Longsword

The longsword is a melee weapon that does a large amount of damage, has a long cooldown, and deals sharp damage.

Acquisition[edit]

Longswords can be crafted at a fueled smithy or electric smithy once the Long blades research project has been completed. Each requires 100 Stuff (Metallic/Woody, 1000 for SVMs), 18,000 ticks (5 mins) of work modified by the general labor speed of the crafter and the work to make factor of the material, and a crafting skill of 5.

Longswords can be purchased from any outlander and orbital combat suppliers, or obtained from outlander and pirate raiders.

Analysis[edit]

The longsword has the highest base DPS out of any melee weapon in Core RimWorld.

In the Royalty DLC, they are surpassed by the monosword and other ultratech weapons, though those can't be crafted by your colony, meaning high quality weapons are much harder to come by.

Material[edit]

Obsidian is the best longsword material for raw DPS, although it has a longer cooldown than plasteel. Plasteel is the best material in the base game.

Bioferrite has a longer cooldown for more damage and AP, overall resulting in less DPS. However, bioferrite improves psychic sensitivity, making it a competitive choice for psycasters. In addition, bioferrite is worth significantly less wealth and is easier to come by. Also, legendary bioferite swords are stronger than legendary plasteel swords, due to bioferrite benefiting from melee verb selection - see below for details.

Melee verb selection[edit]

Comparisons[edit]

Comparison to monoswords[edit]

Legendary obsidian benefits from the melee verb selection mechanic only allowing blade attacks, so on a base pawn, they will beat all monoswords and excellent persona monoswords on a baseline pawn. They have less AP, but their AP is still high enough to pierce all mechanoid armor, so it is unlikely to be relevant unless against the empires best soldiers. If a melee damage factor boost is applied, legendary obsidian swords are worse for DPS than legendary monoswords and excellent persona monoswords (although they'll have higher AP).

Longswords below legendary will pale in comparison to persona monoswords, with a masterwork plasteel longsword beating only a normal persona monosword, or excellent normal monosword.

Comparison to maces[edit]

The longsword is naturally compared to the mace - the mace is the strongest craftable Blunt weapon in Core RimWorld, while the longsword is the strongest Sharp weapon. Maces cost half as much material ( 50) and is unlocked earlier at Smithing. In addition, uranium is the best mace material, while the best longsword material in Core is the more useful and expensive plasteel.

In terms of raw damage, the longsword has +14% more base DPS than the mace as well as better AP. However, enemies lack significant Blunt armor - e.g., a flak vest has 100% Sharp armor but only 40% Blunt armor - so the mace has an "armor-piercing" effect. Breakpoints vary by material and quality.

A plasteel longsword beats the same quality uranium mace against lightly armored humans, like those wearing flak jackets without a vest, and small mechs.
The uranium mace would do better against flak vests and all sorts of power armor, as well as larger mechs like centipedes. For example, when excluding handle attacks, a normal uranium mace deals +18.9% DPS to a centipede when compared to a normal plasteel longsword. (In raw DPS, before intricacies documented below.)

Similar comparisons can be made between steel longswords vs steel maces.

Obsidian and bioferrite[edit]

Obsidian longswords have higher damage and AP. Against a centipede when ignoring handle/fist attacks, a normal obsidian longsword actually beats a normal uranium mace against centipedes. (While the handleless uranium mace deals +5.8% more DPS on paper than a handleless longsword, longswords get a hidden bonus due to Cleave damage, so the longsword is better.)

Legendary obsidian longswords in particular can benefit from the melee verb selection mechanic. Without any melee damage factor boosts, a legendary obsidian longsword is by and away better than a uranium mace, with enough AP to ignore any mech's armor and greater DPS. With a melee damage factor boost, the legendary obsidian longsword will have enough AP to ignore nearly any armor in the game, although the mace benefits better overkill mechanics, resulting in it being better against non-tough non-robust humans.

Bioferrite is worse as a weapon than plasteel unless it is legendary quality and the pawn has no melee damage factor boosts, where it benefits from the melee verb selection described above. However, bioferrite also provides psychic sensitivity while other weapons do not. In addition, bioferrite is worth less wealth than a uranium mace.

Sharp vs Blunt[edit]

While raw DPS and AP are the most important factors, there are a large amount of mechanics surrounding the damage types of the longsword and mace. For their "Best" attack, maces deal Blunt damage. Longswords deal either Stab or Cut damage. Best attacks are the most likely to hit (75%); for sake of simplicity, "Mid" attacks are ignored. They are listed in rough order of importance.

