Gelatinous cube - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: potholes, punctuation

2026-07-17T17:25:05Z

potholes, punctuation

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ similar treatment to homunculus

2026-06-17T09:12:32Z

‎History: similar treatment to homunculus

Umbire the Phantom: cite acidic curing

2026-05-20T22:31:34Z

cite acidic curing

Umbire the Phantom: vegan citation

2026-05-18T07:43:41Z

vegan citation

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ forgot the other commit

2026-05-18T05:50:22Z

‎History: forgot the other commit

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2026-05-18T05:48:50Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: in fact, the cube eating stuff warrants its own section at this point, so let's just cut that knot now

2026-05-18T05:08:39Z

in fact, the cube eating stuff warrants its own section at this point, so let's just cut that knot now

Umbire the Phantom: ...I forgot the citations for the attacks lol. also fix a dropped word

2026-05-18T04:59:45Z

...I forgot the citations for the attacks lol. also fix a dropped word

Umbire the Phantom: alright, think that's everything

2026-05-18T04:21:40Z

alright, think that's everything

Umbire the Phantom: touch-ups, greater focus on variants this pass, just remembered acid/stoning curing too...

2026-05-18T04:04:01Z

touch-ups, greater focus on variants this pass, just remembered acid/stoning curing too...

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 * They will prefer eating organic items to dropping them, unless they are of a type that the cube will not eat.
-A hero polymorphed into a gelatinous cube will not automatically dissolve items that they pick up. By using {{kbd|e}}, they can eat items made of organic material as they do with normal food, which includes [[bone]] and [[dragon hide]] items that normal cubes will only engulf, but does ''not'' include containers unless they are already empty.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|114-L118|nethack=5.0.0}} Rings of slow digestion are naturally indigestible as in other cases.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2911-L2918|nethack=5.0.0|comment=slow digestion is inedible for hero}} A hero eating a scroll of scare monster, a [[scroll of mail]], a [[scroll labeled YUM YUM]], or any other [[paper]] item while in this form is accompanied by {{sa|Messages|unique messages}}, and scrolls of mail also will not grant any nutrition.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2432|nethack=5.0.0|comment=cases for eating paper items}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2434-L2436|nethack=5.0.0|name="junk"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2439-L2441|nethack=5.0.0|name="yuck"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2442-2445|nethack=5.0.0|name="yum"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2446|nethack=5.0.0|name="salt"}}
+A hero polymorphed into a gelatinous cube will not automatically dissolve items that they pick up. By using {{kbd|e}}, they can eat items made of organic material as they do with normal food, which includes bone and dragon hide items that normal cubes will only engulf but does ''not'' include containers (unless they are already empty).{{refsrc|src/eat.c|114-L118|nethack=5.0.0}} Rings of slow digestion are naturally indigestible as in other cases.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2911-L2918|nethack=5.0.0|comment=slow digestion is inedible for hero}} A hero eating a scroll of scare monster, a [[scroll of mail]], a [[scroll labeled YUM YUM]], or any other [[paper]] item while in this form is accompanied by {{sa|Messages|unique messages}}, and scrolls of mail also will not grant any nutrition.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2432|nethack=5.0.0|comment=cases for eating paper items}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2434-L2436|nethack=5.0.0|name="junk"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2439-L2441|nethack=5.0.0|name="yuck"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2442-2445|nethack=5.0.0|name="yum"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2446|nethack=5.0.0|name="salt"}}
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 ==History==
-The gelatinous cube first appears in Hack for PDP-11, which is based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]]. From these versions to [[NetHack 2.3e]], the gelatinous cube uses the {{white|g}} glyph&mdash;[[NetHack 3.0.0]] establishes the blob [[monster class]] and moves the gelatinous cube to its current glyph at {{white|b}} with the other existing blob monsters.
+The gelatinous cube first appears in [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]] and its derivative Hack for PDP-11: in Jay Fenlason's Hack, it is referred to as a '''gelatenous cube''', which is corrected to its current spelling in Hack for PDP-11 and the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]]. From these versions to [[NetHack 2.3e]], the gelatinous cube uses the {{white|g}} glyph&mdash;[[NetHack 3.0.0]] establishes the blob [[monster class]] and moves the gelatinous cube to its current glyph at {{white|b}} with the other existing blob monsters.
-Gelatinous cubes gain the ability to pick up items in [[NetHack 3.1.1]]: from this version to [[NetHack 3.1.3]], a gelatinous cube engulfing a container devours its contents completely. [[NetHack 3.2.0]] introduces the current behavior for cubes engulfing containers, as well as the cube polymorphing when digesting chameleon or doppelganger corpses.
+Gelatinous cubes gain the ability to pick up items in [[NetHack 3.1.1]]. From this version to [[NetHack 3.1.3]], a gelatinous cube engulfing a container devours its contents completely. [[NetHack 3.2.0]] introduces the current behavior for cubes engulfing containers, as well as the cube polymorphing when digesting chameleon or doppelganger corpses.
 In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and previous versions, including some variants based on those versions, it is possible for gelatinous cubes to engulf Rider corpses without digesting them. This allows the hero to teleport the corpse(s) without reviving them or else potentially destroy them: for example, they can steal it from the cube using a [[Nymph (monster class)|nymph]] polyself, then place it in a cursed bag of holding on the floor and repeatedly [[looting]] it without using up any further turns. This is fixed in [[Nethack 3.6.0]] via {{commit|0b95104f0e4d983bb6f4afa27ed04aa23f99f294}}.

