Martial arts - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: reformat some

2026-03-19T05:25:15Z

reformat some

Umbire the Phantom: tocright

2026-03-19T05:24:37Z

tocright

Umbire the Phantom: touch-ups

2026-03-19T05:24:26Z

touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: /* EvilHack */ word choice

2025-12-21T02:17:17Z

‎EvilHack: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: tweaks

2025-12-21T02:17:03Z

tweaks

MrSurvivor1997: /* dNetHack */ Androids can become Grand Masters too.

2025-12-21T01:20:44Z

‎dNetHack: Androids can become Grand Masters too.

Umbire the Phantom: rephrase

2025-08-16T12:24:02Z

rephrase

Umbire the Phantom: /* EvilHack */ not directly relevant

2024-11-24T01:32:00Z

‎EvilHack: not directly relevant

Umbire the Phantom: /* To-hit and damage */ upcoming + proper commits

2024-10-03T05:57:39Z

‎To-hit and damage: upcoming + proper commits

Furey: Must have no body armor to deal a staggering blow. Blessed gloves/boots do +1d4 against shapeshifted vampires. Delete bare hands info; bare hands has its own article. Not fact-checked.

2024-07-01T04:07:34Z

Must have no body armor to deal a staggering blow. Blessed gloves/boots do +1d4 against shapeshifted vampires. Delete bare hands info; bare hands has its own article. Not fact-checked.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{tocright}}
-'''Martial arts''' is a [[skill]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that is used by the [[hero]] when attacking or [[kick]]ing enemies while they are not [[wield]]ing anything. The base damage for a martial arts attack is 1d4. Naturally, martial arts preserve the [[weaponless]] [[conduct]].
+'''Martial arts''' is a [[skill]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that is used by the [[hero]] in certain [[role]]s when attacking or [[kick]]ing enemies while they are not [[wield]]ing anything. The base damage for a martial arts attack is 1d4. Naturally, martial arts preserve the [[weaponless]] [[conduct]].
-[[Monk]]s and [[Samurai]] possess this skill, while all other roles use the [[bare hands]] skill. When attacking using martial arts without [[body armor]] or a [[shield]], there is a chance of dealing a [[staggering blow]], knocking the enemy backwards.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|1174|nethack=3.6.7}}
+When attacking using martial arts without [[body armor]] or a [[shield]], there is a chance of dealing a [[staggering blow]], knocking the enemy backwards.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|1174|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Martial arts skill==
 {{Martial arts skill table}}
 ==To-hit and damage==

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:24, 19 March 2026
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		+	{{tocright}}
	'''Martial arts''' is a [[skill]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that is used by the [[hero]] when attacking or [[kick]]ing enemies while they are not [[wield]]ing anything. The base damage for a martial arts attack is 1d4. Naturally, martial arts preserve the [[weaponless]] [[conduct]].		'''Martial arts''' is a [[skill]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that is used by the [[hero]] when attacking or [[kick]]ing enemies while they are not [[wield]]ing anything. The base damage for a martial arts attack is 1d4. Naturally, martial arts preserve the [[weaponless]] [[conduct]].

