Short sword - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ law incant kensei

2026-06-26T15:22:15Z

‎dNetHack: law incant kensei

Umbire the Phantom: hatnote

2026-06-26T15:10:30Z

hatnote

Umbire the Phantom: dnh + evil

2026-06-26T15:09:41Z

dnh + evil

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ word choice

2026-06-04T17:00:42Z

‎Generation: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: cite, pasto

2026-06-04T16:12:36Z

cite, pasto

Umbire the Phantom: extra *dnh details

2026-06-04T16:00:17Z

extra *dnh details

Umbire the Phantom: version template, typos, potholes, and variant stuff

2026-06-04T15:49:46Z

version template, typos, potholes, and variant stuff

Umbire the Phantom: not much more beyond that - start on variants

2026-06-04T15:38:42Z

not much more beyond that - start on variants

Umbire the Phantom: start nh5 renovations

2026-06-04T15:24:37Z

start nh5 renovations

Umbire the Phantom: potholes et. al.

2026-04-20T02:26:36Z

potholes et. al.

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 * [[dNetHack artifacts#Avarice|Avarice]] is an intelligent lawful large-sized short sword wielded by [[Mammon]]. It has +1d10 to-hit and deals +1 damage, stealing items from targets that it hits.
 * [[Sunsword]] is a silvered [[golden]] long sword that uses (and trains) the higher of the two between the character's short sword and long sword skills.
-* [[Fire Brand (dNetHack)|Fire Brand]] and [[Frost Brand (dNetHack)|Frost Brand]] can be generated, [[wished]] for or gifted in short sword form, and can be reshaped into a short sword.
+* [[Fire Brand (dNetHack)|Fire Brand]] and [[Frost Brand (dNetHack)|Frost Brand]] can be generated, [[wished]] for or gifted in short sword form, and can be reshaped into a short sword&mdash;a lawful [[Incantifier (starting race)|incantifier]] [[Kensei]] hero can also reshape either artifact into any weapon that uses the short sword skill.
 ===xNetHack===

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   |material=iron
 }}
 A '''short sword''' is a type of [[weapon]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a one-handed [[melee]] weapon that is made of [[iron]].

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 * [[dNetHack artifacts#Avarice|Avarice]] is an intelligent lawful large-sized short sword wielded by [[Mammon]]. It has +1d10 to-hit and deals +1 damage, stealing items from targets that it hits.
 * [[Sunsword]] is a silvered [[golden]] long sword that uses (and trains) the higher of the two between the character's short sword and long sword skills.
-* [[Fire Brand (dNetHack)|Fire Brand]] and [[Frost Brand (dNetHack)|Frost Brand]] can be generated, [[wished]] for or reshaped into short sword form.
+* [[Fire Brand (dNetHack)|Fire Brand]] and [[Frost Brand (dNetHack)|Frost Brand]] can be generated, [[wished]] for or gifted in short sword form, and can be reshaped into a short sword.
 ===xNetHack===
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 ===EvilHack===
-[[EvilHack]] adds the [[Dark elven short sword (EvilHack)|dark elven short sword]] as a weapon that uses the short sword skill, which is significantly different from its implementation in SLASH'EM.
+[[EvilHack]] adds the [[Dark elven short sword (EvilHack)|dark elven short sword]] as a weapon that uses the short sword skill, which is significantly different from its implementation in SLASH'EM. Fire Brand and Frost Brand are changed to [[steel]] short swords, somewhat similar to xNetHack.
-Soldiers and watchmen that do not have a race-specific short sword may generate with a short sword. [[Agent]]s of the [[god]]s have a {{frac|3|4}} chance of generating with a short sword. Player monster [[Barbarian (player monster)|barbarians]] and giant and tortle player [[Samurai (player monster)|samurai]] generate with short swords.
+Soldiers and watchmen that do not have a race-specific short sword may generate with a short sword. [[Agent]]s of the [[god]]s have a {{frac|3|4}} chance of generating with a short sword. [[Player monster (EvilHack)|Player monster]] [[Barbarian (EvilHack monster)|barbarians]] and giant and tortle player [[Samurai (EvilHack monster)|samurai]] generate with short swords.
 A short sword can be created at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] by combining a [[dagger]] and 2 [[crossbow bolt]]s. Short swords can be used to create several items:
@@ Line 132: / Line 132: @@
 * Two short swords can be combined to create a long sword.
 * A short sword can be combined with a [[spear]] to create a [[glaive]].
 ===SlashTHEM===

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 ==Generation==
-Some [[role]]s of [[hero]] can start the game with a short sword:
+Some [[role]]s available to the [[hero]] can start the game with a short sword:
 * [[Barbarian]]s have a {{frac|2}} chance of starting each game with a +0 short sword as their one-handed weapon.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|63|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|666-L670|nethack=5.0.0}}

