Difference between revisions of "Serpent's Tongue"
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| − | '''Serpent's Tongue''' is the guaranteed first sacrifice gift for | + | '''Serpent's Tongue''' is the guaranteed first sacrifice gift for [[necromancer]]s in [[SLASH'EM]]. |
It does double damage to all monsters, and even more to non-poison-resistant enemies:<ref>{{sourcecode|artifact.c|1206|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}</ref> | It does double damage to all monsters, and even more to non-poison-resistant enemies:<ref>{{sourcecode|artifact.c|1206|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}</ref> | ||
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Despite its being a weak base item type and comparing unfavorably with many other artifacts at +0, a fully-enchanted Serpent's Tongue is among the best weapons in SLASH'EM from an average expected damage perspective. A +7 Serpent's Tongue will, in the best case scenario, do an average of: | Despite its being a weak base item type and comparing unfavorably with many other artifacts at +0, a fully-enchanted Serpent's Tongue is among the best weapons in SLASH'EM from an average expected damage perspective. A +7 Serpent's Tongue will, in the best case scenario, do an average of: | ||
| − | * | + | * 5 base damage vs. small and 4 base damage vs. large foes |
* plus 2 x 7 = 14 from the doubled enchantment | * plus 2 x 7 = 14 from the doubled enchantment | ||
* plus 90% chance of an additional ~10 average damage and 10% chance of instakill vs. non-poison resistant foes | * plus 90% chance of an additional ~10 average damage and 10% chance of instakill vs. non-poison resistant foes | ||
| + | * plus any applicable strength and skill bonuses ([[Rogue]], [[Ranger]], [[Tourist]], [[Valkyrie]], [[Wizard]] can all reach expert in dagger) | ||
| − | This gives it a total damage of 29 vs. small and 28 vs. large non-poison plus any applicable strength, skill, and blessed damage bonuses | + | This gives it a total damage of 29 vs. small and 28 vs. large non-poison resistant foes with a 10% chance of instakill, plus any applicable strength, skill, and blessed damage bonuses. Compare this with an average of 31.5 / 30.5 for the [[Bat from Hell]] ([[club]] skill), 32.5 / 34.5 for [[Reaper]] ([[polearm]] skill), and 34.5 / 34.5 for [[Mjollnir]] ([[hammer]] skill), none of which can instakill, and of which Reaper is two-handed and Mjollnir's damage bonus doesn't apply to to shock-resistant foes. For these reasons, Serpent's Tongue is an excellent end-game choice for non-lawfuls either as a primary weapon, or as a secondary weapon for #twoweaponing. Note that [[lawful]]s should avoid Serpent's Tongue as they will receive an [[alignment]] penalty for using poison. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 18:34, 24 April 2013
) Serpent's Tongue 
| |
|---|---|
| Base item | dagger |
| Damage vs. small | 1d4 x2 + (special) |
| Damage vs. large | 1d3 x2 + (special) |
| To-hit bonus | +2 |
| Bonus versus | (any) |
| Weapon skill | dagger |
| Size | one-handed |
| Affiliation | |
| When carried |
(none) |
| When wielded |
(none) |
| When invoked |
(none) |
| Base price | 400 zm |
| Weight | 10 |
| Material | iron |
Serpent's Tongue is the guaranteed first sacrifice gift for necromancers in SLASH'EM.
It does double damage to all monsters, and even more to non-poison-resistant enemies:[1]
- 40% chance of 2 + d6 damage
- 30% chance of 4 + 2d6 damage
- 20% chance of 6 + 3d6 damage
- 10% chance of poison instadeath
Note that this artifact does not provide poison-resistance!
Despite its being a weak base item type and comparing unfavorably with many other artifacts at +0, a fully-enchanted Serpent's Tongue is among the best weapons in SLASH'EM from an average expected damage perspective. A +7 Serpent's Tongue will, in the best case scenario, do an average of:
- 5 base damage vs. small and 4 base damage vs. large foes
- plus 2 x 7 = 14 from the doubled enchantment
- plus 90% chance of an additional ~10 average damage and 10% chance of instakill vs. non-poison resistant foes
- plus any applicable strength and skill bonuses (Rogue, Ranger, Tourist, Valkyrie, Wizard can all reach expert in dagger)
This gives it a total damage of 29 vs. small and 28 vs. large non-poison resistant foes with a 10% chance of instakill, plus any applicable strength, skill, and blessed damage bonuses. Compare this with an average of 31.5 / 30.5 for the Bat from Hell (club skill), 32.5 / 34.5 for Reaper (polearm skill), and 34.5 / 34.5 for Mjollnir (hammer skill), none of which can instakill, and of which Reaper is two-handed and Mjollnir's damage bonus doesn't apply to to shock-resistant foes. For these reasons, Serpent's Tongue is an excellent end-game choice for non-lawfuls either as a primary weapon, or as a secondary weapon for #twoweaponing. Note that lawfuls should avoid Serpent's Tongue as they will receive an alignment penalty for using poison.
