Maxwell's thermic engine

Version 0.30: 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. It becomes more effective when it hits something. This effect fades over time.

the +2 Maxwell's thermic engine

+2 double sword

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

Mechanics

The engine's enchantment increases by 1 or 2 each time its wielder lands a hit (including those from ripostes from the fencer's gloves), up to a maximum of +14. It 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. The enchantment immediately drops to +2 if the sword is unwielded.

This weapon will cauterize a hydra's heads like any other edged weapon of flaming, then apply freezing for the chance to slow (without cutting another head).

Desirability

High. Double swords are one of the best one-handed Long Blades, and flaming and freezing are great brands on their own. So, as a double sword with both brands, and the potential for high enchant, Maxwell's thermic engine is among the strongest one-handers before extended. (As extended is filled with evil, a holy wrath weapon will usually come out ahead.)

Do note that, in order to increase the enchantment, you actually need to hit. If you're facing high-EV creatures, it can take a while to get this sword going; a more conventionally enchanted sword may perform better in this circumstance.

History

• Prior to 0.22, Maxwell's thermic engine gave its wielder rF- and rC-.
• Maxwell's thermic engine was added in 0.20, replacing both the Dagger of Chilly Death and Scimitar of Flaming Death.