yes, and just like the salve ammy it increases your strenght, without seeing it in the strenght bonus menu. why shouldn't they? they're reviveing a forgotton mini-game that's really fun, sounds good to me. maybe, maybe not. no one has done a test yet so no one can say which is better then which. personally just from trying it out for one day i think it's more effective then these weapons versus shades: all bronze-rune weapons, dragon battle axe, d2h, hatchet, dragon dagger (not includeing special), mace. in other words, only the long sword and scimmy are better or same (maybe still even worse).