Difference between revisions of "Sickness"

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'''Sickness''' is a terminal [[property|status affliction]] that, if untreated, will cause [[instadeath]] after a few turns. The main causes are eating too old corpses, special attacks, and cursed unicorn horns. The main remedies are applying a non-cursed [[unicorn horn]], casting {{spell of|cure sickness}}, and quaffing certain potions.
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'''Sickness''' is a negative status [[property]] that occurs in ''[[NetHack]]''. If left untreated, sickness will result in a [[delayed instadeath]] after some amount of turns. The main causes are eating too old corpses, special attacks, and cursed unicorn horns. The main remedies are applying a non-cursed [[unicorn horn]], casting {{spell of|cure sickness}}, and quaffing certain [[potions]].
  
The game uses "deathly sick" to specifically herald this condition, whereas there are many [[#Other_uses_of_"sick"|other cases]] where you simply "feel sick".
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The game uses "deathly sick" to specifically herald this condition, whereas there are many [[#Other uses of "sick"|other cases]] where you simply "feel sick".
  
 
[[Sickness resistance]] in vanilla NetHack is possessed only by [[ghoul]]s, which happily feast on old [[corpse]]s, and [[fungus|fungi]].{{refsrc|polyself.c|77|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}
 
[[Sickness resistance]] in vanilla NetHack is possessed only by [[ghoul]]s, which happily feast on old [[corpse]]s, and [[fungus|fungi]].{{refsrc|polyself.c|77|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}
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Contrary to its name, [[potion of sickness]] does not cause sickness.
  
 
==Types of sickness==
 
==Types of sickness==
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===Food poisoning===
 
===Food poisoning===
  
'''Food poisoning''' is only acquired by [[eat]]ing an old ("tainted") [[corpse]] or [[glob]]. It is marked by the text <code>FoodPois</code> on the status line. The initial time until death is set to 10-19 turns.{{refsrc|eat.c|1270}}
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'''Food poisoning''' is only acquired by [[eat]]ing an old ("tainted") [[corpse]] or [[glob]]. It is marked by the text <code>FoodPois</code> on the status line. The initial time until death is set to 10&ndash;19 turns.{{refsrc|eat.c|1270}}
  
Food poisoning is completely preventable in vanilla [[NetHack]] if you don't eat old corpses. A corpse is too old to eat after 6*(9+1d20) turns, where 6 is replaced with 8 if blessed and 4 if cursed.{{refsrc|eat.c|1253}} Corpses left by [[undead]] except [[wraith]] are always pre-aged by 100 turns; eaten immediately, they have 40% chance of causing food poisoning. Old corpses can be rendered safe to eat by [[tinning kit|tinning]] them.
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Food poisoning is completely preventable in vanilla [[NetHack]] if you don't eat old corpses. A corpse is too old to eat after 6&nbsp;&times; (9&nbsp;+&nbsp;1d20) turns, where 6 is replaced with 8 if blessed and 4 if cursed.{{refsrc|eat.c|1253}} Corpses left by [[undead]] except [[wraith]] are always pre-aged by 100 turns; eaten immediately, they have 40% chance of causing food poisoning. Old corpses can be rendered safe to eat by [[tinning kit|tinning]] them. [[Lichen]] and [[lizard]] corpses never rot and may be safely eaten regardless of age.
  
 
Despite the name, food poisoning is unrelated to [[poison]] and is unaffected by [[poison resistance]].
 
Despite the name, food poisoning is unrelated to [[poison]] and is unaffected by [[poison resistance]].
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|You have a constitution in 100 chance of surviving food poisoning. If you do, you lose 1 point of constitution and abuse constitution.}}
  
 
===Illness===
 
===Illness===
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*{{monsym|Scorpius}} [[Scorpius]]
 
*{{monsym|Scorpius}} [[Scorpius]]
 
*{{monsym|Pestilence}} [[Pestilence]]
 
*{{monsym|Pestilence}} [[Pestilence]]
*{{monsym|Rot_worm}} [[rot worm]]s ([[SLASH'EM]])
 
*{{monsym|Locust}} [[locust]]s ([[SporkHack]])
 
*{{monsym|Gray_fungus}} [[gray fungus|gray fungi]] ([[SporkHack]])
 
  
 
The first time you contract the illness, a turns-to-live timer is started, set to between 20 and (19+[[Con]]). Each additional illness attack while you are <code>Ill</code> divides the remaining turns-to-live by roughly 3.<ref>{{sourcecode|mhitu.c|773}}, {{sourcecode|apply.c|1458}}</ref>
 
