Trap component - Revision history

108.85.197.99: /* Data & comparison */ fix link to sub-section

2026-03-04T02:58:07Z

Data & comparison: fix link to sub-section

108.85.197.99: move key info up; bullet points; links to subsections; fix "weaponS traps"

2026-02-06T22:35:50Z

move key info up; bullet points; links to subsections; fix "weaponS traps"

108.85.197.99: /* Large, serrated disc */

2026-01-31T18:09:33Z

Large, serrated disc

108.85.197.99: /* Giant axe blade */ style

2026-01-31T18:08:50Z

Giant axe blade: style

108.85.197.99: /* Trap weapons */ stockpile

2026-01-31T18:07:38Z

Trap weapons: stockpile

108.85.197.99: re-organize order of weapon discussion; Spiked Ball ~appears~ to be "piercing", not "slashing" (VERY small contact area!); expand on Spike uses

2026-01-08T07:42:49Z

re-organize order of weapon discussion; Spiked Ball ~appears~ to be "piercing", not "slashing" (VERY small contact area!); expand on Spike uses

108.85.197.99: /* Forging and melting */ tighten up (only 2 variations, not 5)

2026-01-08T06:41:00Z

Forging and melting: tighten up (only 2 variations, not 5)

108.85.197.99: /* Large, serrated disc */

2026-01-08T06:34:33Z

Large, serrated disc

Quietust: /* Menacing spike */ oops

2025-07-02T02:17:50Z

Menacing spike: oops

Quietust: /* Menacing spike */

2025-07-02T02:17:27Z

Menacing spike

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 | Menacing spike <sup>‡</sup> || [[File:menacing_spike_sprite.png|center]] || 1600 || 1 || 10 || 6000 || Yes  || 10
 |}
-† ''This trap component can also be used in [[screw pump]]s.'' <br> ‡ ''This trap component can also be used in [[Trap#Upright_Spear/Spike|upright spike traps]].''
+† ''This trap component can also be used in [[screw pump]]s.'' <br> ‡ ''This trap component can also be used in [[Trap#Upright_spear.2Fspike|upright spike traps]].''
 :''(Most of this data has been compiled from raw/objects/item_trapcomp.txt)''

