Difference between revisions of "Engulfing"

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An '''engulfing''' attack is one in which [[you]] are surrounded by the monster, whether being swallowed whole by it (in the case of e.g. [[purple worm]]s and [[trapper]]s) or simply being drawn into it ([[vortex|vortices]] and [[air elemental]]s).
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An '''engulfing''' attack is one which involves you being caught ''inside'' a [[monster]], whether by being swallowed whole (for example, by a [[purple worm]] or [[trapper]]) or by simply being drawn into a nonsolid or amorphous monster such as a [[vortex]].  Each turn you are inside the monster, you will take damage of some kind.
  
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Monsters with engulfing attacks:
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Engulfing is an attack type rather than a damage type.  The type of damage caused depends on the monster doing the attack.
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*[[ochre jelly]]
 
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*[[fog cloud]]
 
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*[[trapper]]
 
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*[[lurker above]]
 
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*[[dust vortex]]
 
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*[[ice vortex]]
 
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*[[energy vortex]]
 
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*[[steam vortex]]
 
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*[[fire vortex]]
 
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*[[purple worm]]
 
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*[[air elemental]]
 
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*[[Juiblex]]
 
  
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Several types of damage can result from being engulfed:
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==Engulfers==
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* '''Digestion''' - monsters that have swallowed you whole will digest you slowly over the course of several turns.  A [[ring of slow digestion]] protects against this ("Obviously the purple worm doesn't like your taste.").
 
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* '''Physical''' - possessed by [[fog cloud|fog clouds]] ("You are laden with moisture and can barely breathe") and [[air elemental|air elementals]] ("You are pummeled with debris!").
 
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* '''[[Fire]]''', '''[[cold]]''', '''[[shock]]''', '''[[blind]]ing''' - these result from the [[vortex|vortices]].
 
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* '''[[Disease]]''' - [[Juiblex]]'s speciality.
 
  
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To be '''expelled''' and escape from an engulfed state, you can wait it out (which may kill you first), kill the engulfing monster (best done with e.g. a [[wand of death]]), zap a [[wand of digging]] or [[spellbook of dig|spell of dig]] (which also sets the monster to one hit point and in a state where you can kill it with one hit, but only works on [[ochre jelly|ochre jellies]], [[purple worm]]s, [[trapper]]s, [[lurker above|lurkers above]] and [[Juiblex]]) or [[wand of opening]] or [[spellbook of knock|spell of knock]], ring the charged [[Bell of Opening]], [[scare]] the monster with a [[tooled horn]] or [[drum]] (other methods rely on line-of-sight and thus do not work when engulfed), [[polymorph]] yourself into something too large to be engulfed ([[Monsters (by size)|Size Huge or larger]]) or zap a [[wand of slow monster]] or [[spellbook of slow monster|spell of slow monster]], which only works on [[vortex|vortices]] and [[air elemental]]s. A magic missile will kill the thing engulfing you.
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Monsters with engulfing attacks can be divided into three general categories:
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* '''Whirlies''': [[Unsolid]] monsters composed of a single element, which attack by drawing you inside and exposing you to their constituent element.  All of these monsters share the ''[[whirly]]'' [[monster attribute]]. The [[air elemental]] and all [[vortex|vortices]] are whirly engulfers.  Vortices (such as the [[fog cloud]] or [[dust vortex]]) are likely to be the first engulfing monsters you encounter in the [[Dungeons of Doom]].  They vary widely in their composition and attacks, so they range from being fairly harmless to being a nuisance even to experienced adventurers.
  
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On levels that allow [[teleport]], you can also teleport yourself out by the usual methods. On a [[non-teleport level]], you can teleport the engulfing monster instead (on levels that allow self-teleport, you will teleport with the monster).
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* '''Blobs''': [[Amorphous]] monsters that can absorb you.  The [[ochre jelly]] and the [[demon lord]] [[Juiblex]] belong to this category, having acidic and [[illness]]-causing engulfing attacks, respectively.
  
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If you have any free time while engulfed, you might try [[searching]] or [[engrave|engraving]].
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* '''Digesters''': Living monsters that swallow and attempt to digest you.  [[Digestion]] is a special damage type that can [[instakill]] you if you do not escape the monster's digestive system in time.
  
