Experience

xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼

v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

Experience represents how much a certain dwarf (or other intelligent creature) has learned about a certain subject or profession. It affects proficiency in skills. Precise points in experience are never displayed directly, except in Adventurer mode.

Every experience point earned is associated with a skill. Every time a dwarf uses this skill, experience is gained. When a skill is unused for a while, the skill will become rusty and experience will decrease, eventually permanently.

Most skills give 30 XP per use, smoothing, carving fortifications, engraving and mining give 10 XP per use, and military skills are variable, with more XP gained from real combat than from training. Skills that can use stacks of items, such as plant processing, will add experience based on the size of the stack.

A more skilled dwarf will do work better and faster than an unskilled one. The better work results in higher quality items. The speed of work is most notable in legendary miners, who will barely touch the walls to make them crumble, and the quality of work is notable in legendary engravers, causing announcement spam due to large amounts of masterpiece engravings.

Lvl Title XP 0 Dabbling 1 1 Novice 500 2 Adequate 1100 3 Competent 1800 4 Skilled 2600 5 Proficient * 3500 6 Talented 4500

Lvl Title XP 7 Adept 5600 8 Expert 6800 9 Professional 8100 10 Accomplished 9500 11 Great † 11000 12 Master 12600 13 High Master 14300

Lvl Title XP 14 Grand Master 16100 15 Legendary 18000 16 Legendary+1 ‡ 20000 17 Legendary+2 ‡ 22100 18 Legendary+3 ‡ 24300 19 Legendary+4 ‡ 26600 20 Legendary+5 ‡ 29000

Notes:

* This is the highest skill level possible for one of your starting dwarves.

† Once soldiers reach this level in a weapon skill, they will become a hero and no longer complain about long patrol duty.

‡ These levels are not shown in game, but they do have an effect. An ordinary legendary dwarf produces a significant proportion of superior quality goods while a legendary+5 dwarf is guaranteed at least exceptional quality, barring effects like tiredness and hunger. It seems to be possible to have a skill over Legendary+5, at least in adventure mode. This is clearly seen by looking at the experience required for the next level and comparing how much you level up. The easiest way to see this is to remove your weapon, choose not to dodge or move around, and simply wait while something harmless tries to kill you. Tested in version 31.10, probably unchanged since then.^[Verify]