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 A gelatinous cube has two [[paralysis]]-inducing attacks that can be partially blocked by [[magic cancellation]] or completely blocked by [[free action]], and will not work if the cube is [[cancelled]]: the first is an active [[touch attack]] that deals damage has a {{frac|3}} chance of paralyzing a mobile target for up to 10 turns, and the second is a [[passive attack]] that has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of paralyzing the attacker for up to 4 turns if the cube was not killed by the attack, with both attacks [[abusing]] [[dexterity]] for a hero subjected to them.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1387-L1393|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive against attacking monster}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|2555-L2559|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive from cube hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3435-L3442|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack by cube hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3444-L3462|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack versus hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3463-L3475|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack versus monster}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|6054-L6064|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive versus hero}} Gelatinous cubes possess [[fire resistance]], [[cold resistance]], [[shock resistance]], [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[acid resistance]], and [[stoning resistance]]. Pets will avoid attacking a gelatinous cube in melee {{frac|9|10}} of the time.{{refsrc|src/dogmove.c|1134|nethack=5.0.0}}
-A gelatinous cube [[corpse]] is acidic to [[eat]] (but not its [[tin]]) and is also [[vegan]]-compatible as with all blob corpses.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1611|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>consume_tin()</tt> calls <tt>cprefx()</tt>, but not <tt>eatcorpse()</tt> where stomach acid is handled{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1923-L1927|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for stomach acid in <tt>eatcorpse()</tt>}}}}{{refsrc|include/mondata.h|233|nethack=5.0.0}} Eating a gelatinous cube corpse or tin cures [[stoning]] on the first bite and has a {{frac|10}} chance each (10%) of granting fire resistance, cold resistance, shock resistance, or sleep resistance.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|859-L862|nethack=5.0.0|comment=acidic corpses cure stoning}} Monsters will pick up gelatinous cube corpses and may also eat them if they are subjected to stoning, though they will take acid damage and may die from that instead.
+A gelatinous cube [[corpse]] is acidic to [[eat]] (but not its [[tin]]) and is also [[vegan]]-compatible as with all blob corpses.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1611|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>consume_tin()</tt> calls <tt>cprefx()</tt>, but not <tt>eatcorpse()</tt> where stomach acid is handled{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1923-L1927|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for stomach acid in <tt>eatcorpse()</tt>}}}}{{refsrc|include/mondata.h|233|nethack=5.0.0}} Eating a gelatinous cube corpse or tin cures [[stoning]] on the first bite and has a {{frac|10}} chance each (10%) of granting fire resistance, cold resistance, shock resistance, or sleep resistance.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|859-L862|nethack=5.0.0|comment=acidic corpses cure stoning}} Monsters will pick up gelatinous cube corpses and may also eat them if they are subjected to stoning, though they will take acid damage and may die from that instead.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3952-L3959|nethack=5.0.0|comment=stoned monster has chance to cure itself}}
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 A gelatinous cube has two [[paralysis]]-inducing attacks that can be partially blocked by [[magic cancellation]] or completely blocked by [[free action]], and will not work if the cube is [[cancelled]]: the first is an active [[touch attack]] that deals damage has a {{frac|3}} chance of paralyzing a mobile target for up to 10 turns, and the second is a [[passive attack]] that has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of paralyzing the attacker for up to 4 turns if the cube was not killed by the attack, with both attacks [[abusing]] [[dexterity]] for a hero subjected to them.