Dagger

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Revision as of 00:49, 23 November 2023 by Umbire the Phantom (talk | contribs) (split + start from relative scratch - it's one thing to cram so many semi-distinct weapons onto one article, but they weren't even covered thoroughly. thing about doing that is you'd have to eventually split them all off anyway)
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) Dagger.png
Name dagger
Appearance dagger
Damage vs. small 1d4
Damage vs. large 1d3
To-hit bonus +2
Weapon skill dagger
Size one-handed
Base price 4 zm
(+10/positive
enchant)
Weight 10
Material iron

A dagger is a type of weapon that appears in NetHack. It can be used in melee and thrown as a projectile, and is made of iron.

Generation

The dagger makes up about 3.0% of randomly generated weapons.

Dagger skill

Dagger
Max Role
Basic
Skilled
Expert

The following weapons use the dagger skill:

The following artifact weapons use the dagger skill:

Strategy

Despite their weight and low base damage, daggers can be very useful in the early game: a ranged volley at sufficient skill can kill monsters before they even breach melee range, and can at least soften them up before they can engage you. They are typically cheap, plentiful, and more durable than arrows, crossbow bolts and darts, but cannot be poisoned by dipping into a potion of sickness.

All roles except Monks and Priests can attain proficiency in dagger skill, and may wish to do so early on if the circumstances warrant it. A spare, non-cursed dagger can also serve as a makeshift "pick" for forcing open boxes.

Variants

SLASH'EM

SLASH'EM features three new weapons that use the dagger skill: the dark elven dagger, the great dagger and the wooden stake. There are also new artifact weapons that use the dagger skill:

The dagger skill has also been adjusted across new and returning roles:

Dagger
Max Role
Basic
Skilled
Expert

All new roles can reach expert in dagger except the Yeoman, who can reach Skilled.

Encyclopedia entry

Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.

[ Macbeth, by William Shakespeare ]

References