The first time you contract the illness, a turns-to-live timer is started, set to between 20 and (19+[[Con]]). Each additional illness attack while you are <code>Ill</code> divides the remaining turns-to-live by roughly 3.<ref>{{sourcecode|mhitu.c|773}}, {{sourcecode|apply.c|1458}}</ref>
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*[[apply]]ing a non-cursed [[unicorn horn]]{{refsrc|apply.c|1541}}
 
*[[apply]]ing a non-cursed [[unicorn horn]]{{refsrc|apply.c|1541}}
 
*[[pray]]ing to your god
 
*[[pray]]ing to your god
*quaffing a non-cursed potion of [[potion of extra healing|extra healing]] or [[potion of full healing|full healing]], a blessed potion of [[potion of healing|healing]], or (unless chaotic) a [[potion of holy water]]
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*quaffing a non-cursed potion of {{of|potion|extra healing|or=1|full healing}}, a blessed [[potion of healing]], or (unless chaotic) a [[potion of holy water]]
 
*casting a [[spellbook of cure sickness|spell of cure sickness]]
 
*casting a [[spellbook of cure sickness|spell of cure sickness]]
 
*eating a non-cursed [[eucalyptus leaf]]{{refsrc|eat.c|1725}}
 
*eating a non-cursed [[eucalyptus leaf]]{{refsrc|eat.c|1725}}
*[[invoke|#invoking]] the [[Staff of Aesculapius]]{{refsrc|artifact.c|1219}}
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*invoking [[the Staff of Aesculapius]]{{refsrc|artifact.c|1219}}
  
 
The full list of less common remedies also includes:
 
The full list of less common remedies also includes:
* vomiting from eating [[Tripe ration|tripe]], [[egg|a rotten egg]], or in [[SporkHack]], drinking a [[potion of salt water]]. This cures food poisoning only, not illness. Quite unreliable, but it's there.
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* vomiting from eating [[Tripe ration|tripe]] or a rotten [[egg|egg]]. This cures food poisoning only, not illness. Quite unreliable, but it's there.
*[[polymorph]]ing into a new version of yourself{{refsrc|polyself.c|190}} or a sickness-resistant monster{{refsrc|polyself.c|1411}} ([[ghoul]] or some [[fungi]]). (A new version includes if you "fail" to change form, but get your attributes adjusted.)
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*[[polymorph]]ing into a new version of yourself{{refsrc|polyself.c|190}} or a [[Sickness resistance|sickness-resistant]] monster{{refsrc|polyself.c|1411}} ([[ghoul]] or some [[fungi]]). (A new version includes if you "fail" to change form, but get your attributes adjusted.)
*getting hit by a nurse's healing attack.{{refsrc|mhitu.c|1407}}
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*getting healed by a [[nurse]]'s attack.{{refsrc|mhitu.c|1407}}
*[[sit]]ting on a throne (1/13 chance).{{refsrc|sit.c|188}}
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*sitting on a [[throne]] ({{frac|13}} chance).{{refsrc|sit.c|188}}
  
 
The only sure-fire cures are the potions, prayer if safe, the spell at 0% failure rate, and polyself. A [[unicorn horn]] is good enough if you weren't made sick multiple times.
 
The only sure-fire cures are the potions, prayer if safe, the spell at 0% failure rate, and polyself. A [[unicorn horn]] is good enough if you weren't made sick multiple times.
  
Importantly, '''[[poison resistance]] is not a remedy'''; if you become food poisoned and rely on this you will die.
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Importantly, ''[[poison resistance]] is not a remedy''; if you become food poisoned and rely on this you will die.
  
 
==Messages==
 
==Messages==
; "[[Ulch]] - that <food type> was tainted!"
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{{message|[[Ulch]] - that <food type> was tainted!|The corpse you are eating is old enough to cause food poisoning.}}
:The corpse you are eating is old enough to cause food poisoning.
 
  
; "You feel deathly sick."
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{{message|You feel deathly sick.|You have contracted sickness and will soon die if untreated.}}
:You have contracted sickness and will soon die if untreated.
 
  
; "It doesn't seem at all sickening, though..."
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{{message|It doesn't seem at all sickening, though...|You would have contracted sickness but are resistant.}}
:You would have contracted sickness but are resistant.
 
  
; "You feel even worse."
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{{message|You feel even worse.}}
; "You feel much worse."
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{{message|You feel much worse.|Your sickness has worsened your sickness, further shortening your time to live ("much" if reduced by at least half).}}
:You have worsened your sickness, further shortening your time to live ("much" if reduced by at least half).
 
