Intelligence drain - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2026-07-09T12:18:25Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: potholes - need to check if plasteel helms differ between THEM and hackem

2026-07-09T11:50:40Z

potholes - need to check if plasteel helms differ between THEM and hackem

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ todo

2025-12-12T13:17:35Z

‎dNetHack: todo

Umbire the Phantom: /* Genocide */ tweak

2025-12-03T11:27:18Z

‎Genocide: tweak

Umbire the Phantom: /* Eating a monster's brains */ word choice

2025-12-03T11:24:35Z

‎Eating a monster's brains: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* notnotdNetHack */ word choice

2025-12-03T09:10:39Z

‎notnotdNetHack: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* EvilHack */ word choice

2025-12-03T09:05:29Z

‎EvilHack: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* EvilHack */ word choice

2025-12-03T09:04:51Z

‎EvilHack: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ word choice

2025-12-03T09:03:06Z

‎dNetHack: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* notdNetHack */ word choice

2025-12-03T09:01:32Z

‎notdNetHack: word choice

@@ Line 112: / Line 112: @@
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], [[Tinfoil hat (SpliceHack)|tinfoil hats]] and [[Plasteel helm (Hack'EM)|plasteel helms]] protect against brain-eating attacks.
+In [[Hack'EM]], [[Tinfoil hat (Hack'EM)|tinfoil hats]] and [[Plasteel helm (Hack'EM)|plasteel helms]] protect against brain-eating attacks.
 ===notnotdNetHack===

@@ Line 112: / Line 112: @@
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], [[tinfoil hat]]s and [[plasteel helm]]s protect against brain-eating attacks.
+In [[Hack'EM]], [[Tinfoil hat (SpliceHack)|tinfoil hats]] and [[Plasteel helm (Hack'EM)|plasteel helms]] protect against brain-eating attacks.
 ===notnotdNetHack===

@@ Line 90: / Line 90: @@
 * [[Star spawn]] have an intelligence-draining tentacle attack and a second intelligence-draining tentacle attack that occurs if the hero has 40 or more [[insight]]. A star spawn's attacks ignore worn armor, meaning that helmets will '''not''' protect the hero or a monster from them.
 * [[Dream eater]]s have an intelligence-draining [[touch]] attack, while [[veil-render]]s have two intelligence-draining touch attacks.
 ===notdNetHack===

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 Both the amnesia and instadeath from brain-eating are enough to make both forms of mind flayer popular targets for [[genocide]]&mdash;with this in mind, '''do not attempt blessed genocide of mind flayers if the hero is a [[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarf]]''', and be careful to spell the monster's name properly, especially if playing as a [[Monk]]. It is usually safer to perform one or two "normal" genocides from the uncursed [[scroll of genocide]] and/or a [[throne]]: the master mind flayer can be generated via the [[summon nasties]] [[monster spell]], which places them in melee range of the hero, and so should ideally be targeted first; regular mind flayers cannot be generated via the spell, unless they randomly replace an [[extinct]] or genocided nasty.
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|3eed500886900e690a100a7370200dcd0abcd02a}}, mind flayers will appear in place of master mind flayers if the summon nasties monster spell is cast and the latter are genocided.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|3eed500886900e690a100a7370200dcd0abcd02a}}, mind flayers will appear in place of master mind flayers if the summon nasties monster spell is cast and only the latter monsters are genocided.}}
 ===Petkeeping and polyself===

