Editing Metal

{{Quality|Exceptional|00:03, 18 May 2015 (UTC)}}
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[[File:metal_types.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Different types of pure metals.]]'''Metal''' is a [[material]] extracted from [[ore]] at a [[smelter]], turning the ore into '''bars''' of pure metal. (One [[adamantine|special metal]] becomes wafers instead of bars.) The metal bars resulting from [[smelting]] are used to make items such as [[weapon]]s, [[armor]], [[furniture]], and [[crafts]] at a [[Metalsmith's forge|forge]].

Metals may sometimes be combined to form an '''alloy''' metal ([[#Alloys|see below]]), which is also measured by the bar. An alloy usually improves on the properties of its components to give more uses or increased [[Item value|value]].

Smelting pure ores into the corresponding bars raises the base value from that of stone (3) to that of bars (5). This value is then multiplied against the [[value#Material multipliers|material multiplier]] of the metal to give the final value for the bar.

==Alloys==
There are eleven pure metals in ''Dwarf Fortress'' (plus a twelfth [[Adamantine|special metal]]).  Many of these can be mixed together to create '''alloys''' of one type or another, of which there are another fourteen.  In some cases, making alloys will result in an overall increase in value, or the resultant alloy will be more powerful when used to forge weapons or armor, though many alloys result in no overall increase in utility or [[Wealth|created wealth]]. (These increases in value can be compared in the "Difference" column of the below table.)

There are many uses for alloys:
* Increased performance for armor or weapons.
* Increased value (particularly when a silver-bearing ore is substituted for silver)
* Stretching your supply of scarce metals.
* Creating items with distinct colors (for instance, [[rose gold]] is [[Color scheme|magenta]]) for furniture, color-coding rooms or levers, or artistic constructions (including [[floor]] mosaics).
* Increasing [[thought|happiness]] or perceived [[room]] value for a dwarf who particularly likes a given alloy.
* Decreased [[fuel]] consumption if making the alloy directly from ores (e.g. [[bronze]] requires only one smelter task to make 8 bars from 2 stones of ore).

The number of bars used to create an alloy always equals the number of bars produced: the number of bars input equals the number of bars of output.  However, the number of bars produced from smelting ores is four times greater (X ores in = 4X bars out).

== List of metals ==

===Pure metals===

{{v0.34 pure metal table head}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Aluminum|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=[[Native aluminum]]|notes=|soliddensity=2.70|mp=11188|val=40|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1421|shearyield=20|shearfracture=50|shearelasticity=77
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Bismuth|color={{Tile|≡|5:1}}{{Tile|‼|5:5:1}}<span style="display:none">5:5:1</span>|source=[[Bismuthinite]]|notes=Only useful for alloying into [[bismuth bronze]]|soliddensity=9.78|mp=10488|val=2|valinc=+1|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=3484|shearyield=30|shearfracture=50|shearelasticity=250
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Copper|color={{Tile|≡|6:0}}{{Tile|‼|6:4:0}}<span style="display:none">6:4:0</span>|source=[[Native copper]], [[Malachite]], [[Tetrahedrite]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks|soliddensity=8.93|mp=11952|val=2|valinc=+0, +0, -1*|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=771|shearyield=70|shearfracture=220|shearelasticity=145
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Gold|color={{Tile|≡|6:1}}{{Tile|‼|6:6:1}}<span style="display:none">6:6:1</span>|source=[[Native gold]]|notes=|soliddensity=19.32|mp=11915|val=30|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=50|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=185
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Iron|color={{Tile|≡|0:1}}{{Tile|‼|0:7:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Hematite]], [[Limonite]], [[Magnetite]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, picks, and [[anvil]]s|soliddensity=7.85|mp=12768|val=10|valinc=+2|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=635|shearyield=130|shearfracture=200|shearelasticity=159
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Lead|color={{Tile|≡|0:1}}{{Tile|‼|0:7:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Galena]]|notes=|soliddensity=11.34|mp=10589|val=2|valinc=-3*|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=2348|shearyield=10|shearfracture=12|shearelasticity=179
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Nickel|color={{Tile|≡|7:0}}{{Tile|‼|7:3:0}}<span style="display:none">7:3:0</span>|source=[[Garnierite]]|notes=|soliddensity=8.80|mp=12619|val=2|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=660|shearyield=20|shearfracture=160|shearelasticity=26
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Platinum|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=[[Native platinum]]|notes=|soliddensity=21.40|mp=13182|val=40|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=470|shearyield=100|shearfracture=200|shearelasticity=164
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Silver|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=[[Native silver]], [[Horn silver]],<br />[[Galena]] (50%), [[Tetrahedrite]] (20%) |notes=Can be used to forge melee weapons and ammunition|soliddensity=10.49|mp=11731|val=10|valinc=+0, +0,<br />+5*, +7*|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1080|shearyield=100|shearfracture=170|shearelasticity=333
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Tin|color={{Tile|≡|7:0}}{{Tile|‼|7:3:0}}<span style="display:none">7:3:0</span>|source=[[Cassiterite]]|notes=|soliddensity=7.28|mp=10417|val=2|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1862|shearyield=12|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=66
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Zinc|color={{Tile|≡|7:0}}{{Tile|‼|7:3:0}}<span style="display:none">7:3:0</span>|source=[[Sphalerite]]|notes=|soliddensity=7.13|mp=10755|val=2|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1542|shearyield=50|shearfracture=150|shearelasticity=116
}}