  
; "You feel somewhat better."
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{{message|You feel somewhat better.|Vomiting cured your food poisoning, but not illness. This doubles your time to live.{{refsrc|potion.c|126}}}}
:Vomiting cured your food poisoning, but not illness. This doubles your time to live.{{refsrc|potion.c|126}}
 
  
; "You are no longer ill."
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{{message|You are no longer ill.|The {{spell of|cure sickness}} spell is curing your sickness (even if it was food poisoning).}}
:The {{spell of|cure sickness}} spell is curing your sickness (even if it was food poisoning).
 
  
; "What a relief!"
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{{message|What a relief!|You have fully cured your sickness.}}
:You have fully cured your sickness.  
 
  
 
[[Enlightenment]] may reveal any of the following, which are self-explanatory:
 
[[Enlightenment]] may reveal any of the following, which are self-explanatory:
  
; "You are sick from food poisoning."
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{{message|You are sick from food poisoning.}}
; "You are sick from illness."
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{{message|You are sick from illness.}}
; "You are immune to sickness."
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{{message|You are immune to sickness.}}
  
 
==Other uses of "sick"==
 
==Other uses of "sick"==
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{{message|You feel sick.|You ate an old-ish corpse or engulfed an undead monster, and lost 1d8 hit points.{{refsrc|eat.c|1300}}{{refsrc|uhitm.c|2078}}}}
 
{{message|You feel sick.|You ate an old-ish corpse or engulfed an undead monster, and lost 1d8 hit points.{{refsrc|eat.c|1300}}{{refsrc|uhitm.c|2078}}}}
  
{{message|You feel a little sick|You lost [[intrinsic]] [[poison resistance]] to a [[gremlin]] attack.{{refsrc|sit.c|401}}}}
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{{message|You feel a little sick.|You lost [[intrinsic]] [[poison resistance]] to a [[gremlin]] attack.{{refsrc|sit.c|401}}}}
  
{{message|You feel very sick|A quaffed [[potion of sickness]] that reduces your [[constitution]].{{refsrc|potion.c|675}} Replaces "You feel sick" if you are suffering sickness.}}
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{{message|You feel very sick.|You quaffed a [[potion of sickness]] that reduced your [[constitution]].{{refsrc|potion.c|675}} Replaces "You feel sick" if you are suffering sickness.}}
  
 
{{message|You feel incredibly sick|You will [[vomiting|vomit]] in 5 turns, e.g. from eating [[tripe ration|tripe]].{{refsrc|timeout.c|47}}}}
 
{{message|You feel incredibly sick|You will [[vomiting|vomit]] in 5 turns, e.g. from eating [[tripe ration|tripe]].{{refsrc|timeout.c|47}}}}
  
==SLASH'EM==
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==Variants==
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===SLASH'EM===
  
In [[SLASH'EM]], you may also get food poisoning from swallowing a [[pill]], and you can cure food poisoning by sitting on a [[toilet]]. The [[Necromancer]] and the [[Undead Slayer]] roles start the game with innate [[sickness resistance]].
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In [[SLASH'EM]] [[rot worm]]s have an illness-inducing attack. You may also get food poisoning from swallowing a [[pill]], and you can cure food poisoning by sitting on a [[toilet]]. The [[Necromancer]] and the [[Undead Slayer]] roles start the game with innate [[sickness resistance]].
  
 
Keep in mind that here [[unicorn horn]]s need to be enchanted in order to be reliable.
 
Keep in mind that here [[unicorn horn]]s need to be enchanted in order to be reliable.
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===SporkHack===
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[[SporkHack]] introduces [[locust]]s and [[gray fungus|gray fungi]], which have illness-inducing attacks. Drinking a [[potion of salt water]] can induce vomiting to cure food poisoning.
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===EvilHack===
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[[EvilHack]] adds a several monsters that can cause illness:
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* [[Locust]]s appear in swarms and can "stun lock" the player by inflicting illness very fast.
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* [[Zombie (EvilHack)|Zombies]] now have a brain-eating attack that causes illness, among other effects.
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* [[Gray fungi]] have a passive illness attack.
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Thankfully, EvilHack also includes [[Immunity to sickness#EvilHack|more sources of immunity to sickness]].
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Latest revision as of 04:59, 10 April 2024

Sickness is a negative status property that occurs in NetHack. If left untreated, sickness will result in a delayed instadeath after some amount of turns. The main causes are eating too old corpses, special attacks, and cursed unicorn horns. The main remedies are applying a non-cursed unicorn horn, casting cure sickness, and quaffing certain potions.

