Jackal - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: typo

2026-05-23T02:44:42Z

typo

Umbire the Phantom: lede

2026-05-23T02:44:33Z

lede

Umbire the Phantom: add messages

2026-05-22T23:00:38Z

add messages

Umbire the Phantom: paragraphing, grunt, un

2026-05-22T03:49:22Z

paragraphing, grunt, un

Umbire the Phantom: punc

2026-05-22T01:46:46Z

punc

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2026-05-21T23:38:01Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: reflink

2026-05-21T23:35:36Z

reflink

Umbire the Phantom: clarify where it is and isn't cannibalism

2026-05-21T23:15:01Z

clarify where it is and isn't cannibalism

Umbire the Phantom: knock out the nh5 updates here (and yes, it is in fact still at the top even now, if it ever left)

2026-05-21T23:03:20Z

knock out the nh5 updates here (and yes, it is in fact still at the top even now, if it ever left)

Umbire the Phantom: tweak

2025-12-21T20:46:23Z

tweak

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
   |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-5.0.0_Released/include/monsters.h#L199 NetHack 5.0.0 - include/monsters.h, line 199]
 }}
-A '''jackal''', {{monsym|jackal}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The jackal is a [[small]] and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]], and is the most basic member of the canine [[monster class]] that a [[hero]] will encounter. [[Werejacal]]s are [[shapeshifter]]s that can transform into jackal-like forms, and a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a werejackal can do the same.
+A '''jackal''', {{monsym|jackal}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The jackal is a [[small]] and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]], and is the most basic member of the canine [[monster class]] that a [[hero]] will encounter. [[Werejackal]]s are [[shapeshifter]]s that can transform into jackal-like forms, and a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a werejackal can do the same.
 A jackal has a single [[bite attack]].

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
   |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-5.0.0_Released/include/monsters.h#L199 NetHack 5.0.0 - include/monsters.h, line 199]
 }}
-A '''jackal''', {{monsym|jackal}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The jackal is a [[small]] and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]], and is the most basic member of the canine [[monster class]] that a [[hero]] will encounter.
+A '''jackal''', {{monsym|jackal}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The jackal is a [[small]] and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]], and is the most basic member of the canine [[monster class]] that a [[hero]] will encounter. [[Werejacal]]s are [[shapeshifter]]s that can transform into jackal-like forms, and a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a werejackal can do the same.
 A jackal has a single [[bite attack]].
-[[Eating]] jackals is considered [[cannibalism]] for a hero that has [[lycanthropy]] from a [[werejackal]].{{refsrc|src/eat.c|770-L777|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|78-L82|nethack=5.0.0}}
+[[Eating]] jackals is considered [[cannibalism]] for a hero that has lycanthropy from a werejackal.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|770-L777|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|78-L82|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Generation==

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:00, 22 May 2026
Line 51:		Line 51:

	Like [[fox]]es and [[coyote]]s, jackals are often depicted as clever sorcerers in the myths and legends of their regions. The Bible frequently uses jackals as a literary device to illustrate desolation, loneliness, and abandonment, with reference to its habit of living in the ruins of former cities and other areas abandoned by humans. The jackal of the Indian "[[Wikipedia:Panchatantra\|Panchatantra]]" stories is described as wily and wise, while the jackals of Bengali tantrik tradition represent the goddess Kali, who is said to appear as a group of jackals when meat is offered to her. The [[Wikipedia:Serer religion\|Serer people's religion]] and creation myth posits that jackals were among the first animals created by Roog, the Serer supreme deity.		Like [[fox]]es and [[coyote]]s, jackals are often depicted as clever sorcerers in the myths and legends of their regions. The Bible frequently uses jackals as a literary device to illustrate desolation, loneliness, and abandonment, with reference to its habit of living in the ruins of former cities and other areas abandoned by humans. The jackal of the Indian "[[Wikipedia:Panchatantra\|Panchatantra]]" stories is described as wily and wise, while the jackals of Bengali tantrik tradition represent the goddess Kali, who is said to appear as a group of jackals when meat is offered to her. The [[Wikipedia:Serer religion\|Serer people's religion]] and creation myth posits that jackals were among the first animals created by Roog, the Serer supreme deity.
		+
		+	==Messages==
		+	{{main\|Canine#Messages\|l1=Canine-related messages}}