|}
''Legend:''
:* '''Tile Color''' corresponds to how items made from that metal are displayed in game, foreground and background colors.
:*'''Source Ore(s)''' indicates the specific ores that can provide a metal. If production of the metal is not guaranteed, a percent chance is indicated following the ore.
:*'''Density''' is used to determine the different weight of finished objects.
:*'''Melting point''' is used to determine if a material is [[magma-safe]] or not: magma is 12000°U.
:*'''[[Material value]]''' is what the base value of an object made of this metal is multiplied by to determine its worth.
:*'''Value difference''' indicates the difference in material value between the metal and the ore, separated with commas in cases where multiple ore values differ. Also keep in mind that multiple bars are produced for each ore boulder smelted, increasing the value difference even further.
::'''*''' - Values marked with an asterisk denote ores that can yield multiple metals. On average, the expected difference in value from smelting [[tetrahedrite]] is +1 and [[galena]] is +2.

===Alloys===
''(Unless specified, ores of the ingredients may be used instead of bars for alloy reactions)''
{{v0.34 alloy metal table head}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Billon|color={{Tile|≡|7:0}}{{Tile|‼|7:3:0}}<span style="display:none">7:3:0</span>|source=[[Silver]] + [[Copper]]|notes=Can be made with [[Tetrahedrite]] or [[Galena]] instead of [[Silver]] for increased value (Tetrahedrite + Tetrahedrite: +3, Copper ore + Tetrahedrite: +3.5, Copper ore + Galena: + 2.5, Tetrahedrite + Galena: + 2). |soliddensity=8.93|val=6|valinc=+0|mp=11952|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=771|shearyield=70|shearfracture=220|shearelasticity=145
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Bismuth bronze|color={{Tile|≡|6:1}}{{Tile|‼|6:6:1}}<span style="display:none">6:6:1</span>|source=1 [[Tin]] + 2 [[Copper]] + 1 [[Bismuth]]*|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks|soliddensity=8.25|val=6|valinc=+4|mp=11868|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=137|shearfracture=241|shearelasticity=200
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Black bronze|color={{Tile|≡|5:0}}{{Tile|‼|5:6:0}}<span style="display:none">5:6:0</span>|source=2 [[Copper]] + 1 [[Silver]] + 1 [[Gold]]*|notes=Unique color|soliddensity=8.93|val=11|valinc=+0|mp=11952|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=771|shearyield=70|shearfracture=220|shearelasticity=145
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Brass|color={{Tile|≡|6:1}}{{Tile|‼|6:6:1}}<span style="display:none">6:6:1</span>|source=[[Zinc]] + [[Copper]]|notes=Value difference is +4.5 if [[Tetrahedrite]] is used instead of [[Copper]]|soliddensity=8.55|val=7|valinc=+5|mp=11656|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=200|shearfracture=550|shearelasticity=200
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Bronze|color={{Tile|≡|6:0}}{{Tile|‼|6:4:0}}<span style="display:none">6:4:0</span>|source=[[Tin]] + [[Copper]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks. Value difference is +2.5 if [[Tetrahedrite]] is used instead of [[Copper]]|soliddensity=8.25|val=5|valinc=+3|mp=11868|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=137|shearfracture=241|shearelasticity=200
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Electrum|color={{Tile|≡|6:1}}{{Tile|‼|6:6:1}}<span style="display:none">6:6:1</span>|source=[[Silver]] + [[Gold]]|notes=Can be made with [[Tetrahedrite]] or [[Galena]] instead of  [[Silver]] for increased value (Gold + Tetrahedrite: +3.5, Gold + Galena: +2.5).|soliddensity=14.905|val=20|valinc=+0|mp=11828|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=50|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=185
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Fine pewter|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=3 [[Tin]] + 1 [[Copper]]|notes=Value difference is +2.75 if [[Tetrahedrite]] is used instead of [[Copper]]|soliddensity=7.28|val=5|valinc=+3|mp=10417|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1862|shearyield=12|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=66
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Lay pewter|color={{Tile|≡|3:0}}{{Tile|‼|3:7:0}}<span style="display:none">3:7:0</span>|source=2 [[Tin]] + 1 [[Copper]] + 1 [[Lead]]*|notes=Unique color|soliddensity=7.28|val=3|valinc=+1|mp=10417|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1862|shearyield=12|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=66
