Plutonium sword

Version 0.13: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

A triple sword made of weird glowing metal. You wonder whether it grew its two side blades due to its radiation, and whether you'll grow two extra heads as well.

the +12,+16 plutonium sword

+12, +16 claymore

Inflicts Transmutations miscast effects on enemies on 20% of strikes
Causes heavy magic contamination when unwielded
Chaotic
-20 stealth

Desirability

The plutonium sword combines extremely brutal damage output with occasionally awesome miscast effects (irresistible damage, polymorph, confusion, petrification, malmutate) and a nasty magic contamination dose every time you unwield the thing. While it's hard to pass up its staggering damage output, randomly polymorphing opponents will occasionally turn harmless opponents into deadly foes mid-fight, and make sure you have a few scrolls of vulnerability on hand before unwielding it; each scroll you read will reduce your contamination by a small but significant amount.

History

Prior to 0.12, this sword would cursed itself when wielded and contaminated you lightly every turn you spent wielding it. Combined with the fact that it did not inflict Transmutation miscast effects, this made it extremely hazardous and much less desirable to use.