Hell hound - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ and done here - now back to the canine article...

2026-05-25T09:31:20Z

‎Variants: and done here - now back to the canine article...

Umbire the Phantom: nh5 updates + reorg + bit of variant stuff - leave the rest for a bit

2026-05-25T06:11:32Z

nh5 updates + reorg + bit of variant stuff - leave the rest for a bit

Ray Chason: Update alignment

2026-05-14T03:02:36Z

Update alignment

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ pothole

2026-02-28T16:07:13Z

‎dNetHack: pothole

Umbire the Phantom: forgot the ref header

2025-12-21T17:02:46Z

forgot the ref header

Umbire the Phantom: and that's the bulk of it

2025-12-18T18:26:25Z

and that's the bulk of it

Show changes

Umbire the Phantom: potholes et. al.

2025-01-29T15:31:51Z

potholes et. al.

Umbire the Phantom: upcoming, etc.

2024-12-21T04:32:02Z

upcoming, etc.

Umbire the Phantom: FCU pass from history section on

2024-08-29T21:04:26Z

FCU pass from history section on

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ twe

2024-01-19T11:21:02Z

‎Strategy: twe

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], tame hell hound [[minion]]s are an eligible [[sacrifice gift]] for [[chaotic]] heroes from [[experience level]]s 9 to 13.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], hell hounds are neutral. In spite of their alignment, tame hell hound [[minion]]s are an eligible [[sacrifice gift]] for [[chaotic]] heroes from [[experience level]]s 9 to 13.
-Two hell hounds are generated in the secondary front corridor of [[Grund's Stronghold]] during level creation, with a {{frac|2}} chance each of generating two additional hell hounds.
+Two hell hounds are generated in the secondary front corridor of [[Grund's Stronghold]] during level creation, with a {{frac|2}} chance each of two additional hell hounds being placed.
 All the above information also applies to [[SlashTHEM]].
 ===UnNetHack===
-In [[UnNetHack]], four hell hounds are generated in [[Asmodeus' Lair (UnNetHack)|Asmodeus' lair]] within the room east of the drawbridges during level creation.
+In [[UnNetHack]], hell hounds are neutral.
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], hell hounds are considered [[Major demon|demonic]], are vulnerable to holy damage, possess [[drain resistance]] and [[death resistance]] as a result of being demons, and are capable of tracking the hero via scent. [[Tame]] hell hounds may turn [[traitor]].
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], hell hounds are neutral and [[Major demon|demonic]] animals, are vulnerable to holy damage, possess [[drain resistance]] and [[death resistance]] as a result of being demons, and are capable of tracking the hero and other targets through their normal vision and [[Scent (vision)|scent]]. [[Tame]] hell hounds may turn [[traitor]].
 Hell hound corpses and [[Potion of blood (dNetHack)|blood]] cannot be consumed without taking fire damage, unless the hero or monster consuming it has fire resistance.
-Hell hounds can be [[Ward (dNetHack)|warded]] by [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Pentagram|pentagrams]], hexagrams, heptagrams, the [[Gorgoneion]], a fully-reinforced [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Elder Elemental Eye|Elder Elemental Eye]], or a [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Toustefna|Toustefna]] [[stave]] that is carved into a [[wood]] weapon placed on the hero's square.
+Hell hounds can be [[Ward (dNetHack)|warded]] by [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Pentagram|pentagrams]], hexagrams, heptagrams, the [[Gorgoneion]], or a fully-reinforced [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Elder Elemental Eye|Elder Elemental Eye]]. They can also be warded by a [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Toustefna|Toustefna]] [[stave]] that is carved into a [[wooden]] weapon and placed on the hero's square, and that weapon will [[Warned of monster type|warn of hell hounds and other canines]] while wielded.
 Hell hounds may appear as [[minion]]s of [[Loki]].
@@ Line 75: / Line 83: @@
 ===SpliceHack===
-In [[SpliceHack]], four hell hounds are generated within [[Asmodeus' Lair (SpliceHack)|Asmodeus' lair]] in the same positions as in UnNetHack during level creation.
+In [[SpliceHack]], hell hounds are neutral.
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], the [[weredemon]]'s animal form is a hell hound, and they can summon hostile hell hounds by calling for help. A hero that is given [[lycanthropy]] from a weredemon can summon tame hell hounds for 10 [[power]] by using the [[Monster (command)|#monster]] [[extended command]], and eating hell hounds is considered cannibalism for them.