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Nickel silver|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source= 2 [[Nickel]] + 1 [[Copper]] + 1 [[Zinc]]*|notes=|soliddensity=8.65|val=3|valinc=+1|mp=11620|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=20|shearfracture=160|shearelasticity=26
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Pig iron|color={{Tile|≡|0:1}}{{Tile|‼|0:7:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Iron]] + [[flux]] stone + [[fuel]]*|notes=Only used to make [[steel]]|soliddensity=7.85|val=10|valinc=+0|mp=12106|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=635|shearyield=130|shearfracture=200|shearelasticity=159
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Rose gold|color={{Tile|≡|5:1}}{{Tile|‼|5:5:1}}<span style="display:none">5:5:1</span>|source=3 [[Gold]] + 1 [[Copper]]*|notes=Unique color|soliddensity=19.32|val=23|valinc=+0|mp=11915|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=50|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=185
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Steel|color={{Tile|≡|0:1}}{{Tile|‼|0:7:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Iron]] + [[Pig iron]] + [[flux]] stone + [[fuel]]*|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, picks, and [[anvil]]s|soliddensity=7.85|val=30|valinc=+20|mp=12718|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=675|shearyield=520|shearfracture=860|shearelasticity=500
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Sterling silver|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=3 [[Silver]] + 1 [[Copper]]*|notes=|soliddensity=10.49|val=8|valinc=+0|mp=11602|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1080|shearyield=100|shearfracture=170|shearelasticity=333
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Trifle pewter|color={{Tile|≡|7:0}}{{Tile|‼|7:3:0}}<span style="display:none">7:3:0</span>|source=2 [[Tin]] + 1 [[Copper]]|notes=Value difference is +1.67 if [[Tetrahedrite]] is used instead of [[Copper]]|react=|soliddensity=7.28|val=4|valinc=+2|mp=10417|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1862|shearyield=12|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=66
}}

|}
''Legend:''
:* '''Tile Color''' corresponds to how items made from that metal are displayed in game, foreground and background colors.
:*'''Reaction''' indicates the basic recipe for an alloy - this does not include any [[fuel]] necessary to operate the smelter.  See the article for that alloy or [[smelting]] for possible alternatives.
::<nowiki>*</nowiki> - ''You can use only [[bar]]s of metal in this reaction, not ores.
:*'''Density''' is used to determine the different weight of finished objects.
:*'''Melting point''' is used to determine if a material is [[magma-safe]] or not: magma is 12000°U.
:*'''[[Material value]]''' is what the base value of an object made of this metal is multiplied by to determine its worth.
:*'''Value difference''' indicates the difference between the average [[value]] of the required bars of metals vs. the value of the resulting bars of alloy - what went in vs. what comes out, measured per bar. "+0" indicates that the resulting alloy is a perfectly average value of the component metals. Note that substituting tetrahedrite for copper ore always results in a value decrease, while substituting tetrahedrite or galena for silver ore always results in a value increase.

===Special metals===
{{minorspoiler}}
{{v0.34 pure metal table head}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Adamantine|color={{Tile|≡|3:1}}{{Tile|‼|3:3:1}}<span style="display:none">3:3:1</span>|source=[[Raw adamantine]]|notes=<nowiki/>
* Cannot be smelted directly; must be [[Strand extractor|extracted]] first.
* Can be used to forge anything except beds
* Blades are 10x sharper than standard metals
* Too light to make effective blunt weapons despite nearly unsurpassed yield and fracture values.
|soliddensity=0.200|mp=25000|val=300|valinc=+50|impactyield=5.00|impactfracture=5.00|impactelasticity=0|shearyield=5000|shearfracture=5000|shearelasticity=0
}}

{{v0.34 metal table row|name=Divine metal|color={{Tile|≡|7:0}}{{Tile|‼|0:0:1}}<span style="display:none">0:0:1</span>|source=none|notes=<nowiki/>
* Procedurally generated names associated with [[deity|deities]].
* Blades are 1.2x sharper than standard metals
* Absurdly strong yield and fracture values allow even blunt weapons of this light material to be dangerous
* Overall stats make it stronger than steel but weaker than adamantine.
|react=|soliddensity=1|val=300|valinc=|mp=none
}}

|}

== Weapon and armor quality ==

:''Note: all of the testing and results in this section are from version 0.31. Results may be out of date.''