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 A '''short sword''' is a type of [[weapon]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a one-handed [[melee]] weapon that is made of [[iron]].
-[[Samurai]] know the short sword as a '''wakizashi'''.
+[[Samurai]] know the short sword as a '''wakizashi'''.{{refsrc|src/objnam.c|106|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Generation==
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 * [[Hunter]]s have a {{frac|2|3}} chance of generating with a short sword.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|308|nethack=5.0.0}}
 * [[Skeleton]]s have an effective {{frac|12}} chance of generating with a short sword.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|492-L494|nethack=3.6.7|comment=Skeletons are the only monster in the [[Zombie (monster class)|zombie]] [[monster class]] eligible to generate with weapons and armor}}
-* [[Player monster]]s, including those generated on the [[Astral Plane]], have a low {{frac|2|291}} chance (effectively ~0.69%) of generating with a broadsword as their weapon before role-based replacements are applied.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|150|nethack=5.0.0|comment={{frac|2}} to get a random weapon&mdash;the designated range of objects covers weapons from the spear to the bullwhip inclusively in <tt>objects.h</tt>, and uses normal generation odds}} [[Rogue (player monster)|Rogues]] have a further {{frac|4}} chance of forcing a short sword as their primary weapon, raising their effective chance to ~25.52%.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|230|nethack=3.6.7}}
+* [[Player monster]]s, including those generated on the [[Astral Plane]], have a low {{frac|2|291}} chance (effectively ~0.69%) of generating with a short sword as their weapon before role-based replacements are applied.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|150|nethack=5.0.0|comment={{frac|2}} to get a random weapon&mdash;the designated range of objects covers weapons from the spear to the bullwhip inclusively in <tt>objects.h</tt>, and uses normal generation odds}} [[Rogue (player monster)|Rogues]] have a further {{frac|4}} chance of forcing a short sword as their primary weapon, raising their effective chance to ~25.52%.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|230|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Short sword skill==

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 [[Enki]] is a spirit that grants skill in short swords while bound.
 There are some [[dNetHack artifacts|artifacts]] that use the short sword skill:
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 * [[dNetHack artifacts#Avarice|Avarice]] is an intelligent lawful large-sized short sword wielded by [[Mammon]]. It has +1d10 to-hit and deals +1 damage, stealing items from targets that it hits.
 * [[Sunsword]] is a silvered [[golden]] long sword that uses (and trains) the higher of the two between the character's short sword and long sword skills.
-* [[Fire Brand (dNetHack)|Fire Brand]] and [[Frost Brand (dNetHack)|Frost Brand]] can generate in short sword form.
+* [[Fire Brand (dNetHack)|Fire Brand]] and [[Frost Brand (dNetHack)|Frost Brand]] can be generated, [[wished]] for or reshaped into short sword form.
 ===xNetHack===