	==Variants==		==Variants==

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
   |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-5.0.0_Released/include/monsters.h#L199 NetHack 5.0.0 - include/monsters.h, line 199]
 }}
-A '''jackal''', {{monsym|jackal}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The jackal is a [[small]] and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]], and is the most basic member of the canine [[monster class]] that a [[hero]] will encounter. [[Eating]] jackals is considered [[cannibalism]] for a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a [[werejackal]].{{refsrc|src/eat.c|770-L777|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|78-L82|nethack=5.0.0}}
+A '''jackal''', {{monsym|jackal}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The jackal is a [[small]] and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]], and is the most basic member of the canine [[monster class]] that a [[hero]] will encounter.
 A jackal has a single [[bite attack]].
 ==Generation==
@@ Line 57: / Line 59: @@
 Jackals appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the second quest monster class for [[Yeomen]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Yeoman quest]].
 ===dNetHack===

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 ==Generation==
-Randomly generated jackals are always created [[hostile]], and may appear in small [[group]]s.
+Randomly-generated jackals are always created [[hostile]], and may appear in small [[group]]s.
 Werejackals that call for help and summon hostile monsters have a {{frac|6|7}} chance of generating a jackal per summoned monster{{refsrc|src/were.c|166|nethack=5.0.0}}&mdash;a hero that contracts lycanthropy from a werejackal will both take on the form of a jackal, and can spend 10 [[power]] to summon tame jackals with the same odds by using the [[Monster (command)|#monster]] [[extended command]].

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
   |resistances conveyed=None
   |attributes={{attributes|A jackal|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#L198 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 198]
+  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-5.0.0_Released/include/monsters.h#L199 NetHack 5.0.0 - include/monsters.h, line 199]
 }}
 A '''jackal''', {{monsym|jackal}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The jackal is a small and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]], and is the most basic member of the canine [[monster class]] that a [[hero]] will encounter. [[Eating]] jackals is considered [[cannibalism]] for a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a [[werejackal]].{{refsrc|src/eat.c|770-L777|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|78-L82|nethack=5.0.0}}

