Thrown Weapons

Thrown Weapons skill allows the user to HURL a weapon at a target. Most weapons can be hurled, but only a few types are ideal for throwing. Daggers, handaxes, war hammers, pila, and spears are effective in melee but are well suited for throwing, while javelins, nets, darts, bolas, quoits, and discus are specifically designed to be thrown. Many thrown weapons users carry a shield in one hand for defense, and maintain a supply of throwing weapons that they hurl at the enemy. It is a good idea to have multiple throwing weapons, as some may lodge in an opponent or fly too far off their mark to easily recover. There are some rare magical weapons of the thrown variety that can return to their user, and even rarer are some that produce a limitless supply of unstable thrown weapons for their owners.

Effectively using thrown weapons requires a more intensive training plan than other weapon styles. Many thrown weapons users carry a shield in one hand for defense, and additionally train in the melee weapon skill associated with the weapon type (for example, Edged Weapons for thrown handaxes or Polearms for thrown spears) as well as possibly Brawling for defense when the weapon has been thrown and they are left with an empty hand. Because of the difficulty in training and in acquiring specialized equipment, those proficient in thrown weapons are quite rare among adventurers.

While almost any weapon can be hurled, trying to hurl an extremely heavy weapon may cause physical injury to the hurler. Strength plays a role in determining how heavy of a weapon can be hurled.

Ranks and Training Costs

Type	Square			Semi			Pure
Profession	Rogue	Warrior	Monk	Bard	Paladin	Ranger	Cleric	Empath	Savant	Sorcerer	Wizard
Max Ranks Per Level	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	-	1	1
Training Point Cost	2/1	2/1	2/1	3/1	5/1	3/1	9/3	9/3	-	9/3	8/2

Mechanics

The calculation of a character's Attack Strength while using thrown weapons depends on a character's Dexterity, Thrown Weapons skill, Perception ranks, and Combat Maneuvers ranks.

Thrown AS =   [(STR Bonus + DEX Bonus) / 2]
            + Thrown Weapons Skill Bonus
            + [(Perception Ranks + Combat Maneuvers Ranks) / 4]
            + Weapon Enchantment

Note: If you train more than twice per level in perception ranks, they add no further benefit.

Thrown AS can be further increased with any spells or effects that provide generic AS benefits. However, note that certain AS-increasing spells only affect melee (for example, a Paladin's Zealot) and do not help with thrown weapons.

The Ambush and Combat Maneuvers skills factor into aimed hurled attacks from the open. Ambush skill alone is taken into account when aiming from hiding (see post).

As with ranged weapons, strength affects a character's roundtime when using thrown weapons. Unlike with Ranged Weapons, encumbrance severely affects the amount of roundtime one incurs when throwing.

Damage Factors and AvDs

This table only shows specialized throwing weapons. For other weapons that can be hurled, the DF/AvD is typically the same as their melee values.

Weapon	AG	Cloth	Leather				Scale				Chain				Plate				RT	Min RT	Damage Type	STR/DU
	AsG	1	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Net	DF	.050	.050				.030				.040				.010				7	3	Unbalance	45/160
	AvD	25	25	24	23	22	30	28	26	24	40	36	32	28	50	44	38	32
Dart	DF	.125	.100				.075				.055				.050				2	3	Puncture	10/85
	AvD	35	30	29	28	27	25	23	21	19	20	16	12	8	10	4	-2	-8
Bola	DF	.200	.150				.100				.110				.060				5	3	Crush	12/75
	AvD	25	20	19	18	17	30	28	26	24	25	21	17	13	35	29	23	17
Quoit	DF	.250	.225				.150				.100				.050				5	3	Slash	60/155
	AvD	40	35	34	33	32	30	28	26	24	25	21	17	13	30	24	18	12
Discus	DF	.250	.225				.150				.175				.050				5	3	Crush	60/195
	AvD	40	35	34	33	32	30	28	26	24	25	21	17	13	30	24	18	12
Javelin	DF	.400	.300				.250				.250				.100				4	3	Puncture	17/105
	AvD	27	28	27	25	25	26	24	22	20	29	25	21	17	20	14	8	2

Please note that the minimum RT listed is for use when hurled; to determine the minimum RT for use in melee combat, please see the equivalent melee weapon as listed on the play.net Weapon Guide: Thrown Weapons.

Specialized Equipment

Certain rare items can make throwing weapons more effective as an option in combat. However, these tend to be difficult to find or expensive.

• Returning weapon
• Thrown Weapons Bandolier
• Chainspear
• Curved Cuts Chakram

Resources

• Saved posts

References

• QRS Script, on GSGuide.net (dead link)
• Skills: Thrown Weapons, on Play.net
• Weapon Guide: Thrown Weapons, on Play.net