Giant ant - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ reorg

2026-05-14T16:02:30Z

‎Generation: reorg

Umbire the Phantom: more chain lightning advice before loggers yells at me

2026-05-14T15:52:39Z

more chain lightning advice before loggers yells at me

Umbire the Phantom: dnh: command chain, arcadia

2026-05-14T15:32:42Z

dnh: command chain, arcadia

Umbire the Phantom: dnh + evil

2026-05-14T14:16:51Z

dnh + evil

Umbire the Phantom: typo

2026-05-14T14:13:43Z

typo

Umbire the Phantom: nh5 update

2026-05-14T14:13:14Z

nh5 update

Ray Chason: Include the female tile

2026-05-10T15:38:31Z

Include the female tile

Umbire the Phantom: tweaks

2026-01-04T09:53:00Z

tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: /* Origin */ detail

2026-01-04T00:37:45Z

‎Origin: detail

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ adjust summon insects note

2025-12-13T06:45:39Z

‎Strategy: adjust summon insects note

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ==Generation==
 Randomly generated giant ants are always created hostile, and may appear in small groups of 2-4.
 Hostile giant ants can be generated by the [[summon insects]] [[monster spell]].{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|649-L651|nethack=5.0.0}}
 Giant ants can appear among the {{white|a}} that are part of the first [[quest]] monster class for [[Valkyrie]]s and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Valkyrie quest]].
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 Keep any and all [[escape item]]s handy if all else fails, particularly ones that can get you to the stairs or off the [[dungeon level]] faster. In addition to wands of sleep and slow monster, [[scrolls of teleportation]] and [[wands of teleportation]] can also put distance between you and the ants; cursed scrolls of teleportation can warp you to another level, but are not as reliable. Cursed [[spellbooks]] can sometimes cause teleportation, but should only be used as a last resort. Upon escaping a group of ants, it may be wise to steer clear afterward until you are better prepared to handle them.
-A hero that reaches the mid-game in particular is usually equipped enough to handle giant ants from that point forward: ants created by the summon insects spell in particular are usually of no real trouble to most heroes, and can even serve as a limited form of buffer, e.g. against monsters in [[Moloch's Sanctum]] or the [[Astral Plane]]&mdash;due to slower [[HP regeneration]] at higher [[experience level]]s it may be best not to idle (even with the [[Regeneration (property)|regeneration]] property), unless you have a method of healing yourself thoroughly and need the time and space to apply it reliably.
+A hero that reaches the mid-game in particular is usually equipped enough to handle giant ants from that point forward: ants created by the summon insects spell in particular are usually of no real trouble to most heroes, and can even serve as a limited form of buffer, e.g. against monsters in [[Moloch's Sanctum]] or the [[Astral Plane]]&mdash;due to slower [[HP regeneration]] at higher [[experience level]]s it may be best not to idle (even with the [[Regeneration (property)|regeneration]] property), unless you have a method of healing yourself thoroughly and need the time and space to apply it reliably. Similarly, they can also provide a vector for chain lightning spells, although the amount of hostiles a hero will be facing in late-game situations where insects are summoned means that significant power drain will usually occur&mdash;heroes conserving their energy for other spells should utilize this as a form of last resort.
 ==History==

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], giant ants are a lawful species and can follow [[Scent (vision)|scents]] as well as using normal vision.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], giant ants are a lawful species and can follow [[Scent (vision)|scents]] as well as using normal vision. Giant ants can be commanded by [[formian taskmaster]]s.
 ===EvilHack===

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], giant ants are a lawful species.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], giant ants are a lawful species and can follow [[Scent (vision)|scents]] as well as using normal vision.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
   |resistances conveyed=none
   |attributes={{attributes|A giant ant|sgroup=1|animal=1|nohands=1|oviparous=1|carnivore=1|hostile=1}}
-  |reference=https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-5.0.0_Released/include/monsters.h#L89 NetHack 5.0.0 - include/monsters.h, line 89]
+  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-5.0.0_Released/include/monsters.h#L89 NetHack 5.0.0 - include/monsters.h, line 89]
 }}
 {{alternate tilesets|giant ant}}