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Martial arts''' is a [[skill]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that is used when attacking or [[kick]]ing enemies while not [[wield]]ing anything. The base damage for a martial arts attack is 1d4. Naturally, martial arts preserve the [[weaponless]] [[conduct]].
+'''Martial arts''' is a [[skill]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that is used by the [[hero]] when attacking or [[kick]]ing enemies while they are not [[wield]]ing anything. The base damage for a martial arts attack is 1d4. Naturally, martial arts preserve the [[weaponless]] [[conduct]].
 [[Monk]]s and [[Samurai]] possess this skill, while all other roles use the [[bare hands]] skill. When attacking using martial arts without [[body armor]] or a [[shield]], there is a chance of dealing a [[staggering blow]], knocking the enemy backwards.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|1174|nethack=3.6.7}}
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 |}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|c1c515af9f2528b3d26a93fc8b708454a3153ed1}}, martial arts is buffed significantly: The martial arts damage bonus is now applied to all hits, though hits that roll a 1 on their d4 will still not train skill. Per {{commit|60c1956850179f4860e59957138154ec65255998}}, martial arts attacks have a {{frac|5}} chance per skill level above Basic to make an "off-hand" attack, as in [[two-weapon combat]] - per {{commit|fcf1a42cacece384ad10577cf75240c8c23aacfe}}, the character must not be wearing a shield. The updated damage numbers (assuming both attacks hit) are:}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|c1c515af9f2528b3d26a93fc8b708454a3153ed1}}, martial arts is buffed significantly: The martial arts damage bonus is now applied to all hits, though hits that roll a 1 on their d4 will still not train skill. Per {{commit|60c1956850179f4860e59957138154ec65255998}}, martial arts attacks have a {{frac|5}} chance per skill level above Basic to make an "off-hand" attack, as in [[two-weapon combat]] - per {{commit|fcf1a42cacece384ad10577cf75240c8c23aacfe}}, the hero must not be wearing a shield. The updated damage numbers (assuming both attacks hit) are:}}
 {| class="prettytable" style="text-align: center"
@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 ==Strategy==
-Martial arts is a more than suitable form of primary offense in the early game, but on its own will inevitably fall behind other weapon skills in the late game due to the low base damage, lack of enchantment bonuses, and {{frac|4}} chance of skill-based damage bonuses not applying. As a result, Monk characters often forgo martial arts in favor of obtaining an [[artifact weapon]] with a lower skill point investment, maximizing their [[luck]] to offset the to-hit penalties. While Samurai start with solid weaponry, martial arts gives them enough extra damage that the skill can be used as a fallback against [[acid blob]]s and other weapon-damaging monsters, and makes the Samurai one of the better choices for weaponless conducts after Monks.
+Martial arts is a more than suitable form of primary offense in the early game, but on its own will inevitably fall behind other weapon skills in the late game due to the low base damage, lack of enchantment bonuses, and {{frac|4}} chance of skill-based damage bonuses not applying. As a result, Monks often forgo martial arts in favor of obtaining an [[artifact weapon]] with a lower skill point investment, maximizing their [[luck]] to offset the to-hit penalties. While Samurai start with solid weaponry, martial arts gives them enough extra damage that the skill can be used as a fallback against [[acid blob]]s and other monsters that can damage armor or weapons, and makes the Samurai one of the better choices for weaponless conducts after Monks.
-In any scenario, characters relying primarily on martial arts should carry some form of [[ranged attack]] to supplement it against monsters with dangerous passives, which usually overlap with monsters that can damage weapons. Outside of magic, Monks have very few options in terms of ranged weapons, and can only train three relevant skills to Basic: [[spear]], [[crossbow]] and [[shuriken]]. Samurai are much more limited in terms of magical skill, but have several more ranged weapon skills - they can reach Basic in [[dagger]]s, Skilled in [[knives]] and spears, and Expert in [[bow]]s and shuriken. Rings of {{= of|increase damage}} are incredibly valuable for martial arts practitioners, to the point that it is often worth [[Eating jewelry|eating the rings]] if possible to accrue large damage bonuses for martial arts and ranged skills alike.
+In any scenario, heroes relying primarily on martial arts should carry some form of [[ranged attack]] to supplement it against monsters with dangerous passives, which usually overlap with monsters that can damage weapons. Outside of magic, Monks have very few options in terms of ranged weapons, and can only train three relevant skills to Basic: [[spear]], [[crossbow]] and [[shuriken]]. Samurai are much more limited in terms of magical skill, but have several more ranged weapon skills&mdash;they can reach Basic in [[dagger]]s, Skilled in [[knives]] and spears, and Expert in [[bow]]s and shuriken. Rings of {{= of|increase damage}} are incredibly valuable for martial arts practitioners, to the point that it is often worth [[Eating jewelry|eating the rings]] if possible to accrue large damage bonuses for martial arts and ranged skills alike.
 ==History==
-In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and previous versions, including some variants based on these versions, martial arts erroneously receives no skill-based to-hit bonus since the code that grants it is only called if the character is wielding a weapon. This is fixed in [[NetHack 3.6.0]].
+In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and previous versions, including some variants based on these versions, martial arts erroneously receives no skill-based to-hit bonus since the code that grants it is only called if the hero is wielding a weapon. This is fixed in [[NetHack 3.6.0]].
 ==Variants==
@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[half-dragon]] [[Bard]]s can reach Expert in martial arts, and [[Elf (starting race)|elven]], [[Incantifier (starting race)|incantifier]], and [[Drow (starting race)|myrkalfar]] [[Anachrononaut]]s can reach Grand Master, as well as [[Android]]s.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[half-dragon]] [[Troubadour]]s can reach Expert in martial arts, while [[Elf (starting race)|elven]], [[Incantifier (starting race)|incantifier]], and [[Drow (starting race)|myrkalfar]] [[Anachrononaut]]s can reach Grand Master, as well as [[Android]]s.
-Any role with the martial arts skill can [[twoweapon]] to attack with both hands, even if wielding only one weapon - Monks can reach Grand Master with two-weapon combat. Any character that is [[experience level]] 30 and reaches Grand Master in martial arts can [[name]] the [[dNetHack artifacts#Grandmaster's Robe|Grandmaster's Robe]], an artifact [[robe]] that increases the base dice for martial arts to 1d8 and grants it [[exploding dice]].
+Any role with the martial arts skill can [[twoweapon]] to attack with both hands, even if wielding only one weapon&mdash;[[Monk/dNetHack|Monks]] can also reach Grand Master with two-weapon combat. Any hero that is [[experience level]] 30 and reaches Grand Master in martial arts can [[name]] the [[dNetHack artifacts#Grandmaster's Robe|Grandmaster's Robe]], an artifact [[robe]] that increases the base dice for martial arts to 1d8 and grants it [[exploding dice]].
-The [[Spirits (dNetHack)|spirit]] [[Buer (dNetHack)|Buer]] grants skill in martial arts and permanently unlocks the skill, while [[Spirits (dNetHack)#Eurynome, the Lonely Dancer|Eurynome]] increases the size of your unarmed attack's damage dice. Binding Buer allows you to reach Expert in martial arts, while having both Buer and Eurynome bound allows you to reach Grand Master. [[Crystals (dNetHack)|The Earth Crystal]] upgrades the bare-handed combat skill to martial arts and boosts a character's martial arts skill level.
+The [[Spirits (dNetHack)|spirit]] [[Buer (dNetHack)|Buer]] grants skill in martial arts and permanently unlocks the skill, while [[Spirits (dNetHack)#Eurynome, the Lonely Dancer|Eurynome]] increases the size of your unarmed attack's damage dice. Binding Buer allows you to reach Expert in martial arts, while having both Buer and Eurynome bound allows you to reach Grand Master. [[Crystals (dNetHack)|The Earth Crystal]] upgrades the bare-handed combat skill to martial arts and boosts a hero's martial arts skill level.
 ===FIQHack===

