Difference between revisions of "Brand"

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''[[Armour]] brands are also called egos. See the [[ego]] page for armour brands.''
 
''[[Armour]] brands are also called egos. See the [[ego]] page for armour brands.''
  
A [[brand]] is a special enhancement that a [[weapon]] can have, affecting its damage output, giving it a particular [[Damage Type|damage type]], or causing effects. Weapons can have at most one brand, and randarts are guaranteed a brand, although some unrandarts do not have one. Brands are auto-identified when a weapon is wielded. Missile brands are known on sight. If you use branded ammo with a branded launcher, only the ammo brand will take effect (however, launchers with the [[vorpal]] or [[speed]] brands stack with their ammo's brands).
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A [[brand]] is a special enhancement that a [[weapon]] can have, affecting its damage output, giving it a particular [[Damage Type|damage type]], or causing effects. Weapons can have at most one brand, and [[randart]]s are guaranteed a brand, although some [[unrandart]]s do not have one. Brands are auto-identified when a weapon is wielded. Missile brands are known on sight. If you use branded ammo with a branded launcher, only the ammo brand will take effect. Exceptions include launchers with the [[vorpal]] or [[speed]] brands, which stack with their ammo's brands, and launchers of [[flaming]] and missiles of [[frost]] (or vice versa) will cancel each other out, resulting in an unbranded missile.
  
Aside from the permanently-branded weapons found in the dungeon, a number of spells provide temporary brands to weapons ([[Fire Brand]], [[Freezing Aura]], [[Lethal Infusion]], [[Poison Weapon]], [[Warp Weapon]], [[Excruciating Wounds]]). The [[Deck of battle#Blade card|Blade card]] likewise provides a (random) temporary brand. None of these will work on a weapon which already has a permanent brand.
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Aside from the permanently-branded weapons found in the dungeon, two spells provide temporary brands to weapons: [[Warp Weapon]] ([[distortion]]) and [[Excruciating Wounds]] ([[pain (brand)|pain]]). The [[Blade card]] likewise provides a (random) temporary brand. Each of these will override a weapon's current brand (if any).
  
There are two ways to '''create''' weapons with a permanent brand: Firstly, while wielding a weapon with one of the temporary brands above, a [[scroll of brand weapon]] can make ''most'' of these temporary brands permanent. Using it without a temporary brand creates a [[vorpal]] brand. Note that the scroll will ''not'' work on temporary distortion, pain, holy wrath, or chaos brands. Using the scroll on a non-artefact weapon with a permanent brand will replace the brand. The second means of creating a branded weapon is through the act of a [[god]]. [[The Shining One]], [[Lugonu]], and [[Kikubaaqudgha]] will grant especially pious worshipers permanent holy wrath, distortion, and pain brands, respectively. Divine branding will ''replace'' any previous brand the weapon held. Note that this still does not work on artefacts. As for the chaos brand, [[Xom]] may randomly place that on an unbranded weapon, most often one in a monster's inventory.
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There are two ways to '''create''' weapons with a permanent brand. Firstly, a [[scroll of brand weapon]] will apply a brand to one of the non-artefact weapons you are carrying, overwriting the previous brand, if any. The second means of creating a branded weapon is through the act of a [[god]]. [[The Shining One]], [[Lugonu]], and [[Kikubaaqudgha]] will grant especially pious worshipers permanent [[holy wrath]], [[distortion]], and [[pain (brand)|pain]] brands, respectively. Divine branding will ''replace'' any previous brand the weapon held. Note that this still does not work on artefacts. As for the chaos brand, [[Xom]] may randomly place that on an unbranded weapon, most often one in a monster's inventory.
  
 
==Types of Brands==
 
==Types of Brands==
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There are different types of brands, some add a special effect type [[Electrocution]], [[draining (brand)|Draining]], [[Distortion]] for example. Others add a percentage of damage to the attack. [[Flaming]], [[Vorpal]], and [[Freezing]] for example. And others add special qualities just by holding them like [[Protection]]. Some even have multiple effect types, such as draining, which can increase damage and drain HD.
  
