Dart

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Name	Dart
Launcher	Throwing
Base damage	0
Base delay (%)	10 (100%)
Min delay	7 at skill 6

A thin piece of metal, typically coated in some harmful substance. When thrown with skill it can deliver its toxins into the bloodstream of a living or demonic being. In addition to throwing skill, stealth skill improves the chance for a dart to affect its target.

Darts are throwing weapons designed to incapacitate foes rather than kill them outright. They may be found on the Dungeon floor or in the possession of some monsters (kobolds and spriggan riders).

Darts come with the following brands:

• Poisoned
• Curare - inflicts heavy poison, slows, and deals asphyxiation damage
• Datura - sends target berserk and neutral, causing them to attack whatever's closest
• Atropa - blinds and may briefly confuse target

Both Throwing and Stealth skill affect whether a dart's brand takes effect. Undead and nonliving creatures are immune to darts, but all others can still be affected.

Strategy

Darts can be useful for many different characters, particularly in the early game where monsters have low HD (and therefore low resistance to darts). Many tough creatures like ogres or orc warriors can be rendered much more manageable by poisoning them, blinding/confusing them, or poisoning, damaging, and slowing them. Datura works well on groups of monsters, as you can force one of them to go berserk and fight the rest -- just be sure to keep your distance lest you have to fight a berserk monster yourself.

As the game progresses, most characters that aren't focused on Stealth and/or Throwing will probably find that darts become less useful than just killing monsters using a different method (though having some darts on hand for especially dangerous monsters can still prove helpful). Sneaky stabbers, though, may well continue to rely on darts to soften up monsters or give themselves stabbing opportunities.

Poisoned	Atropa-tipped	Curare-tipped	Datura-tipped

History

• In 0.24, blowguns were removed and needles were replaced with the new version of darts.
• In 0.15, darts were retired.
• Prior to 0.6, darts could be fired from a hand crossbow.