Cleaving - Revision history

Hordes: /* Reach-cleave */

2026-02-10T18:45:24Z

‎Reach-cleave

Hordes: /* Reach-cleave */

2026-02-10T18:43:31Z

‎Reach-cleave

Hordes at 18:39, 10 February 2026

2026-02-10T18:39:45Z

Hordes: v. bump

2026-02-10T18:37:08Z

v. bump

Mattlistener: /* Reach-cleave */ replaced "reave" (not otherwise used on the page) with "reach-cleave".

2024-11-23T18:36:44Z

‎Reach-cleave: replaced "reave" (not otherwise used on the page) with "reach-cleave".

Hordes: /* History */

2024-03-09T20:50:02Z

‎History

Hordes: /* Tips & Tricks */ fix link

2024-01-12T13:56:52Z

‎Tips & Tricks: fix link

Hordes at 14:52, 11 January 2024

2024-01-11T14:52:52Z

Hordes: update/rw strategy

2024-01-11T14:50:44Z

update/rw strategy

Hordes: mechanics -> useful info

2023-08-14T04:42:22Z

mechanics -> useful info

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 ===Reach-cleave===
-When making 7 attacks in a row with the [[sundering]], making a [[reach]]ing attack with Xom's Cleave status, or making an attack with the [[lochaber axe]], cleaving will hit all targets within 2 tiles:
+When making 7 attacks in a row with the [[sundering]] brand, making a [[reach]]ing attack with Xom's Cleave status, or making an attack with the [[lochaber axe]], cleaving will hit all targets within 2 tiles:
   .......
   .ssPss.

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
   s = Secondary targets (70% damage)
-[[Aqua Form]] does not boost cleaving range (you attack the primary target + any targets cleaving would otherwise hit; up to 9 monsters total under normal circumstances). Similarly, [[Rift]] with the Cleave status only gets to hit the primary target and all monsters within range-2.
+[[Aqua Form]] does not boost cleaving range (you attack the primary target + any targets cleaving would otherwise hit; up to 9 monsters total without another source of reach). Similarly, [[Rift]] with the Cleave status only gets to hit the primary target and all monsters within range-2.
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 ===Reach-cleave===
-When making 7 attacks in a row with the [[sundering]], making a [[reach]]ing attack with Xom's Cleave status, or make an attack with the [[lochaber axe]], cleaving will hit all targets within 2 tiles:
+When making 7 attacks in a row with the [[sundering]], making a [[reach]]ing attack with Xom's Cleave status, or making an attack with the [[lochaber axe]], cleaving will hit all targets within 2 tiles:
   .......
   .ssPss.
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
   s = Secondary targets (70% damage)
-[[Aqua Form]] does not boost cleaving range (you attack the primary target and all enemies adjacent to you, up to 9 monsters total).
+[[Aqua Form]] does not boost cleaving range (you attack the primary target + any targets cleaving would otherwise hit; up to 9 monsters total under normal circumstances). Similarly, [[Rift]] with the Cleave status only gets to hit the primary target and all monsters within range-2.
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{version030}}
+{{version034}}
 The '''cleaving''' effect, found mostly on [[Axes]], allows you to strike every adjacent opponent at the same time. Cleaving occurs each time you make a melee attack with an axe, [[lochaber axe]], while in [[Storm Form]], or during [[Xom]]'s '''Cleave''' status. While axes aren't the most ideal weapon for taking out powerful single targets, they outperform all other weapons when it comes to dealing with swarms of opponents.
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 ===Reach-cleave===
-The [[unrand]] pole-axe [[lochaber axe]] features a superior form of cleaving, that hits all targets within 2 tiles:
+When making 7 attacks in a row with the [[sundering]], making a [[reach]]ing attack with Xom's Cleave status, or make an attack with the [[lochaber axe]], cleaving will hit all targets within 2 tiles:
   .......
   .ssPss.
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
   s = Secondary targets (70% damage)
-You may also reach-cleave by wielding a [[reaching]] weapon with [[Xom]]'s ''cleave'' effect.
+[[Aqua Form]] does not boost cleaving range (you attack the primary target and all enemies adjacent to you, up to 9 monsters total).
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
   s = Secondary targets (70% damage)
-You may also reave by wielding a [[reaching]] weapon with [[Xom]]'s ''cleave'' effect.
+You may also reach-cleave by wielding a [[reaching]] weapon with [[Xom]]'s ''cleave'' effect.
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 ==History==
 *Prior to [[0.17]], cleaving didn't work under confusion.
-*Prior to [[0.16]], cleaving could not go through walls; it would rotate from the main target in both rotational directions (until the halfway point), checking walls in the way. Secondary targets also took 75% instead of 70% damage.
+*Prior to [[0.16]], cleaving could not go through walls; it would rotate from the main target in both rotational directions (until the halfway point), checking walls in the way. If there was a wall in the way, you couldn't hit targets past it. Secondary targets also took 75% instead of 70% damage.
 *Prior to [[0.15]], cleaving would not target the tile directly behind your primary target.
 *Cleaving was implemented in [[0.12]], where it accompanied a drop in base damage for the three most powerful axes.

