Difference between revisions of "Archon"
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| − | The '''Archon''', {{monsym|Archon}}, is a powerful monster that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. Archons are the most powerful of the [[angelic being]]s, and have the second highest [[difficulty level]] of all randomly generated monsters after the [[arch-lich]]. They can attack | + | The '''Archon''', {{monsym|Archon}}, is a powerful monster that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. |
| + | |||
| + | Archons are the most powerful of the [[angelic being]]s, and have the second highest [[difficulty level]] of all randomly generated monsters after the [[arch-lich]]. They can attack five times per turn, including [[monster spell]]s and an active gaze attack that [[blind]]s and [[stun]]s you. | ||
==Generation== | ==Generation== | ||
| − | Archons | + | In terms of random generation, Archons have such high [[difficulty]] that even for a level 30 [[player]], they cannot appear before [[dungeon level]] 22. Since the [[Dungeons of Doom]] end around level 29 and Archons cannot be generated in [[Gehennom]], most characters will not see one before finding the [[Amulet of Yendor]]; [[Vlad's Tower]] is not technically part of Gehennom, and . Once you have the Amulet, your effective dungeon level is at least 45, so Archons may be randomly generated from the [[Castle]] up. The random [[angelic being|A]] generated on the second version of [[Medusa's Island]] can be an Archon, but the odds are quite low.{{refsrc|makemon.c|1318}} |
| − | Archons will always generate peaceful for [[lawful]] characters of non-negative [[alignment record | + | Archons will always generate peaceful for [[lawful]] characters of non-negative [[alignment record]]. |
| − | + | A randomly generated Archon [[Monster starting inventory|will always have]] a [[rustproof]] [[long sword]] and a [[shield of reflection]] - if neither [[Demonbane]] nor [[Sunsword]] have been created in that game, the long sword will be converted to either of the two artifacts.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|332|nethack=3.6.6}} | |
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7|Demonbane is now a [[mace]], but Archons still only receive a long sword, so they can no longer generate with Demonbane.}} | {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7|Demonbane is now a [[mace]], but Archons still only receive a long sword, so they can no longer generate with Demonbane.}} | ||
==Strategy== | ==Strategy== | ||
| − | Archons' guaranteed shield will reflect any kind of spell including [[death ray]]s, | + | Archons are among the most difficult non-unique monsters to take on in a straight fight - an Archon's guaranteed shield will reflect any kind of spell including [[death ray]]s. In most cases, it is wiser to avoid them and keep moving, which can be aided by exploiting their inability to unlock doors; peaceful Archons are considered a significant advantage of being lawful. |
| + | |||
| + | For others, beyond possessing [[magic resistance]], the best way to fight an Archon is to use a [[footrice]] corpse and [[blind]] yourself to protect against their gaze; wearing [[the Eyes of the Overworld]] also prevents you from being stunned or blinded by this attack. Another option is to try using [[Vorpal Blade]], which can still decapitate them. | ||
===Archonstorm=== | ===Archonstorm=== | ||
{{main|Archonstorm}} | {{main|Archonstorm}} | ||
| − | Excessive use of [[genocide]] may lead to an "Archonstorm", a scenario in which overwhelming numbers of Archons begin to appear in the [[endgame]] in place of other high-level monsters that have been genocided. | + | Excessive use of [[genocide]] may lead to an "Archonstorm", a scenario in which overwhelming numbers of hostile Archons begin to appear in the [[endgame]] in place of other high-level monsters that have been genocided. NPlayers can keep the chances of such a scenario low by using genocide sparingly; while lawful humans incur a −1 alignment penalty for each genocide, associated with it. |
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Summon nasties can no longer create monsters of equal or higher difficulty than the caster (preventing, e.g., arch-liches or Archons from summoning more of themselves).}} | {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Summon nasties can no longer create monsters of equal or higher difficulty than the caster (preventing, e.g., arch-liches or Archons from summoning more of themselves).}} | ||
