Difference between revisions of "Speed (brand)"

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Weapons with the rare '''speed brand''' attack roughly twice as fast, but do 90% of their normal damage per hit, before AC reductions are considered.  The reduced attack delay is rounded up, so weapons with an odd minimum delay will attack slightly less than twice as fast.
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{{version031}}
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{{flavour|Attacks with this weapon are significantly faster.}}
  
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This brand is normally only found on [[short blades]] and [[staves]]. However, artefact weapons of all types can bear the speed brand.
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The '''speed''' [[brand]] does the following:
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*Reduces [[attack delay|time to attack]] by -33.3% (for an extra +50% damage/turn).
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**The bonus to attack speed happens after skill, but before [[shield]] or [[armour encumbrance]]. Therefore, encumbrance has a somewhat greater impact on speed weapons: going from 0.5 -> 0.6 delay is a bigger difference than 0.75 -> 0.85 delay.
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**Non-integer [[aut]] delays are rounded in a weighted manner, after speed is accounted for. If you have a 0.7 [[decaAut]] delay before speed, you'd have an average of 0.467 delay. This equates to a 67% chance (per turn) to attack at 0.5 decaAut, and a 33% chance to attack at 0.4 decaAut.
  
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When a weapon with this brand is a [[Ranged weapons|ranged launcher]], like the [[List of unrands#Ranged Weapons|Bow of Krishna "Sharnga"]], it attacks one and a half times faster, instead of twice as fast, and it also stacks with any brands on the ammo used.
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Note that speed is ''not'' particularly worse against high [[AC]] enemies - speed increases your post-AC damage/turn by +50% against any enemy. Brands like [[flaming]] and [[freezing]] also increase post-AC damage. For example, if you dealt 10 damage, any enemy AC reduces it by 5:
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*Speed: <code>(10 - 5) damage * 1 multiplier * 1.5 attacks</code> = 7.5 damage/turn
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*Flaming: <code>(10 - 5) damage * 1.25 multiplier * 1 attack</code> = 6.25 damage per turn
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[[Heavy]] is particularly good against AC, and 'flat damage' brands like [[electrocution]] ignore AC entirely. This is because these brands are good against AC; not that speed is bad against high AC enemies.
  
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Despite their name, [[quick blade]]s do not (and in fact cannot) bear this brand. However, a quick blade at minimum delay attacks as fast or faster than any speed-branded weapon.
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==Sources==
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The speed [[brand]] cannot be obtained via a [[scroll of brand weapon]]. It can normally be found on [[Short Blades]], [[quarterstaves]], and [[lajatang]]s. However, [[quick blade]]s cannot have the speed brand. Various [[artefact]] weapons may also come with this brand:
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*The [[captain's cutlass]]
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*[[Arga]]
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*[[Finisher]]
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*[[Skullcrusher]]
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*[[Zephyr]]
  
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==Tips & Tricks==
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==Strategy==
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This brand is best on high-damage weapons, as they can afford the damage loss more effectively. A dagger of speed, for example, would barely dent a high-[[AC]] target.
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Speed is one of the best 'percentage' brands in the game - it's irresistible and provides a large, consistent increase to damage output independent of enemy AC. It's objectively better than [[flaming]] or [[freezing]], which are already good enough for a 3-rune game. A [[hand axe]] of speed isn't an endgame weapon, but [[Arga]] is one of the strongest one-handed weapons almost purely because of this brand.
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*[[Holy wrath]] is usually better for [[extended]], but does nothing if the target isn't undead/demonic.
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*[[Spectral]] offers a stronger (+70%) damage boost, but the spectral weapon needs an empty tile to spawn, and it can cause you to take extra damage from AOE attacks.
  
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==History==
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Also, since weak weapons like [[dagger]]s and [[short sword]]s have such low base damage, 'flat' brands (e.g. [[venom]], [[electrocution]]) can end up being stronger in the early-game.
  
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The reduced damage from this brand was added in [[0.8]].
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Unlike every other weapon brand in the game, speed improves [[auxiliary attack]]s, since aux attacks are performed faster.
  