@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], jackals appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for [[Infidel]]s and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Infidel quest]].
+In [[EvilHack]], eating jackals is considered cannibalism for a hero with lycanthropy from a werejackal.
 ===SlashTHEM===
@@ Line 72: / Line 74: @@
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], jackals can randomly generate in [[Gehennom (Hack'EM)|Gehennom]] unlike in SLASH'EM.
+In [[Hack'EM]], jackals can randomly generate in [[Gehennom (Hack'EM)|Gehennom]] unlike in SLASH'EM. Eating jackals is considered cannibalism for a hero with lycanthropy from a werejackal.
 As in SLASH'EM, jackals appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the second quest monster class for [[Yeomen/Hack'EM|Yeomen]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Yeoman quest. Jackals also appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for Infidels and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Infidel quest, as in EvilHack.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
   |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L198 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 198]
 }}
-A '''jackal''', {{monsym|jackal}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The jackal is a small and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]], and is the most basic member of the canine [[monster class]] that a [[hero]] will encounter. [[Eating]] jackals is considered [[cannibalism]] for a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a [[werejackal]].{{refsrc|src/eat.c|661-L663|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|78-L82|nethack=3.6.7}}
+A '''jackal''', {{monsym|jackal}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The jackal is a small and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]], and is the most basic member of the canine [[monster class]] that a [[hero]] will encounter. [[Eating]] jackals is considered [[cannibalism]] for a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a [[werejackal]].{{refsrc|src/eat.c|770-L777|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|78-L82|nethack=5.0.0}}
 A jackal has a single [[bite attack]].
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 Randomly generated jackals are always created [[hostile]], and may appear in small [[group]]s.
-Werejackals that call for help and summon hostile monsters have a {{frac|6|7}} chance of generating a jackal per summoned monster{{refsrc|src/were.c|150|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;a hero that contracts lycanthropy from a werejackal will both take on the form of a jackal, and can spend 10 [[power]] to summon tame jackals with the same odds by using the [[Monster (command)|#monster]] [[extended command]].
+Werejackals that call for help and summon hostile monsters have a {{frac|6|7}} chance of generating a jackal per summoned monster{{refsrc|src/were.c|166|nethack=5.0.0}}&mdash;a hero that contracts lycanthropy from a werejackal will both take on the form of a jackal, and can spend 10 [[power]] to summon tame jackals with the same odds by using the [[Monster (command)|#monster]] [[extended command]].
 Jackals appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first [[quest]] monster class for [[Samurai]] and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Samurai quest]].
 ==Strategy==
-Jackals can be dangerous for a starting hero due to their speed and tendency to appear in packs, making them a common cause of death for players that are inexperienced or have poor fortunes in their first several hundred turns: as of December 2025, jackals are ranked number 1 on the [[nethack.alt.org]] [https://alt.org/nethack/topdeaths.html list of top death causes], above [[Dwarf (monster)|dwarves]] and even [[soldier ant]]s. Fortunately, they have very low HP and should not be ''too'' greatly feared, and their fresh corpses make decent early meals, especially for roles that lack starting [[food]] or are not observing [[vegetarian]] [[conduct]].
+Jackals can be dangerous for a starting hero due to their speed and tendency to appear in packs, making them a common cause of death for players that are inexperienced or encounter a string of poor rolls in their first several hundred turns: as of May 2026, jackals are ranked number 1 on the [[nethack.alt.org]] [https://alt.org/nethack/topdeaths.html list of top death causes], above [[Dwarf (monster)|dwarves]] and even [[soldier ant]]s. Fortunately, they have very low HP and should not be ''too'' greatly feared, and their fresh corpses make decent early meals, especially for roles that lack starting [[food]] or are not observing [[vegetarian]] [[conduct]].
-Most characters have sufficient starting weapons and skill levels to fight off jackals reliably. In terms of the exceptions, [[Tourist]]s can dispatch them using their bare hands, but should not be afraid to use their [[dart]]s in a pinch, while [[Healer]]s can use their [[stethoscope]] to monitor a jackal's HP level. Heroes fighting jackals in melee should position themselves to avoid being surrounded by other hostiles, and can also funneling a group of jackals through a hall to attack with a [[wand]] or [[spell]].
+Most characters have sufficient starting weapons and skill levels to fight off jackals reliably. In terms of the exceptions, [[Tourist]]s can dispatch them using their [[bare hands]], but should not be afraid to use their [[dart]]s in a pinch, while [[Healer]]s can use their healing potions and abilities to stay alive while monitoring hostile monsters' HP with their [[stethoscope]]. Heroes fighting jackals in melee should position themselves to avoid being surrounded by other hostiles, and can also funnel a group of jackals through a hall to attack them all at once with a [[wand]] or [[spell]].
-As werejackals can potentially surround heroes with summoned jackals and other monsters, dealing with them efficiently is key: counterintuitively, this may be ''easier'' if the hero is surrounded in a hallway, since damage adds up slower when facing any two of a werejackal and their flunkies at a time, compared to potentially five or six hostile at once. In these situations, it is also smart to kill the werejackal as soon as possible so that it cannot summon further hostiles. If the hero contracts lycanthropy into a werejackal, it is possible to summon jackal pets while in animal form to use as meat shields or even polymorphed into better pets.
+As werejackals can surround heroes with summoned jackals and other monsters, dealing with them efficiently is key: counterintuitively, this may be ''easier'' if the hero is surrounded in a hallway, since damage adds up slower when facing any two of a werejackal and their flunkies at a time, compared to potentially five or six hostiles all at once. In these situations, it is also smart to kill the werejackal as soon as possible so that it cannot summon further hostiles. If the hero contracts lycanthropy and then shifts to jackal form, they can summon jackal pets to use as meat shields or even polymorph into better pets before curing the condition if they so desire.
 ==History==
-The jackal 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]]. In Hack 1.21, the jackal uses the {{white|j}} glyph&mdash;in Hack for PDP-11 it uses the {{white|J}} glyph, which it retains for Hack 1.0 and uses all the way up to [[NetHack 2.3e]]. [[NetHack 3.0.0]] establishes the canine monster class and moves the jackal to its current glyph.
+The jackal 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]]. In Hack 1.21, the jackal uses the {{white|j}} glyph, while in Hack for PDP-11 and Hack 1.0 it uses the {{white|J}} glyph and retains this glyph all the way up to [[NetHack 2.3e]]. [[NetHack 3.0.0]] establishes the canine monster class and moves the jackal to its current glyph at {{white|d}}.
 The cannibalism check for eating jackals as a hero with lycanthropy from a werejackal is introduced in [[NetHack 3.6.1]] via {{commit|1f4574b6c8710492de2cb366f9e420b636b0365b}}.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|657-L659|nethack=3.6.1}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|78-L82|nethack=3.6.1}}
@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], eating jackals is not considered cannibalism for a hero with lycanthropy from a werejackal.
-Jackals can be warded by a [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Toustefna|Toustefna]] [[stave]] that is carved into a [[wood]] weapon placed on the hero's square.
+Jackals can 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 jackals and other canines]] while wielded.
 Jackals appear among the {{white|d}} that make up {{frac|10}} of monsters randomly generated in the [[Windowless Tower]] branch.
@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
 ==References==
-<references />
+<references/>
-{{nethack-367}}
+{{nethack-500}}
 [[Category:Monsters]]

