Cutlass

Version 0.15: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Name	Cutlass
Skill	Short Blades
Damage	7
Accuracy	+4
Base delay (%)	12 (120%)
Min delay	5 at skill 14
Hands	1H
Size	Medium
Ranged?	No

A broad curved short sword. "Who was the first that forged the deadly blade? Of rugged steel his savage soul was made" -Albius Tibullus, _Elegies_ I, xi. ca. 25 B.C. trans. James Grainger, 1822.

This weapon falls into the 'Short Blades' category. It is a one handed weapon, and it is better for the dexterous.

The cutlass is the short blade with the highest base damage, making it a desirable choice for both stabbing and actual melee combat (though quick blades are generally considered more powerful, particularly when coupled with a high slaying bonus). Just be careful about using them on hydras; although they are short blades, they can still sever hydra heads (unless, of course, they have the flaming brand, in which case a skilled user can wield them against hydras to great effect). Cutlasses are fairly uncommon, but some early- and mid-game monsters wield them (such as the unique summoner Eustachio and the deep elves of the Elven Halls).

Note that cutlasses are special-cased to have a minimum delay of 5, even though all other weapons with a base delay of 12 have a min delay of 6.

History

Cutlasses will be removed in 0.16 in favor of rapiers.

Prior to 0.14, this weapon was known as a sabre.

	Common
Mundane
Magical
Artifact
	Unrandart
Captain's cutlass
Arc blade