{{v0.31 material metal table head}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Adamantine|color={{Tile|/|3:1}}<span style="display:none">3:3:1</span>|source=[[Raw adamantine]]|notes=Can be used to forge anything except [[bed]]s <br/> |soliddensity=0.200|mp=25000|val=300|valinc=+50|impactyield=5000|impactfracture=5000|impactelasticity=0|shearyield=5000|shearfracture=5000|shearelasticity=0
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Divine metal|color={{Tile|/|7:0}}<span style="display:none">7:0:1</span>|source=[[Vault]]s|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, picks, and [[anvil]]s|soliddensity=1.0|val=300|valinc=N/A|mp=none|impactyield=1000|impactfracture=2000|impactelasticity=0|shearyield=1000|shearfracture=2000|shearelasticity=0
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Steel|color={{Tile|/|0:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Iron]] + [[Pig iron]] + [[flux]] stone + [[fuel]] '''!'''|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, picks, and [[anvil]]s|soliddensity=7.85|val=30|valinc=+20|mp=12718|impactyield=1505|impactfracture=2520|impactelasticity=940|shearyield=430|shearfracture=720|shearelasticity=215
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Bismuth bronze|color={{Tile|/|6:1}}<span style="display:none">6:6:1</span>|source=2 [[Copper]] + 1 [[Tin]] + 1 [[Bismuth]] '''!'''|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks|soliddensity=8.25|val=6|valinc=+4|mp=11868|impactyield=602|impactfracture=843|impactelasticity=547|shearyield=172|shearfracture=241|shearelasticity=156
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Bronze|color={{Tile|/|6:0}}<span style="display:none">6:4:0</span>|source=[[Tin]] + [[Copper]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks|soliddensity=8.25|val=5|valinc=+3|mp=11868|impactyield=602|impactfracture=843|impactelasticity=547|shearyield=172|shearfracture=241|shearelasticity=156
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Iron|color={{Tile|/|0:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Hematite]], [[Limonite]], [[Magnetite]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, picks, and [[anvil]]s|soliddensity=7.85|mp=12768|val=10|valinc=+2|impactyield=542|impactfracture=1080|impactelasticity=319|shearyield=155|shearfracture=310|shearelasticity=189
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Copper|color={{Tile|/|6:0}}<span style="display:none">6:4:0</span>|source=[[Native copper]], [[Malachite]], [[Tetrahedrite]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks|soliddensity=8.93|mp=11952|val=2|valinc=+0, +0, -1*|impactyield=245|impactfracture=770|impactelasticity=175|shearyield=70|shearfracture=220|shearelasticity=145
}}


{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Silver|color={{Tile|/|7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=[[Native silver]], [[Horn silver]],<br />[[Galena]] (50%), [[Tetrahedrite]] (20%) |notes=Can be used to forge melee weapons and ammunition|soliddensity=10.49|mp=11731|val=10|valinc=+0, +0,<br />+5*, +7*|impactyield=350|impactfracture=595|impactelasticity=350|shearyield=100|shearfracture=170|shearelasticity=333
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Platinum|color={{Tile|/|7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=[[Native platinum]]|notes= Only available as [[artifact]] weapons.|soliddensity=21.4|mp=13182|val=40|valinc=+?, +?,<br />+?, +?|impactyield=350|impactfracture=700|impactelasticity=152|shearyield=100|shearfracture=200|shearelasticity=164
}}



