Master Kaen - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Encyclopedia entry */ tweak

2026-03-26T03:36:11Z

‎Encyclopedia entry: tweak

Umbire the Phantom: /* SLASH'EM */ word choice

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‎SLASH'EM: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ cite commit

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‎Strategy: cite commit

Umbire the Phantom: /* SLASH'EM */ detail

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‎SLASH'EM: detail

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ word choice

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‎Generation: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ detail

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‎Generation: detail

Umbire the Phantom: lede

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lede

Umbire the Phantom: might not need this...

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might not need this...

Umbire the Phantom: /* EvilHack */ copyedit

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‎EvilHack: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ punc

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@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
-Master Kaen shares an encyclopedia entry with "monk".
+Master Kaen and monks share the same [[encyclopedia]] entry:
 {{encyclopedia|
 One day, an army general invited the Buddhist monk I-Hsiu (literally, "One Rest") to his military head office for a dinner.  I-Hsiu was not accustomed to wearing luxurious clothings and so he just put on an old ordinary casual robe to go to the military base.  To him, "form is void".

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 In [[SLASH'EM]], Master Kaen's [[monster difficulty]] is 33.
-Monks have a much better chance against Master Kaen through liberal use of [[technique]]s: combinations such as [[chi strike]] plus [[elemental fist]] plus [[pummel]] can even kill him in a single round of melee. A quaffed [[potion of invulnerability]] in particular can turn the fight into a cakewalk.
+Monks have a much better chance against Master Kaen through liberal use of their [[technique]]s: combinations such as [[chi strike]] plus [[elemental fist]] plus [[pummel]] can even kill him in a single round of melee. A quaffed [[potion of invulnerability]] in particular can turn the fight into a cakewalk.
 ===EvilHack===

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 If a scroll of scare monster is not readily available, the additional strategies discussed in the following sections can still help ensure a relatively safe fight against Master Kaen.
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The scroll of scare monster no longer works on any {{white|@}} or unique monster.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|dc9fe0d8bc96e006c119fa183c9c9a7c4cde2f53}}, a scroll of scare monster on the ground no longer scares any unique monster.}}
 ===Immobilizing Kaen===
@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 ===Polymorphing Master Kaen===
-Master Kaen has no resistance against polymorph other than his low 10 MR, so a couple of zaps from a [[wand of polymorph]] should suffice. Bashing him with a [[potion of polymorph]] may also work, though extras or a backup plan are recommended in case he resists. Whatever he transforms into will most likely be less dangerous than his original form, but as with other monsters there is a chance of turning him into an equivalent or worse threat, especially ones such as a [[titan]] or [[arch-lich]] that can resist being polymorphed again.
+Master Kaen has no resistance against polymorph other than his low 10 MR, so a couple of zaps from a [[wand of polymorph]] should suffice. Bashing him with a [[potion of polymorph]] may also work, though extras or a backup plan are recommended in case he resists. Whatever he transforms into will most likely be less dangerous than his original form, but as with other monsters there is a chance of turning him into a roughly equivalent or even worse threat, especially ones such as [[titan]]s or [[arch-lich]]es that will likely resist being polymorphed again.
 Be careful when using the wand of polymorph: the quest artifact has a {{frac|19|20}} chance of resisting polymorph, but can still fail to resist and may also be destroyed if Master Kaen dies of [[system shock]].

@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], Monks have a much better chance against Master Kaen through liberal use of [[technique]]s: combinations such as [[chi strike]] plus [[elemental fist]] plus [[pummel]] can even kill him in a single round of melee. A quaffed [[potion of invulnerability]] in particular can turn the fight into a cakewalk.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], Master Kaen's [[monster difficulty]] is 33.
 ===EvilHack===

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 For Monks, Master Kaen is always generated on one of two squares of the [[Monk quest]] goal level, where he is placed meditating atop an unaligned [[altar]] during level creation with The Eyes of the Overworld underneath him.
-In addition to the Bell of Opening, Master Kaen has a {{frac|11}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory|being generated with]] a [[cloak of magic resistance]], and will otherwise be generated with a [[robe]].{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|696|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Master Kaen is [[always generated with]] the Bell of Opening and a [[cloak]], which has a {{frac|11}} chance of being a [[cloak of magic resistance]] and will otherwise be a [[robe]].{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|696|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==

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 ==Generation==
-Master Kaen is generated on one of two squares of the [[Monk quest]] goal level, standing atop an unaligned [[altar]] with The Eyes of the Overworld underneath him.
+Master Kaen is always generated hostile, and is not a valid polymorph form or genocide target.
 In addition to the Bell of Opening, Master Kaen has a {{frac|11}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory|being generated with]] a [[cloak of magic resistance]], and will otherwise be generated with a [[robe]].{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|696|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}

