Score

Score is calculated all throughout the game, and if you have the showscore setting in your rcfile, you can see it on the bottom line at all times.

How score is calculated

The following things contribute to your score:

• Killing a monster - worth 4 times the monster's experience in points
• Identifying a wand by engraving or zapping - 10 points
• Identifying a potion by quaffing - 10 points
• Identifying a scroll by reading - 10 points
• Oiling or greasing a squeaky board trap - 9 points
• Eating a tripe ration when not a carnivorous non-humanoid - 4 points
• Quaffing from a sink and getting the message "Yuk, this water tastes awful" - 4 points

The first oracle of each type:

• Minor (if not yet major): 21 points.
• Minor (if already major): 9 points.
• Major (if not yet minor): 210 + (21 * XL) points.
• Major (if already minor): 90 + (9 * XL) points.

At the end of the game (via death, ascension or escape):

• 1 point for each zorkmid more than starting gold ( * 90% if game ended in death).
• 50 * (DL-1) points where DL is the deepest level reached.
• 1000 points for each dungeon level reached beyond 20, to a maximum of 10000 points.

The score so far is doubled if you ascended. Then, if you escaped the dungeon or ascended, you receive points for items in inventory:

• Value of amulets and valuable gems
• Value of artifacts * 2.5, including invocation items.

And finally points for adjacent pets equivalent to their total current hit points.

How to maximize score

Certain things are worth more than others when completing the game. When the player ascends, his base score is doubled. Because gold is part of this base score, each gold piece is essentially worth two points. Gold has a weight of one unit per 100 pieces. This means that 100 gold, or 200 points weighs one unit, which is the same weight as the least valuable gem.

Each amulet weighs twenty units and, except for the cheap plastic imitation of the Amulet of Yendor, is worth 150 zorkmids. This makes each amulet worth far less than its weight in gold; however, some of the amulets (such as life saving) would be worth carrying even if they contributed nothing to your final score.

Artifacts weigh more than one unit, so depending on their value, they may or may not be worth more than an equivalent weight in gold. The following chart lists the value of each artifact, its weight, and its value/weight. If the value/weight column is not at least 200, the artifact is worth less than its weight in gold, and, for score purposes, you would be better off carrying gold than that artifact into the End Game.

Artifact	Value	Weight	Value/weight
Magicbane	8750	10	875
Grayswandir	20000	40	500
Stormbringer	20000	40	500
Excalibur	10000	40	250
Vorpal Blade	10000	40	250
Mjollnir	10000	50	200
Sting	2000	10	200
Fire Brand	7500	40	187
Frost Brand	7500	40	187
Demonbane	6250	40	156
Sunsword	3750	40	93
Werebane	3750	40	93
Grimtooth	750	10	75
Snickersnee	3000	40	75
Orcrist	5000	70	71
Cleaver	3750	120	31
Dragonbane	1250	70	17
Giantslayer	500	40	12
Ogresmasher	500	50	10
Trollsbane	500	120	4

Each gem weighs one unit, so every gem is at least as valuable as its weight in gold; some many times over.

Gem	Value	Color
dilithium crystal	4500	white
diamond	4000	white
ruby	3500	red
jacinth	3250	orange
sapphire	3000	blue
black opal	2500	black
emerald	2500	green
turquoise	2000	green, blue
aquamarine	1500	green, blue
citrine	1500	yellow
amber	1000	yellowish brown
topaz	900	yellowish brown
jet	850	black
opal	800	white
chrysoberyl	700	yellow
garnet	700	red
amethyst	600	violet
jasper	500	red
fluorite	400	green, blue, white, violet
jade	300	green
agate	200	orange