|}
*''Combat information'' is used internally by the game to determine the [[material science|combat properties]] of weapons and armor made from this metal:
*:'''Density''': Used in conjunction with other factors - heavier weapons (higher numbers) hit with more force, light weapons tend to have less penetration.  Value shown here is g/cm<sup>3</sup>, which is the raw value divided by 10<sup>3</sup>
*:'''Impact yield''': Used for blunt-force combat; ''higher'' is better for weapons, but ''lower'' is better for armor. This is the raw value divided by 10<sup>3</sup> (i.e., kPa).  
*:'''Impact fracture''': Used for blunt-force combat; ''higher'' is better. This is the raw value divided by 10<sup>3</sup> (i.e., kPa).
*:'''Impact elasticity''': Used for blunt-force combat; ''lower'' is better. This is the raw value.
*:'''Shear yield''': Used for cutting calculations in combat; ''higher'' is better. This is the raw value divided by 10<sup>3</sup> (i.e., kPa).
*:'''Shear fracture''': Used for cutting calculations in combat; ''higher'' is better. This is the raw value divided by 10<sup>3</sup> (i.e., kPa).
*:'''Shear elasticity''': Used for cutting calculations in combat; ''lower'' is better. This is the raw value.
*General Term Explanations (From Wikipedia)
*:'''Yield Strength''' - The stress at which material strain changes from elastic deformation to plastic deformation, causing it to deform permanently.
*:'''Fracture Strength''' - The stress coordinate on the stress-strain curve at the point of rupture.
*:'''Stress''' - Force per area = F/A
*:'''Strain''' - Deformation of a solid due to stress = Stress/Young's Modulus

So...
:Explanations!
::'''Yield Strength''' is the amount of stress required to permanently deform (bend) a material (plastic deformation)
::'''Fracture Strength''' is the amount of stress required to permanently break (rupture) a material 
::'''Elasticity''' (or ''IMPACT_STRAIN_AT_YIELD'' in RAWs) is the amount of deformation (bending) that occurs at the yield point
:Implications to ''Dwarf Fortress'' Combat
::Yield combined with Elasticity can tell what a material will do under stress (be it from a hammer, axe, or arrow)
::Higher yield means that it takes more stress to deform
::Lower elasticity means that it will deform less when stress is applied

===Preliminary Combat Testing & Analysis===

For edged weapons and armour, adamantine and steel take first and second place respectively, with iron the third best material in the game. Beyond this, bronze is in a close tie with copper  the second worst material. As in older versions, silver continues to hold steady as the worst material available (no longer beneficial with wooden training weapons being available now) in regards to edged weaponry.

For blunt weapons, all of the standard materials (except adamantine) perform respectably well, with a very slight edge towards steel and silver. Here is the thread with the details:

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=53571.0

Keep in mind how unbelievably complicated this system is; nothing here should be taken as word of law. These results also ignore the impact of the ''weight'' of equipment on your dwarves. Dwarves, especially weak ones without high [[Combat skill#Equipment_skills|Armor User]] skill, will move much more slowly when wearing heavy armor and carrying heavy weapons and ammunition. This may be a more important consideration than a marginal improvement in protection.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! 
! Best
! Better
! Good
! Fair
! Poor
! Terrible
! Notes
|-
| Armor
| Adamantine
| Steel
| Iron
| Bronze, Bismuth Bronze
| Copper
| 
| 
|-
| Edged Weapons
| Adamantine
| Steel
| Iron
| Bronze, Bismuth Bronze
| Copper
| Silver
| For piercing iron armor, copper is better than bronze.  For piercing copper or bronze armor, bronze is better than copper.
|-
| Ammunition
| Steel, Iron, Bronze, Bismuth Bronze, Copper, Silver
| 
| Adamantine
| 
| 
| 
| Adamantine bolts deflect off of adamantine armor, but otherwise their performance is on par with bolts made out of other metals.
|-
| Blunt Weapons
| Platinum ([[artifact]] only)
| Steel, Silver
| Copper, Bismuth Bronze, Bronze, Iron
| 
| 
| Adamantine
| All six standard weapon metals perform nearly identically. Steel has a slightly higher rate of critical wounds, while silver is slightly more likely to penetrate armor. Platinum (only available as [[artifact]] weapons) has twice the density of silver and several other improved properties, making it the best metal for impact weapons, though very limited in production.
|}

Cross referencing this table with the table at the top of this section seems to indicate that low densities, high impact fractures, and high shear fractures contribute to the killing power of edged weapons

==See also==
*Some [[User:Shinziril#Weapons_and_Armor|outstanding research]] on armor vs. different weapon types by Shinziril.
*[http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=116151.0 Dwarven Research: A Comparison Study on the Effectiveness of Bolts vs Armors].

{{Translation
| dwarven = kel
| elvish  = lethi
| goblin  = snusm
| human   = rigu
}}

{{materials}}

{{Category|Metals|0}}{{Category|Materials}}
[[ru:DF2012:Metal]]