Hell hound pup - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: variant stuff

2026-05-25T08:45:05Z

variant stuff

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2026-05-25T06:05:13Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: dropped words

2026-05-25T05:51:11Z

dropped words

Umbire the Phantom: touch-ups

2026-05-25T05:49:22Z

touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ leftovers

2026-05-25T05:36:14Z

‎Generation: leftovers

Umbire the Phantom: nh5 updates + reorganization

2026-05-25T05:33:36Z

nh5 updates + reorganization

Ray Chason: Update alignment

2026-05-14T03:01:16Z

Update alignment

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ hackem

2025-12-18T18:18:35Z

‎Variants: hackem

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ wards

2025-12-18T16:49:08Z

‎dNetHack: wards

Umbire the Phantom: /* Origin */ tweak

2025-12-18T16:39:41Z

‎Origin: tweak

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], the [[Flame Mage]]'s starting pet is a hell hound pup.{{refsrc|role.c|127|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}} This also applies to [[SlashTHEM]].
+In [[SLASH'EM]], hell hound pups are chaotic. The [[Flame Mage]]'s starting pet is a hell hound pup.{{refsrc|role.c|127|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], hell hound pups are considered [[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 via normal vision and [[Scent (vision)|scent]]. [[Tame]] hell hound pups may turn [[traitor]].
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], hell hound pups are chaotic 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 via normal vision and [[Scent (vision)|scent]]. [[Tame]] hell hound pups may turn [[traitor]].
 Hell hound pups 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 also [[Warned of monster type|warn of hell hound pups and other canines]] while wielded.
@@ Line 60: / Line 71: @@
 ===SpliceHack===
-In [[SpliceHack]], a peaceful hell hound pup is generated in the [[City of Brass]] during level creation.
+In [[SpliceHack]], hell hound pups are chaotic.
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], the [[Flame Mage/Hack'EM|Flame Mage's]] starting pet is a hell hound pup as in SLASH'EM.
+In [[Hack'EM]], hell hound pups are chaotic. The [[Flame Mage/Hack'EM|Flame Mage's]] starting pet is a hell hound pup as in SLASH'EM.
 Two hell hound pups are randomly placed on the home level of the [[Ice Mage quest/Hack'EM|Ice Mage quest]] during level creation, and two others are placed randomly on each of the upper filler levels during level creation.

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 }}
-In NetHack 3.4.3 and prior versions, including some variants based on those versions, hell hounds and their pups have a different [[encyclopedia]] entry:
+In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and prior versions, including some variants based on those versions, hell hounds and their pups have a different [[encyclopedia]] entry:
 {{encyclopedia|

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 ==Generation==
-Hell hound pups are only generated randomly in [[Gehennom]], and normally-created are always [[hostile]]. They can appear in small [[group]]s. A hell hound pup can [[grow up]] into a hell hound.
+Hell hound pups are only generated randomly in [[Gehennom]], and normally-created hell hound pups are always [[hostile]]. They can appear in small [[group]]s. A hell hound pup can [[grow up]] into a hell hound.
 A hell hound pup is generated in two of the niches on the middle floor of [[Vlad's Tower]] during level creation.{{refsrc|dat/tower2.lua|21-L24|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|dat/tower2.lua|32-L33|nethack=5.0.0}}

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 Hell hound pups 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 hound pups possess [[fire resistance]].
-[[Eating]] a hell hound pup [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|7|15}} chance (~46%) of granting fire resistance to a hero or monster, as does [[digesting]] ive hell hound pups.
+[[Eating]] a hell hound pup [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|7|15}} chance (~46%) of granting fire resistance to a [[hero]] or monster, as does [[digesting]] live hell hound pups.
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 ==Generation==
-Hell hound pups are only generated randomly in [[Gehennom]], and always created hostile. They can be created in small [[group]]s, and are only generated normally in [[Gehennom]]. A hell hound pup can [[grow up]] into a hell hound.
+Hell hound pups are only generated randomly in [[Gehennom]], and normally-created are always [[hostile]]. They can appear in small [[group]]s. A hell hound pup can [[grow up]] into a hell hound.
 A hell hound pup is generated in two of the niches on the middle floor of [[Vlad's Tower]] during level creation.{{refsrc|dat/tower2.lua|21-L24|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|dat/tower2.lua|32-L33|nethack=5.0.0}}