+In [[EvilHack]], hell hounds are chaotic.
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], weredemons can summon hell hounds and overall behave as they do in EvilHack, and their lycanthropy functions similarly for heroes.
+In [[Hack'EM]], hell hounds are neutral as they are in SLASH'EM.
 As in SLASH'EM, two hell hounds are generated in the secondary front corridor of [[Grund's Stronghold]] during level creation, with a {{frac|2}} chance each of generating two additional hell hounds.
 Two hell hounds are randomly placed on every level below the home floor of the [[Ice Mage quest/Hack'EM|Ice Mage quest]] during level creation.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
   |resistances conveyed=[[fire resistance]] (80%)
   |attributes={{attributes|A hell hound|hell=1|animal=1|nohands=1|carnivore=1|hostile=1|strong=1|infravisible=1}}
-  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L283 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 283]
+  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-5.0.0_Released/include/monsters.h#L304 NetHack 5.0.0 - include/monsters.h, line 304]
 }}
-A '''hell hound''', {{monsym|hell hound}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The hell hound is a medium-sized and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that is the strongest of its [[monster class]]. Hell hounds are [[strong]] and can be seen via [[infravision]], and have an affinity to [[Fire (element)|fire]] like [[Hell hound pup|their pups]].
+A '''hell hound''', {{monsym|hell hound}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The hell hound is a [[chaotic]], [[Physical size|medium-sized]] and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that is the strongest of its [[monster class]]. Hell hounds are [[strong]] and can be seen via [[infravision]], and have an affinity to [[Fire (element)|fire]] like [[Hell hound pup|their pups]].
-Hell hounds have a [[bite attack]] and a fire [[breath weapon]] that can [[Erosion|burn armor]] and destroy flammable items in the open inventory of a [[hero]] or monster hit by the blast (unless they have [[reflection]]). Hell hound pups possess [[fire resistance]].Hell hounds possess [[fire resistance]].
+Hell hounds have a normal [[bite attack]] and a fiery [[breath weapon]] that can [[Erosion|burn]] [[worn]] [[armor]] and destroy flammable items in the open inventory of those hit by the blast, depending on the damage sustained&mdash;[[reflection]] will deflect the [[ray]] without any damage. Hell hounds possess [[fire resistance]].
-[[Eating]] a hell hound [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|4|5}} chance of granting fire resistance.
+[[Eating]] a hell hound [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|4|5}} chance (80%) of granting fire resistance to a hero or monster, as does [[digesting]] live hell hounds.
 ==Generation==
-Randomly generated hell hounds are always created hostile, and are only generated normally in [[Gehennom]]. A hell hound pup can [[grow up]] into a hell hound.
+Hell hounds are only generated randomly in [[Gehennom]], and normally-created hell hounds are always [[hostile]]. A hell hound pup can [[grow up]] into a hell hound.
-A hell hound is generated next to the [[Wizard of Yendor]] within the structure on the topmost floor of [[Wizard's Tower|his tower]] during level creation.{{refsrc|dat/yendor.des|50|nethack=3.6.7}}
+A hell hound is generated next to the [[Wizard of Yendor]] within the structure on the topmost floor of [[Wizard's Tower|his tower]] during level creation.{{refsrc|dat/wizard1.lua|57|nethack=5.0.0}}
-Six hell hounds are placed randomly on the [[Plane of Fire]] during level creation.{{refsrc|dat/endgame.des|310|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|dat/endgame.des|314|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|dat/endgame.des|320|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|dat/endgame.des|326|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|dat/endgame.des|332|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|dat/endgame.des|363|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Six hell hounds are placed randomly on the [[Plane of Fire]] during level creation.{{refsrc|dat/fire.lua|88|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|dat/fire.lua|92|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|dat/fire.lua|98|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|dat/fire.lua|104|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|dat/fire.lua|110|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|dat/fire.lua|141|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Strategy==