===As pets=== | ===As pets=== | ||
| − | Archons are exceedingly popular as pets due to their power | + | Archons are exceedingly popular as pets due to their power: they are inediate, hard-hitting and have far more capabilities compared to a tamed arch-lich. Archons are too large for body armor, but can wear other armor (i.e., [[gloves]], [[helm]]s, [[boots]], and [[shield]]s), and will pick up and use a variety of items. Getting an Archon to drop their starting weapon can be difficult; applying a [[bullwhip]] towards them can strip them of their current weapon, allowing you to hand them another weapon or enchant their initial one before handing it back. |
| + | |||
| + | Archons are permanently [[fast]] after they cast [[haste self]], and will often use their blinding gaze against enemies. Additionally, an Archon's [[monster magic resistance|MR score]] of 80 allows it to always ignore [[conflict]] from a ring once it reaches level 25 (or level 30 for a weapon); a level 32 or higher Archon will also be immune to [[polymorph trap]]s. However, there is no way to make an Archon immune to [[level teleporter]]s, so beware if an Archon runs into one - they will likely be untamed by the time you find them again. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Obtaining a pet Archon==== | ||
| + | The easiest way to obtain a pet Archon is to apply a blessed [[figurine]] of an Archon; wishing for this figurine is a common [[pacifist]] goal. However, an Archon from a figurine will not generate with its standard inventory of a longsword and shield of reflection, and without reflection it is vulnerable to death rays and [[disintegration]] breath. The figurine also has a 10% chance of spawning a hostile Archon, so try to have an [[escape item]] handy in case. | ||
| − | As an alternative to the figurine, a lawful character might wish for a [[statue]] of an Archon, {{spell of|stone to flesh}} it, and then cast {{spell of|charm monster}}. Although this is more difficult and requires a fairly advanced spellcaster, the Archon will never | + | As an alternative to the figurine, a lawful character might wish for a [[statue]] of an Archon, {{spell of|stone to flesh}} it, and then cast {{spell of|charm monster}}. Although this is more difficult and requires a fairly advanced spellcaster, the Archon will never come to life as hostile for a lawful character with positive alignment record, making this a safer option. |
| − | + | Another alternative is for a high-level character to tame a randomly-generated Archon with a charm monster spell, but this will often require several attempts due to its high monster magic resistance, which can be painful if the Archon is hostile. The most difficult portion of this may well be finding a random Archon: on top of requiring a high experience level, the Castle and Vlad's Tower are the likeliest areas, and the latter has a bias towards generating chaotic monsters. The {{spell of|create monster}} spell can be used to create many monsters quickly, but be sure not to expend so much [[energy]] that you cannot cast charm monster afterward. Once you find an Archon, draining their level will make the spell more reliable - the best tools for this are [[the Staff of Aesculapius]] or [[Stormbringer]], as other level-draining methods will take far longer. If there is a [[magic trap]] nearby, you might consider repeatedly triggering it and hoping for the taming effect, which ignores monster MR. | |
| − | + | ==History== | |
| + | The Archon first appears in [[NetHack 3.1.0]]. | ||
| − | + | From 3.1.0 to [[NetHack 3.4.3]], a figurine of an Archon would generate the monster with its usual starting inventory. | |
| + | |||
| + | ==Origin== | ||
| + | ''Archon'' is Greek (ἄρχων ''arkhon'') for "ruler" or "lord". It refers to ancient Greek "ruling gods". | ||
==Variants== | ==Variants== | ||
===SLASH'EM=== | ===SLASH'EM=== | ||
| − | In [[SLASH'EM]], because the dungeon is much deeper, there is a higher probability you'll encounter them before the castle. They remain a stellar choice for pets, especially | + | In [[SLASH'EM]], because the dungeon is much deeper, there is a higher probability of encountering you'll encounter them before the castle. They remain a stellar choice for pets, especially since SLASH'EM uses 3.4.3 rules for figurines and [[monster starting inventory]]; [[Planetar and Solar|Solars]] make even better pets. |
