Runesword (dNetHack) - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: cap off with monster generation + stub

2026-07-13T13:17:42Z

cap off with monster generation + stub

Umbire the Phantom: template, tighten phrasing...

2026-07-13T12:55:42Z

template, tighten phrasing...

Umbire the Phantom: start up formatting

2026-07-13T12:51:42Z

start up formatting

Klepto: added missing "identification" link.

2026-05-16T21:00:08Z

added missing "identification" link.

Klepto: created page.

2026-05-16T19:25:50Z

created page.

New page

{{dNetHack weapon
|name=runesword
|appearance=runed black blade
|largedmg=1d10+1d4
|smalldmg=1d10+1
|size=large
|skill=broad sword
|type=slashing
|material=iron
|color=black
|weight=40
|cost=300
}}

A '''runesword''' is a type of [[broad sword]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]], and [[notnotdNetHack]]. It is a [[Item size (dNetHack)|large]] slashing [[weapon]] that has a [[Object materials (dNetHack)|base-material]] of [[iron]]. When unidentified, it appears as a '''runed black blade'''.

[[Stormbringer]] (a [[chaotic]] [[Crowning|crowning gift]]), [[Malice]] (the chaotic [[Human (starting race)|Human]] [[Kensei]] [[quest artifact]]) and [[Aryfaern Kerym]] (the shared [[neutral]] [[Elf (starting race)|elf]] crowning gift) are all [[artifact]] runeswords.

==Generation==
Runeswords do not randomly generate, but may be [[wish]]ed for.

[[Mariliths]] generated in [[Gehennom (dNetHack)|Gehennom]] have a {{frac|3}} chance of one of their 6 weapons being a runesword.

[[Death knight]]s not generated in the [[Anachrononaut quest|future]] are generated with a runesword.

One cursed +3 runesword is generated inside the [[chest]] in the lower right corner of the second level of the [[Chaos Temple Quest]].

[[Doom knight]]s, which are only generated inside the Final Fantasy chaos quest, are generated with runeswords that have a {{frac|40}} chance of being given the [[unholy]] or [[life-drinking]] [[object properties]], each with a {{frac|2}} chance.

[[Garland]] is generated with a runesword.

If [[Kary the Fiend]] has not been killed, [[Chaos]] receives 4 +4 [[red-hot]] runeswords upon being generated.

[[Player monster (dNetHack)|Player monster]]s generated on the [[Astral Plane]] have a {{frac|20}} chance of being generated with a runesword.

==Description==
At Skilled and Expert [[skill]], runeswords gain the [[graze]] [[expert skill]]. A [[hero]] wielding a runesword can use the [[runic style]] [[knightly stance]] [[fighting style]] if they are a [[knight]] or are currently [[Spirits (dNetHack)|bound]] to [[Naberius]].

==Encyclopedia==
{{encyclopedia|
Runes are an intensely magical form of writing. Anything
written in Runes is going to be a Spell.
[...]
6. Written on Rings and Swords. These Runes always
make words and nearly always mean trouble. Avoid any
artifact with Runes on it, even if the Runes prove only to
spell the maker's name.
[ The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, by Diana Wynne Jones ]
}}

{{dNetHack-326}}
[[Category: dNetHack]]
[[Category: notdNetHack]]
[[Category: notnotdNetHack]]