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A list of monsters with engulfing attacks, and the type of damage dealt by their attack:
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{|class="prettytable"
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! Monster
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! Damage type
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|-
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| [[fog cloud]]
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| [[Physical damage|physical]]
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|-
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| [[dust vortex]]
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| [[blind]]ing
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|-
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| [[ice vortex]]
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| [[cold]]
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|-
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| [[energy vortex]]
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| [[shock]] and [[drain energy]]
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|-
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| [[steam vortex]]
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| [[fire]]
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|-
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| [[fire vortex]]
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| [[fire]]
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|-
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| [[trapper]]
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| [[digestion]]
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|-
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| [[lurker above]]
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| [[digestion]]
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|-
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|-
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| [[purple worm]]
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| [[digestion]]
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|-
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| [[air elemental]]
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| [[Physical damage|physical]]
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|-
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| [[ochre jelly]]
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| [[acid]]
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|-
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| [[Juiblex]]
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| [[disease]]
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|}
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 +
==Gameplay while engulfed==
 +
 +
Any directional [[spell]] cast while engulfed will always hit the engulfing monster ("The <spell> rips into the <monster>!").  [[Ray]]-based attacks do not travel beyond the confines of the monster. Also, any melee attacks on a monster engulfing you will always hit.
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You may not [[engrave]] while engulfed,{{refsrc|src/engrave.c|498|version=NetHack 3.6.0}} although trying may elicit [[YAFM|a humourous reply]].
 +
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==Escape==
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There are a variety of ways of escaping an engulfing monster, but some are only applicable to certain types of monster.
 +
 +
Methods that can be used on all engulfing monsters:
 +
* Kill or destroy the engulfing monster. This is the best way to be rid of an engulfing monster, but it may not be an option if your player is near death and cannot survive a few more turns inside the monster.
 +
* Use "opening" magic (a [[wand of opening]], the [[spellbook of knock|spell of knock]], the [[Bell of Opening]]).
 +
* [[Scare]] the engulfing monster using a [[tooled horn]], a [[drum]], or [[Magicbane]].
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* [[Polymorph]] yourself into a monster that is too big to be engulfed ([[Physical size|size]] [[Monsters (by size)|Huge or larger]]).
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* Polymorph the engulfing monster. A monster with an engulfing attack that is polymorphed into one without an engulfing attack will release its prey immediately (and have its health reduced to one point by the physical trauma). However, if by chance the new form is ''also'' an engulfing monster, you will [http://www.nicolaas.net/dudley/index.php?f=20081020 remain engulfed].
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* [[Teleport]] yourself out (this will not work on [[non-teleport level]]s).
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* [[Teleport]] the engulfing monster, if you are on a non-teleport level. The monster will disappear and you will be left behind. If this is used on a level where teleportation is allowed, you will be teleported with the monster.
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Methods that are applicable only to certain monsters:
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* Whirlies and blobs will eventually release you, giving you a chance to escape, if you wait. If you wait inside a digester, however, it will digest you completely.
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* Whirlies will release you if you zap them with a [[wand of slow monster]] or the {{spell of|slow monster}} spell.
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* Non-whirlies can be ruptured if you zap a [[wand of digging]] or the {{spell of|dig}} spell at them. The trauma sets their health to one point.
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* Live engulfing monsters such as digesters can be killed quickly with a [[wand of death]] or [[finger of death]]. This will not work on vortices, which are [[nonliving]].
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* Digesters will immediately spit you out if you put on a [[ring of slow digestion]].
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* Most engulfing monsters can be pacified or tamed using the {{spell of|charm monster}} spell or a [[scroll of taming]].
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* Non-acidic engulfing monsters can be [[Stoning|petrified]] with a wielded [[footrice]] corpse.  You will escape by "jumping through an opening" in the resulting [[statue]]. This will not work on [[ochre jellies]] or on [[Juiblex]], both of which inherently resist petrification because of their [[acid]]ity.
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Juiblex now only loses half of his HP when hit with digging magic from inside.}}
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When you are expelled from an engulfing monster, you are subject to any [[trap]]s on the square you are released to. If the engulfing monster has moved you, this may trigger traps that you have not discovered yet. A flying engulfer may also drop you over water or lava.
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==Strategy==
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Because melee attacks will always hit when engulfed, this can be useful for practicing melee weapon skills at low levels. Low-level engulfers such as [[fog cloud]]s and [[dust vortex|dust vortices]] are preferred for this.
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Wearing a [[ring of slow digestion]] prevents [[Digestion|digesting]] attacks. Instead of being swallowed, "You get regurgitated! Obviously the <monster> doesn't like your taste." and you are expelled.
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The time you will be engulfed is shortened by high monster level, and lengthened by good (low) AC. This means digesters will fully digest you faster if they are high level or you are poorly armored. The effect is perhaps unintuitive for other engulfers, however. The minimum number of (the engulfer's) turns you will be engulfed is 2 (including the one on which you are swallowed), which means at normal speed you are guaranteed at least one to attempt to escape a digester.
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==Variants==
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[[SLASH'EM]] adds new monsters with engulfing attacks: the [[yellow jelly]], [[orange jelly]], [[rancid jelly]], [[Shoggoth (SLASH'EM)|shoggoth]] and [[giant shoggoth]].
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In [[GruntHack]], adult [[Dragon (GruntHack)|dragons]] have digestion attacks.
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==See also==
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* [[Pacifist#Engulfing monsters|Pacifist § Engulfing monsters]]
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==References==
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<references/>
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{{nethack-343}}
 
[[Category:Monster attacks]]
 
[[Category:Monster attacks]]
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{{nethack-343}}
 
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{{todo|escape methods may be better as a table}}
 

Latest revision as of 09:11, 23 December 2023

An engulfing attack is one which involves you being caught inside a monster, whether by being swallowed whole (for example, by a purple worm or trapper) or by simply being drawn into a nonsolid or amorphous monster such as a vortex. Each turn you are inside the monster, you will take damage of some kind.

