Cross-train

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

All melee weapon skills cross-train with at least one other weapon skill. When investing XP into the main skill, any cross-trained skills get a direct bonus equal to 40% of that XP. For example, if you put 10 skill points into Polearms, both Axes and Staves will get 4 skill points each for free.

The following weapon skills cross-train with each other:

• Short Blades and Long Blades cross-train each other.
• Axes and Staves cross-train Polearms and Maces & Flails.
• Maces & Flails and Polearms cross-train Axes and Staves.

(Axes and Staves do not cross-train each other, but cross-train the other strength weapons. Think about Maces & Flails and Polearms the same way.)

Gnolls do not benefit from cross-training.

Strategy

Cross-training allows characters to switch between weapon types more easily, should they come across an attractive weapon. For example, if you trained Axes, but find an amazing demon trident, you'll already have some XP into Polearms due to cross-training. One common example is Short Blades -> Long Blades; a quick blade is useful, but less so against enemies with high AC.

Investing XP into a skill directly is more efficient than putting XP into a cross-trained skill with a manual boost.

History

• Prior to 0.29, Slings (skill) crosstrained with Throwing.
• Prior to 0.15, cross-training gave an aptitude bonus to the secondary skills, rather than a direct experience bonus.