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 The artifacts [[Fire Brand (dNetHack)|Fire Brand]] and [[Frost Brand (dNetHack)|Frost Brand]] can only be wished for by ''or'' gifted in runesword form to a chaotic human Kensei, and only chaotic human Kensei can reshape the Brands into runeswords by dipping the chosen artifact into a [[Forge (dNetHack)|forge]] or [[fountain]] respectively&mdash;this reshaping requires the hero to either have a runesword in their inventory or be at least Skilled in broadswords.
-A cursed +3 runesword is generated in the [[Chaos Temple Quest]], where it is placed within a [[chest]] in the Ruined Temple area during level creation.
+A cursed +3 runesword is generated on the [[Chaos Temple Quest]], where it is placed within a [[chest]] in the southeast portion of the Ruined Temple area during level creation.
-[[Mariliths]] generated in [[Gehennom (dNetHack)|Gehennom]] have a {{frac|3}} chance of one of their 6 weapons being a runesword.
+Several monsters can be [[generated with]] runeswords.
-[[Death knight]]s not generated in the [[Anachrononaut quest|future]] are generated with a runesword.
+* [[Doom knight]]s are always generated with a runesword that has a cumulative {{frac|40}} chance of being given an [[Object properties#dNetHack|object property]]: a {{frac|80}} chance of the [[desecrated]] property, a {{frac|160}} chance of the [[Unholy (property)|unholy property]], and a {{frac|160}} chance of the [[life-drinking]] property.
+* [[Garland]] is always generated with a runesword. If Garland transforms into [[Chaos]] while [[Kary, the Fiend of Fire]] is still alive, he will also be given four +4 runeswords that each have the [[red-hot]] property upon transforming.
-[[Doom knight]]s, which are only generated inside the Final Fantasy chaos quest, are generated with runeswords that have a {{frac|40}} chance of being given the [[unholy]] or [[life-drinking]] [[object properties]], each with a {{frac|2}} chance.
+* [[Marilith]]s that are generated in [[Gehennom (dNetHack)|Gehennom]] or slated for good equipment have a {{frac|3}} chance of being given a runesword as their third of six weapons.
+* [[Death knight]]s that are generated outside of the future (i.e. the [[Anachrononaut quest]] and [[Android quest]]) are always generated with a runesword.
-[[Garland]] is generated with a runesword.
+* [[Player monster (dNetHack)|Player monsters]] generated on the [[Astral Plane]] have a {{frac|20}} chance of their melee weapon being made into a runesword.
 ==Description==
@@ Line 60: / Line 56: @@
 |[ The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, by Diana Wynne Jones ]
 }}
 {{dNetHack-326}}
 [[Category:dNetHack weapons]]
 [[Category:notdNetHack weapons]]
 [[Category:notnotdNetHack weapons]]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
    |tohit=<nowiki>+0</nowiki>
    |skill=broadsword
-   |magical=no
+   |etraits=graze
-   |special=<ul><li>[[hand-protecting]] weapon</li></ul>
+   |special=<ul><li>enables [[runic style]] for [[knightly stance]]s</li></ul>
    |size=large
    |cost=300
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
    |material=iron
 }}
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], the '''[[runesword]]''' is significantly altered from its appearance in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a [[Item size (dNetHack)|large]] [[melee]] weapon, making it [[one-handed]] for a [[Physical size|medium-sized]] wielder, and uses the [[broadsword]] [[skill]] as it does in ''NetHack''. It has a [[Object materials (dNetHack)|base material]] of [[iron]], and appears as a '''runed black blade''' when [[unidentified]] (or as simply a '''runed blade''' if the hero is [[blind]]).
@@ Line 51: / Line 45: @@
 ==Description==
-Runeswords inflict slashing damage, dealing 1d10+1d4 damage against small monsters and 1d10+1 against large monsters. A hero wielding a runesword while they are at Skilled or better in broadswords gains the "graze" [[expert trait]]. In terms of monster weapon preference, monsters will prefer the runesword to a [[battle-axe]], and they will prefer a [[church blade]], a [[silverknight scythe]] (if they can use [[polearms]]) or better to the runesword.
+Runeswords inflict slashing damage, dealing 1d10+1d4 damage against small monsters and 1d10+1 against large monsters. A Knight or any hero with the [[Spirits (dNetHack)|spirit]] [[Naberius]] bound can utilize the [[runic style]] [[knightly stance]]. Any hero wielding a runesword while they are at Skilled or better in broadswords will gain the "graze" [[expert trait]].
-==Encyclopedia==
+In terms of monster weapon preference, monsters will prefer the runesword to a [[battle-axe]], and they will prefer a [[church blade]], a [[silverknight scythe]] (if they can use [[polearms]]) or better to the runesword.
 {{encyclopedia|
 Runes are an intensely magical form of writing. Anything

