Cloak of magic resistance

[    [    [    [  cloak of magic resistance
Appearance	random
Slot	cloak
AC	1
Special	MC1 magic resistance
Base price	60 zm
Weight	10
Material	cloth

The cloak of magic resistance (commonly abbreviated CoMR) is an item that appears in NetHack. It is made of cloth, and has a randomized appearance; the default one associated with it is an ornamental cope.

Generation

All Wizards start the game with a cloak of magic resistance.

Aligned priests, high priests and the Arch Priest have a ¹⁄₂₁ chance of being generated with a cloak of magic resistance. Master Kaen, the Monk quest nemesis, has a ¹⁄₁₁ chance of being generated with a cloak of magic resistance, and will otherwise have a robe.

Most non-monk player monsters on the Astral Plane have a ⁷⁄₈ chance of receiving a random cloak, and a further ¹⁄₈ chance of that cloak being a cloak of magic resistance - this comes out as a ⁷⁄₆₄ chance (effectively ~10.94%) of receiving one. For priests, there is a further ³⁄₄ chance that the cloak will be made into a robe instead, reducing this effective chance to ~2.73%; Wizards have a ¹⁄₂ chance of forcing a cloak of magic resistance, resulting in an effective chance of 43.75% for them.

Effects

When worn, the cloak provides 1 AC, MC1 and magic resistance.

Strategy

The cloak of magic resistance is considered a near-ubiquitous part of many ascension kits, and is frequently paired with silver dragon scale mail (or another source of reflection) for combined protection from most attacks (e.g., preventing melee-range spells such as curse items while reflecting wands and breath attacks). SDSM/CoMR is also one of the more conducive combinations for certain late-game playstyles since it leaves slots free for other purposes: a worn amulet of life saving, a hand free for twoweaponing and/or two-handed weapons, or a lightweight small shield for casters going without a robe or protection. It also serves as a backup source of magic resistance if a quest artifact with the property is stolen.

Monks may consider seeking out a cloak of magic resistance if they are going wishless, avoiding artifacts, or are committed to not using body armor.

Identification

The cloak of magic resistance is the only randomized cloak that does not auto-identify on wearing or when taking effect, making it relatively trivial to informally identify; bones left behind by a dead Wizard very frequently have their old cloak of magic resistance somewhere in the item pile.

For price identification, the cloak shares a base price of 60zm with the cloak of invisibility. Invisible characters testing for one will want to remove their invisibility source if possible - the cloak of invisibility will not auto-identify if you are already invisible.

Some riskier methods of informally identifying this cloak involve removing, stashing or disabling all other sources of magic resistance, then stepping onto an anti-magic field or teleportation trap; unless you currently have poor AC, giving a hostile monster a wand of striking can also work. If you have magic resistance, the effect of the trap or wand will be nullified. Using a potion or wand of enlightenment is far safer, but may not be as available due to their rarity.

Combat

The chance of a hostile aligned priest spawning with this cloak poses a potentially aggravating threat to players trying to avoid their spells, reducing the amount of effective ranged options; pets and thrown potions are still useful.

Similarly, Master Kaen can generate with this cloak, which will prove a major inconvenience to many Monks since it nullifies the wand of death. The cloak does not stop the wand of sleep, however, and a successful hit will immobilize him - it also does not stop elemental attacks or disintegration breath from a black dragon pet or polyself.

For many players, the high priest(ess) of Moloch generating with one is a worst-case scenario - most will save a wand of death charge for them, and being forced to fight them (especially in melee) is very risky.

History

The cloak of magic resistance first appears in NetHack 3.0.0. From this version to NetHack 3.4.3, it is one of the several pieces of armor that provide MC3, and was the most popular choice for a long-term and ascension kit due to providing both magic cancellation and magic resistance.

In NetHack 3.6.0 and later versions, the cloak of protection is the only source of MC3 - a cloak of magic resistance is still quite valuable, but is not nearly as ubiquitous in character builds as it was previously.

Variants

Many variants based on NetHack 3.4.3 and earlier versions give the cloak of magic resistance MC3.

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, the cloak of magic resistance gives MC3. A cloak of magic resistance can be created by upgrading an elven cloak or oilskin cloak.

Undead vampires are often generated with opera cloaks - while this provides a reliable source of backup cloaks if their appearance is randomized to this, it will also give spellcasting-reliant characters significant trouble, especially in the case of already-powerful vampire mages.

NetHack brass

In NetHack brass, a cloak of magic resistance is one of the three possible Sokoban prize items.

UnNetHack

In UnNetHack, Sokoban offers a cloak as one of the three prize types, which has a 50% chance of being a cloak of magic resistance. The Executioner will always be generated with one.

dNetHack

In dNetHack, the cloak no longer grants any AC, nor does it increase your defense rating, but still provides MC3.

The Mantle of Heaven and The Vestment of Hell are artifact cloaks that always appear as ornamental copes, making it possible for them to be cloaks of magic resistance.

FIQHack

In FIQHack, the cloak of magic resistance gives MC2.

xNetHack

In xNetHack, Anaraxis the Black (the renamed Wizard quest nemesis) always generates wearing a cloak of magic resistance.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, giant Wizards do not start with the cloak since they are too large to wear them, and are given an amulet of magic resistance instead.

The Dark One will always generate wearing a cloak of magic resistance.