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In [[0.14]], the damage reduction will be removed, but all speed weapons will attack only 1.5x as fast as normal weapons. However, this attack delay will not be flatly rounded off, but rather, will be subject to randomized rounding. In effect, this will leave short blades of speed dealing roughly the same damage as before, while reducing the damage output from large artefact weapons.  It is a slight buff to launchers.
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==History==
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*Prior to [[0.14]], melee weapons with the speed brand dealt only 90% damage, but their attack speed was 50% of normal.
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*Prior to [[0.9]], melee weapons of speed dealt full damage. Also, ranged weapons attack speed was 50% of normal.
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*Prior to [[0.8]], all weapons of speed reduced attack speed to 50% of normal (though this calculation was then rounded up, leaving some weapons attacking slightly slower).
  
 
{{brands}}
 
{{brands}}
 
[[Category:Brands]]
 
[[Category:Brands]]

Latest revision as of 21:39, 19 January 2024

Version 0.31: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.
Attacks with this weapon are significantly faster.

The speed brand does the following:

  • Reduces time to attack by -33.3% (for an extra +50% damage/turn).
    • The bonus to attack speed happens after skill, but before shield or armour encumbrance. Therefore, encumbrance has a somewhat greater impact on speed weapons: going from 0.5 -> 0.6 delay is a bigger difference than 0.75 -> 0.85 delay.
    • Non-integer aut delays are rounded in a weighted manner, after speed is accounted for. If you have a 0.7 decaAut delay before speed, you'd have an average of 0.467 delay. This equates to a 67% chance (per turn) to attack at 0.5 decaAut, and a 33% chance to attack at 0.4 decaAut.

Note that speed is not particularly worse against high AC enemies - speed increases your post-AC damage/turn by +50% against any enemy. Brands like flaming and freezing also increase post-AC damage. For example, if you dealt 10 damage, any enemy AC reduces it by 5:

  • Speed: (10 - 5) damage * 1 multiplier * 1.5 attacks = 7.5 damage/turn
  • Flaming: (10 - 5) damage * 1.25 multiplier * 1 attack = 6.25 damage per turn

Heavy is particularly good against AC, and 'flat damage' brands like electrocution ignore AC entirely. This is because these brands are good against AC; not that speed is bad against high AC enemies.

Sources

The speed brand cannot be obtained via a scroll of brand weapon. It can normally be found on Short Blades, quarterstaves, and lajatangs. However, quick blades cannot have the speed brand. Various artefact weapons may also come with this brand:

Strategy

Speed is one of the best 'percentage' brands in the game - it's irresistible and provides a large, consistent increase to damage output independent of enemy AC. It's objectively better than flaming or freezing, which are already good enough for a 3-rune game. A hand axe of speed isn't an endgame weapon, but Arga is one of the strongest one-handed weapons almost purely because of this brand.

  • Holy wrath is usually better for extended, but does nothing if the target isn't undead/demonic.
  • Spectral offers a stronger (+70%) damage boost, but the spectral weapon needs an empty tile to spawn, and it can cause you to take extra damage from AOE attacks.

Also, since weak weapons like daggers and short swords have such low base damage, 'flat' brands (e.g. venom, electrocution) can end up being stronger in the early-game.

Unlike every other weapon brand in the game, speed improves auxiliary attacks, since aux attacks are performed faster.

History

  • Prior to 0.14, melee weapons with the speed brand dealt only 90% damage, but their attack speed was 50% of normal.
  • Prior to 0.9, melee weapons of speed dealt full damage. Also, ranged weapons attack speed was 50% of normal.
  • Prior to 0.8, all weapons of speed reduced attack speed to 50% of normal (though this calculation was then rounded up, leaving some weapons attacking slightly slower).
Brands
Melee weapons Antimagic • Chaos • Distortion • Draining • Electrocution • Flaming • Freezing • Heavy • Holy wrath • Pain • Protection • Reaching • Spectral • Speed • Vampiric • Venom
Disruption • Dragon slaying • Reaping • Silver
Launchers Antimagic • Draining • Electrocution • Flaming • Freezing • Heavy • Penetration • Speed
Throwing weapons Atropa • Curare • Datura • Dispersal • Poisoned • Silver
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