Excalibur - Revision history

Tomsod: /* Cross-aligned use */ should mention over-enchanting, if only for the table just below

2025-12-18T02:36:21Z

‎Cross-aligned use: should mention over-enchanting, if only for the table just below

Umbire the Phantom: /* Dipping */ word choice

2025-12-03T07:06:14Z

‎Dipping: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Dipping */ copyedit

2025-10-28T19:55:44Z

‎Dipping: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: lede

2025-05-16T08:42:26Z

lede

Umbire the Phantom: same as the other artifacts, except not really - also the l1 thing is a great reminder for me

2025-04-08T10:27:16Z

same as the other artifacts, except not really - also the l1 thing is a great reminder for me

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ copyedit

2025-01-14T23:28:04Z

‎History: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit, updating, detailing, King Arthur stuff

2025-01-14T22:47:13Z

copyedit, updating, detailing, King Arthur stuff

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ detail barrow wight stuff

2024-07-12T06:02:09Z

‎dNetHack: detail barrow wight stuff

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ much better phrasing here

2024-07-12T04:53:15Z

‎dNetHack: much better phrasing here

Umbire the Phantom: was already in the prev. paragraph but wouldn't hurt - wordsmith dipping boons, clarify that bad effects happen to all dipped long swords if not lawful, update refsrc, mention nndnh for dnh section and wordsmith all that

2024-07-12T04:44:44Z

was already in the prev. paragraph but wouldn't hurt - wordsmith dipping boons, clarify that bad effects happen to all dipped long swords if not lawful, update refsrc, mention nndnh for dnh section and wordsmith all that

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 ===Cross-aligned use===
-Though Excalibur is an intelligent artifact, it is not a quest artifact and so will not evade the grasp of non-lawful heroes, allowing them to make good use of it if they can manage the [[artifact blast]]s. While bones are the typical means for a non-lawful hero to acquire Excalibur, some players may opt to either [[wish]] for Excalibur or use a [[helm of opposite alignment]] to temporarily become lawful and dip for it if they so desire: For converting to dip, chaotic heroes are capable of reliably using the helm of opposite alignment, where neutral one may need to try a few helms before finding one that turns them lawful.{{refsrc|src/do_wear.c|418|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Though Excalibur is an intelligent artifact, it is not a quest artifact and so will not evade the grasp of non-lawful heroes, allowing them to make good use of it if they can manage the [[artifact blast]]s. While bones are the typical means for a non-lawful hero to acquire Excalibur, some players may opt to either [[wish]] for Excalibur or use a [[helm of opposite alignment]] to temporarily become lawful and dip for it if they so desire: for converting to dip, chaotic heroes are capable of reliably using the helm of opposite alignment, where neutral one may need to try a few helms before finding one that turns them lawful.{{refsrc|src/do_wear.c|418|nethack=3.6.7}}
 For a weaker or early-game hero, early wishes are typically best spent on covering the essentials, and crowning for [[Vorpal Blade]] or Stormbringer may be a preferable alternative to obtain a reliable weapon; while completely optional as a wish, the rare drain resistance property and bonuses make Excalibur enticing.
 ===Average damage calculation===

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 Each time a lawful hero that is at experience level 5 or higher dips a long sword in a fountain, there is a {{frac|6}} chance that instead of normal fountain effects occurring, the dipped sword will be transformed into Excalibur, [[exercising]] the hero's [[wisdom]]: the sword will be [[bless]]ed and made [[rustproof]], any rust or corrosion will be repaired, and it will retain its [[enchantment]], but the long sword [[skill]] will ''not'' be unrestricted.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|385|nethack=3.6.7}} A hero that is not lawful dipping a long sword instead has a {{frac|6}} chance of cursing the weapon and removing any rustproofing, which abuses wisdom.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|375|nethack=3.6.7}} The fountain will always disappear after either event.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|401|nethack=3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|e8212743825365569b2162384eb653520b59c1d3}}, there is now only a {{frac|30}} chance of a non-Knight receiving Excalibur by dipping.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|e8212743825365569b2162384eb653520b59c1d3}}, there is only a {{frac|30}} chance of a non-Knight receiving Excalibur by dipping.}}
 ===Crowning===