There are different types of brands, some add a special effect type [[Electrocution]], [[draining (brand)|Draining]], [[Distortion]] for example. Others add a percentage of damage to the attack. [[Flaming]], [[Vorpal]], and [[Freezing]] for example. And others add special qualities just by holding them like [[Protection]]. Some even have multiple effect types, such as draining, which can increase damage, and drain HD.
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Brands that add damage to the attack do this after all other effects (such as weapon pluses, weapon skill bonus, ac reduction etc). So high weapon skill, high weapon base damage and high damage pluses add to the damage. In most cases this means getting a higher base damage weapon is better. (Flaming [[Executioner's axe]]s are better than flaming [[dagger]]s).
 
 
Brands that add damage to the attack do this after all other effects (such as weapon pluses, weapon skill bonus, ac reduction etc). So high weapon skill, high weapon base damage and high damage pluses add to the damage. In most cases this means, getting a higher base damage weapon is better. (Flaming Executioners axes are better than flaming daggers).
 
  
 
Brands that add special effects [[Distortion]], or bonus damage (such as [[Electrocution]])), have a chance of triggering each time the weapon hits. In this case hitting more ofter (lower base delay is more important). Choose branded weapons accordingly.
 
Brands that add special effects [[Distortion]], or bonus damage (such as [[Electrocution]])), have a chance of triggering each time the weapon hits. In this case hitting more ofter (lower base delay is more important). Choose branded weapons accordingly.
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*[[Disruption]] (found only on the artifact [[great mace]] [[Undeadhunter]])
 
*[[Disruption]] (found only on the artifact [[great mace]] [[Undeadhunter]])
 
*[[Distortion]] ([[Lugonu]]'s special brand)
 
*[[Distortion]] ([[Lugonu]]'s special brand)
*[[Dragon slaying]] ([[polearms]] only)
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*[[Dragon slaying]] (found only on the artifact lance [[Wyrmbane]])
 
*[[draining (brand)|Draining]]
 
*[[draining (brand)|Draining]]
 
*[[Electrocution]]  
 
*[[Electrocution]]  
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*[[pain (brand)|Pain]] ([[Kikubaaqudgha]]'s special brand)
 
*[[pain (brand)|Pain]] ([[Kikubaaqudgha]]'s special brand)
 
*[[Protection]]  
 
*[[Protection]]  
*[[Reaching]] ([[whip]]s only)
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*[[Reaping]] (found only on the artefacts the [[Spear of the Botono]] and the [[Sword of Zonguldrok]])
*[[Reaping]] (the [[Spear of the Botono]] and the [[Sword of Zonguldrok]])
 
 
*[[speed (brand)|Speed]] ([[Short Blades|short blades]], [[staves]], and artifacts only)
 
*[[speed (brand)|Speed]] ([[Short Blades|short blades]], [[staves]], and artifacts only)
 
*[[Vampiricism]]
 
*[[Vampiricism]]
*[[Venom]]  
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*[[Venom]]
 
*[[Vorpal]] (named differently depending on weapon; see Vorpal for details)
 
*[[Vorpal]] (named differently depending on weapon; see Vorpal for details)
  

Revision as of 00:54, 7 March 2015

Version 0.13: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Armour brands are also called egos. See the ego page for armour brands.

A brand is a special enhancement that a weapon can have, affecting its damage output, giving it a particular damage type, or causing effects. Weapons can have at most one brand, and randarts are guaranteed a brand, although some unrandarts do not have one. Brands are auto-identified when a weapon is wielded. Missile brands are known on sight. If you use branded ammo with a branded launcher, only the ammo brand will take effect. Exceptions include launchers with the vorpal or speed brands, which stack with their ammo's brands, and launchers of flaming and missiles of frost (or vice versa) will cancel each other out, resulting in an unbranded missile.

