Javelin

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

Name	Javelin
Launcher	Throwing
Base damage	10
Base delay (%)	15 (150%)
Min delay	7 at Throwing skill 16

A lightweight spear, designed for throwing. It will pass through the targets it hits, potentially hitting all targets in its path until it reaches maximum range.

Javelins are one of the most powerful Throwing weapons in the game. Although they pale in comparison to large rocks, they have sufficient force to be used effectively by any medium size (or larger) species.

Javelins innately have the penetration brand, allowing them to pierce through enemies. They may also come with the silver brand, causing them to deal more damage (especially to silver-vulnerable creatures).

Javelins have a 5% chance of mulching when thrown.

Tips & Tricks

• Javelins are helpful when dealing with packs of monsters, especially once you've lured them into a corridor. You can hit multiple enemies when only 1 enemy can hit you back. In addition, the penetration lets you hit pesky enemies, like boggarts, in the backlines.
• No matter what you're playing as, if you happen to find a stack of javelins in the early game and are large enough to throw them, do so; having a decently accurate, moderate damage ranged attack that can be targeted to the edge of your line of sight will greatly increase your ability to survive early ogres and the like.
  • If your target is still near full health when it gets close to you, however, consider making a retreat. Javelins can deal heavy damage when they hit, but they're a bit unreliable and slow when untrained.
• Javelins can remain powerful throughout the entire game, due to Throwing weapons having a different damage formula. Silver is an especially effective brand against many late-game threats, like orbs of fire, killer klowns, The Royal Jelly, and all monsters with Malmutate.
• Javelins are plentiful in the Shoals; many merfolk (particularly merfolk javelineers) will carry stacks of them, including silver branded ones. Okawaru will also periodically gift them to followers skilled with Throwing weapons.

History

• In 0.28, javelins were made much less common. 0.29 further nerfed the javelin gifting rate of Okawaru.
• Prior to 0.25, Trog could gift ammunition, including javelins.
• Prior to 0.24, javelins did not inherently have the penetration property. Penetration was one of the potential brands they could have, as well as poisoned, returning, and steel.
• Prior to 0.18, javelins' throwing speed did not depend on Throwing skill.

Mundane	Silver