Cleaver

)   Cleaver
Base item	battle-axe
Damage vs. small	1d8+1d4 +1d6 (3-18)
Damage vs. large	1d6+2d4 +1d6 (4-20)
To-hit bonus	+1d3
Bonus versus	(any)
Weapon skill	axe
Size	two-handed
Affiliation	neutral (Barbarian)
When carried	(none)
When wielded	(none)
When invoked	(none)
Base price	1500 zm
Weight	120
Material	iron

Cleaver is an artifact battle-axe. It is the first sacrifice weapon for Barbarians.

Abilities

Cleaver has a d3 to-hit bonus and does d6 damage on top of the high inherent damage of a battle-axe. Its most unique ability, though, is that it can hit multiple monsters in an arc in one swing. Each attack will first strike the monster 45 degrees to one side of the monster you targeted, then the targeted monster, and then the monster 45 degrees to the other side. The direction of attack alternates with each swing.

The attack does not spare pets or peaceful monsters, so take care where you target around them. If held or engulfed, you can only hit the monster holding or engulfing you.

Cleaver, like other axes, can be [a]pplied in a direction to attempt to chop. This will, over a few turns, fell trees and destroy doors. If you attempt to chop down ([>]) then you get the message "Your Cleaver merely scratches the floor."

Strategy

Cleaver's arc attack makes it potentially one of the most damaging weapons in the game by a pure damage per second calculation. However, to use it to full effectiveness, you need to face multiple monsters in melee at once, and thus expose yourself to more attacks. If you do find yourself surrounded, e.g. because of a scroll of create monster or the summon nasties spell, killing multiple enemies at once can help open gaps to flee through.

Because your pets are just as subject to Cleaver's attack as hostile monsters, it may be prohibitively difficult to keep them around. Slower pets such as dragons and Balrogs are easier to handle as you can move a few steps away before attacking.

As a two-handed weapon which isn't intelligent, Cleaver risks being welded to your hands if it becomes cursed. Make sure to keep some holy water in a bag to tip out if necessary.

Average damage calculation

The average damage calculations in the following table do not include bonuses from weapon skills, strength, or from using a blessed weapon against undead or demons.

Weapon	Small monsters	Large monsters
+0 Cleaver	$\frac{1+8}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+\frac{1+6}{2}=\bold{10.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{2+8}{2}+\frac{1+6}{2}=\bold{12}$
+7 Cleaver	$\frac{1+8}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+\frac{1+6}{2}+7=\bold{17.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{2+8}{2}+\frac{1+6}{2}+7=\bold{19}$

History

Cleaver's arc hit ability was introduced in NetHack 3.6.1.

SLASH'EM

Like all artifacts with damage bonuses (as opposed to double damage), Cleaver receives a boost in SLASH'EM, for it will always give +3 to hit and +6 damage. However, the above still applies, especially given the proliferation of item-cursing spellcasters in SLASH'EM. Note, however, that non-human barbarians have a second guaranteed sacrifice gift in SLASH'EM, Deathsword. This weapon is only particularly effective against humans; as such, it mostly gets in the way of getting a better weapon, meaning some barbarians may find themselves using Cleaver for longer than they might like.

That said, given that 1/3 of neutral sacrifice gifts are non-weapons (Deluder, Gauntlets of Defense, Mirrorbright, and Whisperfeet) and another 1/4 are of limited use (Disrupter vs. non-undead, Giantkiller vs. non-giants, and Sword of Balance vs. neutrals), a neutral player who receives Cleaver early should consider himself lucky; only Magicbane and Mjollnir are more powerful as general-use neutral weapons, particularly in the early and midgame where curses are not a significant threat.

UnNetHack

Cleaver itself is unchanged in UnNetHack but it is a lot easier to get. It is generated on the Executioner.

This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.

It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.6.1. Information on this page may be out of date.

Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-361}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.