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
   |frequency=3
   |genocidable=yes
-  |attacks=[[Bite]] 1d4 [[Physical damage|physical]]
+  |attacks=[[Bite attack|Bite]] 1d4 [[Physical damage|physical]]
   |weight=10
   |nutr=10
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
   |resistances conveyed=none
   |attributes={{attributes|A giant ant|sgroup=1|animal=1|nohands=1|oviparous=1|carnivore=1|hostile=1}}
-  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L108 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 108]
+  |reference=https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-5.0.0_Released/include/monsters.h#L89 NetHack 5.0.0 - include/monsters.h, line 89]
 }}
 {{alternate tilesets|giant ant}}
-A '''giant ant''', {{monsym|giant ant}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a [[carnivorous]] and [[oviparous]] [[animal]] that is the most basic monster of the [[ant or other insect]] [[monster class]]. Despite being the weakest among its group, the giant ant is still a frequent cause of early deaths due to its [[speed]] and tendency to appear in groups.
+A '''giant ant''', {{monsym|giant ant}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The giant ant is a [[carnivorous]] and [[oviparous]] [[animal]] that is the most basic monster of the [[ant or other insect]] [[monster class]]. Despite being the weakest among its group, the giant ant is still a frequent cause of early deaths due to its [[speed]] and tendency to appear in [[group]]s.
-A giant ant has a single [[bite]] attack.
+A giant ant has a single [[bite attack]].
 ==Generation==
-Randomly generated giant ants are always created hostile, and may appear in small [[group]]s of 2-4.
+Randomly generated giant ants are always created hostile, and may appear in small groups of 2-4.
-An [[anthole]] may be populated entirely by giant ants.{{refsrc|src/mkroom.c|500|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+An [[anthole]] has a {{frac|3}} chance of being populated entirely by giant ants.{{refsrc|src/mkroom.c|518-L520|nethack=5.0.0}}
-Hostile giant ants can be generated by the [[summon insects]] [[monster spell]].{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|589|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Hostile giant ants can be generated by the [[summon insects]] [[monster spell]].{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|649-L651|nethack=5.0.0}}
-Giant ants can appear among the {{white|a}} that are part of the first [[quest]] monster class for [[Valkyrie]]s and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters that are randomly generated on the [[Valkyrie quest]].
+Giant ants can appear among the {{white|a}} that are part of the first [[quest]] monster class for [[Valkyrie]]s and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Valkyrie quest]].
 ==Strategy==
-Giant ants are very fast monsters that are one of the major obstacles to early characters, and are adept at running down the under-prepared, especially with their 18 speed: a giant ant's [[AC]] of 3 can also make them tricky to hit for characters that do not have trained-up or enchanted weapons. If you spot an oncoming ant swarm, you can avoid being surrounded by getting into a [[corridor]] as soon as possible, or else positioning yourself to block a corridor that ants are traveling through&mdash;you can also use [[door]]s to block off pursuing ants if you can close them quickly. Take note of the location of up and/or down [[stairs]], and be prepared to retreat there if things get out of hand; avoid being [[burdened]] if at all reasonable to maximize your own speed.
+Giant ants are very fast monsters that are one of many notable major obstacles to early [[heroes]], and are adept at running down the under-prepared, especially with their 18 [[speed]]: a giant ant's [[AC]] of 3 can also make them tricky to hit for characters that do not have trained-up and/or enchanted weapons. If you spot an oncoming ant swarm, you can avoid being surrounded by getting into a [[corridor]] as soon as possible, or else positioning yourself to block a corridor that ants are traveling through&mdash;you can also use [[door]]s to block off pursuing ants if you can close them quickly. Take note of the location of up and/or down [[stairs]] and be prepared to retreat there if things get out of hand, and avoid being [[burdened]] if possible to maximize your movement speed.
-[[Ranged weapon]]s, along with offensive spells and [[wand]]s, are your best bet for handling a giant ant or a swarm of them before they can hem you in, and magic in general also works against giant ants, since they have no [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]]. All of these attack methods are especially effective if you can contain the giant ants to a corridor: though their speed is still enough to make them a nuisance, they are not as threatening in one-on-one combat. A means of putting the ants to [[sleep]] or slowing them down, such as wands of {{of|wand|sleep|and=1|slow monster}}, can turn the tide against a lined-up swarm, and may even give you the room to escape a group of ants if you cannot reliably fight them off. [[Wands of magic missile]] can thin out a group of lined-up ants. [[Elbereth]] can reliably drive off attacking ants as well and may leave them open to your ranged attack of choice.
+[[Ranged weapon]]s, along with offensive spells and [[wand]]s, are your best bet for handling a giant ant or a swarm of them before they can hem you in, and magic in general also works against giant ants since they have no [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]]. All of these attack methods are especially effective if you can contain the giant ants to a corridor: though their speed is still enough to make them a nuisance, they are not as threatening in one-on-one combat. A means of putting the ants to [[sleep]] or slowing them down, such as wands of {{of|wand|sleep|and=1|slow monster}}, can turn the tide against a lined-up swarm, and may even give you room to escape a group of ants if you cannot reliably fight them off. [[Wands of magic missile]] and stronger offensive wands can help thin out a group of lined-up ants, and {{+ of|chain lightning}} with sufficient [[energy]] can make short work of them. [[Elbereth]] can reliably drive off attacking ants as well and may leave them open to your ranged attack of choice.
-Keep any/all [[escape item]]s handy if all else fails, particularly ones that can get you to the stairs or off the level faster. In addition to wands of sleep and slow monster, [[scrolls of teleportation]] and [[wands of teleportation]] can also put distance between you and the ants; cursed scrolls of teleportation can warp you to another level, but are not reliable. Cursed [[spellbooks]] can sometimes cause teleportation, but should only be used as a last resort. Upon escaping a group of ants, it may be wise to steer clear until you are better prepared to handle them.
+Keep any and all [[escape item]]s handy if all else fails, particularly ones that can get you to the stairs or off the [[dungeon level]] faster. In addition to wands of sleep and slow monster, [[scrolls of teleportation]] and [[wands of teleportation]] can also put distance between you and the ants; cursed scrolls of teleportation can warp you to another level, but are not as reliable. Cursed [[spellbooks]] can sometimes cause teleportation, but should only be used as a last resort. Upon escaping a group of ants, it may be wise to steer clear afterward until you are better prepared to handle them.
-A hero that reaches the mid-game in particular is usually equipped enough to handle giant ants from that point forward: ants created by the summon insects spell in particular are usually of no real trouble to most heroes, and can even serve as a useful physical buffer, e.g. against monsters in [[Moloch's Sanctum]] or the [[Astral Plane]].
+A hero that reaches the mid-game in particular is usually equipped enough to handle giant ants from that point forward: ants created by the summon insects spell in particular are usually of no real trouble to most heroes, and can even serve as a limited form of buffer, e.g. against monsters in [[Moloch's Sanctum]] or the [[Astral Plane]]&mdash;due to slower [[HP regeneration]] at higher [[experience level]]s it may be best not to idle (even with the [[Regeneration (property)|regeneration]] property), unless you have a method of healing yourself thoroughly and need the time and space to apply it reliably.
 ==History==
-The giant ant first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are 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 giant ant uses the {{white|A}} glyph and is more similar in behavior to the modern [[soldier ant]]. [[NetHack 3.0.0]] introduces the ant or other insect monster class: the giant ant is moved to this monster class at {{white|a}} and given its current behavior, while the soldier ant is introduced alongside it.
+The giant ant first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are 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 giant ant uses the {{white|A}} glyph and is more similar in behavior to the modern [[soldier ant]]. [[NetHack 3.0.0]] introduces the ant or other insect monster class, and the giant ant is moved to this monster class at {{white|a}} and given its current behavior, while the soldier ant is introduced alongside it.
 ==Origin==
@@ Line 67: / Line 65: @@
 ==References==
 <references/>
-{{nethack-367}}
+{{nethack-500}}
 [[Category:Monsters]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{monster
   |name=giant ant
   |difficulty=4
   |level=2