Cut damage deals bonus damage. If a Cut damage activates a cleave, total damage is multiplied by 140%, then split between body parts. While this reduces the chance to destroy large body parts, cleaving attacks inflict more pain (causing pain shock, the most common way to down a pawn) and reduce the pawn's total HP pool, making them more effective on action.

The chance to cleave is 40%. This improves cut DPS by 116% on average (for good sword attacks this results in 108% average damage), and the sword already is better in terms of raw DPS.

Blunt weapons have superior overkill damage mechanics. If a Stab would destroy a body part, then any further damage is wasted. If a Blunt attack would destroy a body part, damage is spread to the parent part. In other words: if a sword would stab off a finger, the mace would smash the finger and damage the arm in the process. This is unlikely to matter at all below masterwork quality, as weapons aren't strong enough to one-shot limbs. It is also unlikely to matter if no melee damage factor boosts are in effect. However, if stacking the strong melee damage gene and juggernaut serum, then overkill damage does matter a lot against human-sized pawns.

Blunt weapons can stun enemies, though the chance is small. If a blunt weapon hits the torso or a equivalent body part (a scyther's thorax, a centipede 1st body ring...), then the target has a chance to be stunned for a short time. This is completely independent from EMP and mechanoid adaptation. Stun chance depends on the target's health scale and the damage done. A normal uranium mace hitting a human would have a 2.7% chance to stun per hit to the torso. Blunt weapons can also stun if they hit the brain, but brain damage from a mace is usually fatal anyway.

Sharp weapons cause bleeding. However, bleeding is unlikely to help the player, since melee engagements are usually over long before combat penalties due to blood loss can kick in. This may even be a disadvantage, as it makes it harder to save prisoners and causes infections.