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 ===Dipping===
 {{main|Fountain#Dipping|l1=Fountain dipping}}
-If the hero is lawful and of experience level 5 or higher, each time they dip a long sword in a fountain, there is a {{frac|6}} chance that instead of normal fountain effects, the sword will be transformed into Excalibur, [[exercising]] [[wisdom]]: the sword will be [[bless]]ed and made [[rustproof]], and have any [[Erosion|rust or corrosion]] repaired, and it will retain its [[enchantment]], but the long sword [[skill]] will ''not'' be unrestricted.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|385|nethack=3.6.7}} Dipping a long sword when not lawful instead has a {{frac|6}} chance of removing erodeproofing and cursing the long sword, as well as abusing wisdom.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|375|nethack=3.6.7}} The fountain will always disappear after either event.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|401|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Each time a lawful hero that is at experience level 5 or higher dips a long sword in a fountain, there is a {{frac|6}} chance that instead of normal fountain effects occurring, the dipped sword will be transformed into Excalibur, [[exercising]] the hero's [[wisdom]]: the sword will be [[bless]]ed and made [[rustproof]], any rust or corrosion will be repaired, and it will retain its [[enchantment]], but the long sword [[skill]] will ''not'' be unrestricted.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|385|nethack=3.6.7}} A hero that is not lawful dipping a long sword instead has a {{frac|6}} chance of cursing the weapon and removing any rustproofing, which abuses wisdom.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|375|nethack=3.6.7}} The fountain will always disappear after either event.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|401|nethack=3.6.7}}
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|e8212743825365569b2162384eb653520b59c1d3}}, there is now only a {{frac|30}} chance of a non-Knight receiving Excalibur by dipping.}}

