Electrocution

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

It sometimes electrocutes victims (1/4 chance, 8-20 damage).

The electrocution brand does the following:

• Has a 25% chance per hit to inflict 7 + 1d13 electricity damage per hit, regardless of damage from the weapon itself. Electricity resistant monsters do not take any extra damage. (Average 3.5 damage per swing)

Strategy

Electrocution deals a flat rate of damage, independent of your actual weapon damage. Therefore, it works best on fast, low mindelay weapons (such as Short Blades, whips, and spears). This is because dealing 3.5 damage every 0.5 turn is better than 3.5 damage every 0.7 turn. However, this brand is good even for "heavy" weapon types, competitive with the likes of flaming and freezing. As a bonus, few enemies resist electricity until you get to Zot and extended.

Electrocution's damage is completely independent from AC. This brand tends to be favored on fast weapons, though; the weapons themselves are reduced more by AC.

Comparisons

• Distortion is a flat effect which deals more damage (on average) and has no resistance. However, unless you worship Lugonu, unwielding a distortion weapon isn't safe. Minor negatives: you can banish monsters with desirable gear, or blink them away from you.
• The pain brand starts to outdamage electrocution when you have more than 7 Necromancy skill. However, pain is resisted by more monsters than electrocution.

History

• Prior to 0.28, electrocution had a 33% chance of activating.
• Prior to 0.15, this brand did 10-24 damage instead of 8-20.
• Prior to 0.14, discharges of electricity would occur when hitting monsters in water, damaging multiple targets nearby (including the player character).
• Prior to 0.13, this brand had no effect on flying monsters, considerably limiting its utility in certain branches.