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1387-L1393|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive against attacking monster}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|2555-L2559|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive from cube hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3435-L3442|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack by cube hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3444-L3462|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack versus hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3463-L3475|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack versus monster}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|6054-L6064|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive versus hero}} Gelatinous cubes possess [[fire resistance]], [[cold resistance]], [[shock resistance]], [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[acid resistance]], and [[stoning resistance]]. Pets will avoid attacking a gelatinous cube in melee {{frac|9|10}} of the time.{{refsrc|src/dogmove.c|1134|nethack=5.0.0}}
-A gelatinous cube [[corpse]] is acidic to [[eat]] (but not its [[tin]]) and is also [[vegan]]-compatible as with all blob corpses.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1611|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>consume_tin()</tt> calls <tt>cprefx()</tt>, but not <tt>eatcorpse()</tt> where stomach acid is handled{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1923-L1927|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for stomach acid in <tt>eatcorpse()</tt>}}}} Eating a gelatinous cube corpse or tin cures [[stoning]] on the first bite and has a {{frac|10}} chance each (10%) of granting fire resistance, cold resistance, shock resistance, or sleep resistance.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|859-L862|nethack=5.0.0|comment=acidic corpses cure stoning}} Monsters will pick up gelatinous cube corpses and may also eat them if they are subjected to stoning, though they will take acid damage and may die from that instead.
+A gelatinous cube [[corpse]] is acidic to [[eat]] (but not its [[tin]]) and is also [[vegan]]-compatible as with all blob corpses.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1611|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>consume_tin()</tt> calls <tt>cprefx()</tt>, but not <tt>eatcorpse()</tt> where stomach acid is handled{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1923-L1927|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for stomach acid in <tt>eatcorpse()</tt>}}}}{{refsrc|include/mondata.h|233|nethack=5.0.0}} Eating a gelatinous cube corpse or tin cures [[stoning]] on the first bite and has a {{frac|10}} chance each (10%) of granting fire resistance, cold resistance, shock resistance, or sleep resistance.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|859-L862|nethack=5.0.0|comment=acidic corpses cure stoning}} Monsters will pick up gelatinous cube corpses and may also eat them if they are subjected to stoning, though they will take acid damage and may die from that instead.
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 In [[NetHack 3.6.7]] and previous versions, including some variants based on those versions, gelatinous cubes will immediately digest all edible items in a pile that it picks up, and while a peaceful or hostile gelatinous cube will consume an organic container and harmlessly engulf its contents as normal, a pet will instead drop the former container's contents and subsequently dissolve any organic items from the pile it leaves behind upon moving over it. Additionally, a pet cube will ingest and eat a chameleon or doppelganger corpse that it moves over, causing them to immediately polymorph. Players that use hostile gelatinous cubes to obtain the contents of a cursed bag of holding in these versions can kill the cube at their leisure, rather than having to act quickly.
-[[NetHack 5.0.0]] changes the behavior of pet gelatinous cubes to match those of other cubes via {{commit|2108abd30d6a5c4a67ddcfdeb196e7cb68a6b78f}}, and implements the current behavior of cubes slowly consuming their inventory via {{commit|dafd8549931ab809a191bc062e3e5e0566dcb2ed}}. NetHack 5.0.0 also changes general pet behavior via {{commit|f54485b9131fa945ac363e6531edabaa72ddb097}} so that pets will not consider eating a corpse that would make them polymorph unless they are starving or close to becoming untame.
+[[NetHack 5.0.0]] changes the behavior of pet gelatinous cubes to match those of other cubes via {{commit|2108abd30d6a5c4a67ddcfdeb196e7cb68a6b78f}}, and implements the current behavior of cubes slowly consuming their inventory via {{commit|dafd8549931ab809a191bc062e3e5e0566dcb2ed}}. NetHack 5.0.0 also changes general pet behavior via {{commit|f54485b9131fa945ac363e6531edabaa72ddb097}} and {{commit|f679a537d4a91b09da8c242106d8bd64479c77a6}} so that pets will not consider eating a corpse that would make them polymorph unless they are starving or close to becoming untame.
 ==Origin==

