Short Sword of the Ykesha

Short Sword of the Ykesha — universally abbreviated SSoY — is the Classic-era 8-damage / 24-delay one-handed slashing sword that defined off-hand DPS for half a decade. The weapon's headline is its on-hit proc, Ykesha, a damage + stun effect that lands frequently thanks to the 24-delay swing rate, making it the canonical off-hand for any dual-wielder up to Velious.

The drop comes from the ghoul lord in Lower Guk, one of the most-camped named encounters of the Classic era. The combination of a fast delay, a stun proc, and broad class eligibility (War, Pal, Rng, SK, Brd, Rog) made the weapon a perennial bazaar sale item and a defining gear chase for new melee classes.

Why it matters

The 24 delay is what makes the weapon irreplaceable in its window. Procs scale with attempted swings, and a 24-delay off-hand pushes Ykesha proc rate higher than slower weapons can match. The stun component, even without the damage, is meaningful for melee classes facing caster mobs — a single proc can interrupt an incoming spell, which is worth more than the raw damage in many encounters.

For Bards, the weapon doubles as a melodic-attack proc source for songs that benefit from melee swings. For Rogues and Rangers, it pairs cleanly with primary-hand weapons that carry slower delays and bigger damage stats. For Warriors, Paladins, and Shadow Knights, it covers the off-hand slot through the entire Classic-to-Kunark transition.

At-a-glance highlights

• Headline: 8/24 1HS with Ykesha (stun + damage) proc — defining Classic-era off-hand
• Era: Classic
• Tier: Group / contested camp
• Source zone: Lower Guk (the ghoul lord)
• Common alternatives: WurmslayerWurmslayer1H Slashing·SLOT: PRIMARYDMG 25 DLY 40AC5STR+5SV MAGIC+5CLASSWar Pal Rng SKWT15.0MAGICLORE (slower, primary-hand 1HS), Kunark-era proc weapons

The Last Camp any-race-class note

Class restriction (War, Pal, Rng, SK, Brd, Rog) is canonical and unchanged on The Last Camp — the open race / class system unlocks the class for any race, but the weapon's class list still applies. A Halfling Shadow Knight, an Iksar Bard, or a Vah Shir Paladin can all wield SSoY in either hand.

The ghoul lord camp is open to any group that can clear the path through Lower Guk. The Last Camp's open race / class system widens the pool of dual-wielding melee combinations who would benefit from the weapon, since the off-hand proc value matters identically across the class list.

Effects

• Proc: Ykesha

Related

• Gukbottom