Weapons

A weapon is a promise you make to the thing that would eat you. Keep it sharp.

Strike, throw and shoot. How weapons work in the hand.

Every weapon you own began as a stone and a stick. Turn the flint set over in 3D at Arms and Armor.

Striking

• Left click strikes. Hold it to keep striking.
• A blow is only as good as what you hold. Bare hands do little.
• The spear strikes hardest, then the axe, the hammer, and the knife.
• Only an axe bites properly into a tree.
• Every blow wears your weapon. See Tools and Wear.
• Tired hands slip. When you are worn out, a swing can hurt you. See Fatigue and Sleep.
• With a free hand, a click on a creature that can be taken alive may catch it instead.

Throwing

1. Hold Shift + right mouse to draw back.
2. Let go to throw.

• The longer you draw, the harder the throw, up to about three seconds. Hold too long and your arm tires, and the throw is lost.
• Drawing back spends breath, and so does the throw. See Breath and Drowning.
• A spear thrown hard hits half again as hard as it strikes in the hand.
• A spear thrown hard enough sticks in soft ground. Go and get it back.

The bow

1. Hold the Oak Bow in your main hand.
2. Hold Shift + right mouse to nock and draw.
3. Let go to loose.

• Full draw takes just over a second. Hold it too long and the draw is lost.
• Arrows come from your other hand. Wear a quiver and they come from your pack.
• Drawing spends breath.

The bow, its arrows and the quiver are all made at the slab. See Slab Crafting.

Butchering

To butcher a fallen creature, hold a blade in your main hand and hold Shift + left mouse over it.