Engulfing is an attack type rather than a damage type. The type of damage caused depends on the monster doing the attack.

Engulfers

Monsters with engulfing attacks can be divided into three general categories:

  • Whirlies: Unsolid monsters composed of a single element, which attack by drawing you inside and exposing you to their constituent element. All of these monsters share the whirly monster attribute. The air elemental and all vortices are whirly engulfers. Vortices (such as the fog cloud or dust vortex) are likely to be the first engulfing monsters you encounter in the Dungeons of Doom. They vary widely in their composition and attacks, so they range from being fairly harmless to being a nuisance even to experienced adventurers.
  • Digesters: Living monsters that swallow and attempt to digest you. Digestion is a special damage type that can instakill you if you do not escape the monster's digestive system in time.

A list of monsters with engulfing attacks, and the type of damage dealt by their attack:

Monster Damage type
fog cloud physical
dust vortex blinding
ice vortex cold
energy vortex shock and drain energy
steam vortex fire
fire vortex fire
trapper digestion
lurker above digestion
purple worm digestion
air elemental physical
ochre jelly acid
Juiblex disease

Gameplay while engulfed

Any directional spell cast while engulfed will always hit the engulfing monster ("The <spell> rips into the <monster>!"). Ray-based attacks do not travel beyond the confines of the monster. Also, any melee attacks on a monster engulfing you will always hit.

You may not engrave while engulfed,[1] although trying may elicit a humourous reply.

Escape

There are a variety of ways of escaping an engulfing monster, but some are only applicable to certain types of monster.

Methods that can be used on all engulfing monsters:

  • Kill or destroy the engulfing monster. This is the best way to be rid of an engulfing monster, but it may not be an option if your player is near death and cannot survive a few more turns inside the monster.
  • Use "opening" magic (a wand of opening, the spell of knock, the Bell of Opening).
  • Scare the engulfing monster using a tooled horn, a drum, or Magicbane.
  • Polymorph yourself into a monster that is too big to be engulfed (size Huge or larger).
  • Polymorph the engulfing monster. A monster with an engulfing attack that is polymorphed into one without an engulfing attack will release its prey immediately (and have its health reduced to one point by the physical trauma). However, if by chance the new form is also an engulfing monster, you will remain engulfed.
  • Teleport yourself out (this will not work on non-teleport levels).
  • Teleport the engulfing monster, if you are on a non-teleport level. The monster will disappear and you will be left behind. If this is used on a level where teleportation is allowed, you will be teleported with the monster.

Methods that are applicable only to certain monsters:

  • Whirlies and blobs will eventually release you, giving you a chance to escape, if you wait. If you wait inside a digester, however, it will digest you completely.
  • Whirlies will release you if you zap them with a wand of slow monster or the slow monster spell.
  • Non-whirlies can be ruptured if you zap a wand of digging or the dig spell at them. The trauma sets their health to one point.
  • Live engulfing monsters such as digesters can be killed quickly with a wand of death or finger of death. This will not work on vortices, which are nonliving.
  • Digesters will immediately spit you out if you put on a ring of slow digestion.
  • Most engulfing monsters can be pacified or tamed using the charm monster spell or a scroll of taming.
  • Non-acidic engulfing monsters can be petrified with a wielded footrice corpse. You will escape by "jumping through an opening" in the resulting statue. This will not work on ochre jellies or on Juiblex, both of which inherently resist petrification because of their acidity.

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.

Juiblex now only loses half of his HP when hit with digging magic from inside.

When you are expelled from an engulfing monster, you are subject to any traps on the square you are released to. If the engulfing monster has moved you, this may trigger traps that you have not discovered yet. A flying engulfer may also drop you over water or lava.

Strategy

Because melee attacks will always hit when engulfed, this can be useful for practicing melee weapon skills at low levels. Low-level engulfers such as fog clouds and dust vortices are preferred for this.

Wearing a ring of slow digestion prevents digesting attacks. Instead of being swallowed, "You get regurgitated! Obviously the <monster> doesn't like your taste." and you are expelled.

The time you will be engulfed is shortened by high monster level, and lengthened by good (low) AC. This means digesters will fully digest you faster if they are high level or you are poorly armored. The effect is perhaps unintuitive for other engulfers, however. The minimum number of (the engulfer's) turns you will be engulfed is 2 (including the one on which you are swallowed), which means at normal speed you are guaranteed at least one to attempt to escape a digester.

Variants

SLASH'EM adds new monsters with engulfing attacks: the yellow jelly, orange jelly, rancid jelly, shoggoth and giant shoggoth.

In GruntHack, adult dragons have digestion attacks.

See also

References

  1. ↑ src/engrave.c in NetHack 3.6.0, line 498


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.

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