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   |resistances=[[Poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]]
   |resistances conveyed=[[Poison resistance]] (100%)
-  |attributes={{attributes|Master Kaen|humanoid=1|herbivore=1|seeinvis=1|nopoly=1|human=1|pname=1|hostile=1|strong=1|nasty=1|stalk=1|collect=1|magic=1|wantsarti=1|waitsforu=1|infravisible=1}}
+  |attributes={{attributes|Master Kaen|humanoid=1|herbivore=1|seeinvis=1|nopoly=1|human=1|male=1|pname=1|hostile=1|strong=1|nasty=1|stalk=1|collect=1|magic=1|wantsarti=1|waitsforu=1|infravisible=1}}
-  |reference=[[monst.c#line3256]]
+  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L3039 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 3039]
 }}
-{{questmon|Master Kaen|Monk|nemesis}} He is a [[strong]] [[Human (monster attribute)|human]] monk that guards the [[Bell of Opening]] and the Monk's [[quest artifact]], [[The Eyes of the Overworld]]. Like other monk monsters, Master Kaen is [[strong]], [[herbivorous]] and can [[see invisible]]&mdash;he is [[covetous]] and capable of warping, and can [[follow]] the [[hero]] to other levels if he is adjacent.
+{{questmon|Master Kaen|Monk|nemesis}} He is a [[strong]] [[Human or elf|human]] monk that guards the [[Bell of Opening]] and the Monk's [[quest artifact]], [[The Eyes of the Overworld]]. Like other [[Human (monster attribute)|human]] monsters that represent monks, Master Kaen is [[herbivorous]] and can [[see invisible]]. As a [[covetous]] monster, Master Kaen is capable of warping and desires the hero's quest artifact&mdash;he will also pick up [[magical item]]s and other items that he comes across, and can [[follow]] the [[hero]] to other levels if he is adjacent.
-Master Kaen has two very strong [[Claw attack|'claw' attacks]], the ability to cast a clerical [[monster spell]] during each of his turns, and a third 'claw' attack that can steal the quest artifact back if it was obtained without killing him. He possesses [[poison resistance]].
+Master Kaen has two very strong [[Claw attack|'claw' attacks]], the ability to cast a clerical [[monster spell]] during each of his turns, and a third 'claw' attack that can steal the quest artifact back if it was obtained without killing him. He possesses [[poison resistance]] and [[stoning resistance]]
-Eating Master Kaen's [[corpse]] or [[tin]] is guaranteed to convey poison resistance, though this will count as [[cannibalism]] since only [[Human (starting race)|humans]] can be Monks.
+[[Eating]] Master Kaen's [[corpse]] or [[tin]] is guaranteed to grant poison resistance, though this will count as [[cannibalism]] since only [[Human (starting race)|humans]] can be Monks.
 ==Generation==

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 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], Master Kaen does not respect the scroll of scare monster, and his second 16d2 'claw' attack can knock the target back one or two squares, much like the melee attacks of player and non-player Monks (including the [[quest leader]] and [[guardian]]s). Additionally, the list of clerical monster spells is expanded to include many more dangerous spells, including [[Vulnerability (monster spell)|vulnerability]], and some existing monster spells are buffed indirectly or otherwise (e.g., summon insects can generate flying, [[sickness]]-inducing [[Locust (EvilHack)|locusts]]).
+In [[EvilHack]], Master Kaen does not respect the scroll of scare monster, and his second 16d2 'claw' attack can knock the target back one or two squares, much like the melee attacks of player and non-player Monks (including the [[quest leader]] and [[guardian]]s). Additionally, the list of clerical monster spells is expanded to include many more dangerous spells, including [[Vulnerability (monster spell)|vulnerability]], and some existing monster spells are buffed indirectly or otherwise (e.g., summon insects can generate flying, [[sickness]]-inducing [[locust]]s).
 A majority of the goal level is composed of lava as in ''NetHack'', introducing the possibility of a hero in the wrong place at the wrong time being sent flying into certain doom from one of Kaen's strikes.
@@ Line 84: / Line 84: @@
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
 Master Kaen shares an encyclopedia entry with "monk".
 {{encyclopedia|
-{{encyclopedia| One day, an army general invited the Buddhist monk I-Hsiu (literally, "One Rest") to his military head office for a dinner.  I-Hsiu was not accustomed to wearing luxurious clothings and so he just put on an old ordinary casual robe to go to the military base.  To him, "form is void".
+One day, an army general invited the Buddhist monk I-Hsiu (literally, "One Rest") to his military head office for a dinner.  I-Hsiu was not accustomed to wearing luxurious clothings and so he just put on an old ordinary casual robe to go to the military base.  To him, "form is void".
 As he approached the base, two soldiers appeared before him and shouted, "Where does this beggar came from?  Identify yourself!  You do not have permission to be around here!"

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 ==Strategy==
-Master Kaen is extremely difficult: he hits hard and often, casts clerical spells, and ignores [[Elbereth]]. This makes him incredibly ferocious in a straight-up fight, especially if he can warp in and land an attack on a character immediately. Among Kaen's few weaknesses are his predictable behavior, his low [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] of 10 and his lack of resistances - of particular note are the lack of [[sleep resistance]], [[drain resistance]], and [[disintegration resistance]]. Characters without the means to take advantage of these can postpone the Quest until after they have finished the [[Castle]]; high [[luck]] paired with a [[luckstone]] (or similar [[luck item]]) is ideal, and Monks using melee weapons and/or body armor will want this regardless.
+Master Kaen is extremely difficult: he hits hard and often, casts clerical spells, and ignores [[Elbereth]]. This makes him incredibly ferocious in a straight-up fight, especially if he can warp in and land an attack on a character immediately. Among Kaen's few weaknesses are his predictable behavior, his low [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] of 10 and his lack of resistances&mdash;of particular note are the lack of [[sleep resistance]], [[drain resistance]], and [[disintegration resistance]]. Characters without the means to take advantage of these can postpone the Quest until after they have finished the [[Castle]]; high [[luck]] paired with a [[luckstone]] (or similar [[luck item]]) is ideal, and Monks using melee weapons and/or body armor will want this regardless.
 Thankfully, Master Kaen respects the [[scroll of scare monster]], and placing one on the upstairs immediately after arriving can leave him unable to do anything except possibly cast healing spells on himself. From there, characters can finish him off as they please using one of the other strategies listed further below&mdash;[[death ray]]s should make short work of him in most cases, and the stronger attack [[wand]]s (e.g. lightning, fire, or cold) will work nicely as well.