The game uses "deathly sick" to specifically herald this condition, whereas there are many other cases where you simply "feel sick".

Sickness resistance in vanilla NetHack is possessed only by ghouls, which happily feast on old corpses, and fungi.[1]

Contrary to its name, potion of sickness does not cause sickness.

Types of sickness

There are two distinct types of sickness, indicated separately on the status line. You can also suffer both conditions simultaneously. The effects and remedies are identical, except that only food poisoning can be cured by vomiting.[2]

Food poisoning

Food poisoning is only acquired by eating an old ("tainted") corpse or glob. It is marked by the text FoodPois on the status line. The initial time until death is set to 10–19 turns.[3]

Food poisoning is completely preventable in vanilla NetHack if you don't eat old corpses. A corpse is too old to eat after 6 × (9 + 1d20) turns, where 6 is replaced with 8 if blessed and 4 if cursed.[4] Corpses left by undead except wraith are always pre-aged by 100 turns; eaten immediately, they have 40% chance of causing food poisoning. Old corpses can be rendered safe to eat by tinning them. Lichen and lizard corpses never rot and may be safely eaten regardless of age.

Despite the name, food poisoning is unrelated to poison and is unaffected by poison resistance.

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.

You have a constitution in 100 chance of surviving food poisoning. If you do, you lose 1 point of constitution and abuse constitution.

Illness

Illness is conferred by the disease attacks of certain monsters, listed below, or by applying a cursed unicorn horn. It is marked by the text Ill on the status line.

The first time you contract the illness, a turns-to-live timer is started, set to between 20 and (19+Con). Each additional illness attack while you are Ill divides the remaining turns-to-live by roughly 3.[5]

Remedies

Sickness can be easily cured with any of the following:

The full list of less common remedies also includes:

  • vomiting from eating tripe or a rotten egg. This cures food poisoning only, not illness. Quite unreliable, but it's there.
  • polymorphing into a new version of yourself[9] or a sickness-resistant monster[10] (ghoul or some fungi). (A new version includes if you "fail" to change form, but get your attributes adjusted.)
  • getting healed by a nurse's attack.[11]
  • sitting on a throne (113 chance).[12]

The only sure-fire cures are the potions, prayer if safe, the spell at 0% failure rate, and polyself. A unicorn horn is good enough if you weren't made sick multiple times.

Importantly, poison resistance is not a remedy; if you become food poisoned and rely on this you will die.

Messages

Ulch - that <food type> was tainted!
The corpse you are eating is old enough to cause food poisoning.
You feel deathly sick.
You have contracted sickness and will soon die if untreated.
It doesn't seem at all sickening, though...
You would have contracted sickness but are resistant.
You feel even worse.
You feel much worse.
Your sickness has worsened your sickness, further shortening your time to live ("much" if reduced by at least half).
You feel somewhat better.
Vomiting cured your food poisoning, but not illness. This doubles your time to live.[13]
You are no longer ill.
The cure sickness spell is curing your sickness (even if it was food poisoning).
What a relief!
You have fully cured your sickness.

Enlightenment may reveal any of the following, which are self-explanatory:

You are sick from food poisoning.
You are sick from illness.
You are immune to sickness.

Other uses of "sick"

A potion of sickness does not cause sickness, despite its name. Poison resistance does not prevent food poisoning.

You feel sick.
You ate an old-ish corpse or engulfed an undead monster, and lost 1d8 hit points.[14][15]
You feel a little sick.
You lost intrinsic poison resistance to a gremlin attack.[16]
You feel very sick.
You quaffed a potion of sickness that reduced your constitution.[17] Replaces "You feel sick" if you are suffering sickness.
You feel incredibly sick
You will vomit in 5 turns, e.g. from eating tripe.[18]

Variants

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM rot worms have an illness-inducing attack. You may also get food poisoning from swallowing a pill, and you can cure food poisoning by sitting on a toilet. The Necromancer and the Undead Slayer roles start the game with innate sickness resistance.

Keep in mind that here unicorn horns need to be enchanted in order to be reliable.

SporkHack

SporkHack introduces locusts and gray fungi, which have illness-inducing attacks. Drinking a potion of salt water can induce vomiting to cure food poisoning.

EvilHack

EvilHack adds a several monsters that can cause illness:

  • Locusts appear in swarms and can "stun lock" the player by inflicting illness very fast.
  • Zombies now have a brain-eating attack that causes illness, among other effects.
  • Gray fungi have a passive illness attack.

Thankfully, EvilHack also includes more sources of immunity to sickness.

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.