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ===Eating a monster's brains===
-When an intelligence-draining attack targets another monster, it checks if the defending monster has a head, dealing no damage if they are headless.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1400|nethack=3.6.7}} It then checks for a worn helm, which blocks the attack {{frac|7|8}} of the time.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1407|nethack=3.6.7}} If the attack is not blocked, the monster then has its brains eaten:{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1415|nethack=3.6.7}} a noncorporeal or mindless monster will be unharmed, while all other monsters take up to 10 points of additional damage.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|503|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|549|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|613|nethack=3.6.7}} Monsters whose flesh causes stoning when eaten will turn the attacker to stone after the extra damage is inflicted, while monsters whose flesh causes [[sliming]] will cause nine turns of delayed sliming for the hero and instantly turn monsters into [[green slime]]s.<ref name="stiffmeal"/> Attacking the [[Riders]] this way will kill the attacker after the extra damage is dealt.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|553|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|617|nethack=3.6.7}} When a monster is killed by extra damage from intelligence drain, the game will print a similar message to the one used for a hero dying of becoming brainless.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|626|nethack=3.6.7}}
+When an intelligence-draining attack targets another monster, it checks if the defending monster has a head, dealing no damage if they are headless.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1400|nethack=3.6.7}} It then checks for a worn helm, which blocks the attack {{frac|7|8}} of the time.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1407|nethack=3.6.7}} If the attack is not blocked, the monster then has its brains eaten:{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1415|nethack=3.6.7}} a noncorporeal or mindless monster will be unharmed, while all other monsters take up to 10 points of additional damage.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|503|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|549|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|613|nethack=3.6.7}} Monsters whose flesh causes stoning when eaten will turn the attacker to stone after the extra damage is inflicted, while monsters whose flesh causes [[sliming]] will cause nine turns of delayed sliming for the hero and instantly turn monsters who eat their brains into [[green slime]]s.<ref name="stiffmeal"/> Attacking the [[Riders]] this way will kill the attacker after the extra damage is dealt.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|553|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|617|nethack=3.6.7}} When a monster is killed by extra damage from intelligence drain, the game will print a similar message to the one used for a hero that dies from becoming brainless.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|626|nethack=3.6.7}}
 A hero in the form of a mind flayer or master mind flayer that consumes a monster's brains this way exercises wisdom, has their hunger reduced by up to 30 for each successful attack and restores any lost intelligence up to their current maximum.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|561|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/eat.c|570|nethack=3.6.7}} This naturally breaks [[vegetarian]] [[conduct]], and the hero cannot [[choke]] this way, though they are still subject to potential [[cannibalism]] penalties (which are applied once per set of brain-eating attacks).{{refsrc|src/eat.c|575|nethack=3.6.7}} A pet mind flayer or master mind flayer that gains nutrition from eating the brains of a non-[[minion]] monster gains up to 60 nutrition per successful attack.<ref name="mfamb"/>{{refsrc|src/eat.c|632|nethack=3.6.7}}

@@ Line 111: / Line 111: @@
 ===notnotdNetHack===
-In [[notnotdNetHack]], in addition to notdNetHack details, life saving that occurs when a hero becomes brainless in normal play will reset the hero's intelligence to 5, as done when declining to die in explore mode or wizard mode.
+In [[notnotdNetHack]], in addition to notdNetHack details, life saving that occurs when a hero becomes brainless in normal play will reset the hero's intelligence to 5, similar to what is done when declining to die from becoming brainless during explore mode or wizard mode in ''NetHack''.
 ==References==

@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 In [[EvilHack]], [[Zombie (EvilHack)|zombies]] are given intelligence-draining bite attacks that can also cause [[illness]]; [[Alhoon (EvilHack)|alhoons]] have two intelligence-draining tentacle attacks, and [[Neothelid (EvilHack)|neothelids]] have three intelligence-draining tentacle attacks per round.
-[[Illithid (starting race)|Illithid]] heroes have an intelligence-draining attack that have a chance of occurring during melee attacks, which grant nutrition when they hit a target that is not mindless or noncorporeal. [[Draugr (starting race)|Draugr]] heroes are immune to intelligence-draining attacks by virtue of being [[undead]], and as zombies can utilize intelligence-draining bite attacks of their own on {{frac|4}} of melee attacks: these attacks inflict illness on non-resistant targets, grant the draugr nutrition if the target is not mindless or noncorporeal, and may cause certain monsters to reanimate as corresponding zombies if the bite or the resulting sickness kills them. Intelligence-draining attacks from a draugr or illithid hero are suppressed automatically against hazardous targets such as [[spotted jellies]] or [[black dragon]]s.
+[[Illithid (starting race)|Illithid]] heroes have an intelligence-draining attack that has a chance of occurring during melee attacks, which grant nutrition when they hit a target that is not mindless or noncorporeal. [[Draugr (starting race)|Draugr]] heroes are immune to intelligence-draining attacks by virtue of being [[undead]], and as zombies can utilize intelligence-draining bite attacks of their own on {{frac|4}} of melee attacks: these attacks inflict illness on non-resistant targets, grant the draugr nutrition if the target is not mindless or noncorporeal, and may cause certain monsters to reanimate as corresponding zombies if the bite or the resulting sickness kills them. Intelligence-draining attacks from a draugr or illithid hero are suppressed automatically against hazardous targets such as [[spotted jellies]] or [[black dragon]]s.
 [[Psychic resistance]] renders a hero or monster immune to intelligence loss from intelligence-draining attacks: illithid heroes start each game with psychic resistance, and all other [[Illithid (monster attribute)|illithids]] possess the property.

