Scroll of enchant weapon - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: follow-up tweaks

2026-01-07T12:13:20Z

follow-up tweaks

Netzhack: /* Strategy */ Clearer sentences

2026-01-07T10:34:55Z

‎Strategy: Clearer sentences

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ word choice

2024-12-02T16:33:48Z

‎Generation: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ note beatitude, punc

2024-11-15T03:32:26Z

‎Description: note beatitude, punc

Umbire the Phantom: cite monk scroll, overenchanting

2024-11-15T03:29:08Z

cite monk scroll, overenchanting

Umbire the Phantom: note fusion of worm teeth/knives

2024-11-15T01:13:30Z

note fusion of worm teeth/knives

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */

2024-11-15T00:58:39Z

‎Variants

Umbire the Phantom: messages

2024-11-15T00:46:03Z

messages

Umbire the Phantom: up to history

2024-11-15T00:37:10Z

up to history

Ais523: for some reason, the function is called "chwepon", not "chweapon"

2024-11-15T00:21:22Z

for some reason, the function is called "chwepon", not "chweapon"

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 A '''scroll of enchant weapon''' is a type of [[Magical item|magical]] [[scroll]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
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 * If the weapon is edged, [[engraving]] one letter with it is enough to reduce the enchantment. [[Athame]]s such as [[Magicbane]] will only dull while they are cursed.
 * Hitting a [[disenchanter]] with the weapon. Artifacts will resist such disenchantment {{frac|9|10}} of the time. Note that engaging a disenchanter also risks disenchanting your armor.
-* Placing it on the ground and zapping {{+ of|drain life}} at it. Again, artifacts resist {{frac|9|10}} of the time.
+* Placing it on the ground and zapping the {{+ of|drain life}} spell at it. Again, artifacts resist {{frac|9|10}} of the time.
-Erosion-proofing by reading the scroll while  confused is ideal for the hero's primary weapon(s), especially artifact weapons that are not [[sacrifice gift]]s: the damage penalties for an eroded weapon are considerable, particularly for a [[double damage]] artifact.
+Erosion-proofing by reading the scroll while confused is ideal for the hero's primary weapon(s), especially artifact weapons that are not [[sacrifice gift]]s: the damage penalties for an eroded weapon are considerable, particularly for a [[double damage]] artifact.
 ===Identification===

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 ==Strategy==
-As +5 is the highest enchantment a weapon can be further enchanted from without risk of evaporating, it is common to read uncursed scrolls of enchant weapons to raise the weapon's enchantment to that level, then read a blessed one at +5 try to raise it to +7, There are a few ways of disenchanting a +6 weapon that results from this:
+As +5 is the highest enchantment a weapon can be further enchanted from without risk of evaporating, it is common to read uncursed scrolls of enchant weapons to raise the weapon's enchantment to that level, then read a blessed one at +5 try to raise it to +7. In case that results in an enchantment of +6, there are a few ways of disenchanting a +6 weapon to get it back to +5 for another try:
 * Reading a cursed scroll of enchant weapon, unless the weapon is a non-named artifact (i.e. not Sting or Orcrist).
 * If the weapon is edged, [[engraving]] one letter with it is enough to reduce the enchantment. [[Athame]]s such as [[Magicbane]] will only dull while they are cursed.
-* Hitting a [[disenchanter]] with the weapon, which artifacts will resist {{frac|9|10}} of the time. Note that engaging a disenchanter also risks disenchanting your armor.
+* Hitting a [[disenchanter]] with the weapon. Artifacts will resist such disenchantment {{frac|9|10}} of the time. Note that engaging a disenchanter also risks disenchanting your armor.
-* Placing it on the ground and zapping {{+ of|drain life}} at it - artifacts resist {{frac|9|10}} of the time.
+* Placing it on the ground and zapping {{+ of|drain life}} at it. Again, artifacts resist {{frac|9|10}} of the time.
-Erosion-proofing using a confused reading of the scroll is ideal for the hero's primary weapon(s), especially artifact weapons that are not [[sacrifice gift]]s: the damage penalties for an eroded weapon are considerable, particularly for a [[double damage]] artifact.
+Erosion-proofing by reading the scroll while  confused is ideal for the hero's primary weapon(s), especially artifact weapons that are not [[sacrifice gift]]s: the damage penalties for an eroded weapon are considerable, particularly for a [[double damage]] artifact.
 ===Identification===

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 ==Generation==
-[[Wizard]]s may be given a scroll of enchant weapon as any of the three random scrolls in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|167|nethack=3.6.7}} The scroll is the only type that a [[Monk]] ''cannot'' start with, since they do not fight with weapons or start with any.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|89|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}
+[[Wizard]]s may be given a scroll of enchant weapon as any of the three random scrolls in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|167|nethack=3.6.7}} The scroll is the only type that a [[Monk]] ''cannot'' start with, since they do not normally fight with weapons and will not start the game with any.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|89|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}
 Scrolls of enchant weapon make up {{frac|2|25}} (8%) of all randomly-generated scrolls. General [[store]]s, second-hand bookstores and rare books shops can sell scrolls of enchant weapon.