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{dNetHack weapon
- |name=runesword
+  |color=black
- |appearance=runed black blade
+  |name=runesword
- |largedmg=1d10+1d4
+  |appearance=runed black blade
- |smalldmg=1d10+1
+  |largedmg=1d10+1d4
- |size=large
+  |smalldmg=1d10+1
- |skill=broad sword
+  |type=slashing
- |type=slashing
+  |tohit=<nowiki>+0</nowiki>
- |material=iron
+  |skill=broadsword
- |color=black
+  |magical=no
- |weight=40
+  |special=<ul><li>[[hand-protecting]] weapon</li></ul>
- |cost=300
+  |size=large
 }}
 <!--
@@ Line 18: / Line 21: @@
 #define WEAPON(names,sdam,ldam,kn,mg,size,prob,wt,cost,hitbon,typ,sub,metal,shwmat,color,...) \
 -->
-A '''runesword''' is a type of [[broad sword]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]], and [[notnotdNetHack]]. It is a [[Item size (dNetHack)|large]] slashing [[weapon]] that has a [[Object materials (dNetHack)|base-material]] of [[iron]]. When [[Identification|unidentified]], it appears as a '''runed black blade'''.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], the '''[[runesword]]''' is significantly altered from its appearance in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a [[Item size (dNetHack)|large]] [[melee]] weapon, making it [[one-handed]] for a [[Physical size|medium-sized]] wielder, and uses the [[broadsword]] [[skill]] as it does in ''NetHack''. It has a [[Object materials (dNetHack)|base material]] of [[iron]], and appears as a '''runed black blade''' when [[unidentified]] (or as simply a '''runed blade''' if the hero is [[blind]]).
-[[Stormbringer]] (a [[chaotic]] [[Crowning|crowning gift]]), [[Malice]] (the chaotic [[Human (starting race)|Human]] [[Kensei]] [[quest artifact]]) and [[Aryfaern Kerym]] (the shared [[neutral]] [[Elf (starting race)|elf]] crowning gift) are all [[artifact]] runeswords.
+The runesword is the [[base item]] for three [[artifact]]s:
 ==Generation==
-Runeswords do not randomly generate, but may be [[wish]]ed for.
+[[Barbarian/dNetHack|Barbarians]], Kensei, [[Knight/dNetHack|Knights]], [[Samurai/dNetHack|Samurai]], and [[Valkyrie/dNetHack|Valkyries]] start the game with knowledge of the runesword's appearance.
 [[Mariliths]] generated in [[Gehennom (dNetHack)|Gehennom]] have a {{frac|3}} chance of one of their 6 weapons being a runesword.
 [[Death knight]]s not generated in the [[Anachrononaut quest|future]] are generated with a runesword.
 [[Doom knight]]s, which are only generated inside the Final Fantasy chaos quest, are generated with runeswords that have a {{frac|40}} chance of being given the [[unholy]] or [[life-drinking]] [[object properties]], each with a {{frac|2}} chance.
@@ Line 35: / Line 46: @@
 [[Garland]] is generated with a runesword.
 If [[Kary the Fiend]] has not been killed, [[Chaos]] receives 4 +4 [[red-hot]] runeswords upon being generated.
-[[Player monster (dNetHack)|Player monster]]s generated on the [[Astral Plane]] have a {{frac|20}} <!--(1/10)(1/2)-->chance of being generated with a runesword.<!--CRYSKNIFE, MOON_AXE, BATTLE_AXE, HIGH_ELVEN_WARSWORD,SABER, CRYSTAL_SWORD, TWO_HANDED_SWORD,KATANA, DWARVISH_MATTOCK, RUNESWORD-->
+[[Player monster (dNetHack)|Player monsters]] generated on the [[Astral Plane]] have a {{frac|20}} chance of their melee weapon being made into a runesword.
 ==Description==
 At Skilled and Expert [[skill]], runeswords gain the [[graze]] [[expert skill]]. A [[hero]] wielding a runesword can use the [[runic style]] [[knightly stance]] [[fighting style]] if they are a [[knight]] or are currently [[Spirits (dNetHack)|bound]] to [[Naberius]].
 ==Encyclopedia==
 {{encyclopedia|
-	Runes are an intensely magical form of writing. Anything
+Runes are an intensely magical form of writing. Anything
-	written in Runes is going to be a Spell.
+written in Runes is going to be a Spell.
-	[...]
+[...]
 .  Written on Rings and Swords. These Runes always
-	make words and nearly always mean trouble. Avoid any
+make words and nearly always mean trouble. Avoid any
-	artifact with Runes on it, even if the Runes prove only to
+artifact with Runes on it, even if the Runes prove only to
-	spell the maker's name.
+spell the maker's name.
-	[ The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, by Diana Wynne Jones ]
+|[ The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, by Diana Wynne Jones ]
 }}
 {{dNetHack-326}}
-[[Category: dNetHack]]
+[[Category:dNetHack weapons]]
-[[Category: notdNetHack]]
+[[Category:notdNetHack weapons]]
-[[Category: notnotdNetHack]]
+[[Category:notnotdNetHack weapons]]