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 A '''gelatinous cube''', {{monsym|gelatinous cube}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The gelatinous cube is a [[blob]] monster with an [[acidic]] body that has a tendency to [[wander]] when moving and can burn through any [[web]]s in its path. Gelatinous cubes are known for consuming any and all [[object]]s that they come across, and {{sa|Cubes and engulfing items|will attempt to eat or engulf items}} that are on a square they move onto.{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1531-L1649|nethack=5.0.0|name="meatobj"|comment=<tt>meatobj()</tt> function}}
-A gelatinous cube has two [[paralysis]]-inducing attacks that can be blocked be [[magic cancellation]] or [[free action]], and will not work if the cube is [[cancelled]]: the first is an active [[touch attack]] that deals damage has a {{frac|3}} chance of paralyzing a mobile target for up to 10 turns, and the second is a [[passive attack]] that has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of paralyzing the attacker for up to 4 turns if the cube was not killed by the attack, with both attacks [[abusing]] [[dexterity]] for a hero subjected to them.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1387-L1393|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive against attacking monster}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|2555-L2559|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive from cube hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3435-L3442|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack by cube hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3444-L3462|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack versus hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3463-L3475|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack versus monster}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|6054-L6064|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive versus hero}} Gelatinous cubes possess [[fire resistance]], [[cold resistance]], [[shock resistance]], [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[acid resistance]], and [[stoning resistance]]. Pets will avoid attacking a gelatinous cube in melee {{frac|9|10}} of the time.{{refsrc|src/dogmove.c|1134|nethack=5.0.0}}
+A gelatinous cube has two [[paralysis]]-inducing attacks that can be partially blocked by [[magic cancellation]] or completely blocked by [[free action]], and will not work if the cube is [[cancelled]]: the first is an active [[touch attack]] that deals damage has a {{frac|3}} chance of paralyzing a mobile target for up to 10 turns, and the second is a [[passive attack]] that has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of paralyzing the attacker for up to 4 turns if the cube was not killed by the attack, with both attacks [[abusing]] [[dexterity]] for a hero subjected to them.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1387-L1393|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive against attacking monster}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|2555-L2559|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive from cube hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3435-L3442|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack by cube hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3444-L3462|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack versus hero}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3463-L3475|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing attack versus monster}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|6054-L6064|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for paralyzing passive versus hero}} Gelatinous cubes possess [[fire resistance]], [[cold resistance]], [[shock resistance]], [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[acid resistance]], and [[stoning resistance]]. Pets will avoid attacking a gelatinous cube in melee {{frac|9|10}} of the time.{{refsrc|src/dogmove.c|1134|nethack=5.0.0}}