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], a lawful character wearing the [[Gauntlets of Purity]] gains a bonus to martial arts damage when fighting unarmed.
+In [[EvilHack]], a lawful hero wearing the [[Gauntlets of Purity]] gains a bonus to martial arts damage when fighting unarmed.
 ===SlashTHEM===

@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[half-dragon]] [[Bard]]s can reach Expert in martial arts, and [[Elf (starting race)|elven]], [[Incantifier (starting race)|incantifier]], [[Drow (starting race)|myrkalfar]] and [[android]] [[Anachrononaut]]s can reach Grand Master.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[half-dragon]] [[Bard]]s can reach Expert in martial arts, and [[Elf (starting race)|elven]], [[Incantifier (starting race)|incantifier]], and [[Drow (starting race)|myrkalfar]] [[Anachrononaut]]s can reach Grand Master, as well as [[Android]]s.
 Any role with the martial arts skill can [[twoweapon]] to attack with both hands, even if wielding only one weapon - Monks can reach Grand Master with two-weapon combat. Any character that is [[experience level]] 30 and reaches Grand Master in martial arts can [[name]] the [[dNetHack artifacts#Grandmaster's Robe|Grandmaster's Robe]], an artifact [[robe]] that increases the base dice for martial arts to 1d8 and grants it [[exploding dice]].
@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 ===SlashTHEM===
-In [[SlashTHEM]], [[Ninja (role)|Ninja]] can reach Master in martial arts.
+In [[SlashTHEM]], [[Ninja (role)|Ninjas]] can reach Master in martial arts.
 ==References==

