Burnt Pan vs. Worn Dagger: Which Weapon Reigns Supreme in Undertale?
The question of whether the Burnt Pan or the Worn Dagger is the superior weapon in Undertale is a complex one, deeply intertwined with the player’s chosen route and combat style. Directly answering the question, the Burnt Pan generally surpasses the Worn Dagger in most scenarios, particularly for skilled players aiming for optimal damage output and strategic healing. However, the Worn Dagger does have its niche uses, especially for less experienced players on a neutral route. Let’s delve into the specifics to understand why.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Burnt Pan
The Burnt Pan is not just a funny-looking kitchen implement; it’s a powerful weapon in the hands of a skilled player. Its primary strength lies in its damage amplification mechanic. When you hit all four of the moving bars in the attack mini-game very close to the center, the damage dealt is doubled. This is a significant advantage, giving it an incredibly high damage potential that far exceeds many other weapons in the game.
Furthermore, the Burnt Pan offers a secondary, crucial benefit: a +4 HP buff to all healing items. This is critical, especially during difficult battles, as it effectively allows for more health to be restored, giving players greater survivability. For example, a Steak in the Shape of Mettaton’s Face, which normally heals 64 HP, will heal 68 HP when equipped with the Burnt Pan. This difference can be the deciding factor in intense battles like the Sans fight.
However, the Burnt Pan’s effectiveness is reliant on precision and skill. If the player cannot consistently hit close to the center, it will not yield its potential damage. The Burnt Pan also does not have the innate high damage of some other weapons, meaning that if a player misses hitting near the center, their damage output will be notably lower.
How to Get the Burnt Pan
The Burnt Pan can be found relatively early in Hotland, in the first area of steam vents. This makes it accessible to players who know where to look, allowing them to obtain a very strong weapon before many of the game’s major challenges. This contrasts with the Worn Dagger, which has no clear location and requires a grind to access.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Worn Dagger
The Worn Dagger, on the other hand, is a more straightforward weapon. It boasts a fixed damage of 80 per swing, making it consistently powerful without any damage-amplifying mechanics. This simplicity makes it a solid choice for players who struggle with timing-based mechanics.
The major drawback of the Worn Dagger is that it is not accessible by normal means. It requires 30 wins in battles to equip. This makes it a time-consuming option, potentially deterring players who want to progress more quickly through the game. Furthermore, it has no additional effects, unlike the healing buff provided by the Burnt Pan.
Where the Worn Dagger Falls Short
While the Worn Dagger’s consistent damage is valuable, it simply cannot compete with the potential damage output of a skilled player wielding the Burnt Pan. Moreover, on a Genocide run, the Worn Dagger is essentially rendered useless, as the player automatically gets the Real Knife, a significantly more powerful weapon. While it is an option in other routes, there are generally better options for those routes, including using the Burnt Pan for its healing buff or using an alternate weapon for different strategies.
Comparative Analysis and Route-Specific Use
In most situations, the Burnt Pan is the superior choice. Its potential for doubled damage when executed correctly, combined with its +4 HP bonus, makes it a powerful and versatile weapon. This is especially true for the Sans fight, where a single hit does an instant kill, nullifying the damage difference and focusing the benefit of items. While the Worn Dagger provides a reliable 80 damage, its lack of special perks and time-intensive acquisition make it less appealing. The fact that the Worn Dagger is replaced with the Real Knife on the Genocide route further renders it irrelevant there.
On a Pacifist route, the Burnt Pan’s healing buff is invaluable for maintaining health through the difficult battles, including the final fight with Asgore. On a Neutral route, while the Worn Dagger may seem viable as a consistently powerful weapon, the Burnt Pan’s potential damage and healing bonus are still usually the better choice. On the Genocide route, the Real Knife renders both irrelevant.
Conclusion: The Burnt Pan is the King
In conclusion, while the Worn Dagger offers a stable, consistent source of damage, it is ultimately outclassed by the Burnt Pan’s superior damage potential and healing buff. The Burnt Pan’s mechanics reward skilled play, making it the ideal weapon for those aiming to maximize their damage and survivability in Undertale. The Worn Dagger is not a bad weapon, but it is almost always better to use the Burnt Pan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much damage does the Burnt Pan do in Undertale?
The Burnt Pan does 60 damage as a base. However, if you hit all four bars in the center of the attack mini-game, the damage is doubled. If you barely miss any of the bars, the damage is significantly lower.
2. Where can I find the Burnt Pan?
The Burnt Pan is located in the first area of steam vents in Hotland.
3. Can you get the Worn Dagger in a Pacifist Run?
Yes, you can get the Worn Dagger in a Pacifist Run by winning 30 battles. However, it is not the best weapon to use on this route.
4. What is the best weapon for the Sans fight?
The Burnt Pan is the best weapon for the Sans fight. While both the Burnt Pan and Torn Notebook are viable, the Burnt Pan’s healing buff is often more valuable, since one hit is all that is needed to defeat Sans.
5. Does the Worn Dagger have any special effects?
No, the Worn Dagger does not have any special effects. It only does a fixed damage of 80 per swing.
6. Is the Worn Dagger better than the Empty Gun?
In a Neutral Route, the Worn Dagger is generally considered the best, due to its ease of use and high flat damage. However, the Empty Gun has a higher damage potential with skilled timing.
7. Is the Empty Gun good in Undertale?
The Empty Gun is an exceptionally powerful weapon for skilled players, as it has the same damage-doubling mechanic as the Burnt Pan. The high skill ceiling makes it difficult to use, but potent.
8. What is the Real Knife in Undertale?
The Real Knife is the most powerful weapon in the game, obtained in the Genocide route instead of the Worn Dagger. However, it becomes available so late in the game it is generally irrelevant for most fights.
9. What is the best armor for the Genocide route?
Armor doesn’t matter much on the Genocide route, as the Stained Apron and Temmie Armor cannot be obtained.
10. What are some good healing items for the final boss battles?
Butterscotch-Cinnamon Pie, Instant Noodles, Steak in the Shape of Mettaton’s Face, and Snowman Piece are excellent choices.
11. What does the +4 HP buff on the Burnt Pan do?
The +4 HP buff on the Burnt Pan adds 4 extra health points to every healing item you use. For example, a 20 HP item would heal 24 HP.
12. Why is the Worn Dagger useless on a Genocide route?
On a Genocide route, the player obtains the Real Knife, which is significantly more powerful than the Worn Dagger, rendering the Worn Dagger completely irrelevant.
13. How many kills do you need for a Genocide Route in Undertale?
You need to kill all monsters in a given area to trigger the Genocide Route. Specific numbers vary in different areas of the game, but you need 20 kills in the Ruins, 16 in Snowdin, 18 in Waterfall and 40 in Hotland.
14. Can you spare Sans in a Genocide run?
No, you cannot spare Sans in a Genocide run. Attempting to spare him results in an inescapable death.
15. Is the Burnt Pan useful beyond the Sans fight?
Absolutely, the Burnt Pan’s healing buff and high damage potential makes it a powerful tool for many battles in Undertale, not just the Sans fight. The healing bonus it provides is valuable on any route.