@@ Line 101: / Line 101: @@
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], [[Zombie (EvilHack)|zombies]] are given brain-eating bites attacks that can also cause [[illness]]; [[Alhoon (EvilHack)|alhoons]] have two brain-eating tentacle attacks, and [[Neothelid (EvilHack)|neothelids]] have three brain-eating tentacle attacks per round.
+In [[EvilHack]], [[Zombie (EvilHack)|zombies]] are given intelligence-draining bite attacks that can also cause [[illness]]; [[Alhoon (EvilHack)|alhoons]] have two intelligence-draining tentacle attacks, and [[Neothelid (EvilHack)|neothelids]] have three intelligence-draining tentacle attacks per round.
-[[Illithid (starting race)|Illithid]] heroes have a brain-eating attack that have a chance of occurring during melee attacks, which grant nutrition when they hit a target that is not mindless or noncorporeal. [[Draugr (starting race)|Draugr]] heroes are immune to brain-eating attacks by virtue of being [[undead]], and as zombies can utilize brain-eating bite attacks of their own on {{frac|4}} of melee attacks: these attacks inflict illness on non-resistant targets, grant the draugr nutrition if the target is not mindless or noncorporeal, and may cause certain monsters to reanimate as corresponding zombies if the bite or the resulting sickness kills them. Brain-eating attacks from a draugr or illithid hero are suppressed automatically against hazardous targets such as [[spotted jellies]] or [[black dragon]]s.
+[[Illithid (starting race)|Illithid]] heroes have an intelligence-draining attack that have a chance of occurring during melee attacks, which grant nutrition when they hit a target that is not mindless or noncorporeal. [[Draugr (starting race)|Draugr]] heroes are immune to intelligence-draining attacks by virtue of being [[undead]], and as zombies can utilize intelligence-draining bite attacks of their own on {{frac|4}} of melee attacks: these attacks inflict illness on non-resistant targets, grant the draugr nutrition if the target is not mindless or noncorporeal, and may cause certain monsters to reanimate as corresponding zombies if the bite or the resulting sickness kills them. Intelligence-draining attacks from a draugr or illithid hero are suppressed automatically against hazardous targets such as [[spotted jellies]] or [[black dragon]]s.
-[[Psychic resistance]] renders a hero or monster immune to intelligence loss from brain-eating attacks: illithid heroes start each game with psychic resistance, and all other [[Illithid (monster attribute)|illithids]] possess the property.
+[[Psychic resistance]] renders a hero or monster immune to intelligence loss from intelligence-draining attacks: illithid heroes start each game with psychic resistance, and all other [[Illithid (monster attribute)|illithids]] possess the property.
 ===Hack'EM===

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 * [[Drow alienist]]s have an intelligence drain attack that can reach targets anywhere within a 5x5 square centered on the attacker's square.
 * [[Migo philosopher]]s and [[Migo queen (dNetHack)|migo queens]] have intelligence-draining claw attacks.
-* [[Alhoon (dNetHack)|Alhoons]] have a brain-eating tentacle attack.
+* [[Alhoon (dNetHack)|Alhoons]] have an intelligence-draining tentacle attack.
-* [[Lugribossk]] has three brain-eating tentacle attacks.
+* [[Lugribossk]] has three intelligence-draining tentacle attacks.
-* [[Star spawn]] have a brain-eating tentacle attack and a second brain-eating attack that occurs if the hero has 40 or more [[insight]]. A star spawn's attacks ignore worn armor, meaning that helmets will '''not''' protect the hero or a monster from them.
+* [[Star spawn]] have an intelligence-draining tentacle attack and a second intelligence-draining tentacle attack that occurs if the hero has 40 or more [[insight]]. A star spawn's attacks ignore worn armor, meaning that helmets will '''not''' protect the hero or a monster from them.
 * [[Dream eater]]s have an intelligence-draining [[touch]] attack, while [[veil-render]]s have two intelligence-draining touch attacks.

@@ Line 92: / Line 92: @@
 ===notdNetHack===
-In [[notdNetHack]], in addition to dNetHack details, all [[Illithanachronounbinder]]s start the game with a tentacle attack that automatically occurs in melee, and works as brain-eating attacks do for the hero in ''NetHack''.
+In [[notdNetHack]], in addition to dNetHack details, all [[Illithanachronounbinder]]s start the game with an intelligence-draining tentacle attack that automatically occurs in melee and works as brain-eating attacks do for the hero in ''NetHack''.
 [[Villithid]]s have a brain-eating tentacle attack.