 A gelatinous cube [[corpse]] is acidic to [[eat]] (but not its [[tin]]) and is also [[vegan]]-compatible as with all blob corpses.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1611|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>consume_tin()</tt> calls <tt>cprefx()</tt>, but not <tt>eatcorpse()</tt> where stomach acid is handled{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1923-L1927|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for stomach acid in <tt>eatcorpse()</tt>}}}} Eating a gelatinous cube corpse or tin cures [[stoning]] on the first bite and has a {{frac|10}} chance each (10%) of granting fire resistance, cold resistance, shock resistance, or sleep resistance.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|859-L862|nethack=5.0.0|comment=acidic corpses cure stoning}} Monsters will pick up gelatinous cube corpses and may also eat them if they are subjected to stoning, though they will take acid damage and may die from that instead.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
   |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-5.0.0_Released/include/monsters.h#L155 NetHack 5.0.0 - include/monsters.h, line 155]
 }}
-A '''gelatinous cube''', {{monsym|gelatinous cube}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The gelatinous cube is a [[blob]] monster with an [[acidic]] body that has a tendency to [[wander]] when moving and can burn through any [[web]]s in its path. Gelatinous cubes are known for consuming any and all [[object]]s that they come across, and will attempt to eat or engulf nearly any [[organic]] items on a square that they move onto:{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1531-L1649|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>meatobj()</tt> function}} for each item or stack of items in a pile that is non-organic, [[bone]] or [[dragon hide]], there is a {{frac|19|20}} chance of the object(s) being engulfed and added to their inventory (versus a {{frac|20}} chance for [[artifact]]s){{refsrc|src/mon.c|1585-L1608|nethack=5.0.0|name="engulf"|comment=inedible and indigestible items for cubes are engulfed}}{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1611-L1634|nethack=5.0.0|comment=devours edible organic items that it picks up, with calls to <tt>m_consume_obj()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1388-L1453|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>m_consume_obj()</tt> function}}&mdash;upon engulfing a pile of objects, the gelatinous cube will use up a move to [[eat]] any organic items in its inventory, one item or stack at a time, if a [[hero]] is not in melee range of it.{{refsrc|src/monmove.c|876-L878|nethack=5.0.0|comment=devours organic items in inventory one set at a time, with calls to <tt>gelcube_digests()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/monmove.c|422-L445|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>gelcube_digests()</tt> function}}{{refsrc|src/monmove.c|1669-L1673|nethack=5.0.0|comment=post-move handling for cubes that eat items}}
+A '''gelatinous cube''', {{monsym|gelatinous cube}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The gelatinous cube is a [[blob]] monster with an [[acidic]] body that has a tendency to [[wander]] when moving and can burn through any [[web]]s in its path. Gelatinous cubes are known for consuming any and all [[object]]s that they come across, and {{sa|Cubes and engulfing items|will attempt to eat or engulf items}} that are on a square they move onto.{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1531-L1649|nethack=5.0.0|name="meatobj"|comment=<tt>meatobj()</tt> function}}
 Each item or set of items eaten by a gelatinous cube that is ''not'' a [[pet]] will heal it by an amount of [[HP]] up to the object's [[weight]], independently of whether or not that item will also heal the cube or have any other effects upon eating it.{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1396-L1399|nethack=5.0.0|comment=non-pet healing in <tt>m_consume_obj()</tt>}} If a gelatinous cube eats an organic [[container]] this way, the contents will also be engulfed and added to the cube's inventory.{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1400-L1401|nethack=5.0.0|comment=eating a container in <tt>m_consume_obj()</tt> calls <tt>meatbox()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1352-L1382|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>meatbox()</tt> function; <tt>engulf_contents</tt> is set if a cube is the one eating the container}} A cube digesting the corpse of a [[chameleon]], [[doppelganger]] or [[genetic engineer]] will [[polymorph]].{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1416|nethack=5.0.0|comment=denotes polymorphing corpses}}{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1422-L1426|nethack=5.0.0|comment=handling for cube that polymorphs from an eaten object}}
@@ Line 31: / Line 41: @@
 * The duration of immobility from eating is consistent with wild monsters eating items, and nutrition gain is consistent with a [[polymorph]]ed hero eating the same type of item.{{refsrc|src/dogmove.c|204-L212|nethack=5.0.0}}
