Amulet of change
An amulet of change is a type of amulet that appears in NetHack.
Contents
Generation
The amulet of change generates as cursed 181⁄200 (90.5%) of the time, blessed 1⁄200 (0.5%) of the time, and uncursed otherwise (9%).[1]
The amulet of change makes up 13⁄100 (13%) of all randomly-generated amulets. General stores and jewelers shops can sell amulets of change.
Description
Putting on an amulet of change will use up the amulet, instantly change the gender of the hero's base form and auto-identify the amulet—a hero polymorphed into a foocubus will also have their current form's gender changed, e.g. a hero in incubus form will become a succubus in addition to swapping their base gender, and vice versa. Putting on this amulet does not break polyselfless conduct.
Eating the amulet has a 1⁄5 chance of absorbing its magic and changing the hero's gender.
Strategy
Though gender tends to have limited impact on gameplay, the amulet of change has some niche uses: a particularly notable one is a male hero reliably becoming female so she can polymorph into a dragon or other oviparous monster to lay eggs, since there is no other way to polymorph directly and specifically into those forms.
Tourists looking to maximize their spellcasting potential through raising their experience level and energy may want an amulet of change to make use of the incubi and succubi present on the goal level of their quest. The amulet can also be used to play male Valkyries, which is a role/gender combination that cannot be obtained otherwise.
History
The amulet of change first appears with most other amulets in NetHack 3.0.0.
Messages
- You are suddenly very <feminine/masculine>!
- You put on an amulet of change.
- The amulet disintegrates!
- The amulet was destroyed after being worn.
- You don't feel like yourself.
- You put on an amulet of change while polymorphed into a single-gender monster, and your hero's base gender has changed.
Variants
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, an amulet of change is generated in the treasure room of Asmodeus' Lair at level creation.
SpliceHack
In SpliceHack, an amulet of change can be combined with an amulet of life saving at a furnace to create an amulet of reincarnation.
An amulet of change is generated in the treasure room of Asmodeus' Lair at level creation.