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 The short sword as depicted in ''NetHack'' comes from ''Advanced [[Dungeons & Dragons]].'' Historically, there has never been a specific type of "short sword": swords from the Bronze and Iron Ages were necessarily shorter, as a long blade requires high-quality steel that was unavailable. From the medieval and later periods, some types of larger daggers or knives (such as the [[Wikipedia:seax|seax]]) may be described as short swords, given that there is no single agreed-upon length for what qualifies a bladed weapon of this type as a sword.
-The wakizashi is a short type of sword from feudal Japan. Due to [[Wikipedia:sumptuary law|sumptuary laws]] and arms regulation, commoners (i.e. non-samurai) were not allowed to wear swords beyond a certain length; as a result, the wakizashi was a commoner's weapon.  For samurai, however, a long [[katana]] together with a wakizashi was considered an indication of their elevated social status. Transliterated, the term means "side-inserted sword", referring to how the small, handy weapon could be worn at one's side, analogous to the modern term "sidearm".
+The wakizashi is a short type of sword from feudal Japan. Due to [[Wikipedia:sumptuary law|sumptuary laws]] and arms regulation, commoners (i.e. non-samurai) were not allowed to wear swords beyond a certain length; as a result, the wakizashi was a commoner's weapon. For samurai, however, a long katana together with a wakizashi was considered an indication of their elevated social status. Transliterated, the term means "side-inserted sword", referring to how the small, handy weapon could be worn at one's side, analogous to the modern term "sidearm".
 ==Variants==
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 ===dNetHack===
-[[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]] add the [[droven short sword]] and [[mirrorblade]] as weapons that use the short sword skill, and the [[Wakizashi (dNetHack)|wakizashi]] is made into a separate weapon from the standard short sword. All short sword weapons can be poisoned by dipping them in the appropriated [[potion]].
+[[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]] add several weapons that use the short sword skill, including making a separate weapon out of the wakizashi:
 [[Enki]] is a spirit that grants skill in short swords while bound.
-There are a few artifacts that use the short sword skill:
+There are some [[dNetHack artifacts|artifacts]] that use the short sword skill:
 * [[Luck Blade (dNetHack)|Luck Blade]] is a chaotic [[Convict]]-favoring short sword that acts as the role's first sacrifice gift. It has +1d7 to-hit and deals +1d7 damage versus all monsters, uses [[luck]]-based damage dice, and acts as a [[luckstone]] while carried.
 * [[Spineseeker (dNetHack)|Spineseeker]] is a chaotic short sword that has +1 to-hit and deals +1d6 damage versus all monsters. It grants [[stealth]] while wielded and adds extra damage dice for sneak attacks and [[backstab]]s, making sneak attacks available to non-[[Rogue]] roles.
 * [[Lolth's Fang]] is an intelligent [[Drow (starting race)|drow-favoring]] [[silver]]ed droven short sword that acts as the [[crowning]] gift for chaotic and neutral drow. It has +1d5 to-hit and deals +1d10 [[acid]] damage against non-resistant monsters, is permanently poisoned, and adds extra damage dice for sneak attacks. Lolth's Fang also grants [[drain resistance]] while wielded.
-* [[dNetHack#Avarice|Avarice]] is an intelligent lawful large-sized short sword wielded by [[Mammon]]. It has +1d10 to-hit and deals +1 damage, stealing items from targets that it hits.
+* [[dNetHack artifacts#Avarice|Avarice]] is an intelligent lawful large-sized short sword wielded by [[Mammon]]. It has +1d10 to-hit and deals +1 damage, stealing items from targets that it hits.
 * [[Sunsword]] is a silvered [[golden]] long sword that uses (and trains) the higher of the two between the character's short sword and long sword skills.
 * [[Fire Brand (dNetHack)|Fire Brand]] and [[Frost Brand (dNetHack)|Frost Brand]] can generate in short sword form.
 ===xNetHack===
-In [[xNetHack]], Fire and Frost Brand use the short sword as their [[base item]] instead of [[long sword]]s.
+In [[xNetHack]], [[Fire Brand]] and [[Frost Brand]] have their [[base item]] types changed to short swords.
 ===SpliceHack===
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 * A short sword can be combined with a [[knife]] to create a [[scimitar]].
 * A short sword can be combined with a scimitar to create a [[broadsword]].
-* Two short sword can be combined to create a long sword.
+* Two short swords can be combined to create a long sword.
 * A short sword can be combined with a [[spear]] to create a [[glaive]].
@@ Line 130: / Line 142: @@
 * [[Slow Blade]] (orcish short sword)
-The [[Undertaker quest]] goal level has the same layout as the Lawful Quest, including the {{frac|2|5}} chance of generating a cursed -3 short sword named 'Chaosbane' in the Chamber of Junk at level creation.
+The [[Undertaker quest]] goal level has the same layout as the Lawful Quest, including the {{frac|2|5}} chance of generating a cursed -3 short sword named 'Chaosbane' in the Chamber of Junk during level creation.
 ===Hack'EM===
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 ==References==
 <references/>
-{{nethack-367}}
+{{nethack-500}}
 [[Category:Weapons]]
 [[Category:Skills]]

