View source for Pounding

[[File:Pounding_Diagram.png|thumb|Players can pound colored squares, depending on their [[skill]] level.]]
In ''[[NetHack]]'', '''pounding''' is the action of [[apply]]ing a [[lance]] or [[polearm]] on a target that is at a distance of two [[square]]s from the wielder.

==Description==
Pounding with a weapon allows a character or monster to attack a target that is not adjacent and is roughly two squares away from them, with the eligible target squares dependent on the wielder's skill in that weapon:

<div class="ttymap"><replacecharsblock rules="ttymap">
newline=<br>
@={{white|@}}
X={{darkgray|X}}
U={{yellow|U}}
S={{orange|S}}
E={{red|E}}

ESUSE
SXXXS
UX@XU
SXXXS
ESUSE
</replacecharsblock></div>

The {{white|@}} is the wielder's location. Spaces marked with a {{darkgray|X}} are too close to be hit, spaces marked with a {{yellow|U}} can be hit even while Unskilled, spaces marked with a {{orange|S}} can only be hit when Skilled, and spaces marked with a {{red|E}} can only be hit when Expert. Only [[Knight]]s can reach Expert skill level in lance, and no roles can reach more than Skilled in polearms.

Pounding will not trigger [[passive attack]]s from monsters against the wielder, but does scuff engravings on their square and cause [[Elbereth]] to fade, incurring an [[alignment record]] penalty;{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3102|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} the pounding weapon will still be subject to the effects of passive attacks (e.g. [[erosion]], [[disenchantment]], etc.) as normal. When [[twoweapon]]ing, the range for pounding is the lesser of your pounding weapon's skill and your two-weapon combat skill - this is only applicable with a lance, as all polearms are two-handed. A lance can be used for pounding without any penalty, even when the wielder is not mounted.{{Fact}}

Most monsters can only pound using polearms and lances with a skill level equivalent of Unskilled - [[Troll (monster class)|trolls]] are an exception, and can pound with a skill level equivalent of Skilled.

==Strategy==
A character with fast [[speed]] or better that is pounding at Skilled level or better can take out groups of hostile monsters using a choke point (such as a door) that is a knight's move away. Characters planning to pound monsters in corridors will need either a [[light source]] or [[infravision]], since pounding cannot target unseen monsters even if they can be detected via other means.

Pounding can deal well with monsters that are deadly in melee range: aside from passive attacks, [[sea monster]]s on levels such as [[Medusa's Island]], the [[Castle]] and the [[Wizard's Tower]] are prime pounding targets to avoid their [[drowning attack]]s. Pounding can also be used for the [[hit and run]] tactic, and is much safer than melee attacks in that respect.

==History==
The game function is first named by Shawn M. Moore, whose [https://sartak.org/nh/knight-faq-343.html#poleweapons ''Knight FAQ''] for [[NetHack 3.4.3]] gives a thorough description of the mechanic.

The feature of pounding scuffing engravings on the square beneath the pounder is introduced in [[NetHack 3.6.0]].

==Variants==
===SLASH'EM===
In [[SLASH'EM]], the range for pounding with a lance or polearm is expanded and made unrestricted by skill level:
<div class="ttymap"><replacecharsblock rules="ttymap">
newline=<br>
X={{lightgray|X}}
.={{lightgray|.}}
@={{white|@}}
U={{yellow|U}}
S={{orange|S}}

UUUUU
UXXXU
UX@XU
UXXXU
UUUUU
</replacecharsblock></div>

===dNetHack===
[[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]] allow the use of other weapons besides polearms and lances to pound.

The [[aklys]], [[white vibrospear]], [[gold-bladed vibrospear]], and [[force pike]] can be applied to pound as a polearm; the [[shepherd's crook]] is a weapon that can be applied to pound like a polearm, but is also able to pick up items and pull monsters on those squares. [[Sol Valtiva (dNetHack)|Sol Valtiva]] and [[dNetHack artifacts#Shadowlock|Shadowlock]] are artifacts that can also be applied to pound as a polearm, and [[The Rod of Lordly Might]], [[dNetHack artifacts#The Rod of the Elvish Lords|The Rod of the Elvish Lords]] and [[dNetHack artifacts#The Sceptre of Lolth|The Sceptre of Lolth]] can be applied to pound while in lance form.

A weapon's pounding range is determined by that weapon's skill, and when pounding a menu is brought up that offers any monsters in range, as well as an option that allows selecting a square as in ''NetHack'' if targeting a specific square or an [[invisible]] monster. The letters used in the pounding menu can be arranged in either sequential order of target, starting clockwise from N (north), or else apply the same letter to a given directional square (i.e., a is always north, b is north-northeast, etc.) regardless of if it is occupied.

Monsters can pound with the above weapons as well, and some monsters are capable of using certain special attacks at the same range as a polearm.

===NetHack Fourk===
In [[NetHack Fourk]], the game tries to place the cursor at a reasonable target square initially when pounding, rather than at the character's own location.

==References==
<references/>
{{nethack-367}}
[[Category:Strategy]]
[[Category:Weapons]]