Engulfing - Revision history

Ais523: /* Gameplay while engulfed */ document something I recently discovered that is possibly a bug, but that has significant strategy implications on both 3.4.3 and 3.6 gameplay and thus is worth documenting

2026-01-14T22:42:25Z

‎Gameplay while engulfed: document something I recently discovered that is possibly a bug, but that has significant strategy implications on both 3.4.3 and 3.6 gameplay and thus is worth documenting

Umbire the Phantom: /* Escape */ copyedit

2025-10-07T20:53:40Z

‎Escape: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: potholes et. al.

2025-07-02T17:37:24Z

potholes et. al.

Umbire the Phantom: /* Escape */ follow-up, move both upcoming templates

2025-02-09T04:31:15Z

‎Escape: follow-up, move both upcoming templates

Cathartes: /* Escape */ not just air elementals, but mindless in general

2025-02-08T19:58:59Z

‎Escape: not just air elementals, but mindless in general

A1: /* Escape */ Add 3.7 blurb about air elementals being immune to musical scaring.

2025-02-08T19:19:49Z

‎Escape: Add 3.7 blurb about air elementals being immune to musical scaring.

Tomsod: /* Escape */ it's specifically these four damage types (e.g. there wouldn't be an illness touch)

2025-01-29T21:13:34Z

‎Escape: it's specifically these four damage types (e.g. there wouldn't be an illness touch)

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ formatting

2025-01-29T19:51:41Z

‎Variants: formatting

Umbire the Phantom: potholes et. al.

2025-01-29T16:38:30Z

potholes et. al.

Tomsod: turns out the engulf to touch feature was never documented here

2024-11-18T18:16:03Z

turns out the engulf to touch feature was never documented here

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:42, 14 January 2026
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	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.		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 do not receive damage reduction from your [[AC]] while engulfed.

	You may not [[engrave]] while engulfed,{{refsrc\|src/engrave.c\|498\|version=NetHack 3.6.0}} although trying may elicit [[YAFM\|a humourous reply]].		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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 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]]).
+* Use "opening" magic, e.g. a [[wand of opening]], the {{+ of|knock}} spell or 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 ([[Physical size|size]] [[Monsters (by size)|Huge or larger]]).
@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 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 and blobs will eventually release you after a certain amount of turns. If you wait inside a digester, however, it will digest you completely and instantly kill you.
 * Whirlies will release you if you zap them with a [[wand of slow monster]] or the {{+ of|slow monster}} spell.
 * Non-whirlies can be ruptured if you zap a [[wand of digging]] or the {{+ of|dig}} spell at them. The trauma sets their health to one point.
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 After expelling the hero by any means, the monster will unable to engulf you again for the next 1d2 turns:{{refsrc|src/mon.c|2311|nethack=3.6.7}} if the engulfing attack would hit, it is instead converted to either a 1d6 [[fire (element)|flaming]]/[[cold]]/[[shock]]ing/[[acid]]ic touch (for attacks with the corresponding [[damage type]]), or a 1d6 physical "claw" attack otherwise.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|319|nethack=3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|6e49372d8f76172f5dde2a9a8ecb551d4be2a1e1}}, mindless monsters are now immune to musical scaring.
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|6e49372d8f76172f5dde2a9a8ecb551d4be2a1e1}}, mindless monsters are immune to musical scaring.
-Juiblex now only loses half of his HP when hit with digging magic from inside.}}
+Juiblex only loses half of his HP when hit with digging magic from inside.}}
 ==Strategy==

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 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 {{spell of|slow monster}} spell.
+* Whirlies will release you if you zap them with a [[wand of slow monster]] or the {{+ of|slow monster}} spell.
-* 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.
+* Non-whirlies can be ruptured if you zap a [[wand of digging]] or the {{+ of|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]].
+* Engulfing monsters 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 {{spell of|charm monster}} spell or a [[scroll of taming]].

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 * 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]].
 * [[Polymorph]] yourself into a monster that is too big to be engulfed ([[Physical size|size]] [[Monsters (by 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 [http://www.nicolaas.net/dudley/index.php?f=20081020 remain engulfed].
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 * Most engulfing monsters can be pacified or tamed using the {{spell of|charm monster}} spell or a [[scroll of taming]].
 * 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.
 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.
 After expelling the hero by any means, the monster will unable to engulf you again for the next 1d2 turns:{{refsrc|src/mon.c|2311|nethack=3.6.7}} if the engulfing attack would hit, it is instead converted to either a 1d6 [[fire (element)|flaming]]/[[cold]]/[[shock]]ing/[[acid]]ic touch (for attacks with the corresponding [[damage type]]), or a 1d6 physical "claw" attack otherwise.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|319|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==

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 * 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]].
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Air Elementals are now immune to musical scaring.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|As of {{commit|6e49372d8f76172f5dde2a9a8ecb551d4be2a1e1}}, mindless monsters are now immune to musical scaring.}}
 * [[Polymorph]] yourself into a monster that is too big to be engulfed ([[Physical size|size]] [[Monsters (by 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 [http://www.nicolaas.net/dudley/index.php?f=20081020 remain engulfed].

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 ==Variants==
-[[SLASH'EM]] adds new monsters with engulfing attacks: the [[yellow jelly]], [[orange jelly]], [[rancid jelly]], [[Shoggoth (SLASH'EM)|shoggoth]] and [[giant shoggoth]].
+===SLASH'EM===
-In [[GruntHack]], adult [[Dragon (GruntHack)|dragons]] have digestion attacks.
+* [[yellow jelly]]
 ==See also==

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 |-
 | [[steam vortex]]
-| [[fire]]
+| [[Fire (element)|fire]]
 |-
 | [[fire vortex]]
-| [[fire]]
+| [[Fire (element)|fire]]
 |-
 | [[trapper]]
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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.
-After expelling you by any means, the monster will unable to engulf you again for the next 1d2 turns.{{refsrc|src/mon.c|2311|nethack=3.6.7}}  Instead it will gain an 1d6 attack, either a fire/cold/shock/acid touch corresponding to the engulfing attack, or a physical "claw" attack otherwise.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|319|nethack=3.6.7}}
+After expelling the hero by any means, the monster will unable to engulf you again for the next 1d2 turns:{{refsrc|src/mon.c|2311|nethack=3.6.7}} if the engulfing attack would hit, it is instead converted to either a 1d6 touch attack with the corresponding [[damage type]], or a physical "claw" attack otherwise.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|319|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==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 cloud]]s and [[dust vortex|dust vortices]] are preferred for this.
+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 vortices]] are preferred for this.
-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.
+Wearing a [[ring of slow digestion]] prevents [[digestion]] attacks, causing the monster to immediately expel you.
 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.