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ==To-hit and damage==
-Attacking with martial arts deals [[silver damage]] if you are wearing a silver ring and no [[gloves]], similar to any wielded silver object. Blessed gloves or [[boots]] (when kicking) cause +1d4 blessed damage against the [[undead]], [[major demon]]s, and shapeshifted [[vampires]].
+Attacking with martial arts deals [[silver damage]] if you are wearing a silver ring and no [[gloves]], similar to any wielded silver object. Blessed gloves or [[boots]] (when kicking) deals +1d4 damage against [[major demon]]s and [[undead]], including [[shapeshifted]] [[Vampire (monster class)|vampires]].
 An attack's skill-based damage bonus only applies if the attack rolls at least a 2 on its primary damage die{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|1111|nethack=3.6.7}} - the average damage for a d4 attack is not 2.5 + ''bonus'', but 2.5 + (0.75 * ''bonus''), making the +9 bonus for Grand Master skill less powerful than it might seem.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Martial arts''' is a [[skill]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that is used when attacking or [[kick]]ing enemies while not [[wield]]ing anything. The base damage for a martial arts attack is d4. Naturally, martial arts preserve the [[weaponless]] [[conduct]].
+'''Martial arts''' is a [[skill]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that is used when attacking or [[kick]]ing enemies while not [[wield]]ing anything. The base damage for a martial arts attack is 1d4. Naturally, martial arts preserve the [[weaponless]] [[conduct]].
-[[Monk]]s and [[Samurai]] possess this skill, while all other roles use the [[bare hands]] skill. When attacking using martial arts without a [[shield]], there is a chance of dealing a [[staggering blow]], knocking the enemy backwards.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|1174|nethack=3.6.7}}
+[[Monk]]s and [[Samurai]] possess this skill, while all other roles use the [[bare hands]] skill. When attacking using martial arts without [[body armor]] or a [[shield]], there is a chance of dealing a [[staggering blow]], knocking the enemy backwards.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|1174|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Martial arts skill==
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ==To-hit and damage==
-Attacking with martial arts deals [[silver damage]] if you are wearing a silver ring and no [[gloves]], similar to any wielded silver object. Blessed gloves or [[boots]] (when kicking) cause +d4 blessed damage against [[M2_DEMON|demons]] and the [[undead]].
+Attacking with martial arts deals [[silver damage]] if you are wearing a silver ring and no [[gloves]], similar to any wielded silver object. Blessed gloves or [[boots]] (when kicking) cause +1d4 blessed damage against the [[undead]], [[major demon]]s, and shapeshifted [[vampires]].
-An attack's skill-based damage bonus only applies if the attack rolls at least a 2 on its primary damage die{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|494|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|1111|nethack=3.6.7}} - the average damage for a d4 attack is not 2.5 + ''bonus'', but 2.5 + (0.75 * ''bonus''), making the +9 bonus for Grand Master skill less powerful than it might seem.
+An attack's skill-based damage bonus only applies if the attack rolls at least a 2 on its primary damage die{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|1111|nethack=3.6.7}} - the average damage for a d4 attack is not 2.5 + ''bonus'', but 2.5 + (0.75 * ''bonus''), making the +9 bonus for Grand Master skill less powerful than it might seem.
 In addition to the bonuses below, a Monk not wearing body armor or a shield gets an additional to-hit bonus of (''XL'' / 3) + 2.
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 {| class="prettytable" style="text-align: center"
 ! &nbsp;
-! colspan=3 | Bare-hand
+| +to hit
-! colspan=3 | Martial
+| +damage
 |-
-! Skill Level
+| Basic || +3 || +3 || 4.75
 |-
-!Unskilled
+| Skilled || +4 || +4 || 5.5
 |-
-!Basic
+| Expert || +5 || +6 || 7
 |-
-!Skilled
+| Master || +6 || +7 || 7.75
 |-
-!Expert
+| Grand Master || +7 || +9 || 9.25
 |}
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|60c1956850179f4860e59957138154ec65255998}}, martial arts is buffed significantly: The martial arts damage bonus is now applied to all hits, though hits that roll a 1 on their d4 will still not train skill. Bare-handed and martial arts combat also has a {{frac|5}} chance per skill level above Basic to make an "off-hand" attack, as in [[two-weapon combat]] - per {{commit|fcf1a42cacece384ad10577cf75240c8c23aacfe}}, the character must not be wearing a shield. The updated damage numbers (assuming both attacks hit) are:}}
@@ Line 51: / Line 34: @@
 {| class="prettytable" style="text-align: center"
 ! &nbsp;
-! colspan=3 | Bare-hand
+! +to hit
-! colspan=3 | Martial
+! +damage
-|-
+! average damage
 |-
-!Basic
+| Basic || +3 || +3 || 5.5
 |-
-!Skilled
+| Skilled || +4 || +4 || 7.8
 |-
-!Expert
+| Expert || +5 || +6 || 11.9
 |-
-!Master
+| Master || +6 || +7 || 15.2
 |-
-!Grand Master
+| Grand Master || +7 || +9 || 20.7
 |}