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 }}
-'''Excalibur''' is an [[intelligent]] [[artifact weapon]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is [[lawful]]-aligned, and its [[base item]] is a [[long sword]].
+'''Excalibur''' is an [[intelligent]] [[artifact]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is [[lawful]]-aligned, and its [[base item]] is a [[long sword]].
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 Excalibur can be obtained if a lawful [[hero]] is either [[crowned]] or creates the artifact by [[dipping]] a single un[[name]]d, non-artifact long sword into a [[fountain]] while they are at least [[experience level]] 5.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|372|nethack=3.6.7|comment=the case accounts for polypiling (e.g. a stack of [[dagger]]s) that can produce a stack of long swords}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|As part of {{commit|20cbadcf85544cf9d0c3f4e4200b2800bab49c8e}}, which makes it so that killing [[quest leader]]s no longer makes the game [[unwinnable]], King Arthur [[Monster starting inventory|always generates with]] a blessed +4 [[long sword]] that will always be made into Excalibur if it has not yet generated.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|As part of {{commit|20cbadcf85544cf9d0c3f4e4200b2800bab49c8e}}, which makes it so that killing [[quest leader]]s no longer makes the game [[unwinnable]], King Arthur [[Monster starting inventory|always generates with]] a blessed +4 [[long sword]] that will be made into Excalibur if the artifact has not yet generated.}}
 ===Dipping===
 {{main|Fountain#Dipping|l1=Fountain dipping}}
-If you are a lawful character of experience level 5 or higher, each time you dip a long sword in a fountain, there is a {{frac|6}} chance that instead of normal fountain effects, the sword will be transformed into Excalibur, [[exercising]] [[wisdom]]: the sword will be [[bless]]ed and made [[rustproof]], and have any [[Erosion|rust or corrosion]] repaired, and it will retain its [[enchantment]], but the long sword [[skill]] will ''not'' be unrestricted.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|385|nethack=3.6.7}} Dipping a long sword when not lawful instead has a {{frac|6}} chance of removing erodeproofing and cursing the long sword, as well as abusing wisdom.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|375|nethack=3.6.7}} The fountain will always disappear after either event.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|401|nethack=3.6.7}}
+If the hero is lawful and of experience level 5 or higher, each time they dip a long sword in a fountain, there is a {{frac|6}} chance that instead of normal fountain effects, the sword will be transformed into Excalibur, [[exercising]] [[wisdom]]: the sword will be [[bless]]ed and made [[rustproof]], and have any [[Erosion|rust or corrosion]] repaired, and it will retain its [[enchantment]], but the long sword [[skill]] will ''not'' be unrestricted.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|385|nethack=3.6.7}} Dipping a long sword when not lawful instead has a {{frac|6}} chance of removing erodeproofing and cursing the long sword, as well as abusing wisdom.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|375|nethack=3.6.7}} The fountain will always disappear after either event.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|401|nethack=3.6.7}}
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|e8212743825365569b2162384eb653520b59c1d3}}, there is now only a {{frac|30}} chance of a non-Knight receiving Excalibur by dipping.}}
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 ==Description==
-Excalibur adds +d5 [[to-hit]] and +d10 damage against all monsters, and confers [[drain resistance]], [[automatic searching]], and an enchantment-based bonus to manual [[searching]] for secret doors and secret corridors (up to a maximum of +5). However, demon princes will be hostile if generated while Excalibur is wielded, and every monster can track your location whether it has eyes or not - though due to how monster pathfinding works in ''NetHack'', the impact of this second property is negligible.
+Excalibur adds +d5 [[to-hit]] and +d10 damage against all monsters, and confers [[drain resistance]], [[automatic searching]], and an enchantment-based bonus to manual [[searching]] for secret doors and secret corridors (up to a maximum of +5). However, every monster can track the hero's location whether it has eyes or not, though due to how monster pathfinding works in ''NetHack'', the impact of this second property is negligible. If Excalibur is wielded when a [[demon prince]] is generated, the demon prince will be generated as hostile rather than peaceful, and if the hero is wielding Excalibur when a demon prince warps to them and wants to demand a bribe, they will also turn hostile.
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 46: / Line 43: @@
 Acquiring Excalibur as soon as possible is generally a good idea, but the chance of obtaining it is only {{frac|6}} for each dip. You should be prepared to deal with [[water demon]]s, [[water nymph]]s, [[water moccasin]]s and newly-made [[moat]]s in the meantime. Some people prefer to wait until at least XL 7 before making the attempt: Knights, Valkyries and Cavemen gain [[intrinsic speed]] at level 7, which allows them to outrun water demons.
-Your sword will also [[rust]] on each dip that does not transform it into Excalibur. Though succeeding will repair and rustproof the sword, it is best to wait if the long sword being dipped is your primary weapon - once you have found a few fountains, you can backtrack to them and try each one in turn rather than continue searching new floors with a thoroughly rusted long sword as your only weapon.
+Your sword will also [[rust]] on each dip that does not transform it into Excalibur. Though succeeding will repair and rustproof the sword, it is best to wait if the long sword being dipped is your primary weapon&mdash;once you have found a few fountains, you can backtrack to them and try each one in turn rather than continue searching for new floors with a thoroughly rusted long sword as your 'best' weapon.
-Generating Excalibur successfully will '''always''' make the fountain that was used dry up and disappear. In [[Minetown]], there is no warning for this and the [[watch]] will immediately be angered, making dipping out in the open a [[Bad Idea]]. If you somehow do not have access to any other fountains, consider using a pet to kill the guards in advance, or lock them up in rooms where they cannot attack you.
+Generating Excalibur successfully will '''always''' make the fountain that was used dry up and disappear. In [[Minetown]], there is no warning for this and the [[watch]] will immediately be angered, making dipping on that level a [[Bad Idea]]. If you somehow do not have access to any other fountains, consider using a pet to kill the guards in advance, or lock them up in rooms where they cannot attack you.
 The [[Oracle (level)|Oracle level]] is a popular place to dip for Excalibur: characters often arrive there at about the time that they are capable of escaping fountain hazards, and having four adjacent fountains means you will likely succeed without having to travel much further to find more.

@@ Line 73: / Line 73: @@
 ==History==
-Excalibur first appears in [[NetHack 1.3d]]. In this version and [[NetHack 1.4f]], you can [[name]] a long sword Excalibur and ''then'' dip it in a fountain, for a {{frac|2|15}} chance of the Lady of the Lake blessing the sword{{refsrc|fountain.c|242|version=NetHack 1.3d}} - this Excalibur lacks special properties, but creating it this way raises the enchantment of the sword to +5 (if not already higher), rustproofs it and removes any [[curse]]s. The modern dipping method for obtaining Excalibur is introduced in [[NetHack 2.2a]].
+Excalibur first appears in [[NetHack 1.3d]]. In this version and [[NetHack 1.4f]], the hero can [[name]] a long sword Excalibur and ''then'' dip it in a fountain for a {{frac|2|15}} chance of the Lady of the Lake blessing the sword{{refsrc|fountain.c|242|version=NetHack 1.3d}}&mdash;this Excalibur lacks special properties, but creating it this way raises the enchantment of the sword to +5 (unless it is already higher), rustproofs it and removes any [[curse]]s. The modern dipping method for obtaining Excalibur is introduced in [[NetHack 2.2a]].
 ==Origin==

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Excalibur cannot be randomly generated or granted as a sacrifice gift, though it can be found in [[bones]] levels. Excalibur's entry in the [[artifact]] code indicates that it would be the first sacrifice gift for [[Knight]]s if it were able to be gifted.{{refsrc|include/artilist.h|47|nethack=3.6.7|comment=the flag following alignment governs which role receives an artifact as a first gift}}
-Excalibur can be obtained if a lawful character is either [[crowned]] or creates the artifact by [[dipping]] a single un[[name]]d, non-artifact long sword into a [[fountain]] while they are at least [[experience level]] 5.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|372|nethack=3.6.7|comment=the case accounts for polypiling (e.g. a stack of [[dagger]]s) that can produce a stack of long swords}}
+Excalibur can be obtained if a lawful [[hero]] is either [[crowned]] or creates the artifact by [[dipping]] a single un[[name]]d, non-artifact long sword into a [[fountain]] while they are at least [[experience level]] 5.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|372|nethack=3.6.7|comment=the case accounts for polypiling (e.g. a stack of [[dagger]]s) that can produce a stack of long swords}}
 ===Dipping===
@@ Line 28: / Line 30: @@
 ===Crowning===
 {{main|Crowning}}
-If a lawful character is [[crowned]] while wielding a non-artifact long sword in their primary hand, and Excalibur has not yet been generated, the sword will be transformed into the blessed and rustproof Excalibur as the crowning gift. This auto-identifies the sword and unrestricts the long sword skill if applicable; if the sword has no positive enchantment at the time of crowning, its enchantment is set to +1.
+If a lawful character is [[crowned]] while wielding a non-artifact long sword in their primary hand, and Excalibur has not yet been generated, the sword will be transformed into the blessed and rustproof Excalibur as the crowning gift. This auto-identifies the sword and unrestricts the long sword skill if applicable, and if the sword has no positive enchantment at the time of crowning, its enchantment is set to +1.
 ==Description==
-Excalibur adds +d5 [[to-hit]] and +d10 damage against all monsters, and confers [[drain resistance]], [[automatic searching]], and an [[enchantment]]-based bonus to manual [[searching]] for secret doors and secret corridors (up to a maximum of +5). However, demon princes will be hostile if generated while Excalibur is wielded, and every monster can track your location whether it has eyes or not - though due to how monster pathfinding works in ''NetHack'', the impact of this second property is negligible.
+Excalibur adds +d5 [[to-hit]] and +d10 damage against all monsters, and confers [[drain resistance]], [[automatic searching]], and an enchantment-based bonus to manual [[searching]] for secret doors and secret corridors (up to a maximum of +5). However, demon princes will be hostile if generated while Excalibur is wielded, and every monster can track your location whether it has eyes or not - though due to how monster pathfinding works in ''NetHack'', the impact of this second property is negligible.
 ===Demon princes===
@@ Line 40: / Line 42: @@
 Generating Excalibur is easy for Knights and lawful [[Valkyrie]]s, who both start with an enchanted long sword. It is also a stellar weapon for [[Samurai]], who can create it once they find a long sword and will already have the skill available. Lawfuls restricted in long sword can unrestrict the skill and receive Excalibur via crowning, which can be done fairly early (usually before the [[Quest]]) if they are not reliant on prayer; they can also receive another artifact long sword as sacrifice gift to unrestrict the skill.
 ===Dipping===
@@ Line 53: / Line 50: @@
 Generating Excalibur successfully will '''always''' make the fountain that was used dry up and disappear. In [[Minetown]], there is no warning for this and the [[watch]] will immediately be angered, making dipping out in the open a [[Bad Idea]]. If you somehow do not have access to any other fountains, consider using a pet to kill the guards in advance, or lock them up in rooms where they cannot attack you.
-The [[Oracle (level)|Oracle level]] is a popular place to dip for Excalibur; characters often arrive there at about the time that they are capable of escaping fountain hazards, and having four adjacent fountains means you will likely succeed without having to travel much further to find more.
+The [[Oracle (level)|Oracle level]] is a popular place to dip for Excalibur: characters often arrive there at about the time that they are capable of escaping fountain hazards, and having four adjacent fountains means you will likely succeed without having to travel much further to find more.
 ===Average damage calculation===
@@ Line 75: / Line 77: @@
 ==Origin==
 {{wikipedia}}
-Excalibur is the legendary sword of [[King Arthur]], who appears in NetHack as the Knight's [[quest leader]].
+Excalibur is the legendary sword of [[King Arthur]], who appears in ''NetHack'' as the Knight's [[quest leader]].
 ==Messages==
-{{message|From the murky depths, a hand reaches up to bless the sword.<br>As the hand retreats, the fountain disappears!|You successfully transformed your dipped long sword into Excalibur as a lawful character.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|389|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
+{{message|From the murky depths, a hand reaches up to bless the sword.<br>As the hand retreats, the fountain disappears!|You successfully transformed your dipped long sword into Excalibur as a lawful hero.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|389|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
-{{message|A freezing mist rises from the water and envelopes<!--sic--> the sword.<br>The fountain disappears!|As above, but you were not a lawful character, and you "successfully" cursed the sword instead.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|377|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
+{{message|A freezing mist rises from the water and envelopes<!--sic--> the sword.<br>The fountain disappears!|As above, but you were not a lawful hero, and you "successfully" cursed the sword instead.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|377|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], bonus damage rolls for artifact weapons are converted to a flat bonus, giving Excalibur +10 to damage.<ref>Compare [[Source:SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2/artifact.c#line799]] to [[artifact.c#line843]]</ref> This makes the already-good artifact weapon even better, and the abundance of [[life drain]]ing methods and attacks introduced in SLASH'EM make its drain resistance even more valuable.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], Excalibur has +10 flat bonus damage, and the chance of receiving Excalibur from dipping in a fountain is {{frac|8}} rather than {{frac|6}}.{{refsrc|fountain.c|364|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
-The chance of receiving Excalibur from dipping in a fountain is {{frac|8}} rather than {{frac|6}}.{{refsrc|fountain.c|364|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
+The damage bonus changes to artifacts in SLASH'EM make an already-good artifact weapon even better, and the abundance of [[life drain]]ing methods and attacks make its drain resistance even more valuable.
 ===GruntHack===
@@ Line 104: / Line 106: @@
 ===xNetHack===
-In [[xNetHack]], obtaining Excalibur by dipping a long sword into a fountain will set its enchantment to +0 if it was negative, and will always convert the sword's [[Object materials (xNetHack)|object material]] to iron. Obtaining Excalibur by crowning sets its enchantment to +3 if it was lower than that.
+In [[xNetHack]], obtaining Excalibur by dipping a long sword into a fountain will set its enchantment to +0 if it was negative, and will always convert the sword's [[Object materials (xNetHack)|object material]] to iron. Obtaining Excalibur by crowning sets its enchantment to +3 if it was lower.
 ===SpliceHack===
@@ Line 111: / Line 115: @@
 ===EvilHack===
 In [[EvilHack]], only lawful Knights can dip for Excalibur as in SporkHack - other lawful roles can only obtain Excalibur through crowning, bones or wishing, and the helm of opposite alignment cannot be used by chaotic Knights to dip for it. There is the added a risk of the long sword rusting away completely when dipping it, as with any sufficiently-eroded object. [[Orcish long sword|Orcish]] and [[elven long sword]]s cannot be used to create Excalibur in either instance.
 A long sword that is successfully transformed into Excalibur is stripped of its object properties, and its [[object materials (EvilHack)|object material]] is always converted to iron.

