriate gender, rather than always becoming a male dwarf lord.
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|0c3b9642e4207ed3c0b756585b83477f59116305}}, dwarves of both genders will grow up into a dwarf leader of the appropriate gender, rather than always becoming a male dwarf lord.
 Per {{commit|cb5e93e9e5c095cfc04688d7201831723489fe54}}, dwarves are eligible forms for polymorph.}}
@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ==Strategy==
-A dwarf is generally much slower than an unburdened hero, but has the potential to be well-equipped. For early heroes that are lawful, dwarven or gnomish, this can make dwarves difficult to kill using [[pet]]s, especially when they are peaceful&mdash;doing so also carries no direct consequences for you, but the pet may be killed in the attempt. Conversely, angering and killing them directly may be worthwhile, but puts you more directly at risk: on top of the dwarf being sufficiently-armored or carrying a strong enchanted weapon, attacking a peaceful dwarf will anger every peaceful monster that witnesses it, which is particularly dangerous in Minetown, and incurs alignment penalties that an early hero may not be able to afford.
+A dwarf is generally much slower than an unburdened hero, but has the potential to be well-equipped. For early heroes that are lawful, dwarven or gnomish, this can make dwarves difficult to kill using [[pet]]s, especially when they are peaceful&mdash;there are no direct consequences for using pets to kill peaceful monsters such as dwarves, but the pet may be killed in the attempt. Conversely, angering and killing them directly puts you more directly at risk: on top of the risks of that dwarf being sufficiently-armored or carrying a strong enchanted weapon, attacking a peaceful monster will anger every other peaceful monster that witnesses it, which is particularly dangerous in Minetown and incurs alignment penalties that an early hero often cannot afford.
-Hostile dwarves are a serious danger for very early or underprepared heroes that opt to traverse an unfriendly Mines, and can be a major deciding factor that diverts heroes towards [[Sokoban]] instead: a fully-armored dwarf can have around 10 points of [[AC]] from a mithril-coat, iron helm and iron shoes, and can inflict up to 20 points of damage with a successful swing of a mattock, all before enchantments are factored in. As of January 2024, dwarves are ranked at the top on the [[nethack.alt.org]] [https://alt.org/nethack/topdeaths.html list of top death causes]. Even so, it may sometimes be worth this risk in order to obtain a digging tool and some solid early weapons and armor, including the prized dwarvish mithril-coat. When on the lookout for dwarves' armor, pay particular attention to which weapons they use: dwarves using a dwarvish short sword, axe, mattock, or dwarvish spear tend to have better armor on average.
+Hostile dwarves are a serious danger for very early or under-prepared heroes that opt to traverse an unfriendly Mines, and can be a major deciding factor that diverts heroes towards [[Sokoban]] instead: a dwarf can have around 10 points of [[AC]] from a [[worn]] mithril-coat, iron helm and iron shoes, and can inflict up to 20 points of damage with a successful swing of a [[wielded]] mattock, all of which is possible before the enchantments of their weapons and armor are factored in. As of Feburary 2026, dwarves are ranked at #2 on the [[nethack.alt.org]] [https://alt.org/nethack/topdeaths.html list of top death causes], and have occupied the top spot in previous months.
 ==History==
@@ Line 64: / Line 66: @@
 ==Variants==
-Some variants grant dwarves and other monsters AC bonuses for wearing [[racial equipment]], and may additionally generate them with a [[potion of booze]]. They may also make adjustments so that female dwarves do not change gender when growing up and are given a properly named form.
+Some ''NetHack'' [[variant]]s grant dwarves and other monsters AC bonuses for wearing [[racial equipment]], and may additionally generate them with a [[potion of booze]]. Variants may also make adjustments so that dwarven women do not change gender when growing up and are given a properly named form.
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], dwarves have two weapon attacks, each with half the die size of their vanilla weapon attack; this generally increases their damage output in most cases.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], dwarves have two weapon attacks, each with half the die size of their weapon attack in ''NetHack''&mdash;this generally increases their damage output in most cases.
