Javelin

Version 0.31: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Name	Javelin
Launcher	Throwing
Base damage	10
Base delay (%)	15 (150%)
Min delay	7 at Throwing skill 16

A lightweight spear, designed for throwing. It will pass through the targets it hits, potentially hitting all targets in its path until it reaches maximum range.

Javelins are the strongest Throwing weapons that medium-sized species can use.

Javelins penetrate through enemies, able to hit every enemy in its path (with no penalty to damage). They may also come with the silver brand, which deals extra damage, especially to chaotic enemies.

Javelins have a 5% chance of mulching when thrown. This destroys the javelin and prevents it from piercing targets, though gives a bonus of +33% damage.

Strategy

Javelins penetrate, which is a very powerful trait.

• They can be used to snipe pesky enemies like boggarts, vault wardens, and shining eyes in the backlines.
• In a hallway, javelins can hit multiple enemies for 100% damage, when only 1-2 enemies can hit you back. For comparison, Axes can hit multiple enemies, but at only 70% damage, and every enemy you hit can hit you back.
• Javelins cannot be blocked by enemy shields.
• Silver javelins are especially effective against chaotic enemies, like malmutaters, The Royal Jelly, and orbs of fire.

And, because Throwing skill gives more damage than any other weapon skill, a trained thrower can hit multiple enemies at high power. Expect an endgame thrower (20+ skill) to two-shot orbs of fire with silver javelins, for example.

However, javelins are greatly limited by quantity. Use javelins for every fight, and you'll run out quickly. Save them for situations where penetration is actively helpful, and use boomerangs otherwise.

Okawaru can gift throwing implements. If you venture into a Gauntlet, then its minotaur always carries a stack of javelins. Urug also carries a large stack of javelins. The Shoals is a good place for throwables in general; merfolk javelineers carry a small stack of javelins (around 1-3).

Tips & Tricks

• Any type of character can benefit from javelins in the early game. They can be used to soften up enemies like adders and ogres. However, without much skill, you will throw javelins slowly (i.e. don't throw if an enemy is 1 tile away from you).

History

• Prior to 0.30, javelins did not get a damage bonus when mulched, but could pierce targets even if mulched.
• In 0.28, javelins were made much less common. 0.29 further nerfed the javelin gifting rate of Okawaru.
• Prior to 0.25, Trog could gift ammunition, including javelins.
• Prior to 0.24, javelins did not inherently have the penetration property. Penetration was one of the potential brands they could have, as well as poisoned, returning, and steel.
• Prior to 0.18, javelins' throwing speed did not depend on Throwing skill.

Mundane	Silver