Whoa. I think this may be the best worst artifact I've ever seen. I mean T2:Theme has "of Morgul" ego weapons which are nearly this bad, but this is impressive even by those standards.

Too bad about that -9 attack speed modifier. It could actually make a good replacement for Grond once you're wearing the Iron Crown, otherwise.

A few years ago when playing TomeNET (pernMAngband at that time) I found probably the best cursed artifact ever: the DOOM 'Malduin' (-9) with -9 to all stats and speed... but all the other abilities and resists in the book (all highs, esp, ...).

Are you being maudlin about an artefact called Malduin

If you have natural 6 blows that weapon should definitely give any enemy you hit three free blows against you.

the Quarterstaff 'Bornog' (9d9) (+12,+12)
Conjured forth by magic at 4900 feet (level 98).

Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.

Combat info:
6.0 blows/round.
This weapon may benefit from one or more off-weapon brands or
slays.
Average damage/round: 1054.8 vs. evil creatures, 1378.8 vs.
creatures not resistant to acid, and 730.8 vs. others.

What version are you playing that you managed to get off-weapon Slay Evil and x3 Acid Brand? Cripes. Sauron is gonna melt like butter in a volcano.

Normal 3.5; heres the dump: http://angband.oook.cz/ladder-show.php?id=16975

I almost dumped that staff, as I was using this at the time:

the Main Gauche 'Antelth' (6d5) (+6,+29) <+2>
---------------------------------------------
+2 intelligence, dexterity.
+10% to searching.
Slays orcs.
*Slays* dragons, demons.
Branded with lightning.
Provides resistance to lightning, nexus, chaos.
Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
Blessed by the gods. Grants the ability to see invisible things.

When activated, it causes your next attack upon a monster to confuse it.
Takes 65 to 72 turns to recharge.


Min Level 50, Max Level 127, Generation chance 6, Power 308, 2.7 lbs
Based on Sting.


and had this prepared for Morgoth:


the Spear 'Mithoth' (2d6) (+8,+29) <+2>
---------------------------------------
+2 wisdom, attack speed.
Slays evil creatures.
Cannot be harmed by acid, electricity, fire, cold.
Blessed by the gods. Grants the ability to see invisible things.


Min Level 47, Max Level 127, Generation chance 20, Power 284, 5.0 lbs
Based on Erebor.

which did more damage to evil than a MoD +2 attacks I also had found.
Truly a remarkable randart set, usually nothing beats a MoD with 2 attacks or slay evil.

How did you implement the off-weapon slay/brand to get Slay Evil and Acid on that Staff? Great weapon!

They're possible randart abilities. They have very high power ratings though, so you don't see them at all often. In particular, off-weapon Slay Evil must have a gigantic power rating.

In the standarts, I believe the Paur* gauntlets now provide off-weapon brands, and maybe a couple of other low-power artifacts were given similar abilities.