 * They will prefer eating organic items to dropping them, unless they are of a type that the cube will not eat.
 A hero polymorphed into a gelatinous cube will not automatically dissolve items that they pick up. By using {{kbd|e}}, they can eat items made of organic material as they do with normal food, which includes [[bone]] and [[dragon hide]] items that normal cubes will only engulf, but does ''not'' include containers unless they are already empty.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|114-L118|nethack=5.0.0}} Rings of slow digestion are naturally indigestible as in other cases.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2911-L2918|nethack=5.0.0|comment=slow digestion is inedible for hero}} A hero eating a scroll of scare monster, a [[scroll of mail]], a [[scroll labeled YUM YUM]], or any other [[paper]] item while in this form is accompanied by {{sa|Messages|unique messages}}, and scrolls of mail also will not grant any nutrition.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2432|nethack=5.0.0|comment=cases for eating paper items}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2434-L2436|nethack=5.0.0|name="junk"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2439-L2441|nethack=5.0.0|name="yuck"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2442-2445|nethack=5.0.0|name="yum"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2446|nethack=5.0.0|name="salt"}}
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], some levels in the [[Drow Healer quest]] generate gelatinous cubes: three are placed on the locate floor at level creation, and four are placed on the goal floor at level creation.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], gelatinous cubes are capable of hiding, can follow and track the hero and other creatures via [[Scent (vision)|scent]], and take halved damage from blunt weapons and piercing weapons. Their passive attack is also given the same damage dice as their touch attack.
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], gelatinous cubes behave mostly the same as they do in GruntHack, engulfing and suffocating monsters that they attack, though they lack the ability to hide. This makes it much less likely that a hero will be surprised by one, though they are still highly likely to be a game-ending threat&mdash;be sure to listen out for telltale slurping noises. Giant heroes cannot be engulfed by gelatinous cubes, while [[Vampire (starting race in EvilHack)|vampire]] and [[Draugr (starting race)|draugr]] heroes are unbreathing and thus in no mortal danger from the cube's attempts to engulf them.
+In [[EvilHack]], gelatinous cubes have their [[speed]] increased to 8 and their [[monster difficulty]] increased to 10, and they are also given an engulfing attack similar to GruntHack. Eating a gelatinous cube tin or corpse grants +6% each to four [[partial intrinsic]]s: cold resistance, fire resistance, sleep resistance, and shock resistance.
-Much of the strategies involving gelatinous cubes in GruntHack are also applicable to EvilHack as well; additionally, a hero that can prevent paralysis can use a source of [[phasing]] (e.g. via polyself) to both prevent engulfing and enable an easy escape if they are already engulfed.
+Though they will not hide themselves, gelatinous cubes are still highly likely to be a game-ending threat, so be sure to listen out for telltale slurping noises. Giant heroes cannot be engulfed by gelatinous cubes due to their size, while [[Vampire (starting race in EvilHack)|vampire]] and [[Draugr (starting race)|draugr]] heroes are unbreathing and thus are in no mortal danger from the cube's attempts to engulf them. Much of the strategies involving gelatinous cubes in GruntHack are also applicable to EvilHack as well; additionally, a hero that can prevent paralysis can use a source of [[phasing]] (e.g. via polyself) to both prevent engulfing and enable an easy escape if they are already engulfed.
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], gelatinous cubes behave as they do in vanilla ''NetHack'' and SLASH'EM, rather than retaining their EvilHack behaviors.
+In [[Hack'EM]], gelatinous cubes behave as they do in vanilla ''NetHack'' and SLASH'EM instead of retaining their EvilHack behaviors, though they still keep their higher movement speed and difficulty value.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
@@ Line 123: / Line 123: @@
 ==References==
 <references/>
-{{nethack-367}}
+{{nethack-500}}
 [[Category:Monsters]]

