Difference between revisions of "Drain resistance"

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'''Drain resistance''' – or '''level drain resistance''' – is a [[property]] that resists attacks that reduce [[experience level]] or [[monster level]]. It can be possessed by both [[player]]s and [[monster]]s.
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'''Drain resistance''', or '''level drain resistance''', is a [[property]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that nullifies attacks that reduce a character's [[experience level]] or a monster's [[Monster level|level]].
  
==Effect==
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==Description==
 
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Drain resistance blocks the following attacks:
Drain resistance prevents the following attacks:
 
  
 
* The [[drain life (monster attack)|drain life]] monster attack.  All {{white|V}} [[vampire]]s and {{white|W}} [[wraith (monster class)|wraith]]s have this attack, as does {{monsymlink|Demogorgon}}. If the [[compile-time option]] SEDUCE is not enabled, {{monsym|succubus}} [[foocubi]] become level-draining monsters as well.
 
* The [[drain life (monster attack)|drain life]] monster attack.  All {{white|V}} [[vampire]]s and {{white|W}} [[wraith (monster class)|wraith]]s have this attack, as does {{monsymlink|Demogorgon}}. If the [[compile-time option]] SEDUCE is not enabled, {{monsym|succubus}} [[foocubi]] become level-draining monsters as well.
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* Directing the [[spellbook of drain life|spell of drain life]] at oneself or a monster.
 
* Directing the [[spellbook of drain life|spell of drain life]] at oneself or a monster.
 
* Being seduced by a {{monsym|succubus}} [[foocubus]] and getting a negative effect, with the compile time option SEDUCE enabled (the default). This is one of five possible negative effects.
 
* Being seduced by a {{monsym|succubus}} [[foocubus]] and getting a negative effect, with the compile time option SEDUCE enabled (the default). This is one of five possible negative effects.
* Suffering a [[god]]'s anger through incorrect [[prayer]] or [[sacrifice]]. This is one of many possible effects.
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* One of the effects of angering your [[god]] via [[prayer]] or [[sacrifice]].
* In [[SLASH'EM]], being zapped by a [[wand of draining]].
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==Sources==
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The following monsters possess drain resistance:{{refsrc|src/mondata.c|97|nethack=3.6.7}}
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* All [[undead]], including shapeshifted [[Vampire (monster class)|vampires]]
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* All [[werecreature]]s, including you if you have [[lycanthropy]]
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* All [[major demon]]s
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* {{monsymlink|Death}}
  
==Acquiring drain resistance==
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Drain resistance can be acquired extrinsically by wielding [[Stormbringer]], [[Excalibur]], or [[the Staff of Aesculapius]]. It can be obtained intrinsically by [[polymorph]]ing into a monster with drain resistance or having lycanthropy.
  
Drain resistance may be acquired by:{{reffunc|mondata.c|resists_drli}}
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|[[Black dragon scales]] and [[black dragon scale mail]] also provide drain resistance.}}
  
* Wielding [[Stormbringer]], [[Excalibur]] or [[the Staff of Aesculapius]] grants [[extrinsic]] drain resistance.
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==Monsters with drain resistance==
* [[Polymorph]]ing into a monster with drain resistance.
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Drain resistance is [[intrinsic]] to all [[major demon]]s, [[undead]] monsters, [[lycanthrope]]s in either form, and {{monsymlink|Death}}.
  
In [[SLASH'EM]], drain resistance can also be acquired by:
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==Strategy==
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Drain resistance is worthwhile and easily obtainable early on for non-neutral characters that have access to either a [[fountain]] (if lawful) or an altar (if chaotic).
  
* Wearing [[deep dragon scales]] or [[deep dragon scale mail]].
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==Messages==
* Wearing an [[amulet of drain resistance]].
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{{message|You have a curious feeling.|Drain resistance prevented you from losing an experience level after a [[foocubus]] encounter.}}
* Wielding the [[Hand of Vecna]]
 
* Starting the game as a [[Lycanthrope (starting race)|lycanthrope]] or [[Vampire (starting race)|vampire]].
 
* Being an [[undead slayer]] or [[necromancer]].
 
  
==Monsters with drain resistance==
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==Variants==
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===SLASH'EM===
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In [[SLASH'EM]], [[Necromancer]]s and [[Undead Slayer]]s start the game with drain resistance.
  