Take into account that here you will [[need +x weapon to hit|need a +4 weapon to hit]] them, e.g. using [[firearms]] (which by-passes their reflection) requires +4 [[bullet]]s. | Take into account that here you will [[need +x weapon to hit|need a +4 weapon to hit]] them, e.g. using [[firearms]] (which by-passes their reflection) requires +4 [[bullet]]s. | ||
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{{main|Archon (dNetHack)}} | {{main|Archon (dNetHack)}} | ||
Archons in [[dNetHack]] are split into 7 varieties. The counterpart to the vanilla Archon is a [[Archon (dNetHack)#Throne Archon|Throne Archon]]. In addition, as the #loot command can now take items from pets, it's much easier to remove Sunsword or Demonbane and give them a different artifact or a non-artifact enchanted weapon. | Archons in [[dNetHack]] are split into 7 varieties. The counterpart to the vanilla Archon is a [[Archon (dNetHack)#Throne Archon|Throne Archon]]. In addition, as the #loot command can now take items from pets, it's much easier to remove Sunsword or Demonbane and give them a different artifact or a non-artifact enchanted weapon. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
==Encyclopedia entry== | ==Encyclopedia entry== | ||
| − | |||
{{encyclopedia| | {{encyclopedia| | ||
Archons are the predominant inhabitants of the heavens. | Archons are the predominant inhabitants of the heavens. | ||
| Line 74: | Line 83: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | |||
{{nethack-366}} | {{nethack-366}} | ||
[[Category:Monsters]] | [[Category:Monsters]] | ||
Revision as of 01:03, 10 December 2022
A archon 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 26 |
| Attacks |
Weapon 2d4, Weapon 2d4, Gaze 2d6 blinding and stunning, Claw 1d8, Spell-casting |
| Base level | 19 |
| Base experience | 730 |
| Speed | 16 |
| Base AC | −6 |
| Base MR | 80 |
| Alignment | 15 (lawful) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 1 (Very rare) |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 1450 |
| Nutritional value | 400 |
| Size | Large |
| Resistances | Fire, Cold, Shock, Sleep, Poison |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
An Archon:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line1106 |
The Archon, A, is a powerful monster that appears in NetHack.
Archons are the most powerful of the angelic beings, and have the second highest difficulty level of all randomly generated monsters after the arch-lich. They can attack five times per turn, including monster spells and an active gaze attack that blinds and stuns you.
Contents
Generation
In terms of random generation, Archons have such high difficulty that even for a level 30 player, they cannot appear before dungeon level 22. Since the Dungeons of Doom end around level 29 and Archons cannot be generated in Gehennom, most characters will not see one before finding the Amulet of Yendor; Vlad's Tower is not technically part of Gehennom, and . Once you have the Amulet, your effective dungeon level is at least 45, so Archons may be randomly generated from the Castle up. The random A generated on the second version of Medusa's Island can be an Archon, but the odds are quite low.[1]
Archons will always generate peaceful for lawful characters of non-negative alignment record.
A randomly generated Archon will always have a rustproof long sword and a shield of reflection - if neither Demonbane nor Sunsword have been created in that game, the long sword will be converted to either of the two artifacts.[2]
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.
Demonbane is now a mace, but Archons still only receive a long sword, so they can no longer generate with Demonbane.Strategy
Archons are among the most difficult non-unique monsters to take on in a straight fight - an Archon's guaranteed shield will reflect any kind of spell including death rays. In most cases, it is wiser to avoid them and keep moving, which can be aided by exploiting their inability to unlock doors; peaceful Archons are considered a significant advantage of being lawful.
For others, beyond possessing magic resistance, the best way to fight an Archon is to use a footrice corpse and blind yourself to protect against their gaze; wearing the Eyes of the Overworld also prevents you from being stunned or blinded by this attack. Another option is to try using Vorpal Blade, which can still decapitate them.