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 The short sword makes up {{frac|125}} (0.8%) of all weapons that are randomly generated on the ground, in general [[shop]]s or as [[death drop]]s. Used armor dealerships and antique weapons outlets can also stock short swords.
-Several monsters can [[generate with]] short swords:
+Several monsters can be [[generated with]] short swords:
-* [[Watchmen]] and [[soldier]]s have an effective {{frac|3}} chance of generating with a short sword.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|197|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment={{frac|2|3}} chance of not getting a [[polearm]]}}
+* [[Watchmen]] and [[soldier]]s have an effective {{frac|3}} chance of generating with a short sword.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|200-L202|nethack=5.0.0|comment={{frac|2|3}} chance of not getting a [[polearm]]}}
-* [[Ninja]] have a {{frac|3|4}} chance of generating with a short sword.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|268|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+* [[Ninja]] have a {{frac|3|4}} chance of generating with a short sword as their melee weapon.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|272|nethack=5.0.0}}
-* [[Chieftain]]s, [[page]]s, [[roshi]], and [[warrior]]s have a {{frac|3}} chance of generating with a short sword.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|292|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} [[Hunter]]s have a {{frac|2|3}} chance of generating with a short sword.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|304|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+* [[Chieftain]]s, [[page]]s, [[roshi]], and [[warrior]]s have a {{frac|3}} chance of generating with a short sword as their melee weapon.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|296|nethack=3.6.7}}
-* [[Skeleton]]s have an effective {{frac|12}} chance of generating with a short sword.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|480|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=Skeletons are the only [[Zombie (monster class)|zombie]] [[monster class]] member eligible to generate with weapons and armor}}
+* [[Hunter]]s have a {{frac|2|3}} chance of generating with a short sword.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|308|nethack=5.0.0}}
-* [[Player monster]]s, including those on the [[Astral Plane]], have a {{frac|145}} chance (~0.69%) of generating with a short sword as their initial weapon before role-based replacements{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|155|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment={{frac|2}} to get a random weapon - the designated range of objects covers weapons from the spear to the bullwhip inclusively in <tt>objects.c</tt>, and uses normal generation odds}}&mdash; player monster [[Rogue (player monster)|rogues]] have a {{frac|4}} chance of forcing a short sword as their primary weapon.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|230|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+* [[Skeleton]]s have an effective {{frac|12}} chance of generating with a short sword.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|492-L494|nethack=3.6.7|comment=Skeletons are the only monster in the [[Zombie (monster class)|zombie]] [[monster class]] eligible to generate with weapons and armor}}
 ==Short sword skill==
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 ==Strategy==
-The short sword can be decent as an offhand weapon for early [[twoweaponing]], but is generally outclassed by [[long sword]]s and similar weapons. A Samurai's [[katana]] in particular is typically used as an offhand weapon once they obtain an artifact weapon.
+The short sword can be decent as an offhand weapon for early [[twoweaponing]], but is generally outclassed by [[long sword]]s and similar weapons in most cases. A Samurai's [[katana]] in particular is typically used as an offhand weapon once they obtain an artifact weapon.
 ==History==
-The short sword first appears in [[NetHack 1.3d]], which introduces the Samurai, [[Elf (role)|Elf]] and [[Ninja (role)|Ninja]] roles. From this version to [[NetHack 2.3e]], all Elves start the game with a short sword - from [[NetHack 3.0.0]] to [[NetHack 3.2.3]], the Elf instead starts with an elven short sword if the TOLKIEN [[compile-time option]] is enabled.
+The short sword first appears in [[NetHack 1.3d]], which introduces the Samurai, [[Elf (role)|Elf]] and [[Ninja (role)|Ninja]] roles.
-The Samurai's starting short sword first appears in [[NetHack 2.2a]], while the Rogue's starting short sword is introduced in NetHack 3.0.0 (where it replaces the Ninja role).
+From NetHack 1.3d to [[NetHack 2.3e]], all Elves start the game with a short sword. From [[NetHack 3.0.0]] to [[NetHack 3.2.3]], including some variants based on those versions, the Elf starts with an elven short sword instead if the <tt>TOLKIEN</tt> [[compile-time option]] is enabled.
 ==Origin==
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 ===SLASH'EM===
 [[SLASH'EM]] adds the [[silver short sword]] and [[Dark elven short sword (SLASH'EM)|dark elven short sword]] as weapons that use the short sword skill. All short sword weapons can [[Poisoned weapon|be poisoned]].
 Four artifact weapons use the short sword skill:
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 * [[Sword of Balance (SLASH'EM)|Sword of Balance]] (silver short sword)
 * [[Doomblade]] (orcish short sword)
 ===SporkHack===
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 ===dNetHack===
-[[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]] add the [[droven short sword]] and [[mirrorblade]] as weapons that use the short sword skill, and the [[Wakizashi (dNetHack)|wakizashi]] is made into a separate weapon from the standard short sword. All short sword weapons can be poisoned.
+[[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]] add the [[droven short sword]] and [[mirrorblade]] as weapons that use the short sword skill, and the [[Wakizashi (dNetHack)|wakizashi]] is made into a separate weapon from the standard short sword. All short sword weapons can be poisoned by dipping them in the appropriated [[potion]].
 [[Enki]] is a spirit that grants skill in short swords while bound.
@@ Line 92: / Line 95: @@
 * [[Lolth's Fang]] is an intelligent [[Drow (starting race)|drow-favoring]] [[silver]]ed droven short sword that acts as the [[crowning]] gift for chaotic and neutral drow. It has +1d5 to-hit and deals +1d10 [[acid]] damage against non-resistant monsters, is permanently poisoned, and adds extra damage dice for sneak attacks. Lolth's Fang also grants [[drain resistance]] while wielded.
 * [[dNetHack#Avarice|Avarice]] is an intelligent lawful large-sized short sword wielded by [[Mammon]]. It has +1d10 to-hit and deals +1 damage, stealing items from targets that it hits.
-* [[Sunsword]] is a [[silver]]ed long sword made of [[gold]] that uses (and trains) the higher of the two between the character's short sword and long sword skills.
+* [[Sunsword]] is a silvered [[golden]] long sword that uses (and trains) the higher of the two between the character's short sword and long sword skills.
-* [[Fire Brand]] and [[Frost Brand]] can generate in short sword form.
+* [[Fire Brand (dNetHack)|Fire Brand]] and [[Frost Brand (dNetHack)|Frost Brand]] can generate in short sword form.
 ===xNetHack===