@@ Line 96: / Line 96: @@
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], Excalibur has +1d20 to-hit and deals +3d7 damage to demons and undead if blessed. In addition, Excalibur inherits [[Object properties#dNetHack|the weapon]] and [[Object materials (dNetHack)|material properties]] of the sword it is made with - players may want to put off dipping for Excalibur until they obtain a desirable base sword. Outside of [[wish]]ing, sources of such swords include:
-* The long sword that a [[barrow wight]] always generates with has a {{frac|5}} chance of being made of [[silver]] and a {{frac|5}} chance of being made of [[Gold (material)|gold]] - it also has an independent {{frac|20}} chance of generating with the "lesser holy" [[object property]].
+* The long sword that a [[barrow wight]] always generates with has a {{frac|5}} chance of being made of [[silver]] (+1d20 silver damage) and a {{frac|5}} chance of being made of [[Gold (material)|gold]] (raises blessed bonus damage to +1d20 and cursed bonus damage to +4d9) - it also has an independent {{frac|20}} chance of generating with the "lesser holy" [[object property]], which adds an independent +2d6 damage bonus to blessed weapons.
 * [[Oona]]'s long sword has +1d8 elemental damage, +1d8 damage vs. chaotic and neutral targets.
 * The [[Sword of the Deeps]] is a +12 deep long sword found in the last level of the [[Lethe Waterway]].