Dwarf (starting race)
- This article is about dwarves in general. For the specific monster, see Dwarf (monster).
A dwarf is a type of monster in NetHack, and is also a playable race. It also characterizes several dwarf-related monsters.
According to the guide book:
Dwarves are smaller than humans or elves, but are stocky and solid individuals. Dwarves' most notable trait is their great expertise in mining and metalwork. Dwarvish armor is said to be second in quality not even to the mithril armor of the Elves.
Contents
Racial benefits and restrictions
Dwarves are always lawful. They can be Archeologists, Cavemen, or Valkyries.
Dwarves have intrinsic infravision. From an attribute perspective, dwarves have good physical attributes (the highest dexterity and constitution), but those are offset by the lowest mental attributes. The following table outlines their maximum (unaided) attribute levels.
| Strength | Dexterity | Constitution | Intelligence | Wisdom | Charisma |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/** | 20 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
When playing as a dwarf, you will see yourself as @ (unless you have showrace on), but you are considered to be both @ and h. For this reason, using blessed genocide to eliminate mind flayers (entering h at the prompt) is a Bad Idea, as it will result in an instadeath. Therefore, dwarves must use two uncursed genocides to eliminate both mind flayers and master mind flayers, while other characters can eliminate them both with a single blessed genocide.
Curiously, there is no dwarf role that seems especially "dwarvish"—Cavemen are primitive, Archeologists are combat-averse scientists, and Valkyries are Norse psychopomps. The typical fantasy vision of the dwarf warrior, craftsman, or miner is therefore not really available to the player of NetHack.
Dwarvish monsters
The monster flag M2_DWARF determines if a monster is considered to be a sort of dwarf or otherwise of dwarvish origin. The following monsters have this flag:
- h dwarf
- h dwarf lord
- h dwarf king
- M dwarf mummy
- Z dwarf zombie
Dwarvish items
The following objects are defined as dwarven objects.[1] Strangely, the code doesn't actually use this definition anywhere.
- Dwarvish mattock (broad pick)
- Dwarvish short sword (broad short sword)
- Dwarvish spear (stout spear)
- Dwarvish iron helm (hard hat)
- Dwarvish mithril-coat
- Dwarvish cloak (hooded cloak)
- Dwarvish roundshield (large round shield)
No dwarvish artifacts currently exist in the game.
Dwarvish items are said to be exceptional metalworks, and their stats generally show this: they are superior to orcish and non-racial counterparts, and are largely better (if heavier) than elven counterparts.
Strategy
With a peaceful Gnomish Mines and the best HP increase per level of any race, dwarves are arguably the strongest race in NetHack.
Their poor spellcasting ability is largely irrelevant, as the roles that dwarves can play aren't particularly well suited to casting spells.
Dwarven Valkyrie is often recommended as the most straightforward and beginner-friendly role.
dNetHack
Dwarves in dNetHack can additionally take on the Noble or Knight role. Dwarves in one of these roles get special quests, the Dwarf Noble and Dwarf Knight quest. Dwarves begin the game knowing all four stave-wards.
Encyclopedia entry
Dwarfs have faces like men (ugly men, with wrinkled, leathery skins), but are generally either flat-footed, duck-footed, or have feet pointing backwards. They are of the earth, earthy, living in the darkest of caverns and venturing forth only with the cloaks by which they can make themselves invisible, and others disguised as toads. Miners often come across them, and sometimes establish reasonably close relations with them.... The miners of Cornwall were always delighted to hear a bucca busily mining away, for all dwarfs have an infallible nose for precious metals.
Among other things, dwarfs are rightly valued for their skill as blacksmiths and jewellers: they made Odin his famous spear Gungnir, and Thor his hammer; for Freya they designed a magnificent necklace, and for Frey a golden boar. And in their spare time they are excellent bakers. Ironically, despite their odd feet, they are particularly fond of dancing. They can also see into the future, and consequently are excellent meteorologists. They can be free with presents to people they like, and a dwarvish gift is likely to turn to gold in the hand. But on the whole they are a snappish lot.
References
This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.
It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.6.1. Information on this page may be out of date.
Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-361}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.