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 [[Read]]ing a scroll of enchant weapon alters the [[enchantment]] of the [[hero]]'s currently [[wield]]ed [[weapon]] (including [[weapon-tool]]s), and doing so for a wielded [[stack]] of weapons will affect the enchantment of all items in that stack. This will [[auto-identify]] the scroll if the enchantment of the affected weapon is known, and will otherwise prompt the player to type-[[name]] the scroll.
-Reading an uncursed scroll will increase the current weapon's enchantment by one point, while a cursed scroll will decrease it by 1, and a blessed scroll may increase the enchantment by more than one, point depending on the current enchantment.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1394|nethack=3.6.7}} Reading a non-cursed scroll that enchants a cursed weapon will uncurse it, including a cursed tin opener welded to the hero's hand.{{refsrc|src/wield.c|744|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=uncursing enchanted weapon in <tt>chwepon</tt> function}} Reading the scroll while not wielding a compatible weapon will [[abuse]] the hero's [[dexterity]] if the scroll is cursed, and will otherwise exercise it.{{refsrc|src/wield.c|751|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} Reading the scroll while [[confused]] will instead alter the weapon's [[erosion]]-proofing:{{refsrc|src/read.c|1366|nethack=3.6.7}} a non-cursed scroll will make the weapon erodeproof and fix any existing damage, while a cursed scroll removes any erodeproof status.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1374|nethack=3.6.7|name=erodeproof}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1381|nethack=3.6.7}}
+The effects of the scroll depend on its [[beatitude]]: Reading an uncursed scroll will increase the current weapon's enchantment by one point, while a cursed scroll will decrease it by 1, and a blessed scroll may increase the enchantment by more than one point depending on the current enchantment.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1394|nethack=3.6.7}} Reading a non-cursed scroll that enchants a cursed weapon will uncurse it, including a cursed tin opener welded to the hero's hand.{{refsrc|src/wield.c|744|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=uncursing enchanted weapon in <tt>chwepon</tt> function}} Reading the scroll while not wielding a compatible weapon will [[abuse]] the hero's [[dexterity]] if the scroll is cursed, and will otherwise exercise it.{{refsrc|src/wield.c|751|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} Reading the scroll while [[confused]] will instead alter the weapon's [[erosion]]-proofing:{{refsrc|src/read.c|1366|nethack=3.6.7}} a non-cursed scroll will make the weapon erodeproof and fix any existing damage, while a cursed scroll removes any erodeproof status.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1374|nethack=3.6.7|name=erodeproof}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1381|nethack=3.6.7}}
 A weapon at +6 enchantment or higher will have a {{frac|2|3}} chance of evaporating instead when enchanted by a non-cursed scroll of enchant weapon.{{refsrc|src/wield.c|806|version=NetHack 3.6.7|name=limit}} A weapon that is at +9 or above has only a 1-in-(current enchantment) chance of gaining another point of enchantment, and is still subject to the aforementioned chance of evaporating.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1396|nethack=3.6.7|comment=chance of 0-point "enchantment" that still calls <tt>chwepon</tt> regardless of outcome<ref name="limit"/>}}<ref name="plus_nine"/> A weapon that is an [[artifact]] or an [[elven item]] has a {{frac|7}} chance of printing a message when enchanted above +5.{{refsrc|src/wield.c|850|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}