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 **Cleaving combos well with the [[vampiric]] brand, as well as gods that heal on kill ([[Makhleb]] against all non-summoned enemies, [[TSO]] against evil enemies).
 *If a gang of opponents seems too dangerous to deal with all at once, don't be afraid to use stair dancing and corridors to limit yourself to one opponent at a time.
-*While it may seem thematic to [[autofight|tab]] through monsters, it's better to manually target. Autofight's attack decision is rarely optimal.
+*While it may seem thematic to [[tab]] through monsters, it's better to manually target. Autofight's attack decision is rarely optimal.
 *Cleaving can help against [[invisible]] monsters. If you don't know a monster's precise location, swing with '''v''' or '''Ctrl + direction'''. This removes the guesswork involved in attacking unseen foes.
 *Unless you worship [[Fedhas]], you'll attack any [[plant]]s or [[fungi]] in your vicinity. Don't expect them to provide cover for long.

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 ===Tips & Tricks===
-*For cleaving to matter, you'll need to be facing multiple opponents. As such, physical tank characters have the best time with it. Don't skimp on defenses (HP, AC, EV). Combos well with the [[vampiric]] brand
+*For cleaving to matter, you'll need to be facing multiple opponents. As such, physical tank characters have the best time with it. Don't skimp on defenses (HP, AC, EV).
 *If a gang of opponents seems too dangerous to deal with all at once, don't be afraid to use stair dancing and corridors to limit yourself to one opponent at a time.
 *While it may seem thematic to [[autofight|tab]] through monsters, it's better to manually target. Autofight's attack decision is rarely optimal.

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 ==Strategy==
-*For cleaving to actually matter, you need to be facing multiple opponents at once. As such, physical tank-type characters have the easiest time of it; don't skimp on your [[HP]], [[AC]], or [[SH]] (if using a one-handed axe) if you intend to be an axe-wielder. If a gang of opponents seems too dangerous to deal with all at once, don't be afraid to use [[stair dancing]] and tunnels to limit yourself to one opponent at a time. It might be less efficient, but it's a whole lot healthier.
+Even if you have cleaving, '''it's better to fight 1v1 or in hallways than to let yourself get surrounded'''.
-*Unless you worship [[Fedhas Madash]], your cleaves will hack into any innocent [[plant]]s or [[fungus]] you happen to be standing next to. Don't expect them to provide cover for long.
+*When fighting 1 adjacent monster, you'll deal 100% damage, and the monster deals 100% damage.
-*Cleaving is great for dealing with [[invisible]] enemies. By holding CTRL and attempting to move, you'll swing at all adjacent tiles. This removes the guesswork normally involved in attack unseen foes.
+*When fighting 2 adjacent monsters, you'll deal 170% damage, but the monsters deal 200% damage.
-*Although it may seem thematically appropriate to recklessly [[tab]] through combat while wielding an axe, try not to do so when actually facing a swarm of opponents. The AI's axe-attack decision making is rarely optimal, often wasting the heaviest attacks on enemies near death. This helps you learn that tab is a generally ineffective strategy.
-*Cleaving has strong synergies with worshipping [[Makhleb]], who restores some of your health on killing enemies. While it may be suicidal to engage a large crowd of enemies under normal circumstances, a strong axe wielder can survive and thrive very long under Makhleb's protection. But this does not work if most of the enemies you are facing are summons. [[TSO]] provides a similar effect, but only for killing evil beings.
+The more monsters adjacent, the worse the comparison gets. That being said, sometimes you can't help but be surrounded. For example, you could be swarmed by fast enemies, or encounter a pack with no nearby hallway. When you're ''forced'' to be adjacent to multiple enemies, cleaving is great to have.
-*You can take advantage of cleaving while not being surrounded entirely:.
- ooooo
+===Tips & Tricks===
- osPso
+*For cleaving to matter, you'll need to be facing multiple opponents. As such, physical tank characters have the best time with it. Don't skimp on defenses (HP, AC, EV). Combos well with the [[vampiric]] brand
- ##@##
+*If a gang of opponents seems too dangerous to deal with all at once, don't be afraid to use stair dancing and corridors to limit yourself to one opponent at a time.
- ##.##
+*While it may seem thematic to [[autofight|tab]] through monsters, it's better to manually target. Autofight's attack decision is rarely optimal.
- ##.##<br><br>o = Other enemy that would normally swarm you if in the open. This limits your damage intake.
+*Cleaving can help against [[invisible]] monsters. If you don't know a monster's precise location, swing with '''v''' or '''Ctrl + direction'''. This removes the guesswork involved in attacking unseen foes.
 ==History==

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 The '''cleaving''' effect, found mostly on [[Axes]], allows you to strike every adjacent opponent at the same time. Cleaving occurs each time you make a melee attack with an axe, [[lochaber axe]], while in [[Storm Form]], or during [[Xom]]'s '''Cleave''' status. While axes aren't the most ideal weapon for taking out powerful single targets, they outperform all other weapons when it comes to dealing with swarms of opponents.
-==Cleaving Mechanics==
+==Useful Info==
-Whenever you attack a target, you also attack all tiles adjacent to you with a x0.7 penalty to damage. You'll only make [[auxiliary attack]]s against the "main" (100% damage) target.
+Whenever you attack a target, you also attack all tiles adjacent to you with a x0.7 penalty to damage:
   .....
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
   . = Tile unaffected by your attack
-Each monster's damage is calculated separately: you can miss some targets while hitting others, or deal more damage to a secondary target simply due to luck.
+In addition, you only make [[auxiliary attack]]s against the "primary" target. Each monster's damage is calculated separately: you can miss some targets while hitting others, or deal more damage to a secondary target simply due to luck.
 This effect ignores friendly units, even when [[confuse]]d. Note that you can still confusedly hit an ally as a primary target. Cleaving completely ignores walls and other [[dungeon features]]; you'll always hit every tile adjacent to you.