-Though hell hounds have stronger attacks than their pups, they are still not much of a threat to most heroes by the time they are normally seen in Gehennom, since a hero will at least have one of fire resistance and/or reflection, along with a [[bag]] to keep flammable items in. Hell hounds are still worth being wary around if you plan to cross the few bodies of water in Gehennom by freezing them&mdash;their breath can melt the [[ice]] away, which can result in [[drowning]] if this occurs while you are crossing it.
+Though hell hounds have stronger attacks than their pups, they are still not much of a threat to most heroes by the time they are normally seen in Gehennom, since a hero will at least have one of fire resistance and/or reflection, along with a [[bag]] to keep flammable items in. Hell hounds are still worth being wary around while crossing the [[ice]]-filled areas in Gehennom or freezing a path across water such as the moats surrounding the "mini-tower" structures, since their breath can melt the [[ice]] and cause [[drowning]]. [[Reflection]] and extrinsic fire resistance can block the worst of their fire breath's damage, but will not prevent the melting of ice&mdash;heroes with [[worn]] [[water walking boots]] are much less likely to be concerned about this danger.
-For earlier heroes approaching the mid-game, [[polymorph trap]]s and [[shapeshifter]]s such as [[chameleon]]s can result in unexpected encounters with hell hounds, and their dangerous fire breath can easily rack up additional damage from burning your items. A hero aware of a hell hound's presence in these scenarios will want to close the distance while avoiding their breath weapons if possible, and will likely want a source of [[cold]] damage to exploit their [[vulnerability]] and deal with their tougher defenses&mdash;a hell hound-form shapeshifter that is not quickly defeated may get enough time to randomly change into a monster that is even harder to kill.
+For earlier heroes approaching the mid-game, [[polymorph trap]]s and [[shapeshifter]]s such as [[chameleon]]s can result in unexpected encounters with hell hounds, and their dangerous fire breath can easily rack up additional damage against non-resistant heroes from burning their items. A hero aware of a hell hound's presence in these scenarios will want to close the distance while avoiding their breath weapons if possible, and will likely want a source of [[cold]] damage to exploit their [[vulnerability]] and deal with their tougher defenses&mdash;a hell hound-form shapeshifter that is not quickly defeated may get enough time to randomly change into a monster that is even harder to kill.
 ==History==
-The hell hound first appears in [[Hack 1.0.2]], where one is generated alongside the Wizard of Yendor and directly guards the [[Amulet of Yendor]] with him.
+The hell hound first appears in [[Hack 1.0.2]], where one is generated alongside the Wizard of Yendor and directly guards the [[Amulet of Yendor]] with him. From this version to [[NetHack 2.3e]], hell hounds lack breath weapons&mdash;their fire breath is introduced in [[NetHack 3.0.0]].
-{{encyclopedia|
+From NetHack 3.0.0 to NetHack 3.6.7, including some variants based on these versions, hell hound pups are chaotic with an alignment value of -5, while adult hell hounds are neutral. Both monsters are given their current alignment in [[NetHack 5.0.0]] via {{commit|837da48621b30ce80e195c253a1e35c2aa774e0d}}.
 ==Origin==
@@ Line 57: / Line 49: @@
 ==Variants==
-[[Cerberus]] is a [[unique]] hell hound that is [[deferred]] in vanilla ''NetHack'', and is often enabled in ''NetHack'' [[variant]]s.
+Some ''NetHack'' [[variant]]s created prior to NetHack 5.0.0 may retain the hell hound pup's initial alignment.
 ===SLASH'EM===
@@ Line 84: / Line 78: @@
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], the [[weredemon]]'s animal form is a hell hound, and they can summon hostile hell hounds by calling for help. A hero that is given [[lycanthropy]] from a weredemon can summon tame hell hounds for 10 [[power]] by using the [[Monster (command)|#monster]] [[extended command]], and eating hell hounds is counted as cannibalism for them.
+In [[EvilHack]], the [[weredemon]]'s animal form is a hell hound, and they can summon hostile hell hounds by calling for help. A hero that is given [[lycanthropy]] from a weredemon can summon tame hell hounds for 10 [[power]] by using the [[Monster (command)|#monster]] [[extended command]], and eating hell hounds is considered cannibalism for them.
 ===Hack'EM===
@@ Line 112: / Line 106: @@
 of fog.
 |[ The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. ]
 }}
 ==References==
 <references/>
-{{nethack-367}}
+{{nethack-500}}
 [[Category:Monsters]]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
   |AC=2
   |MR=20
-  |align=0
+  |align=-5
   |frequency=1
   |genocidable=Yes