Archonstorm
Excessive use of genocide may lead to an "Archonstorm", a scenario in which overwhelming numbers of hostile Archons begin to appear in the endgame in place of other high-level monsters that have been genocided. NPlayers can keep the chances of such a scenario low by using genocide sparingly; while lawful humans incur a −1 alignment penalty for each genocide, associated with it.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.
Summon nasties can no longer create monsters of equal or higher difficulty than the caster (preventing, e.g., arch-liches or Archons from summoning more of themselves).As pets
Archons are exceedingly popular as pets due to their power: they are inediate, hard-hitting and have far more capabilities compared to a tamed arch-lich. Archons are too large for body armor, but can wear other armor (i.e., gloves, helms, boots, and shields), and will pick up and use a variety of items. Getting an Archon to drop their starting weapon can be difficult; applying a bullwhip towards them can strip them of their current weapon, allowing you to hand them another weapon or enchant their initial one before handing it back.
Archons are permanently fast after they cast haste self, and will often use their blinding gaze against enemies. Additionally, an Archon's MR score of 80 allows it to always ignore conflict from a ring once it reaches level 25 (or level 30 for a weapon); a level 32 or higher Archon will also be immune to polymorph traps. However, there is no way to make an Archon immune to level teleporters, so beware if an Archon runs into one - they will likely be untamed by the time you find them again.
Obtaining a pet Archon
The easiest way to obtain a pet Archon is to apply a blessed figurine of an Archon; wishing for this figurine is a common pacifist goal. However, an Archon from a figurine will not generate with its standard inventory of a longsword and shield of reflection, and without reflection it is vulnerable to death rays and disintegration breath. The figurine also has a 10% chance of spawning a hostile Archon, so try to have an escape item handy in case.
As an alternative to the figurine, a lawful character might wish for a statue of an Archon, stone to flesh it, and then cast charm monster. Although this is more difficult and requires a fairly advanced spellcaster, the Archon will never come to life as hostile for a lawful character with positive alignment record, making this a safer option.
Another alternative is for a high-level character to tame a randomly-generated Archon with a charm monster spell, but this will often require several attempts due to its high monster magic resistance, which can be painful if the Archon is hostile. The most difficult portion of this may well be finding a random Archon: on top of requiring a high experience level, the Castle and Vlad's Tower are the likeliest areas, and the latter has a bias towards generating chaotic monsters. The create monster spell can be used to create many monsters quickly, but be sure not to expend so much energy that you cannot cast charm monster afterward. Once you find an Archon, draining their level will make the spell more reliable - the best tools for this are the Staff of Aesculapius or Stormbringer, as other level-draining methods will take far longer. If there is a magic trap nearby, you might consider repeatedly triggering it and hoping for the taming effect, which ignores monster MR.
History
The Archon first appears in NetHack 3.1.0.
From 3.1.0 to NetHack 3.4.3, a figurine of an Archon would generate the monster with its usual starting inventory.
Origin
Archon is Greek (ἄρχων arkhon) for "ruler" or "lord". It refers to ancient Greek "ruling gods".
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, because the dungeon is much deeper, there is a higher probability of encountering you'll encounter them before the castle. They remain a stellar choice for pets, especially since SLASH'EM uses 3.4.3 rules for figurines and monster starting inventory; Solars make even better pets.
Take into account that here you will need a +4 weapon to hit them, e.g. using firearms (which by-passes their reflection) requires +4 bullets.
dNetHack
Archons in dNetHack are split into 7 varieties. The counterpart to the vanilla Archon is a Throne Archon. In addition, as the #loot command can now take items from pets, it's much easier to remove Sunsword or Demonbane and give them a different artifact or a non-artifact enchanted weapon.
Encyclopedia entry
Archons are the predominant inhabitants of the heavens.
However unusual their appearance, they are not generally
evil. They are beings at peace with themselves and their
surroundings.