@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 All jackals are opportunistic omnivores and proficient scavengers, preying on small to medium-sized animals. Their long legs and curved canine teeth are adapted for hunting small mammals, birds, and reptiles, and their large feet and fused leg bones give them a physique well-suited for long-distance running, capable of maintaining speeds of 16 km/h (10 mph) for extended periods of time. Jackals are most active at dawn and dusk, and their most common social unit is a monogamous pair, which defends its territory from other pairs by vigorously chasing intruders and marking landmarks around the territory. The territory may be large enough to hold some young adults, which stay with their parents until they establish their own territories. Jackals may occasionally assemble in small packs when scavenging, but normally hunt either alone or in pairs.
-Like [[fox]]es and [[coyote]]s, jackals are often depicted as clever sorcerers in the myths and legends of their regions. The Bible frequently uses jackals as a literary device to illustrate desolation, loneliness, and abandonment, with reference to its habit of living in the ruins of former cities and other areas abandoned by humans. The jackal of the Indian [[wikipedia:Panchatantra|Panchatantra]] stories is described as wily and wise, while the jackals of Bengali tantrik tradition represent the goddess Kali, who is said to appear as a group of jackals when meat is offered to her. The [[wikipedia:Serer religion|Serer people's religion]] and creation myth posits that jackals were among the first animals created by Roog, the Serer supreme deity.
+Like [[fox]]es and [[coyote]]s, jackals are often depicted as clever sorcerers in the myths and legends of their regions. The Bible frequently uses jackals as a literary device to illustrate desolation, loneliness, and abandonment, with reference to its habit of living in the ruins of former cities and other areas abandoned by humans. The jackal of the Indian "[[Wikipedia:Panchatantra|Panchatantra]]" stories is described as wily and wise, while the jackals of Bengali tantrik tradition represent the goddess Kali, who is said to appear as a group of jackals when meat is offered to her. The [[Wikipedia:Serer religion|Serer people's religion]] and creation myth posits that jackals were among the first animals created by Roog, the Serer supreme deity.
 ==Variants==