One-handed
A one-handed weapon is a type of weapon in NetHack that requires only one hand in order to wield it, leaving the other hand free for another purpose while in combat.
Description
A hero or monster that is wielding a one-handed weapon can wear a shield alongside that weapon. If both the hero's primary weapon and alternate weapon slots are occupied by a weapon that is one-handed, and they are not also wearing a shield, they can engage in two-weapon combat to attack with both weapons simultaneously. A hero wielding a one-handed weapon cannot swap weapons if their alternate weapon is two-handed and they are wearing a shield.
Monsters with hands that have weapon attacks, including pets, can wield one-handed weapons.
All non-weapon objects are treated as one-handed while wielded, but since they are not weapons they will not weld to the hero's hand if cursed, with the exception of the tin opener.
Cursed one-handed weapons
If a cursed one-handed weapon is wielded by a hero or monster, or else their wielded one-handed weapon becomes cursed, the hand holding that weapon will weld to it. In this state, they cannot perform the following actions:
- Swapping weapons
- Removing worn gloves
- Putting on rings or taking off rings, unless it is for their free hand
Additionally, if they have a cursed shield in their other hand, they cannot perform the following actions:
- Looting or applying containers
- Casting spells (for the hero)
List of one-handed weapons
The weapons listed below are one-handed. If the lance, marked (1), is used to attack while riding, it deals +2d10 on a successful joust, which also stuns the victim and throws them back a square. Weapons marked (2) are projectile weapons or ammo designed to be thrown or fired from a launcher, rather than wielded.
| Weapon | Skill | Cost | Hands | Weight | Prob (‰) | Dam. (S) | Dam. (L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| orcish dagger | dagger | 4 zm | 1 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 2 |
| dagger | dagger | 4 zm | 1 | 10 | 30 | 2.5 | 2 |
| silver dagger | dagger | 40 zm | 1 | 12 | 3 | 2.5 | 2 |
| athame | dagger | 4 zm | 1 | 10 | N/A | 2.5 | 2 |
| elven dagger | dagger | 4 zm | 1 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| worm tooth | knife | 2 zm | 1 | 20 | N/A | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| knife (shito) | knife | 4 zm | 1 | 5 | 20 | 2 | 1.5 |
| stiletto | knife | 4 zm | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1.5 |
| scalpel | knife | 4 zm | 1 | 5 | N/A | 2 | 2 |
| crysknife | knife | 100 zm | 1 | 20 | N/A | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| axe | axe | 8 zm | 1 | 60 | 40 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| pick-axe | pick-axe | 50 zm | 1 | 100 | tool | 3.5 | 2 |
| orcish short sword | short sword | 10 zm | 1 | 30 | 3 | 3 | 4.5 |
| short sword (wakizashi) | short sword | 10 zm | 1 | 30 | 8 | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| dwarvish short sword | short sword | 10 zm | 1 | 30 | 2 | 4 | 4.5 |
| elven short sword | short sword | 10 zm | 1 | 30 | 2 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| broadsword (ninja-to) | broadsword | 10 zm | 1 | 70 | 8 | 5 | |
| runesword | broadsword | 300 zm | 1 | 40 | N/A | 5 | 4.5 |
| elven broadsword | broadsword | 10 zm | 1 | 70 | 4 | 6 | 4.5 |
| long sword | long sword | 15 zm | 1 | 40 | 50 | 4.5 | 6.5 |
| katana | long sword | 80 zm | 1 | 40 | 4 | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| scimitar | scimitar | 15 zm | 1 | 40 | 15 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| silver saber | saber | 75 zm | 1 | 40 | 6 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| club | club | 3 zm | 1 | 30 | 12 | 3.5 | 2 |
| aklys | club | 4 zm | 1 | 15 | 8 | 3.5 | 2 |
| mace | mace | 5 zm | 1 | 30 | 40 | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| morning star | morning star | 10 zm | 1 | 120 | 12 | 5 | 4.5 |
| flail (nunchaku) | flail | 4 zm | 1 | 15 | 40 | 4.5 | 5 |
| grappling hook | flail | 50 zm | 1 | 30 | tool | 1.5 | 3.5 |
| war hammer | hammer | 5 zm | 1 | 50 | 15 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| orcish spear | spear | 3 zm | 1 | 30 | 13 | 3 | 4.5 |
| spear | spear | 3 zm | 1 | 30 | 50 | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| silver spear | spear | 40 zm | 1 | 36 | 2 | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| elven spear | spear | 3 zm | 1 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 4.5 |
| dwarvish spear | spear | 3 zm | 1 | 35 | 12 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| javelin | spear | 3 zm | 1 | 20 | 10 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| trident | trident | 5 zm | 1 | 25 | 8 | 4.5 | 7.5 |
| lance1 | lance | 10 zm | 1 | 180 | 4 | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| orcish bow | bow | 60 zm | 1 | 30 | 12 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| orcish arrow2 | bow | 2 zm | 1 | 1 | 20 | 3 | 3.5 |
| bow | bow | 60 zm | 1 | 30 | 24 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| arrow2 | bow | 2 zm | 1 | 1 | 55 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| elven bow | bow | 60 zm | 1 | 30 | 12 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| elven arrow2 | bow | 2 zm | 1 | 1 | 20 | 4 | 3.5 |
| yumi | bow | 60 zm | 1 | 30 | 0 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| ya2 | bow | 4 zm | 1 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 4 |
| silver arrow2 | bow | 5 zm | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| sling | sling | 20 zm | 1 | 3 | 40 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| flint stone2 | sling | 1 zm | 1 | 10 | gem | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| crossbow | crossbow | 40 zm | 1 | 50 | 45 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| crossbow bolt2 | crossbow | 2 zm | 1 | 1 | 55 | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| dart2 | dart | 2 zm | 1 | 1 | 60 | 2 | 1.5 |
| shuriken2 | shuriken | 5 zm | 1 | 1 | 35 | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| boomerang2 | boomerang | 20 zm | 1 | 5 | 15 | 5 | 5 |
| bullwhip | whip | 4 zm | 1 | 20 | 2 | 1.5 | 1 |
| rubber hose | whip | 3 zm | 1 | 20 | N/A | 2.5 | 2 |
Strategy
One-handed weapons are largely preferred by a majority of NetHack players: while two-handed weapons are generally more damaging on average, one-handed weapons allow for two-weapon combat to output much more damage, especially when the primary weapon is an artifact. Even for roles that cannot perform two-weapon combat, the ability to wear a shield for extra AC is considered more of a benefit, especially if it is a shield of reflection. In both cases, there is also more leeway given when dealing with spellcasting monsters that cast curse items: a hero's weapon and their shield are not likely to be hit by the spell simultaneously, and having one weapon or a shield cursed still allows a free hand to retrieve uncursing items, as well as the ability to cast remove curse and other spells.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
Per commit 60c19568, the hero's damage bonus for strength is increased by 3⁄2 (+50%) when attacking with a two-handed weapon other than a polearm, and two-weapon combat's strength bonus is decreased to 3⁄4 on each hit—hitting with both weapons grants the same 3⁄2 bonus to strength, which keeps two-weapon combat superior to single attacks with one-handed weapons.Variants
dNetHack
In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, weapon size determines how many hands a hero of a particular physical size needs to wield it successfully.
The shield bashing style available to heroes that are either Knights or have the spirit Naberius bound enables wielding a weapon in one hand and wearing a shield in the other, which allows the hero to deal damage with both and lower a target's morale.