Attack table

Feature	Toggle
Attacks
Quality

Longsword				Handle (Poke)					Point (Stab)					Blade (Cut)					Human: Left & right fist (Blunt)					HP	Value
Quality	Material	DPS^[1]	AP^[1]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	Dam.	Cool.	AP	DPS	Chance^[2]	HP	Value
Awful	Bioferrite	8.1	29.3%	6.48	2s	9.36%	3.24	8.33%	23.92	2.6s	35.36%	9.2	37.5%	23.92	2.6s	35.36%	9.2	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	119
Awful	Gold	5.03	18.17%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	13.8	2.6s	20.4%	5.31	37.5%	13.8	2.6s	20.4%	5.31	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	5,030
Awful	Obsidian	8.69	31.43%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	25.76	2.6s	38.08%	9.91	37.5%	25.76	2.6s	38.08%	9.91	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	50	300
Awful	Plasteel	8.43	25.22%	6.48	1.6s	9.36%	4.05	8.33%	20.24	2.08s	29.92%	9.73	37.5%	20.24	2.08s	29.92%	9.73	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	520
Awful	Silver	5.59	20.21%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	15.64	2.6s	23.12%	6.02	37.5%	15.64	2.6s	23.12%	6.02	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	530
Awful	Steel	6.44	23.27%	7.2	2s	10.4%	3.6	8.33%	18.4	2.6s	27.2%	7.08	37.5%	18.4	2.6s	27.2%	7.08	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	127
Awful	Uranium	6.55	25.74%	10.8	2.2s	15.6%	4.91	8.33%	20.24	2.86s	29.92%	7.08	37.5%	20.24	2.86s	29.92%	7.08	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	360
Awful	Wood	3.77	11.59%	6.48	2s	9.36%	3.24	8.33%	7.36	2.6s	10.88%	2.83	8.33%	7.36	2.6s	10.88%	2.83	8.33%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 37.5%	65	83
Poor	Bioferrite	9.04	32.71%	7.29	2s	10.53%	3.65	8.33%	26.91	2.6s	39.78%	10.35	37.5%	26.91	2.6s	39.78%	10.35	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	178
Poor	Gold	5.59	20.19%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	8.33%	15.53	2.6s	22.95%	5.97	37.5%	15.53	2.6s	22.95%	5.97	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	7,545
Poor	Obsidian	9.7	35.11%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	8.33%	28.98	2.6s	42.84%	11.15	37.5%	28.98	2.6s	42.84%	11.15	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	50	450
Poor	Plasteel	9.4	28.12%	7.29	1.6s	10.53%	4.56	8.33%	22.77	2.08s	33.66%	10.95	37.5%	22.77	2.08s	33.66%	10.95	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	780
Poor	Silver	6.22	22.48%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	8.33%	17.6	2.6s	26.01%	6.77	37.5%	17.6	2.6s	26.01%	6.77	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	800
Poor	Steel	7.17	25.93%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	8.33%	20.7	2.6s	30.6%	7.96	37.5%	20.7	2.6s	30.6%	7.96	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	191
Poor	Uranium	7.31	28.71%	12.15	2.2s	17.55%	5.52	8.33%	22.77	2.86s	33.66%	7.96	37.5%	22.77	2.86s	33.66%	7.96	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	540
Poor	Wood	3.88	11.92%	7.29	2s	10.53%	3.65	8.33%	8.28	2.6s	12.24%	3.18	8.33%	8.28	2.6s	12.24%	3.18	8.33%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 37.5%	65	124
Normal	Bioferrite	9.99	36.13%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	8.33%	29.9	2.6s	44.2%	11.5	37.5%	29.9	2.6s	44.2%	11.5	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	200	235
Normal	Gold	6.14	22.21%	9	2s	13%	4.5	8.33%	17.25	2.6s	25.5%	6.63	37.5%	17.25	2.6s	25.5%	6.63	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	10,060
Normal	Obsidian	10.72	38.78%	9	2s	13%	4.5	8.33%	32.2	2.6s	47.6%	12.38	37.5%	32.2	2.6s	47.6%	12.38	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	50	595
Normal	Plasteel	10.37	31.03%	8.1	1.6s	11.7%	5.06	8.33%	25.3	2.08s	37.4%	12.16	37.5%	25.3	2.08s	37.4%	12.16	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	280	1,045
Normal	Silver	6.85	24.76%	9	2s	13%	4.5	8.33%	19.55	2.6s	28.9%	7.52	37.5%	19.55	2.6s	28.9%	7.52	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	1,065
Normal	Steel	7.9	28.58%	9	2s	13%	4.5	8.33%	23	2.6s	34%	8.85	37.5%	23	2.6s	34%	8.85	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	255
Normal	Uranium	8.07	31.68%	13.5	2.2s	19.5%	6.14	8.33%	25.3	2.86s	37.4%	8.85	37.5%	25.3	2.86s	37.4%	8.85	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	725
Normal	Wood	3.92	12.33%	8.1	2s	11.7%	4.05	25%	9.2	2.6s	13.6%	3.54	12.5%	9.2	2.6s	13.6%	3.54	12.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 25%	65	165
Good	Bioferrite	10.98	39.68%	8.91	2s	12.87%	4.46	25%	32.89	2.6s	48.62%	12.65	37.5%	32.89	2.6s	48.62%	12.65	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	200	295
Good	Gold	6.7	24.23%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	8.33%	18.98	2.6s	28.05%	7.3	37.5%	18.98	2.6s	28.05%	7.3	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	10,560
Good	Obsidian	11.85	42.85%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	25%	35.42	2.6s	52.36%	13.62	37.5%	35.42	2.6s	52.36%	13.62	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	50	745
Good	Plasteel	11.79	34.07%	8.91	1.6s	12.87%	5.57	25%	27.83	2.08s	41.14%	13.38	37.5%	27.83	2.08s	41.14%	13.38	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	280	1,305
Good	Silver	7.48	27.03%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	8.33%	21.51	2.6s	31.79%	8.27	37.5%	21.51	2.6s	31.79%	8.27	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	1,330
Good	Steel	8.64	31.24%	9.9	2s	14.3%	4.95	8.33%	25.3	2.6s	37.4%	9.73	37.5%	25.3	2.6s	37.4%	9.73	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	320