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 ==Generation==
-[[Wizard]]s may be given a scroll of enchant weapon as any of the three random scrolls in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|167|nethack=3.6.7}} The scroll is the only type that a [[Monk]] ''cannot'' start with, since they do not fight with weapons or start with any.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}
+[[Wizard]]s may be given a scroll of enchant weapon as any of the three random scrolls in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|167|nethack=3.6.7}} The scroll is the only type that a [[Monk]] ''cannot'' start with, since they do not fight with weapons or start with any.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|89|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}
 Scrolls of enchant weapon make up {{frac|2|25}} (8%) of all randomly-generated scrolls. General [[store]]s, second-hand bookstores and rare books shops can sell scrolls of enchant weapon.
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 The scroll of enchant weapon is one of only two scrolls with a base cost of 60[[zm]] - the other is the [[scroll of blank paper]], which has a fixed appearance. This makes [[price identification]] of the scroll of enchant weapon incredibly trivial.
-===Overenchanting===
+===Over-enchanting===
-While possible, enchanting a weapon beyond +7 is generally time-consuming, risky to consider and generally unnecessary. The possibility of evaporation makes this a very [[bad idea]] to attempt with an artifact unless you really do not care about losing it.
+While possible, enchanting a weapon beyond +7 is generally time-consuming, risky to consider and generally unnecessary; the possibility of evaporation makes this a very [[bad idea]] to attempt with an artifact unless you really do not care about losing it.
-The most common way to attempt over-enchantment is to use a huge single [[stack]] of weapons. Usually this means [[dagger]]s or lightweight, plentiful projectiles such as [[dart]]s, [[arrow]]s, and [[crossbow bolt]]s from monsters and traps. Projectile weapons benefit more from overenchantment than melee weapons since you can [[multishot]] them at high skill levels.
+The most common method of attempting over-enchantment is to use a huge single [[stack]] of weapons such as [[dagger]]s, [[dart]]s, [[arrow]]s, or [[crossbow bolt]]s from monsters and traps&mdash;projectile weapons benefit more from over-enchantment than melee weapons, since you can [[multishot]] them at high skill levels. Some non-stackable weapons are also worth over-enchanting in certain situations, e.g. a [[Healer]] with a [[unicorn horn]], an [[Archeologist]] with a [[dwarvish mattock]], a [[Knight]] preparing to be crowned with [[Excalibur]], or any hero trying [[conduct]]s.
 # Collect a large stack of daggers (say 200) or whatever stackable weapon you want.
 # Rustproof and enchant them all up to +7 with the same number of scrolls as it takes to produce a single +7 non-stackable weapon.
 # Split the stack up into four stacks of 50 +7 daggers each, and attempt to overenchant each stack. It is likely but not guaranteed that at least one stack will survive.
 # Divide your stack of 50 +8 daggers again into four stacks of 12-13 daggers each, and read another four scrolls on the four stacks to attempt to get a stack of +9 daggers.
-# If you want you can even continue enchanting the +9 daggers one by one until you get one to +10, but the amount of scrolls needed to get this far is probably not worth the extra enchantment at this point.
+# If you want, you can even continue enchanting the +9 daggers one by one until you get one to +10, but the amount of scrolls needed to get this far is probably not worth the extra enchantment at this point.
+# You can then optionally [[polypile]] the over-enchanted stack of weapons into [[silver dagger]]s, [[silver saber]]s, [[katana]]s, or any desired non-artifact weapon, as polymorphing an enchanted item preserves its enchantment.
-In certain cases (such as a [[Healer]] with a [[unicorn horn]], an [[archeologist]] with a [[dwarvish mattock]], a [[Knight]] preparing to be crowned with [[Excalibur]], or those trying [[conducts]]) it may be worthwhile to overenchant non-stackable weapons. The table below shows how many copies of a given +7 weapon must be risked in order to have a certain degree of confidence that at least one +8/+9/+10 weapon will be successfully enchanted. It is impossible to guarantee, with 100% confidence, that this will succeed. The table assumes that the weapon is already +7 when starting the process.
+The table below shows how many copies of a given weapon that is already +7 must be risked in order to have a certain degree of confidence that at least one +8/+9/+10 weapon will be successfully enchanted:
 {|class="prettytable"
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 Quite Easily Done. [/lame joke] -->
 <!-- +10 is {(1/3)^3}*(1/2), or [1 in 54]. Same crap, different odds... -->
-If you are going to try this, make sure to save at least one of your most highly enchanted weapon. Don't accidentally vaporize all of the weapons you were trying to enchant.
+As it is impossible to guarantee success with 100% confidence, make sure to save at least one of your most highly enchanted weapons.
 ==History==

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 A weapon that is already at -6 or below when reading a cursed scroll of enchant weapon has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of evaporating.<ref name="limit"/> All artifact weapons except [[Sting]] and [[Orcrist]] will always resist having their enchantment decreased by a cursed scroll.{{refsrc|src/wield.c|744|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=calls <tt>restrict_name</tt> to check against nameable artifacts}}{{refsrc|src/artifact.c|355|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<tt>restrict_name</tt> function}}
-Reading a non-cursed scroll of enchant weapon while wielding a [[worm tooth]] will transform it into a [[crysknife]], and read a cursed scroll while wielding a crysknife will turn it back into a worm tooth.{{refsrc|src/wield.c|758|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/wield.c|779|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Reading a non-cursed scroll of enchant weapon while wielding a [[worm tooth]] will transform it into a [[crysknife]], and read a cursed scroll while wielding a crysknife will turn it back into a worm tooth.{{refsrc|src/wield.c|758|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/wield.c|779|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} In both cases, the enchantment of the weapon(s) are not altered, their erosion-proofing is reset, and stacks of worm teeth and crysknives that are transformed will be fused into a single object.
 ===Blessed effects===