@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
-{{encyclopedia|This giant variety of the ordinary ant will fight just as fiercely as its small, distant cousin.  Various varieties exist, and they are known and feared for their relentless persecution of their victims.}}
+{{encyclopedia|
 ==References==

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 Giant ants&ndash;specifically, ants or ant-like creatures that are human-sized or larger&ndash;are a popular form of insectoid in science-fiction media, codified by works such as the 1905 H. G. Wells short story ''Empire of the Ants'' and the 1954 film ''Them!'', and other notable examples include the Bugs of ''Starship Troopers'', the Formics of ''Ender's Game'', and the ants that accompany Marvel Comics super hero Ant-Man. Like other ants in various forms of fiction, they are commonly portrayed as a hive species, which is a common misconception regarding ant colonies.
-The giant ant of ''NetHack'' is also derived from ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', where {{frac|9|10}} of ants encountered will be workers. They can appear in groups of up to 100: twice as many can appear in giant ant nests, including 1 "warrior" per 5 workers; these nests also contain a single queen whose chamber holds the nest's treasures, and the egg chamber is guarded by 5 warriors and 5-50 workers. If the queen is killed, the other ants will become confused for six melee rounds before fleeing the nest.
+The giant ant of ''NetHack'' is also derived from ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', where they make their debut in the first Monster Manual. In this first appearance, {{frac|9|10}} of ants encountered will be workers, and they can appear in groups of up to 100: twice as many can appear in giant ant nests, including 1 "warrior" per 5 workers; these nests also contain a single queen whose chamber holds the nest's treasures, and the egg chamber is guarded by 5 warriors and 5-50 workers. If the queen is killed, the other ants will become confused for six melee rounds before fleeing the nest.
 While the giant ant does not seem to be based on any particular species, one of the largest known ant species is ''[[Wikipedia:Dinoponera|Dinoponera]]'', a South American genus of ant in the subfamily Ponerinae that are commonly called "tocandiras" or "giant Amazonian ants". Females of the genus can reach a total body length of 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) or more.