Good	Uranium	8.82	34.64%	14.85	2.2s	21.45%	6.75	8.33%	27.83	2.86s	41.14%	9.73	37.5%	27.83	2.86s	41.14%	9.73	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	905
Good	Wood	4.32	13.02%	8.91	2s	12.87%	4.46	75%	10.12	2.6s	14.96%	3.89	6.25%	10.12	2.6s	14.96%	3.89	6.25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 6.25%	65	205
Excellent	Bioferrite	11.98	43.29%	9.72	2s	14.04%	4.86	25%	35.88	2.6s	53.04%	13.8	37.5%	35.88	2.6s	53.04%	13.8	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	200	355
Excellent	Gold	7.26	26.25%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	8.33%	20.7	2.6s	30.6%	7.96	37.5%	20.7	2.6s	30.6%	7.96	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	11,060
Excellent	Obsidian	12.93	46.74%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	25%	38.64	2.6s	57.12%	14.86	37.5%	38.64	2.6s	57.12%	14.86	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	50	895
Excellent	Plasteel	12.86	37.17%	9.72	1.6s	14.04%	6.08	25%	30.36	2.08s	44.88%	14.6	37.5%	30.36	2.08s	44.88%	14.6	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	280	1,565
Excellent	Silver	8.11	29.31%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	8.33%	23.46	2.6s	34.68%	9.02	37.5%	23.46	2.6s	34.68%	9.02	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	1,595
Excellent	Steel	9.37	33.9%	10.8	2s	15.6%	5.4	8.33%	27.6	2.6s	40.8%	10.62	37.5%	27.6	2.6s	40.8%	10.62	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	100	380
Excellent	Uranium	9.58	37.61%	16.2	2.2s	23.4%	7.36	8.33%	30.36	2.86s	44.88%	10.62	37.5%	30.36	2.86s	44.88%	10.62	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	250	1,085
Excellent	Wood	4.67	14.07%	9.72	2s	14.04%	4.86	75%	11.04	2.6s	16.32%	4.25	6.25%	11.04	2.6s	16.32%	4.25	6.25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 6.25%	65	250
Masterwork	Bioferrite	14.47	52.31%	11.75	2s	16.97%	5.87	25%	43.36	2.6s	64.09%	16.68	37.5%	43.36	2.6s	64.09%	16.68	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	200	590
Masterwork	Gold	8.66	31.3%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	8.33%	25.01	2.6s	36.98%	9.62	37.5%	25.01	2.6s	36.98%	9.62	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	12,060
Masterwork	Obsidian	15.62	56.48%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	25%	46.69	2.6s	69.02%	17.96	37.5%	46.69	2.6s	69.02%	17.96	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	50	1,495
Masterwork	Plasteel	15.54	44.91%	11.75	1.6s	16.97%	7.34	25%	36.69	2.08s	54.23%	17.64	37.5%	36.69	2.08s	54.23%	17.64	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	280	2,605
Masterwork	Silver	9.68	35%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	8.33%	28.35	2.6s	41.91%	10.9	37.5%	28.35	2.6s	41.91%	10.9	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	2,660
Masterwork	Steel	11.54	41.69%	13.05	2s	18.85%	6.53	25%	33.35	2.6s	49.3%	12.83	37.5%	33.35	2.6s	49.3%	12.83	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	100	635
Masterwork	Uranium	12.03	47.74%	19.58	2.2s	28.28%	8.9	25%	36.69	2.86s	54.23%	12.83	37.5%	36.69	2.86s	54.23%	12.83	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	250	1,810
Masterwork	Wood	5.54	16.69%	11.75	2s	16.97%	5.87	75%	13.34	2.6s	19.72%	5.13	6.25%	13.34	2.6s	19.72%	5.13	6.25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 6.25%	65	415
Legendary	Bioferrite	18.98	72.93%	13.37	2s	19.31%	6.68	0%	49.34	2.6s	72.93%	18.98	50%	49.34	2.6s	72.93%	18.98	50%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	200	1,185
Legendary	Gold	9.78	35.34%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	8.33%	28.46	2.6s	42.08%	10.95	37.5%	28.46	2.6s	42.08%	10.95	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	60	13,060
Legendary	Obsidian	20.43	78.54%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	0%	53.13	2.6s	78.54%	20.43	50%	53.13	2.6s	78.54%	20.43	50%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	50	2,985
Legendary	Plasteel	17.68	51.11%	13.37	1.6s	19.31%	8.35	25%	41.75	2.08s	61.71%	20.07	37.5%	41.75	2.08s	61.71%	20.07	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	280	4,045
Legendary	Silver	10.94	39.55%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	8.33%	32.26	2.6s	47.69%	12.41	37.5%	32.26	2.6s	47.69%	12.41	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 8.33%	70	4,065
Legendary	Steel	13.13	47.44%	14.85	2s	21.45%	7.43	25%	37.95	2.6s	56.1%	14.6	37.5%	37.95	2.6s	56.1%	14.6	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	100	1,275
Legendary	Uranium	13.68	54.33%	22.28	2.2s	32.18%	10.13	25%	41.75	2.86s	61.71%	14.6	37.5%	41.75	2.86s	61.71%	14.6	37.5%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 0%	250	3,615
Legendary	Wood	6.24	18.78%	13.37	2s	19.31%	6.68	75%	15.18	2.6s	22.44%	5.84	6.25%	15.18	2.6s	22.44%	5.84	6.25%	8.2	2s	12%	4.1	2× 6.25%	65	825

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality.}

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Note: This is the actual base average derived from the melee verb system updated in 1.1.2610, it may sometimes disagree with the listed value in the in-game infobox.
It may also change depending on the stats and the melee verbs available to the wielder if the weapon is wielded by some other than a baseline human.
↑ Chance for attack to be selected, assuming the weapon is wielded by a baseline human. It may change depending on the melee verbs available to the wielder