Elven broadsword

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Name	elven broadsword
Appearance	runed broadsword
Damage vs. small	1d6+1d4
Damage vs. large	1d6+1
To-hit bonus	+0
Weapon skill	broadsword
Size	one-handed
Base price	10 zm (+10/positive enchant)
Weight	70
Material	wood

An elven broadsword is a type of weapon that appears in NetHack. It is a one-handed melee weapon that uses the broadsword skill, and is made of wood like other elven weapons. It appears as a runed broadsword when unidentified.

Orcrist is an artifact weapon elven broadsword that can be created by naming any elven broadsword Orcrist.

Generation

Elven broadswords make up about 0.4% of randomly generated weapons (on the floor, as death drops, or in shops).

All non-undead elves have a ¹⁄₃ chance of being generated with an elven broadsword.

Strategy

Elven broadswords are a solid choice for twoweaponing, particularly due to their higher damage average against small monsters compared to normal broadswords. They also outdamage another common two-weapon candidate in the long sword dealing 6 damage on average versus the long sword's 4.5; however, the long sword has a better damage average against large monsters at 6.5.

Naming an elven broadsword to create Orcrist can make Stormbringer more likely to appear as a sacrifice gift, particularly for elven Priests and Rangers.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

Demonbane is the first sacrifice gift for Priests, meaning they can no longer increase their chance of being gifted Stormbringer by naming Orcrist and Sting.

Average damage calculation

We assume the player is skilled in broadsword (the highest possible skill level for the weapon with any playable class), which gives a +1 damage bonus. A blessed weapon deals 1d4 extra damage against demons and undead. The worst case scenario is against a non-undead, non-demon, large monster. The best case scenario is against a undead, demon, small monster.

Weapon	Against regular small monsters	Against regular large monsters	Worst case scenario	Best case scenario
Blessed Elven broadsword +0	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1=\bold{7}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1=\bold{5.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1=\bold{5.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1=\bold{9.5}$
Blessed Elven broadsword +7	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1+7=\bold{14}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1+7=\bold{12.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1+7=\bold{12.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1+7=\bold{16.5}$
Blessed Elven broadsword +9	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1+9=\bold{16}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1+9=\bold{14.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+1+1+9=\bold{14.5}$	$\frac{1+6}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+\frac{1+4}{2}+1+9=\bold{18.5}$

History

The elven broadsword first appears in NetHack 3.0.0.

Variants

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, upgrading an elven broadsword will produce a normal broadsword, and upgrading a broadsword will produce an elven broadsword.

dNetHack

In dNetHack, the treasure piles in the Grue's Cavern will contain two elven broadswords: the one belonging to the dead Elvenking or Elvenqueen will be enchanted and made of its default material, while the other is found within a sack in the pile and will be made of silver.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, elven sergeants and lieutenants may generate with elven broadswords.

An elven broadsword can be created at a forge by combining a scimitar with an elven short sword.