Planescape: Torment: Best Punch Daggers

In Planescape: Torment, punch daggers, gauntlets and knuckles dusters fall under the fist weapon proficiency. 

Morte's teeth and other special weapons are also considered fists, but I'm not concered with them in this write-up. Punch daggers, gauntlets and knuckles are only wieldable by Annah and The Nameless One (TNO).

Fist weapons are class-specific, some are character-specific, and at least one is faction-specific. They are light, backstab-capable and usually inflict piercing damage (though they cover all damage types); also enabling us to attack within the first three segments of a combat round (speed factor). Most commonly, they buff Dexterity, AC and Thief skills.

For TNO, fists constitute one of the best weapon proficiencies due to +itemization instances and variety.

Here are the most notable of itemized punch daggers in the general order of acquisition:

Punch Daggers of Moorin

Enchantment +2, THAC0 +1, 2-8 piercing, +1 piercing, Speed 2, AC +2, Luck +1, Fighter & Thief only; Shattered Crypt, Catacombs, MOOPUNCH.

The Punch Daggers of Moorin are the best punch daggers in Planescape: Torment because they can be wielded by Annah or TNO and by Fighter or Thief; and also because of their early acquisition and long-lasting usefulness (decent stats). The AC bonus is valuable and the Luck buff is non-trivial in PS:T.

Punch Daggers of True Death

Enchantment +1, THAC0 +?, 1-4 piercing, Speed 2, On-hit poison, Fighter & Thief only, Dustmen only, TPUNCH.

Only available to TNOs who have joined the Dustmen faction, post-Catacombs. Sold by Emoric. Enchantment +1 means we can't hit even Abishai. Inflicts 5 points of poison damage per round on a failed save (stackable).

Punch Daggers of Zar'Anun

Enchantment +2, THAC0 +1, 2-12 piercing, +2 piercing, Speed 2, AC +2, Stealth +35, Fighter & Thief only; Lenny, Lower Ward, ZPUNCH.

These constitute a nice incremental upgrade over Moorin.

Punch Daggers of Shar

Enchantment +3, THAC0 +?, 1-4 piercing, Speed 2, Saving Throws +2, Magic Resistance +35%, Fighter & Thief only; Coaxmetal, Siege Tower, Lower Ward, SPUNCH.

Due to the +MR and +saves, these are the situational mage-killer fists.

Spiked Gauntlets of Ogre Power

Enchantment +1, THAC0 +3, 4-6 crushing, 4-6 piercing, Speed 1, Fighter & Thief only; Coaxmetal, Siege Tower, Lower Ward, OGRGAUNT.

Solid damage. Arguably the second best fist weapon.

Umei Kaihen

Enchantment +3, THAC0 +3, 3-21 piercing, Speed 2, Dex +3, +10% Thief Skills, Fighter & Thief only; Under Sigil Greater Glabrezu random drop, UMEI.

Excellent stats but very difficult to farm.

Assassin's Knuckles

Enchantment +3, THAC0 +3, 1-10 piercing, Speed 1, on-hit Stun, Silence, Poison, TNO only, Thief only; Crumplepunch the Blacksmith, Curst, IRON3.

TNO Thief only. These do not inflict Stun. They only inflict on-hit Confusion, on-hit Silence and 10 points of poison damage per round (stackable).

Mark of the Savant

Enchantment +4, THAC0 +3, 3-18 piercing, Speed 2, AC +2, Dex +1, HPs +15, Open Lock & Stealth +25%, Detect Trap +10, Thief only; found just before confronting Trias, SAVANT.

The enchantment is only +3, not +4. Foiled again.

Siphon Knuckles

Enchantment +2, THAC0 +2, 1-6 piercing, Speed 1, on-hit hit Hitpoint transfer aka Larloch, Fighter & Thief only, IRON2.

The Larloch is 1d6.

Entropic Blade

Enchantment +2, THAC0 +2, 3-23 slashing, Speed 1, Fighter & Thief only, Post-Modron Maze; give the Cube to Coaxmetal in the Siege Tower of the Lower Ward, EFIST.

A nice fallback on Celestial Fire for TNOs who weren't disciplined enough to attain Lawful Good alignment.

Gauntlets of Celestial Fire

Enchantment +3, THAC0 +2, AC +2, 3-18 crushing, Speed 3, Fire +10, crushing resistance +10, Fighter & Thief only, Lawful Good only, CFFIST.

The most damaging fist weapon on enemies not immue to fire, but with strict alignment requirements.

• Expected damage for TNO:
• Entropic Blade-fist: 3-23 +3 (6-26)
• Strength 25 (as early as 10th level): +14 (28-40)
• Grandmastery (as early as 13th level): +5 (33-45)
• Crit: 66-90
• Max backstab (x5): 169 (crit: 338)
• Max ApR: 4½ (3.5 innate + EED)

cf. Best Axes Planescape: Torment.

cf. BG2 Monk.