Spectral (brand)

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

When its wielder attacks, the weapon's spirit leaps out and launches a second, slightly weaker strike. The spirit shares a part of any damage it takes with its wielder.

When striking an enemy, the spectral brand creates a spiritual copy of your weapon in a nearby tile, which deals 70% of your melee damage.

Useful Info

On an attack, even if it misses, you instantly create a spectral weapon. It will spawn in a random tile within weapon reach of both you and your target. If there is no valid tile, then no spectral weapon spawns.

The spectral weapon attacks whenever you attack, including on the turn it was created, dealing x70% damage. Its damage and to-hit is calculated as if you had attacked again (just with a 70% multiplier).

The spectral weapon is a physical entity. Whenever it is damaged, half of damage is additionally dealt to you, ignoring any of your resistances.

• It has one level of resistance each to fire, cold, and electricity.
• It is immune to poison, negative energy, torment, blinding, and asphyxiation.
• It is considered as a durable summon.

The spectral weapon will vanish if you take an action besides making a melee attack.

While limited to clubs and Staves normally, scrolls of brand weapon have a chance to give the spectral brand to any melee weapon. Asterion will always carry a spectral-branded weapon. In addition, any artefact melee weapon may have the spectral brand, and the brand is a feature of the unrandart Glaive of the Guard.

Strategy

One of the strongest brands on paper. Spectral offers an irresistible, AC-independent, +70% damage. In a perfect scenario, it directly outclasses the speed brand, flaming, and freezing.

It is limited by the mechanics of the spectral weapons.

• The spectral brand can cause you to take extra damage, which is always risky. Area-of-effect attacks, like axes or Fireballs, are able to hit both you and the spectral weapon, causing you to take up to x1.5 damage.
• Spectral weapons must be positioned properly. In a hallway, there can be no space to spawn a spectral weapon, meaning this brand isn't providing any benefit.

Tips & Tricks

• Works well with Polearms. The extra tile of reach gives more flexibility, making it easier to position. Most other weapons will have trouble spawning when there's no empty space around your target (e.g. hallways).
• Also works well with Axes. Spectral axes retain their cleaving; the ability to cleave twice over is quite powerful.
• Spectral weapons are formed instantly. If you attack, the spectral weapon is formed, then it attacks before monsters get a chance to move.

History

• Prior to 0.30, spectral weapons were based off a "spectral weapon" monster, rather than scaling off the wielder's attack power. Also, monsters couldn't use this brand.
• Prior to 0.27, this brand was boosted by Evocations. It was native to clubs, staves, and two-handed artefacts, though it could still be applied to any melee weapon with a scroll of brand weapon. Also, monsters could create a copy of their weapon when using this brand.
• This brand was introduced in 0.26, replacing the spell Spectral Weapon.

Axe	Long Blade	Mace	Polearm	Short Blade	Staff	Whip