-In the Gnomish Mines, if the player is a gnome or a dwarf, most peaceful dwarves are replaced with hostile dwarf zombies at level creation with the exception of [[bones]], ensuring that they will have to deal with hostile monsters like other races.{{refsrc|sp_lev.c|854|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
+In the Gnomish Mines, if the hero is a gnome or a dwarf, most peaceful dwarves are replaced with hostile dwarf zombies during level creation outside of any [[bones]] levels that are loaded, further ensuring that they will have to deal with as many hostile monsters as heroes of other races.{{refsrc|sp_lev.c|854|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
 ===UnNetHack===
 In [[UnNetHack]], several dwarves appear in some manner within the [[Ruins of Moria]] branch:
-* 2-8 dwarf corpses are scattered across the second floor at level creation.
+* 2-8 dwarf corpses are scattered across the second floor during level creation.
 * The barracks on the fifth floor each contain six dwarf prisoners.
 * The "intact" variant of the sixth floor map, Doors of Durin, has four dwarf [[statue]]s within The Chamber of Mazarbul.
@@ Line 83: / Line 85: @@
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], dwarves that are randomly generated outside of the Gnomish Mines are always generated with a potion of booze.
-Female dwarves will grow up into [[dwarf cleric]]s, which are distinct monsters from dwarf lords rather than simple female counterparts.
+Dwarven women will grow up into [[dwarf cleric]]s, which are distinct monsters from dwarf lords rather than simple female counterparts.
 Dwarves may appear in the court of a [[Throne room#dNetHack|throne room]] ruled by a [[gnome king]], [[Gnome queen (dNetHack)|gnome queen]], [[dwarf king]] or [[Dwarf queen (dNetHack)|dwarf queen]].
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], the basic dwarf is known as a '''mountain dwarf''', making them distinct from the dwarf monster used for player and undead corpses. A mountain dwarf will grow up into a dwarf noble of the appropriate gender.
+In [[EvilHack]], the basic dwarf is known as a '''mountain dwarf''', and is made distinct from the dwarf monster used for player and undead corpses (thus making mountain dwarves valid polymorph forms). A mountain dwarf will grow up into a dwarf noble of the appropriate gender.
 Mountain dwarves gain +1 bonus AC for each piece of worn dwarven armor.

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 }}
-A '''dwarf''', {{monsym|dwarf}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The dwarf is the most basic type of [[Dwarf (monster attribute)|dwarf]] that acts as the "base" monster for a [[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarven]] [[hero]], and may be among the first [[Humanoid (monster class)|humanoids]] that the [[hero]] encounters. A dwarf is a [[strong]], [[omnivorous]] [[humanoid]] monster with [[infravision]] that is capable of [[tunnel]]ing around a level if they have a digging tool&mdash;hostile dwarves will also pick up [[gold]], [[gem]]s and other items.
+A '''dwarf''', {{monsym|dwarf}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The dwarf is the most basic type of [[Dwarf (monster attribute)|dwarf]] that acts as the "base" monster for a [[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarven]] [[hero]], and may be among the first [[Humanoid (monster class)|humanoids]] that the [[hero]] encounters. Dwarves are [[strong]], [[omnivorous]] [[humanoid]] monsters with [[infravision]] that are capable of [[tunnel]]ing around a level if they have a digging tool&mdash;hostile dwarves will also pick up [[gold]], [[gem]]s and other items.
 A dwarf has a single weapon attack.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
   |frequency=3
   |genocidable=Yes
-  |attacks=Weapon 1d8
+  |attacks=[[Weapon]] 1d8 [[Physical damage|physical]]
   |weight=900
   |nutr=300
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ==Generation==
-Randomly-generated dwarves are always peaceful towards dwarven and [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomish]] heroes, and will mostly be peaceful towards other [[lawful]] heroes. Dwarves are not a valid form for [[polymorph]], and do not appear in [[Gehennom]] due to being lawful. A dwarf can [[grow up]] into a [[dwarf lord]].
+Randomly-generated dwarves are always peaceful towards dwarven and [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomish]] heroes, and will mostly be peaceful towards other [[lawful]] heroes. Dwarves are not a valid polymorph form, and do not appear in [[Gehennom]] due to being lawful. A dwarf can [[grow up]] into a [[dwarf lord]].