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
   |size=Small
   |resistances=[[fire resistance]]
-  |resistances conveyed=[[fire resistance]] (47%)
+  |resistances conveyed=[[fire resistance]] (~46%)
   |attributes={{attributes|A hell hound pup|hell=1|sgroup=1|animal=1|nohands=1|carnivore=1|hostile=1|infravisible=1}}
-  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L276 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 276]
+  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-5.0.0_Released/include/monsters.h#L297 NetHack 5.0.0 - include/monsters.h, line 297]
 }}
-A '''hell hound pup''', {{monsym|hell hound pup}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The hell hound pup is a small and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]] and has an affinity to [[Fire (element)|fire]].
+A '''hell hound pup''', {{monsym|hell hound pup}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The hell hound pup is a small, [[neutral]] and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that is a juvenile form of [[hell hound]], and like the hell hound it can be seen via [[infravision]] and has an affinity to [[Fire (element)|fire]].
-Hell hound pups 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 hound pups 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 hound pups possess [[fire resistance]].
-[[Eating]] a hell hound pup [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|7|15}} chance of granting fire resistance.
+[[Eating]] a hell hound pup [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|7|15}} chance (~46%) of granting fire resistance to a hero or monster, as does [[digesting]] ive hell hound pups.
 ==Generation==
-Randomly-generated hell hound pups are always created hostile. They can be created in small [[group]]s, and are only generated normally in [[Gehennom]]. A hell hound pup can [[grow up]] into a [[hell hound]].
+Hell hound pups are only generated randomly in [[Gehennom]], and always created hostile. They can be created in small [[group]]s, and are only generated normally in [[Gehennom]]. A hell hound pup can [[grow up]] into a hell hound.
-A hell hound pup is generated in two of the niches on the middle floor of [[Vlad's Tower]] during level creation.{{refsrc|dat/tower.des|76|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|dat/tower.des|85-L86|nethack=3.6.7}}
+A hell hound pup is generated in two of the niches on the middle floor of [[Vlad's Tower]] during level creation.{{refsrc|dat/tower2.lua|21-L24|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|dat/tower2.lua|32-L33|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Strategy==
-Most heroes will have fire resistance and/or reflection by the time they encounter hell hound pups in Gehennom, rendering them a general non-issue in normal circumstances&mdash;for a hero that can reach Gehennom, the primary concerns are usually protecting their inventory from fire if they lack reflection, as well as not being careless enough to stand on [[ice]] when being blasted by fire breath (which may plunge them into [[Drowning|a watery grave]]).
+Most heroes will have fire resistance and/or reflection by the time they encounter hell hound pups in Gehennom, rendering them a general non-issue in normal circumstances&mdash;for a hero that can reach Gehennom, the primary concerns are usually protecting their inventory from fire if they lack reflection or a source of extrinsic fire resistance (which can protect items in open inventory from burning or boiling {{frac|99|100}} of the time per item). Furthermore, they must be especially wary of hell hound pups that crop up in the [[ice]]-filled areas of Gehennom or near any ice created by the hero, as their fire breath can melt the ice and may plunge them into [[Drowning|a watery grave]]).
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|b98a70e3ecaa4cbb5eb18c99de61cf84a2b52213}}, [[dwarvish cloak]]s protect items in open inventory from fire damage {{frac|9|10}} of the time.
+For heroes approaching the mid-game, [[polymorph trap]]s and [[shapeshifter]]s such as [[chameleon]]s can result in unexpected encounters with hell hound pups, and their fire breath is especially dangerous against non-resistant heroes due to racking up additional damage from the burning items. A hero aware of a hell hound pup's presence in these earlier scenarios will want to close the distance while avoiding their breath weapons if possible&mdash;in the case of shapeshifters they will want to do so quickly before the shifter can change into a monster that is much harder or even nigh-impossible to kill. In a pinch, [[dwarvish cloak]]s can protect items in open inventory from fire damage {{frac|9|10}} of the time.
