Ammunition

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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

For ammunition used with siege engines, see Siege engine.

NOTE: This article is out of date. Ammunition appears to have been greatly expanded, with many new types of "enchanted" ammo. Information is still being collated.

Ammunition is the collective term for projectiles that can be fired from ranged weapons such as crossbows and blowguns. Ammunition is stored in ammunition stockpiles and carried in quivers. Ammunition may also refer to the stones and ballista arrows fired from siege engines; for more information about these weapons, see the siege engine article.

Ammunition for foreign weapons like bows and blowguns is also considered foreign and cannot be manufactured in the fortress.

All ammunition has "EDGE" attack types; this means that sharper metal or other sharp materials are better for ammunition purposes. As projectiles, however, ammunition is also affected by the density of the material and the volume of the individual arrow, bolt, or dart.

When dwarves with bolts or arrows stuck in their bodies are treated in a hospital, the removed ammunition will be left in their beds.

Ammunition table

There are three types of ammunition in Dwarf Fortress: bolts, arrows, and blowdarts, each fired from a different weapon.

Type	Size	Contact Area	Penetration	Weapon Used	Skill Used	Craftable	Used by
Bolt	150	2	2000	Crossbow	Crossbowman	Yes (metal, wood, bone)	Dwarf, Goblin, Human
Arrow	150	2	2000	Bow	Bowman	No	Elf, Goblin, Human, Kobold
Blowdart	20	1	50	Blowgun	Blowgunner	No	Animal people

Effectiveness

Projectiles made of different materials have different levels of effectiveness, depending on the situation. Likely factors in this are the weight of the ammunition and the physical properties of the material in combat. The type of ammunition and the weapon used to fire the ammunition may also have an effect on the potential damage possible.

In practice, almost all metal bolts perform well, though there is some advantage in using a bolt of a "better" weapon material than the opponent's armor (quicker lethality), and some advantage in using a bolt with a higher density (faster incapacitation). The forum thread Dwarven Research: A Comparison Study on the Effectiveness of Bolts vs Armors has a comprehensive comparison and discussion.

Blowgun darts are noticeably less effective than bolts or arrows. This is due to them having a light weight and a small size compared to other ammo types. They almost never manage to pierce armor and are stopped even by clothing, unless the darts are made of metal.

Subterranean animal tribes, the main users of blowguns do not have access to metal, so you will never see non-wooden blowdarts normally.

Bugs

• Ammunition stored in bins may not appear available to marksdwarves, eventually causing them to head to battle without bolts. Disabling bins in ammo stockpiles is recommended.^Bug:2706

See also

• Archery

V · T · E Weapons
Ranged and ammunition	Blowgun and blowdart · Bow and arrow · Crossbow and bolt
Blunt	Flail · Mace · Maul · Training weapons · War hammer · Whip
Edged (slashing)	Battle axe · Great axe · Halberd · Long sword · Scimitar · Scourge · Short sword · Two-handed sword
Edged (piercing)	Dagger · Morningstar · Pick · Pike · Spear
See also: Attack types