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 A gelatinous cube has two [[paralysis]]-inducing attacks: an active paralyzing [[touch attack]], and a [[passive]] that paralyzes attackers. Gelatinous cubes possess [[fire resistance]], [[cold resistance]], [[shock resistance]], [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[acid resistance]], and [[stoning resistance]]. Pets will avoid attacking a gelatinous cube in melee {{frac|9|10}} of the time.{{refsrc|src/dogmove.c|1134|nethack=5.0.0}}
-A gelatinous cube [[corpse]] is acidic to [[eat]] (but not its [[tin]]) and is also [[vegan]]-compatible as with all blob corpses.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1611|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>consume_tin()</tt> calls <tt>cprefx()</tt>, but not <tt>eatcorpse()</tt> where stomach acid is handled{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1923-L1927|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for stomach acid in <tt>eatcorpse()</tt>}}}} Eating a gelatinous cube corpse or tin has a {{frac|10}} chance each (10%) of granting fire resistance, cold resistance, shock resistance, or sleep resistance.
+A gelatinous cube [[corpse]] is acidic to [[eat]] (but not its [[tin]]) and is also [[vegan]]-compatible as with all blob corpses.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1611|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>consume_tin()</tt> calls <tt>cprefx()</tt>, but not <tt>eatcorpse()</tt> where stomach acid is handled{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1923-L1927|nethack=5.0.0|comment=case for stomach acid in <tt>eatcorpse()</tt>}}}} Eating a gelatinous cube corpse or tin cures [[stoning]] on the first bite and has a {{frac|10}} chance each (10%) of granting fire resistance, cold resistance, shock resistance, or sleep resistance.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|859-L862|nethack=5.0.0|comment=acidic corpses cure stoning}} Monsters will pick up gelatinous corpses and may also eat them if they are subjected to stoning, though they will take acid damage and may die from that instead.
 A hero polymorphed into a gelatinous cube will not automatically dissolve items that they pick up. By using {{kbd|e}}, they can eat items made of organic material as they do with normal food, which includes [[bone]] and [[dragon hide]] items that normal cubes will only engulf, but does ''not'' include containers unless they are already empty.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|114-L118|nethack=5.0.0}} Rings of slow digestion are naturally indigestible as in other cases.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2911-L2918|nethack=5.0.0|comment=slow digestion is inedible for hero}} A hero eating a scroll of scare monster, a [[scroll of mail]], a [[scroll labeled YUM YUM]], or any other [[paper]] item while in this form is accompanied by {{sa|Messages|unique messages}}, and scrolls of mail also will not grant any nutrition.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2432|nethack=5.0.0|comment=cases for eating paper items}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2434-L2436|nethack=5.0.0|name="junk"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2439-L2441|nethack=5.0.0|name="yuck"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2442-2445|nethack=5.0.0|name="yum"}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|2446|nethack=5.0.0|name="salt"}}
@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ==History==
-The gelatinous cube first appears in Hack for PDP-11, which is based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]]. From these versions to [[NetHack 2.3e]], the gelatinous cube uses the {{white|g}} glyph&mdash;[[NetHack 3.0.0]] establishes the blob [[monster class]] and moves the gelatinous cube to {{white|b}} with the other existing blob monsters.
+The gelatinous cube first appears in Hack for PDP-11, which is based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]]. From these versions to [[NetHack 2.3e]], the gelatinous cube uses the {{white|g}} glyph&mdash;[[NetHack 3.0.0]] establishes the blob [[monster class]] and moves the gelatinous cube to its current glyph at {{white|b}} with the other existing blob monsters.