Aside from the permanently-branded weapons found in the dungeon, two spells provide temporary brands to weapons: Warp Weapon (distortion) and Excruciating Wounds (pain). The Blade card likewise provides a (random) temporary brand. Each of these will override a weapon's current brand (if any).

There are two ways to create weapons with a permanent brand. Firstly, a scroll of brand weapon will apply a brand to one of the non-artefact weapons you are carrying, overwriting the previous brand, if any. The second means of creating a branded weapon is through the act of a god. The Shining One, Lugonu, and Kikubaaqudgha will grant especially pious worshipers permanent holy wrath, distortion, and pain brands, respectively. Divine branding will replace any previous brand the weapon held. Note that this still does not work on artefacts. As for the chaos brand, Xom may randomly place that on an unbranded weapon, most often one in a monster's inventory.

Types of Brands

There are different types of brands, some add a special effect type Electrocution, Draining, Distortion for example. Others add a percentage of damage to the attack. Flaming, Vorpal, and Freezing for example. And others add special qualities just by holding them like Protection. Some even have multiple effect types, such as draining, which can increase damage and drain HD.

Brands that add damage to the attack do this after all other effects (such as weapon pluses, weapon skill bonus, ac reduction etc). So high weapon skill, high weapon base damage and high damage pluses add to the damage. In most cases this means getting a higher base damage weapon is better. (Flaming Executioner's axes are better than flaming daggers).

Brands that add special effects Distortion, or bonus damage (such as Electrocution)), have a chance of triggering each time the weapon hits. In this case hitting more ofter (lower base delay is more important). Choose branded weapons accordingly.

All added brand damage is calculated after AC reduction, and does not get further reduced by AC.

List of Brands

Melee Weapons

Launchers

Crossbows can have flame, frost, evasion, chaos and vorpal. Artifact crossbows can also have penetration, electrocution, venom and speed.

Bows, longbows and slings can have flame, frost, evasion and vorpal. Speed and venom are possible on artifacts (the Bow of Krishna "Sharnga" has the speed brand).

Blowguns can only be generated with evasion. Artifact blowguns can have speed.

Missiles

Flame, frost, and poisoned can all be found on arrows, crossbow bolts, and darts. Silver and steel can be found on crossbow bolts, darts, and sling bullets, and javelins. Dispersal can be found on arrows and darts. Exploding can be found only on darts and sling bullets. Penetration can be found on crossbow bolts or javelins. Returning can be found on javelins and throwable melee weapons. Stones, large rocks, and nets are never generated with a brand. (Exception: one of the Dungeon Sprint maps offers a "large rock of returning". Naturally, it's being used against you.).

Needles

Needles have their own brand selection; most often poisoned, but they can instead bear one of the following unique brands:

Needle brands

All needle types except "poisoned" were introduced in version 0.6. There's a saving throw for monsters: if 1 + 1d(4 + your throwing skill + your blowgun’s to-hit enchantment) is greater than the monster’s hit dice, the effect will be applied. You also have a straight 2% chance of succeeding for monsters with a hit dice of 14 or below.

Some statistics: with no skill you’re still at 100% to succeed on HD1 or HD2 (gnoll, D1 monsters), 75% on HD3 (Sigmund), 50% on HD4 (Duvessa), and 25% on HD5 (ogre). With 4 skill as an early Assassin, you’re up to 56% on an Ogre, or 33% on a Yak.

Notes

As of 0.10 all Polearms have Reaching.

Brands
Melee weapons AntimagicChaosDistortionDrainingElectrocutionFlamingFreezingHeavyHoly wrathPainProtectionReachingSpectralSpeedVampiricVenom
DisruptionDragon slayingReapingSilver
Launchers AntimagicDrainingElectrocutionFlamingFreezingHeavyPenetrationSpeed
Throwing weapons AtropaCurareDaturaDispersalPoisonedSilver