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 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], the scroll functions as in ''NetHack'', though there are several alternative sources of weapon enchantment:
+In [[SLASH'EM]], while the scroll functions the same as it does in ''NetHack'', there are additional sources of weapon enchantment:
-* The [[Shopkeeper services#Weapon works|weapon works]] service offered at weapons [[shop]]s can be used to increase the enchantment of weapons and even poison them. However, they can only do so one point at a time, and the price rapidly increases for already enchanted weapons; weapons also cannot be enchanted beyond +5 in this manner.
+* The [[Shopkeeper services#Weapon works|weapon works]] service offered at weapons shops can be used to increase the enchantment of weapons and even poison them. However, they can only do so one point at a time, and the price rapidly increases for already enchanted weapons - weapons also cannot be enchanted beyond +5 in this manner.
-* The [[spellbook of enchant weapon]] is a potential alternative, though as a level 7 [[enchantment spell]] it is very costly in terms of [[power]] to cast in practice, let alone with any consistency for non-[[Wizard]] roles. While writing scrolls can require more total ink out of a [[magic marker]] as opposed to a single spellbook, scrolls are also much more reliable.
+* The [[spellbook of enchant weapon]] teaches a the level 7 [[enchantment spell]] that has a similar effect to the scroll, though it is very costly in terms of [[power]] to cast, let alone with any consistency for non-[[Wizard]] roles. While writing scrolls can require more total ink out of a [[magic marker]] as opposed to a single spellbook, scrolls are also much more reliable.
-* It is possible to add a single point of enchantment to any weapon once by wielding it when [[crowned]] as a lawful character, with the relevant disadvantages of crowning; this method also does not risk evaporating the weapon even if it is at +7 or above.
+* It is possible to add a single point of enchantment to any weapon once by wielding it when [[crowned]] as a lawful hero, which does not risk evaporating the weapon even if it is at +7 or above.
 * Finally, there is a [[Polypiling#SLASH'EM|polypiling exploit]] that potentially allows any weapon to reach +100 or more.
 ==See also==

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 |—||1.71||3.42||4.68||5.68||'''7.39'''||5.88||11.77||16.11||19.55||'''25.43'''||35.08||74.16||101.49||123.18||'''160.27'''
 |}
 <!--
 ' Chance. Given percentage, returns how many trials.
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 Quite Easily Done. [/lame joke] -->
 <!-- +10 is {(1/3)^3}*(1/2), or [1 in 54]. Same crap, different odds... -->
 If you are going to try this, make sure to save at least one of your most highly enchanted weapon. Don't accidentally vaporize all of the weapons you were trying to enchant.
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 ==Messages==
-''All of the following messages only appear if you are not blind (unless noted otherwise).''
+All of the following messages only appear if the hero is not [[blind]], unless noted otherwise.
-{{message|Your <weapon> glows blue for a moment.|You added one level of enchantment while reading a non-cursed scroll of enchant weapon.}}
-{{message|Your <weapon> glows blue for a while.|You added two or more levels of enchantment while reading a non-cursed scroll of enchant weapon.}}
+{{message|Your <weapon> glows blue for a moment.|You added one level of enchantment from reading a non-cursed scroll of enchant weapon.}}
 {{message|Your <weapon> violently glows blue for a while.|You read a scroll of enchant weapon and no enchantment was added.}}
 {{message|Your right <hand> itches!|You enchanted Magicbane above +0.}}
-{{message|Your <weapon> suddenly vibrates unexpectedly.|Your Elven or [[artifact]] weapon was enchanted above level 5.}}
+{{message|Your right <hand> flinches!|You enchanted Magicbane by at least 2 points and raised its enchantment to +1 or more.}}
-{{message|Your <hands> twitch.|You read a non-cursed scroll of enchant weapon with no weapon wielded. Your dexterity is exercised.}}
+{{message|Your <weapon> glows black for a moment.|Your weapon lost enchantment from reading a cursed scroll.}}
-{{message|Your <hands> itch.|You read a cursed scroll of enchant weapon with no weapon wielded. Your dexterity is abused.}}
+{{message|Your <weapon> faintly glows black.|Your weapon was an artifact that resisted the effects of the cursed scroll.}}
 {{message|You have a strange feeling for a moment, then it passes.|You are a [[beginner]], and you read a scroll of enchant weapon with no weapon wielded. Your dexterity is exercised (abused if cursed).}}
-{{message|You have a normal feeling for a moment, then it passes.|You are a [[beginner]], and you read a scroll of enchant weapon with no weapon wielded while hallucinating.}}
+{{message|You have a normal feeling for a moment, then it passes.|As above, while [[hallucinating]].}}
 ==Variants==