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 Hell hound corpses and [[Potion of blood (dNetHack)|blood]] cannot be consumed without taking fire damage, unless the hero or monster consuming it has fire resistance.
-Hell hounds can be [[Ward (dNetHack)|warded]] by [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Pentagram|pentagrams]], hexagrams, heptagrams, the Gorgoneion, a fully-reinforced [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Elder Elemental Eye|Elder Elemental Eye]], or a [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Toustefna|Toustefna]] [[stave]] that is carved into a [[wood]] weapon placed on the hero's square.
+Hell hounds can be [[Ward (dNetHack)|warded]] by [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Pentagram|pentagrams]], hexagrams, heptagrams, the [[Gorgoneion]], a fully-reinforced [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Elder Elemental Eye|Elder Elemental Eye]], or a [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Toustefna|Toustefna]] [[stave]] that is carved into a [[wood]] weapon placed on the hero's square.
 Hell hounds may appear as [[minion]]s of [[Loki]].

@@ Line 114: / Line 114: @@
 }}
-===NetHack 3.4.3 and previous versions===
+==References==
-{{encyclopedia|
+<references/>
 {{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Monsters]]

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
   |frequency=1
   |genocidable=Yes
-  |attacks=Bite 3d6, [[fire]] breath 3d6
+  |attacks=Bite 3d6 physical, breath 3d6 [[Fire (element)|fire]]
   |weight=600
   |nutr=300
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 }}
-A '''hell hound''', {{monsym|hell hound}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a medium-sized [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] that has an affinity to [[fire]]. Hell hounds are [[strong]] and can be seen via [[infravision]].
+A '''hell hound''', {{monsym|hell hound}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a medium-sized [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] that has an affinity to [[Fire (element)|fire]]. Hell hounds are [[strong]] and can be seen via [[infravision]].
-Hell hounds have a bite attack and a fire [[breath]] attack that can burn armor and destroy flammable items in the inventory of any monster it hits, unless they have [[reflection]]. Hell hounds possess [[fire resistance]].
+Hell hounds have a bite attack and a fire [[breath weapon]] that can burn armor and destroy flammable items in the inventory of any monster it hits, unless they have [[reflection]]. Hell hounds possess [[fire resistance]].
 Eating a hell hound [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|4|5}} chance of granting fire resistance.