 Dwarves are especially easy to find in the [[Gnomish Mines]]:
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 A [[dwarf zombie]] or [[dwarf mummy]] will leave an aged dwarf [[corpse]] behind upon death;{{refsrc|src/mon.c|147|nethack=3.6.7|name="undead_to_corpse"|comment=Converting monster index of undead to corpses of their living counterparts}}{{refsrc|src/mon.c|372|nethack=3.6.7|name="make_corpse"|comment=Undead corpses and their ages are handled with other "special" death drops}} player dwarves that are killed and leave [[bones]] will have a dwarf corpse atop their grave, unless they were killed by certain monsters, killed by [[stoning]] or else [[disintegrated]]. Dwarves can be generated by zapping a [[wand of undead turning]] at a dwarf corpse ''not'' left by a mummy or zombie, or selecting dwarves when reading a [[cursed]] [[scroll of genocide]].
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|A dwarf will grow up into a dwarf leader of the appropriate gender, rather than always becoming a male dwarf lord.
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|0c3b9642e4207ed3c0b756585b83477f59116305}}, a dwarf will grow up into a dwarf leader of the appropriate gender, rather than always becoming a male dwarf lord.
 Per {{commit|cb5e93e9e5c095cfc04688d7201831723489fe54}}, dwarves are eligible forms for polymorph.}}
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 ==Strategy==
-A dwarf is generally much slower than an unburdened hero, but has the potential to be well-equipped. For early heroes that are lawful, dwarven or gnomish, this can make dwarves difficult to kill using [[pet]]s, especially when they are peaceful - doing so also carries no direct consequences for you, but the pet may be killed in the attempt. Conversely, angering and killing them directly may be worthwhile, but puts you more directly at risk: on top of the dwarf being sufficiently-armored or carrying a strong enchanted weapon, attacking a peaceful dwarf will anger every peaceful monster that witnesses it, which is particularly dangerous in Minetown, and incurs alignment penalties that an early hero may not be able to afford.
+A dwarf is generally much slower than an unburdened hero, but has the potential to be well-equipped. For early heroes that are lawful, dwarven or gnomish, this can make dwarves difficult to kill using [[pet]]s, especially when they are peaceful&mdash;doing so also carries no direct consequences for you, but the pet may be killed in the attempt. Conversely, angering and killing them directly may be worthwhile, but puts you more directly at risk: on top of the dwarf being sufficiently-armored or carrying a strong enchanted weapon, attacking a peaceful dwarf will anger every peaceful monster that witnesses it, which is particularly dangerous in Minetown, and incurs alignment penalties that an early hero may not be able to afford.
 Hostile dwarves are a serious danger for very early or underprepared heroes that opt to traverse an unfriendly Mines, and can be a major deciding factor that diverts heroes towards [[Sokoban]] instead: a fully-armored dwarf can have around 10 points of [[AC]] from a mithril-coat, iron helm and iron shoes, and can inflict up to 20 points of damage with a successful swing of a mattock, all before enchantments are factored in. As of January 2024, dwarves are ranked at the top on the [[nethack.alt.org]] [https://alt.org/nethack/topdeaths.html list of top death causes]. Even so, it may sometimes be worth this risk in order to obtain a digging tool and some solid early weapons and armor, including the prized dwarvish mithril-coat. When on the lookout for dwarves' armor, pay particular attention to which weapons they use: dwarves using a dwarvish short sword, axe, mattock, or dwarvish spear tend to have better armor on average.
 ==History==
-The dwarf first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]]. From this version to [[NetHack 3.0.3]], the dwarf uses the {{white|h}} glyph - in [[NetHack 3.0.4]], which introduces color, they are given the {{brightred|h}} glyph, and are given their current glyph color in [[NetHack 3.0.7]].
+The dwarf first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]]. From this version to [[NetHack 3.0.3]], the dwarf uses the {{white|h}} glyph&mdash;in [[NetHack 3.0.4]], which introduces color, they are given the {{brightred|h}} glyph, and are given their current glyph color in [[NetHack 3.0.7]].
 ==Variants==