Boomerang

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Name	Boomerang
Launcher	Throwing
Base damage	6
Base delay (%)	13 (130%)
Min delay	7 at skill 12

A curved, flat, throwing baton designed to return to its user. “The weapon, thrown at 20 or 30 yards distance, twirled round in the air with astonishing velocity, and alighting on the right arm of one of his opponents, actually rebounded to a distance not less than 70 or 80 yards, leaving a horrible contusion behind, and exciting universal admiration.” -The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 23 December 1804

Boomerangs are a type of Throwing weapon. More damaging than stones, but less so than javelins, they are capable of inflicting respectable damage in the hands of a skilled user. Boomerangs are the largest throwing weapon that small races can use.

Boomerangs' design grants them the innate returning property. They may also have the following brands:

• Silver
• Dispersal

Regular boomerangs have a 5% chance of mulching (breaking) when thrown. Boomerangs of dispersal will always mulch.

Strategy

In the early game, boomerangs are useful finds. Even at 0 skill, throwing a boomerang is better than nothing. It can be used to soften up dangerous enemies like adders, ogres, or jellies.

Boomerangs remain useful to Throwing specialists throughout the game.

• While javelins are stronger throwables, they are limited by quantity. Boomerangs are more common, and can be used to conserve javelins.
• Since boomerangs always return to you, you won't have to worry about picking ammo mid-fight. Plus, you can't toss boomerangs into deep water or lava.
• Throwing skill has a great impact on damage. If you have a high Throwing skill, even boomerangs end up dealing a high amount of damage.

Boomerangs of dispersal can let you escape from powerful melee threats. However, dispersal only activates if you deal damage. Without any skill, dispersal boomerangs are unreliable, even against enemies with moderate AC or EV.

Mundane	Magical	Silver

History

• Boomerangs were introduced in 0.24, where they replaced tomahawks.