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 ==Strategy==
-Though hell hounds have stronger attacks than their pups, they are still not much of a threat to most characters by the time they are normally seen in Gehennom, since a character will at least have one of fire resistance and/or reflection, along with a [[bag]] to keep flammable items in. Hell hounds are still worth being wary around if you plan to cross the few bodies of water in Gehennom by freezing them - their breath can melt the [[ice]] away, which can be [[Drowning|fatal]] if this occurs while you are crossing it.
+Though hell hounds have stronger attacks than their pups, they are still not much of a threat to most heroes by the time they are normally seen in Gehennom, since a hero will at least have one of fire resistance and/or reflection, along with a [[bag]] to keep flammable items in. Hell hounds are still worth being wary around if you plan to cross the few bodies of water in Gehennom by freezing them - their breath can melt the [[ice]] away, which can be [[Drowning|fatal]] if this occurs while you are crossing it.
 Hell hounds can also appear much earlier and pose an actual threat depending on the circumstances: [[polymorph trap]]s and [[shapeshifter]]s such as [[chameleon]]s can force you to deal with hell hounds much earlier than expected, and their bite can still deal decent damage even if you manage to keep out of range of their breath attacks.
 ==History==
-The hell hound first appears in [[Hack 1.0.2]], and one has accompanied the Wizard of Yendor in some form since this version, when the Wizard was the one who held the [[Amulet of Yendor]]. From this version to [[NetHack 3.0.0]], hell hounds do not have breath weapons.
+The hell hound first appears in [[Hack 1.0.2]], where the Wizard of Yendor is the one who holds the [[Amulet of Yendor]]: a hell hound accompanies the Wizard in some form in this version and every subsequent version since.
-In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some variants based on those versions, the encyclopedia entry for hell hounds and their pups reads as follows:
+Hell hounds are given breath weapons in [[NetHack 3.0.0]].
-{{encyclopedia|<poem>
+In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some variants based on those versions, the hell hound has [[#NetHack 3.4.3 and previous versions|a different entry]] in the [[encyclopedia]].
 ==Origin==
 {{wikipedia}}
-A hellhound is a mythological hound that embodies a guardian or a servant of hell, the devil, or the underworld. Hellhounds occur in mythologies around the world, with the best-known examples being Cerberus from Greek mythology, Garmr from Norse mythology, the black dogs of English folklore, and the fairy hounds of Celtic mythology. Physical characteristics vary, but they are commonly black, anomalously overgrown, supernaturally strong, and often have red eyes or are accompanied by flames.
+A hellhound is a mythological hound that embodies a guardian or a servant of hell, the devil, or the underworld. Hellhounds occur in mythologies around the world, with the best-known examples being Cerberus from Greek mythology, Garmr from Norse mythology, the black dogs of English folklore, and the fairy hounds of Celtic mythology. Most physical characteristics vary, but they are commonly black, anomalously overgrown, supernaturally strong, often have red eyes, and are sometimes accompanied by flames.
-In the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' fantasy roleplaying game, the hell hound is introduced to the game in its first supplement, the 1975 ''Greyhawk''. These hell hounds are hyena-like creatures that are mangy, skinny, and somewhat demonic, with red eyes and draconic ears; they are classified as outsiders from the Nine Hells. The Fourth Edition depicts them as nearly skeletal canines wreathed in flame. Hell hounds have the ability to breathe fire, and enjoy causing pain and suffering - they hunt in packs accordingly, with a favorite pack tactic being to surround prey silently before two hellhounds close in and make the victim back into another hellhound's fiery breath. Hell hounds will also attack with their claws and teeth, and are quick and agile - they will pursue escaping relentlessly. Hell hounds cannot speak, but understand Infernal.
+Hell hounds appear in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' where they debut in the first supplement, the 1975 ''Greyhawk''. These hell hounds are hyena-like creatures that are mangy, skinny, and somewhat demonic, with red eyes and draconic ears; they are classified as outsiders from the Nine Hells. The Fourth Edition depicts them as nearly skeletal canines wreathed in flame. Hell hounds have the ability to breathe fire, and enjoy causing pain and suffering - they hunt in packs accordingly, with a favorite pack tactic being to surround prey silently before two hellhounds close in and make the victim back into another hellhound's fiery breath. Hell hounds will also attack with their claws and teeth, and are quick and agile - they will pursue escaping relentlessly. Hell hounds cannot speak, but understand the Infernal language.
 ==Variants==
@@ Line 55: / Line 53: @@
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], tame hell hound [[minion]]s are an eligible [[sacrifice gift]] for [[chaotic]] characters from [[experience level]]s 9 to 13.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], tame hell hound [[minion]]s are an eligible [[sacrifice gift]] for [[chaotic]] heroes from [[experience level]]s 9 to 13.
-Two to four hell hounds are generated in the secondary front corridor of [[Grund's Stronghold]] at level creation.
+-4 hell hounds are generated in the secondary front corridor of [[Grund's Stronghold]] at level creation.
 All the above information also applies to [[SlashTHEM]] and [[Hack'EM]].
 ===UnNetHack===
-In [[UnNetHack]], four hell hounds are generated within the northeastern hidden room of [[Asmodeus' Lair (UnNetHack)|Asmodeus' lair]].
+In [[UnNetHack]], four hell hounds are generated in [[Asmodeus' Lair (UnNetHack)|Asmodeus' lair]] within the room east of the drawbridges.
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], hell hounds are neutral. Both hell hounds and their pups have [[drain resistance]], and can be warded by [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Pentagram|pentagrams]].
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], hell hounds are neutral. Both hell hounds and their pups have [[drain resistance]], and can be warded by [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Pentagram|pentagrams]].
-A hell hound may appear among the court of a [[Throne room#dNetHack|throne room]] ruled by an [[orc of the ages of stars]].
+Hell hounds may appear as [[minion]]s of [[Loki]], and may also appear among the court of a [[Throne room#dNetHack|throne room]] ruled by an [[orc of the ages of stars]].
 ===SpliceHack===
-In [[SpliceHack]], four hell hounds are generated within the northeastern hidden room of [[Asmodeus' Lair (SpliceHack)|Asmodeus' lair]], in the same position as in UnNetHack.
+In [[SpliceHack]], four hell hounds are generated within [[Asmodeus' Lair (SpliceHack)|Asmodeus' lair]] in the same positions as in UnNetHack.
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], the [[weredemon]]'s animal form is that of a hell hound, and they can summon other hostile hell hounds by calling for help.
+In [[EvilHack]], the [[weredemon]]'s animal form is a hell hound, and they summon hostile hell hounds by calling for help - a hero that is given [[lycanthropy]] from a weredemon can summon tame hell hounds using the [[Monster (command)|#monster]] [[extended command]], which costs 10 [[power]].
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
-{{encyclopedia|<poem>
+{{encyclopedia|
 But suddenly they started forward in a rigid, fixed stare,
 and his lips parted in amazement.  At the same instant Lestrade
@@ Line 91: / Line 89: @@
 dark form and savage face which broke upon us out of the wall
 of fog.
-	  [ The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. ]
+===NetHack 3.4.3 and previous versions===
-</poem>}}
+{{encyclopedia|
 {{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Monsters]]