Wield

Press w to wield a weapon.

To attack a monster in melee, try to move into its square. To use a ranged weapon, wield the launcher if applicable, then t throw or f fire the ammunition (after placing the ammunition in your q quiver). It is not necessary to wield a thrown weapon, such as a dagger or darts, unless you're trying to throw Mjollnir.

You can have a secondary weapon, and switch between both with x; to set a weapon as your secondary weapon, press x - your main weapon will become secondary, and you will be barehanded - then wield your other weapon.

You can wield items other than weapons.

• You can wield nothing "-" to fight bare handed.
• Applying a pick axe, tin opener, polearm, or lance causes you to wield it.
• Rubbing a lamp causes you to wield it.
• If you wield a cursed item, you can then remove the curse using the uncursed scroll or unskilled spell. If the item is not a weapon or a weapon-tool it will not weld itself to your hand.
• You can wield a cockatrice or chickatrice corpse and use it as a potent weapon, provided you are wearing gloves. Caution - mistakes are fatal.

Besides hitting in melee, wielding has (at least) the following effects. (See the bolded link for details.)

• Wielding a launcher (any bow; crossbow; sling) allows you to throw matching projectiles (arrows; crossbow bolts; rocks or gems or gray stones) much more effectively.
• An uncursed scroll of remove curse uncurses the item you are wielding. (It also uncurses armor worn and items used in a few other ways, but wielding is the only way you can get any item uncursed this way.)
• A scroll of enchant weapon acts on a wielded weapon.
• Forcing the lock of a large box or chest uses the weapon you are wielding. This may destroy the weapon, so be careful what you wield.
• When eating a non-blessed tin, you try to open it with what you are wielding, which dramatically affects the time to open. Wielding a tin opener is the fastest, then any dagger, athame or crysknife, then a pickaxe or axe (but not a battle-axe).
• Wearing or wielding the Amulet of Yendor gives you messages when you are near magic portals.
• Certain artifact weapons gives you effects while wielded:
  • Magicbane gives magic resistance and catches curses;
  • The Staff of Aesculapius gives hungerless regeneration and drain resistance;
  • Stormbringer gives drain resistance and bloodthirst (attacking peaceful monsters without confirmation);
  • Sunsword glows and protects you from light-based blinding;
  • Fire or Frost Brand gives fire or cold resistance;
  • Grayswandir protects from hallucination;
  • The Longbow of Diana gives reflection;
  • Sting warns you about orcs and lets you escape webs.

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