Cross-train

Version 0.28: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

All weapon skills cross-train with at least one other weapon skill. Experience invested in the main skill gives a direct 40% experience bonus to the secondary skills. 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.
• Throwing and Slings cross-train each other.

(Axes and Staves do not crosstrain each other, and Maces & Flails and Polearms don't crosstrain either).

Effect

In practice, this allows characters who specialize in a weapon type early on to diversify their arsenal in the mid-game, should they come across an attractive weapon. One great example would be Short Blades; a quick blade is useful, but less so once enemies get higher and higher AC.

History

Prior to 0.15, cross-training gave an aptitude bonus to the secondary skills, rather than a direct experience bonus.