40d:Other weapon

In Fortress mode, there are only 7 weapons* that dwarfs can make for themselves and are considered "standard", but there are about a dozen other weapons that can be acquired, either by trading or recovering them from enemies who no longer have any use for them. Dwarves can use some of these, but not all, for melee combat, and each that is usable is associated with a standard military weapon skill. In Fortress Mode, no other missile weapons are usable by dwarves in combat, but all weapons are usable in weapons traps.

(* These are the battle axe, mace, pick, short sword, spear, and war hammer for melee combat, and the crossbow, which can be used for both ranged attacks and, if/when necessary, melee combat as well.)

As with any weapon, both material and quality can improve their effectiveness in combat.

In Adventure mode, a character can use any of these, size permitting.

Other weapons: statistics & comparison

For a comparison of all weapons side by side, see Weapons: Weapon statistics.

(Note - dwarves can not use these in fortress mode unless marked with an *)

Name	Damage	Damage Type	Skill Used	Crit. Boost
Blowgun† (melee)	20	Bludgeon	Sword	None
Bow† (melee)	40	Bludgeon	Sword	None
Large dagger	70	Slash	Dagger	1
Flail	130	Bludgeon	Mace	None
Great axe‡	150	Slash	Axe	None
Halberd‡	140	Slash	Axe	None
Long sword* †	120	Slash	Sword	1
Maul‡	160	Bludgeon	Hammer	None
Morningstar*	120	Bludgeon	Mace	None
Pike	120	Pierce	Spear	2
Scimitar*	100	Slash	Sword	1
Scourge	30	Gore	Whip/Lasher	None
Two-handed sword‡	140	Slash	Sword	1
Whip†	20	Gore	Whip/Lasher	None

† Dwarves wield weapon two-handed (set number of weapons to 2 in fort mode (v-p-s-m))
‡ Dwarves cannot wield weapon (too large)
* Can be used by dwarves in fortress mode

Blowgun

Basically a small tube out of which you blow "deadly" darts.

No main race has this weapon, unless you mod it in. A dwarf can make a blowgun in a bowyer's workshop after being struck by a Strange mood. These weapons are extremely rare to find. Unfortunately in Fortress Mode you cannot create darts for use, and any dwarf wielding the blowgun will use it as a melee weapon.

When firing it increases the blowgunner skill. Melee with this weapon is a pathetically small bludgeon attack, and increases swordsman skill.

dart

The darts don't do a lot of damage, but can still be almost as dangerous as arrows because they can pierce organs, which can kill instantly.

Bow

A bow works the same way as a crossbow, except that it uses arrows instead of bolts. Dwarves cannot equip bows (stubby fingers), and the interface is such that they still cannot be wielded in Fortress Mode at all, even with modding. They can still be used in weapon traps, although you can't make arrows and so will be dependent on merchants and spoils of war to supply trap reloads.

When firing arrows it uses the bowman skill. When attacking with melee, it uses the swordsman skill, although it's a bludgeoning attack.

Arrow

An arrow is just like a bolt but for bows. Dwarves can't handle bows, so they don't need arrows. But in adventure mode, humans and elves can use bows, so they will need arrows if they choose to use one.

Arrows can also be thrown in adventure mode for about the same results, except that it uses the thrower skill.

See also:

• Quiver

Large dagger

In Dwarf Fortress, any dagger is "large". Large daggers are wielded by Kobold and Goblin thieves only. They do small slashing damage, but have a critical bonus, which means they usually are not anything to worry about, but occasionally get brutally lucky.

In adventure mode, no other race has them or can even start with one. If an adventurer finds one of these weapons, they can train with them. Those who use daggers always do slashing damage with them, there is no stabbing for piercing damage. In this game they are basically small swords, as they can sever limbs as well on a lucky hit.

These weapons use the Knife user skill.

Flail

A weapon comprised of one or more chains with a spiked ball or metal-studded bar at one end and a handle at the other. Does more damage than the Morningstar, and uses the same skill, maceman. Goblins are known to wield these weapons.

Great axe

The Great axe is a large version of the battle axe. Too large for a dwarf to use.

This weapon is too large to be used by most races, even though two handed (Invaders tend to ignore this restriction).

Halberd

A halberd is a long axe or a short pole-arm weapon. It is two-handed for a human-sized character, but too large for a dwarf to use.

Long sword

A typical human-sized weapon. Dwarves can wield them using two hands.

Maul

The Maul is a large heavy hammer and is the highest damaging melee weapon in the game, despite being a bludgeoning weapon. It can only be wielded by a human, and even then it requires both hands.

It uses the hammerman skill.

In fortress mode, invaders can use both a maul and a shield.

Morningstar

A Morningstar is a spiked ball directly attached to a handle. Does less damage than the flail. Damage is identical to the regular mace.

Uses the Maceman skill. Dwarfs can equip it.

Pike

For the fish, see Pike (fish).

A pike is a very long spear. It does more damage than the normal spear, and still has the same critical boost. Only humans can wield them in fortress mode and, even then, it uses both hands. It is possible to use a pike as a dwarven adventurer.

This weapon trains the Pikeman skill when used in adventure mode.

Pike on the right. On the left is something that might be called a "halberd" in Dwarf Fortress terms (but not in Real Life).

For unknown reasons all two-handed weapons, including pikes, can be used one-handed, even by creatures who are smaller than the minimum size needed to use the weapon two-handed.^[Verify]

In real life, the pike was used as a great defensive weapon and was at its best against fast moving units such as cavalry or knights. When defending against a charge of mounted attackers, the back of the pike was often placed on the ground or against an obstacle to keep the weapon straight and absorb the hits.

Contrary to the game mechanics, real life pikemen were usually not using their pike as their primary weapon but as a first line of defense. Pikes were known to get stuck or break easily because of the physical nature of the weapon itself, and thus were often used in conjunction with a shield or buckler and a more conventional melee weapon (see image to the right).

Scimitar

The Scimitar is a sword with a heavy curved blade. Its statistics are effectively identical to the short sword, but it cannot be made of rock, and dwarves cannot make it at all. They can however use it one handed just fine.

Uses the Swordsman skill.

Scourge

The scourge is a slightly more deadly version of a whip. Although still doing weak damage, it causes gore damage, which can cause massive bleeding or pain. Effective against living, unarmored creatures. Very weak against non-living creatures.

It uses the lasher skill. Since dwarves cannot use this skill, it can be melted down or used in a Trap.

Two-handed sword

(Does this really need explanation? I mean... really?) Big sword with high damage. Too large for a dwarf to use.

Whip

A whip is a weapon that does weak damage, but it causes gore damage, which can cause massive bleeding or pain. Effective against living, preferably small, unarmored creatures. Very weak against undead creatures. Whips are unusable by dwarves, but goblins use them sometimes. Human lashers will guard their caravan sometimes. A better version of a whip is called a scourge.

It uses the lasher skill.

---

See Also: