Mold

Molds are part of the class of monster represented by the overall symbol F, in addition to lichens, violet fungi, and shriekers. They come in several colors, and each possesses a specific passive attack.

Brown mold

F brown mold
Difficulty	2
Attacks	passive only

F brown mold
Difficulty	2
Attacks	passive only
Base level	1
Base experience	9
Speed	0
Base AC	9
Base MR	0
Alignment	0 (neutral)
Frequency (by normal means)	Very rare
Genocidable	Yes
Weight	50
Nutritional value	30
Size	Small
Resistances	Cold, poison
Resistances conveyed	Cold (3%), poison (3%)
A brown mold: is unbreathing has no eyes has no limbs has no head has no mind cannot pick up objects always starts hostile is neuter

The brown mold's passive attack causes cold damage.

Green mold

F green mold
Difficulty	2
Attacks	passive only

F green mold
Difficulty	2
Attacks	passive only
Base level	1
Base experience	9
Speed	0
Base AC	9
Base MR	0
Alignment	0 (neutral)
Frequency (by normal means)	Very rare
Genocidable	Yes
Weight	50
Nutritional value	30
Size	Small
Resistances	Acid, petrification
Resistances conveyed	None
A green mold: is acidic is unbreathing has no eyes has no limbs has no head has no mind cannot pick up objects always starts hostile is neuter

The green mold's passive attack causes acid damage.

Red mold

F red mold
Difficulty	2
Attacks	passive only

F red mold
Difficulty	2
Attacks	passive only
Base level	1
Base experience	9
Speed	0
Base AC	9
Base MR	0
Alignment	0 (neutral)
Frequency (by normal means)	Very rare
Genocidable	Yes
Weight	50
Nutritional value	30
Size	Small
Resistances	Fire, poison
Resistances conveyed	Fire (3%), poison (3%)
A red mold: is unbreathing has no eyes has no limbs has no head has no mind cannot pick up objects always starts hostile is neuter is visible by infravision

The red mold's passive attack causes fire damage.

Yellow mold

F yellow mold
Difficulty	2
Attacks	passive only

F yellow mold
Difficulty	2
Attacks	passive only
Base level	1
Base experience	8
Speed	0
Base AC	9
Base MR	0
Alignment	0 (neutral)
Frequency (by normal means)	Quite rare
Genocidable	Yes
Weight	50
Nutritional value	30
Size	Small
Resistances	Poison
Resistances conveyed	Poison (7%)
A yellow mold: is poisonous is hallucinogenic is unbreathing has no eyes has no limbs has no head has no mind cannot pick up objects always starts hostile is neuter

The passive attack of the yellow mold stuns you for a number of turns. It is poisonous and hallucinogenic if eaten.

Strategy

If you lack the resistance required to neutralise the passive attack, it is best to let your pet attack the mold, attack it with a ranged weapon, or leave it alone. Molds will never move or actively attack you.

Encyclopedia entry

                 Mold, multicellular organism of the division Fungi, typified
                 by plant bodies composed of a network of cottony filaments.
                 The colors of molds are due to spores borne on the filaments.
                 Most molds are saprophytes.  Some species (e.g., penicillium)
                 are used in making cheese and antibiotics.
                         [ The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia ]

Variants

SLASH'EM features a fifth type of mold: the black mold.

In both NetHack and SLASH'EM, the mold sometimes leaves a corpse. In SLASH'EM, the corpse might revive itself ("The yellow mold rises from the dead!"). Also in Slash'EM, molds may grow on rotting corpses, taking the name of the corpse if it is named (which can result in some unexpected messages, especially in graveyards).