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 {{Quality|Exceptional}}
 {{av}}
-[[File:trap_comp_preview.png|right]]Any [[weapon]] in [[fortress mode]] can be placed into a [[Trap#Weapon trap|weapon trap]], as constructed by a [[Mechanic]]. However, there are five '''trap components''' (aka '''trap weapons'''), that are ''specifically'' for weapon traps (and two also have additional uses). As with any weapon, a total of up to 10 of these can be put in a single weapon trap, creating a true "Indiana Jones" type of threat to beasts of any size, and potentially simply making a fine mince (or paste, depending on the weapons) of lesser creatures. However, trap components lack hand-held weapons' enhanced durability and can break after hitting only about 4 invaders (whereas a copper pick could deliver thousands of hits and keep swinging). The exception to this is upright spikes, which take less wear than other components, or even zero, depending on material.
+[[File:trap_comp_preview.png|right]]Any [[weapon]] in [[fortress mode]] can be placed into a [[Trap#Weapon trap|weapon trap]], as constructed by a [[Mechanic]]. However, there are five '''trap components''' (aka '''trap weapons'''), that are ''specifically'' for weapon traps. In the order they appear on the various menus, they are:
-In the order they appear on the various menus, they are the '''enormous corkscrew''', the '''giant axe blade''', the '''large, serrated disc''', the '''menacing spike''', and the '''spiked ball'''.
+Two of these, the enormous corkscrew and menacing spike, have additional uses beyond weapon traps, as described in their subsections below.
-All trap component weapons can be made out of [[metal]]s (by a [[weaponsmith]]) or [[glass]] (by a [[glassmaker]]), with appropriate damage. Three can also be made out of [[wood]] by a [[carpenter]] (as noted [[Trap_component#Data_ & comparison|below]]), which can be useful in getting some heavy weapons traps set up before you have a steady [[smelting]] operation going, or if you are short on metal.  Each trap component takes one unit of the material that you are using (e.g. Each menacing iron spike will take one [[bar]] of [[iron]]). Note that although it is not possible to make giant axe blades or serrated disks out of wood, wooden ones can sometimes be bought from the embark screen. This is presumably a bug.
+As with any weapon, a total of up to 10 of these can be put in a single weapon trap, creating a true "Indiana Jones" type of threat to beasts of any size, and potentially simply making a fine mince (or paste, depending on the weapons) of lesser creatures. However, trap components lack hand-held weapons' enhanced durability and can break after hitting only about 4 invaders (whereas a copper pick could deliver thousands of hits and keep swinging). The exception to this is upright spikes, which take less wear than other components, or even zero, depending on material.
 Trap weapons also provide the highest return of any weapon for [[melt]]ing, 120%–150%, compared to 90%–120% for conventional weapons, which can be [[exploit]]ed for generating metal and training [[weaponsmith]]s. Trap components are a separate sub-section of a [[forge]] menu (where metal [[mechanisms]] can also be found), but found within the menus for the various glass types in the [[glass furnace]], or in the main menu of the [[carpenter's workshop]].
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 === Enormous corkscrew ===
-'''Enormous corkscrews''' can be used as components in [[trap]]s as well as for [[screw pump]]s. As a result, the corkscrews from unneeded screw pumps can be used to make serviceable weapon traps.
+'''Enormous corkscrews''' can be used as weapons in [[trap]]s, but are also a mandatory component for [[screw pump]]s. As a result, and since screw pumps are not affected by [[quality]], your best corkscrews from unneeded screw pumps can be used as serviceable trap weapons.
 The enormous corkscrew performs a deeply penetrating attack with a small contact area, much like the menacing spike. It is currently unknown which of these two trap components is the strongest overall.
-Enormous corkscrews can also be made from [[wood]].
+Enormous corkscrews can also be made from [[wood]] at a [[carpenter's workshop]].
 === Menacing spike ===

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 === Large, serrated disc ===
-Think of a '''large, serrated discs''' as a giant circular saw blade. In game mechanics, it is a slashing weapon, very similar to the giant axe blade, although a smaller attack. However, they attack three times when a trap is triggered, giving them a very high damage potential.
+Think of a '''large, serrated disc''' as a giant circular saw blade. In game mechanics, it is a slashing weapon, very similar to the giant axe blade, although a smaller attack. However, they attack three times when a trap is triggered, giving them a very high damage potential.
 They also have a tendency to sever their target's limbs, often multiples of limbs. While amusing and a nice combat handicap to give an intruder, this can create a wave of [[hauling]] tasks for your citizens as they go out to your welcome halls to move multiple severed [[macaque]] or [[kobold]] body parts from each original combatant to a [[butcher's shop]] or [[stockpile|refuse pile]]. War is hell.

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 === Giant axe blade ===
-The '''giant axe blade''' does massive slashing damage but only striking once per attack. If the variables behave like those of the wieldable weapons (and that's ''generally'' accepted as a safe bet), size determines mass (along with material density) and mass determines impact (BLUNT) damage.  An edged weapon, like the giant axe, deals this type of damage when it is unable to penetrate armor, or if the target is large compared to its penetration depth. So, if the target is too well armored for the Axe Blade to penetrate as expected, the attack still bashes the target to some effect.
+The '''giant axe blade''' does massive slashing damage but only strikes once per attack. If the variables behave like those of the wieldable weapons (and that's ''generally'' accepted as a safe bet), size determines mass (along with material density) and mass determines impact (BLUNT) damage.  An edged weapon, like the giant axe, deals this type of damage when it is unable to penetrate armor, or if the target is large compared to its penetration depth. So, if the target is too well armored for the Axe Blade to penetrate as expected, the attack still bashes the target to some effect.
 === Large, serrated disc ===