Drain resistance is [[intrinsic]] in:
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Drain resistance is much more important in the earlier stages, as it protects from the [[wand of draining]], particularly in wand-heavy special levels such as [[the Guild of Disgruntled Adventurers]].
  
* [[demons]]. <!-- monster attribute -->
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In addition to the monster types listed above, the following monsters in SLASH'EM have drain resistance:
* {{white|L}} {{white|M}} {{white|W}} {{white|V}} {{white|Z}} {{white|&nbsp;}} [[undead]].
 
* [[lycanthrope]]s &ndash; in both [[human (monster attribute)|human]] and [[animal]] form.
 
* {{monsymlink|Death}}.
 
  
===In SLASH'EM===
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*Adult [[deep dragon]]s (but not babies)
In SLASH'EM, the following monsters are drain resistant in addition the above:
 
*adult [[deep dragon]]s (but not babies, strangely enough)
 
 
*[[undead slayer]] [[player monster]]s
 
*[[undead slayer]] [[player monster]]s
 
*All the new undead, lycanthropes and demons
 
*All the new undead, lycanthropes and demons
  
==Messages==
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SLASH'EM also adds the following sources of drain resistance:
  
Drain resistance usually acts silently. Only the lack of level drain messages indicates it is operating.
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* Wearing [[deep dragon scales]] or [[deep dragon scale mail]].
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* Wearing an [[amulet of drain resistance]].
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* Wielding the [[Hand of Vecna]]
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* Starting the game as a [[Lycanthrope (starting race)|lycanthrope]] or [[Vampire (starting race)|vampire]].
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* Being an [[undead slayer]] or [[necromancer]].
  
When consorting with a [[foocubus]], the message "You have a curious feeling" indicates that you would have lost a level, but the loss was prevented by drain resistance.
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===FIQHack===
 
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In [[FIQHack]], drain resistance is also conferred by wearing [[black dragon scales]] or armor.
==Strategy==
 
In vanilla NetHack, drain resistance is not especially important; this is because monsters' level drain attacks are subject to [[magic cancellation]]. By the time such monsters are encountered, most players will have a magic cancellation of 3 and a successful drain life attack will be extremely rare. Even then, a single point of [[experience]] is enough to regain the occasionally drained level.
 
 
 
In SLASH'EM, monsters may use a [[wand of draining]] to attack the player, particularly in [[The Guild of Disgruntled Adventurers]]. This makes drain resistance much more important.
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 
 
{{nethack-343|offset=1}}
 
{{nethack-343|offset=1}}
 
{{slashem-7E7}}
 
{{slashem-7E7}}
 
[[Category:Resistances]]
 
[[Category:Resistances]]

Latest revision as of 13:38, 9 March 2024

Drain resistance, or level drain resistance, is a property in NetHack that nullifies attacks that reduce a character's experience level or a monster's level.

Description

Drain resistance blocks the following attacks:

Sources

The following monsters possess drain resistance:[1]

Drain resistance can be acquired extrinsically by wielding Stormbringer, Excalibur, or the Staff of Aesculapius. It can be obtained intrinsically by polymorphing into a monster with drain resistance or having lycanthropy.

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.

Black dragon scales and black dragon scale mail also provide drain resistance.

Monsters with drain resistance

Drain resistance is intrinsic to all major demons, undead monsters, lycanthropes in either form, and & Death.

Strategy

Drain resistance is worthwhile and easily obtainable early on for non-neutral characters that have access to either a fountain (if lawful) or an altar (if chaotic).

Messages

You have a curious feeling.
Drain resistance prevented you from losing an experience level after a foocubus encounter.

Variants

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, Necromancers and Undead Slayers start the game with drain resistance.

Drain resistance is much more important in the earlier stages, as it protects from the wand of draining, particularly in wand-heavy special levels such as the Guild of Disgruntled Adventurers.

In addition to the monster types listed above, the following monsters in SLASH'EM have drain resistance:

SLASH'EM also adds the following sources of drain resistance:

FIQHack

In FIQHack, drain resistance is also conferred by wearing black dragon scales or armor.

References

This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.

It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.4.3. Information on this page may be out of date.

Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-343}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.