Maxwell's thermic engine

Version 0.20: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

A strange sword, one blade blistering hot and the other icy cold. When it hits its target the thermal gradient increases. What causes this effect is unknown but it is rumored that otherworldly forces are involved.

the +2 Maxwell's thermic engine

+2 double sword

Simultaneous Flaming and Freezing brands (applies both)
rF-
rC-
Enchantment increases as you land hits and decreases over time

Enchantment mechanics

The enchantment increases by 1 or 2 each time the sword lands a hit, including those from ripostes. This caps out at +14.

The enchantment decreases by 1 for each turn spent not hitting a creature (i.e. not attacking, moving, waiting, missed swings, etc.), but will not decrease past the base level of +2.

Desirability

Double swords are already one of the best one-handed Long Blades, and flaming and freezing are among the best brands available for them. A double sword that can make use of both brands at once and has an enchantment that increases as you use it is an excellent choice for any aspiring sword user. Just make sure you search for additional sources of both fire and cold resistance -- you might be able to butcher just about anything in short order once the sword really gets going, but an ice dragon's cold breath or a fireball from an orb of fire could end your killing spree before it begins.

Don't worry about fighting hydras with this weapon; it will cauterize their heads like any other weapon of flaming.

History

Maxwell's Thermic Engine was added in 0.20, replacing both the Dagger of Chilly Death and Scimitar of Flaming Death.