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 == Trap weapons ==
-There is no single "best" trap weapon for all purposes. [[Weapon#"Best" weapon choices|Dwarf Fortress damage]] is not a simple, single "biggest number is best" system; a wide variety of variables add up to make some weapons better against poorly-/non-armored targets vs. well-armored, or, for example, against "living" targets vs. undead/constructions/demons/etc.
+There is no single "best" trap weapon for all purposes. [[Weapon#"Best" weapon choices|Dwarf Fortress damage]] is not a simple, single "biggest number is best" system; a wide variety of variables add up to make some weapons better against non-/poorly-armored targets vs. well-armored, or against "living" targets vs. undead/constructions/demons, etc. For example, while a penetrating attack ([[bolt]]s, [[spear]]s, [[spike]]s, [[corkscrew]]s, etc.) can destroy a vital organ for a true "insta-kill", they are ''far'' less effective against creatures without vital organs (undead, some [[forgotten beast]]s) - lots to consider and balance, depending what sort of uninvited guests your fortress might expect.
 === Giant axe blade ===

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 == Forging and melting ==
-=== Giant axe blades ===
+Metal '''giant axe blades, enormous corkscrews''' and '''menacing spikes''' cost '''one''' [[metal]] bar to [[forge]], or '''five''' [[adamantine]] wafers.
-* Metal giant axe blades cost '''one''' [[metal]] bar to [[forge]], or '''five''' [[adamantine]] wafers.
+* When a metal version is [[melt|melted down]], it will return '''1.5''' metal bars, for an '''efficiency of 150%'''.
-* When a non-adamantine metal giant axe blade is [[melt|melted down]], it will return '''1.5''' metal bars, for an '''efficiency of 150%'''.
+* When an adamantine version is melted down, it will produce '''1.5''' wafers, for an '''efficiency of 30%'''.
-=== Spiked ball ===
+Metal '''spiked balls''' and '''serrated discs''' cost '''one''' [[metal]] bar to [[forge]], or '''four''' [[adamantine]] wafers.
-* Metal spiked balls cost '''one''' [[metal]] bar to [[forge]], or '''four''' [[adamantine]] wafers.
+* When a metal version  is [[melt|melted down]], it will return '''1.2''' metal bars, for an '''efficiency of 120%'''.
-* When a non-adamantine metal spiked ball is [[melt|melted down]], it will return '''1.2''' metal bars, for an '''efficiency of 120%'''.
+* When an adamantine version is melted down, it will produce '''1.2''' wafers, for an '''efficiency of 30%'''
 == See also ==

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 === Large, serrated disc ===
-'''Large, serrated discs''' deal large amounts of damage, and have a tendency to sever their victims' limbs. While amusing, this can create several [[hauling]] tasks for [[dwarves]] as they have to move each severed body part to a [[butcher's shop]] or [[stockpile|refuse pile]]. Large serrated discs attack three times, giving them a very high damage potential.
+'''Large, serrated discs''' attack three times, giving them a very high damage potential. They also have a tendency to sever their victims' limbs. While amusing and a nice combat handicap to give an intruder, this can create several [[hauling]] tasks for your citizens as they go out to your welcome halls to move each severed [[macaque]] or [[kobold]] body part to a [[butcher's shop]] or [[stockpile|refuse pile]]. War is hell.
 === Spiked ball ===

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 == Trap weapons ==
 === Menacing spike ===
-The '''menacing spike''' can be mounted in both traditional [[#Weapon trap|weapon traps]] and [[#Upright spear/spike|upright spike traps]], which act quite differently.  Its small contact size and high penetration depth makes it a decent choice against enemies with impale-able internal organs.
+The '''menacing spike''' can be mounted in both traditional [[Trap#Weapon trap|weapon traps]] and [[Trap#Upright spear/spike|upright spike traps]], which act quite differently.  Its small contact size and high penetration depth makes it a decent choice against enemies with impale-able internal organs.
 Menacing spikes can also be made from [[wood]].