Demon whip

Demon whips are one of the best one-handed weapons. They have a superb mindelay and good damage output.

Worshippers of good gods cannot attack with them without suffering penance. However, worshippers of the Shining One can convert a demon whip into a sacred scourge, with better stats and the holy wrath brand. You can reverse the process with Kikubaaqudgha's or Lugonu's blessing.

Strategy

Demon whips can sometimes be found early in the hands of Amaemon, who carries a demon whip of venom with a negative enchantment. Other than that, they can be found often by balrugs and hell knights, both found around Depths and the Vestibule of Hell.

Compared to eveningstar

The differences between demon whips and eveningstars are small. A +9 branded eveningstar is enough to win you the game, as is a +9 branded demon whip. Generally, the weapon you get first should be the one that you use. (The weapon you get first can benefit first from scrolls of enchant weapon).

There are cases where specific comparison is warranted, such as artefact weapons. Against a 0 AC opponent, a +0 demon whip is roughly 2.6% stronger than a +0 eveningstar. The demon whip attacks faster, so it is penalized more by AC, and conversely benefits more from slaying and auxiliary attacks. Characters with lots of auxiliary attacks, like Vine Stalkers and monstrous Demonspawn will prefer a demon whip. Otherwise, it is mostly even: if you are at mindelay with both weapons, the eveningstar is favored slightly. This is independent of a character's strength or skill.

History

Prior to 0.14, demon whips dealt slightly more damage than normal in the hands of demonspawn characters.

Demon whip	Sacred scourge
File:Demon whip.png	File:Sacred scourge.png

	Image
Mundane	File:Demon whip.png
Magical	File:Demon whip2.png
Artefact	File:Demon whip3.png
"Spellbinder"	File:Spellbinder.png

Template:Weapons