 Gelatinous cubes gain the ability to pick up items in [[NetHack 3.1.1]]: from this version to [[NetHack 3.1.3]], a gelatinous cube engulfing a container devours its contents completely. [[NetHack 3.2.0]] introduces the current behavior for cubes engulfing containers, as well as the cube polymorphing when digesting chameleon or doppelganger corpses.
@@ Line 79: / Line 79: @@
 {{message|The gelatinous cube eats <an item>!|A gelatinous cube has eaten (more than) one item.}}
 {{message|You hear a slurping sound.}}
-{{message|You hear several slurping sounds.|As above while outside of your sight, depending on if it ate one item or multiple.}}
+{{message|You hear several slurping sounds.|As above while outside of your sight, depending on if it picked up one item or multiple.}}
 {{message|You are frozen by the gelatinous cube!|You were hit by the passive attack of a gelatinous cube.}}
@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 ==Variants==
-In ''NetHack'' [[variant]]s with [[object materials]] systems and/or a wider variance of randomized appearances, certain items will be at varying levels of risk from being eaten by a wandering gelatinous cube.
+''NetHack'' [[variant]]s created prior to NetHack 5.0.0 may not adapt the gelatinous cube's current behavior.
 ===GruntHack===
-In [[GruntHack]], gelatinous cubes are capable of [[hiding]] similar to [[piercer]]s, and can additionally engulf targets in order to [[Strangulation|suffocate]] them. Combined with their paralysis, this will usually lead to a swift death, making gelatinous cubes a major threat once they start generating (typically from the mid-game on).
+In [[GruntHack]], gelatinous cubes behave as they do in NetHack 3.4.3, but they are capable of [[hiding]] similar to [[piercer]]s. They are also given a 1d4 [[engulfing attack]] that can [[Strangulation|suffocate]] targets&mdash;combined with their paralysis, this will usually lead to a swift death for the victim, making gelatinous cubes a major threat to the hero once they start generating (typically from the mid-game on).
-Heroes should use their best available [[ranged attack]]s and means of [[scaring]] to keep gelatinous cubes from engulfing them before the hero can kill them: gelatinous cubes respect [[Elbereth]], and a source of [[warning]] can help avoid being caught off guard by a hidden cube. A [[ring of free action]] will give a hero time to kill or break out of the cube if they are engulfed; zapping a [[wand of digging]] while engulfed will reduce their HP to 1 and release the hero, making killing them afterward somewhat trivial. An [[amulet of magical breathing]] or a [[breathless]] polyform will prevent the cube's suffocation from affecting the hero, and any polyform that is huge or gigantic cannot be engulfed at all.
+Heroes should use their best available [[ranged attack]]s and [[scaring]] items to keep gelatinous cubes from engulfing them before they can kill the cube: gelatinous cubes respect [[Elbereth]] as they do in ''NetHack'', and a source of [[warning]] can help a hero avoid being caught off guard by a hidden cube. A [[ring of free action]] will give a hero time to kill or otherwise escape from within the cube if they are engulfed, and zapping a [[wand of digging]] while engulfed will reduce their HP to 1 and free the hero, making killing them afterward somewhat trivial. An [[amulet of magical breathing]] or a [[breathless]] polyform will prevent the cube's suffocation from affecting the hero, and any polyform that is huge or gigantic cannot be engulfed at all.
 Gelatinous cubes can also be useful as a means of [[Zombie (GruntHack)|zombie]] disposal, as they can consume and dissolve the corpses with no ill effect&mdash;their paralyzing touch and passive will also immobilize zombies that try to attack it, and a hero or another living monster can then dispose of the zombie without fearing retaliatory bites. However, they do not possess [[sickness resistance]] and are vulnerable to illness from zombie bites.