-Per {{commit|9942b65df78dd55a7806ec}}, extrinsic fire resistance protects items in open inventory from freezing and shattering {{frac|99|100}} of the time, with a separate roll for each item that would be destroyed.}}
+Exploiting the hell hound pup's [[vulnerability]] to [[cold]] is generally a good idea for both early and late-game heroes, and a well placed ray of cold can often make short work of them.
 ==History==
-The hell hound pup first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]].
+The hell hound pup first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]]. From this version 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 47: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
 In [[SLASH'EM]], the [[Flame Mage]]'s starting pet is a hell hound pup.{{refsrc|role.c|127|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}} This also applies to [[SlashTHEM]].
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], hell hound pups 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 hound pups may turn [[traitor]].
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], hell hound pups are considered [[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 via normal vision and [[Scent (vision)|scent]]. [[Tame]] hell hound pups may turn [[traitor]].
-Hell hound pups 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 hound pups 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 also [[Warned of monster type|warn of hell hound pups and other canines]] while wielded.
-Two hell hound pups are placed near [[Cerberus (dNetHack)|Cerberus]] on the first floor of the [[Windowless Tower]] during level creation, while the second floor retains the two hell hound pups placed from Vlad's Tower in ''NetHack''.
+Two hell hound pups are placed near [[Cerberus (dNetHack)|Cerberus]] on the first floor of the [[Windowless Tower]] during level creation, while the second floor retains the two hell hound pups placed within random niches during level creation as in ''NetHack''.
 ===SpliceHack===
@@ Line 71: / Line 63: @@
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], the [[Flame Mage/Hack'EM|Flame Mage's]] starting pet is a hell hound pup as in SlashTHEM.
+In [[Hack'EM]], the [[Flame Mage/Hack'EM|Flame Mage's]] starting pet is a hell hound pup as in SLASH'EM.
-Two hell hound pups are randomly placed on the home level of the [[Ice Mage quest/Hack'EM|Ice Mage quest]] during level creation, and two other are placed randomly on ecah of the upper filler levels during level creation.
+Two hell hound pups are randomly placed on the home level of the [[Ice Mage quest/Hack'EM|Ice Mage quest]] during level creation, and two others are placed randomly on each of the upper filler levels during level creation.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
@@ Line 92: / Line 84: @@
 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=4
   |MR=20
-  |align=-5
+  |align=0
   |frequency=1
   |genocidable=Yes

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 ==Origin==
 {{wikipedia|Hell hound}}
-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 across portrayals accordingly, but they are commonly black, anomalously overgrown, supernaturally strong, and often have red eyes or are accompanied by flames. The hell hound makes its debut in the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' fantasy roleplaying game in the first supplement, the 1975 ''Greyhawk''.
+A hell hound or 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 across portrayals accordingly, but they are commonly black, anomalously overgrown, supernaturally strong, and often have red eyes or are accompanied by flames. The hell hound makes its debut in the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' fantasy roleplaying game in the first supplement, the 1975 ''Greyhawk''.
 Initially, the hell hounds of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 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 will also attack with their claws and teeth. They are quick and agile pack hunters that pursue escaping victims relentlessly, and enjoy causing pain and suffering: a common favorite pack tactic is to surround prey silently before two hell hounds close in and make the victim back into another hell hound's fiery breath. Hell hounds cannot speak, but understand Infernal.