Master mind flayer - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ detailing

2026-02-04T13:33:51Z

‎dNetHack: detailing

Umbire the Phantom: /* As pets */ word choice

2026-02-04T12:38:49Z

‎As pets: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Genocide */ clarify

2026-02-02T21:25:43Z

‎Genocide: clarify

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ same as with mind flayer article

2025-12-07T04:06:36Z

‎dNetHack: same as with mind flayer article

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ ditto

2025-04-23T06:30:31Z

‎Generation: ditto

Umbire the Phantom: ditto

2025-04-16T22:53:34Z

ditto

Umbire the Phantom: pasto

2025-04-16T19:35:47Z

pasto

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ rephrase spoiler lede

2025-04-16T19:33:46Z

‎dNetHack: rephrase spoiler lede

Umbire the Phantom: /* Detection */ word choice

2025-04-16T19:32:46Z

‎Detection: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ word choice

2025-04-16T19:32:13Z

‎Generation: word choice

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 ===dNetHack===
 {{main|Master mind flayer (dNetHack)}}
-In [[dNetHack]], master mind flayers are considered [[primordial]] [[demihuman]]s, and there are several types of [[Illithid (monster attribute)|illithid]] monsters added as well.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], master mind flayers are much different from their ''NetHack'' incarnations: for example, they are considered [[primordial]] [[demihuman]]s, and there are several types of [[Illithid (monster attribute)|illithid]] monsters added as well.
 ===xNetHack===

@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 While highly desirable as [[pet]]s, taming a master mind flayer is extremely hard and dangerous due to their monster magic resistance; you may be much better off using a polymorph trap on your current pet.
-Tame master mind flayers are even more adept at killing [[shopkeeper]]s and other tough monsters, and their telepathic outreach will only lock onto and damage hostile monsters - the harmless message it otherwise produces can be hidden with [[MSGTYPE]]. However, there are a few monsters that still pose a serious threat should a master mind flayer attempt to eat their brain:
+Tame master mind flayers are even more adept at killing [[shopkeeper]]s and other tough monsters, and their telepathic outreach will only lock onto and damage hostile monsters&mdash;the harmless message it otherwise produces can be hidden with <tt>[[MSGTYPE]]</tt>. However, there are a few monsters that still pose a serious threat should a master mind flayer attempt to eat their brain:
-* [[Cockatrice]]s, chickatrices and [[Medusa]] will turn a master mind flayer to stone if a tentacle attack lands.
+* [[Cockatrice]]s, [[chickatrice]]s and [[Medusa]] will turn a master mind flayer to stone if a tentacle attack lands&mdash;pet flayers will generally not attack footrices.
 * [[Jellies]] have passive attacks that can easily rack up enough damage to kill a hapless master mind flayer attacking one.
-* Shapeshifters and [[green slime]]s are similarly dangerous: the former may go down quickly, but will polymorph a master mind flayer that eats its corpse, while the latter is extremely likely to turn it into another slime since consuming one (including eating their brain) induces sliming.
+* [[Shapeshifter]]s like [[chameleon]]s may be defeated somewhat easily depending on their form, but but will polymorph a master mind flayer that eats their corpse, while [[green slime]]s are extremely likely to turn them into another slime upon having their brain eaten.
 * The [[Rider]]s will instantly kill a master mind flayer if one manages to eat their brains, though the Rider in question still takes the extra "brain loss" damage.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|621|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}

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 While the amnesia and instadeath from brain-eating are enough to make both forms of mind flayer a popular target for genocide, '''do not attempt blessed genocide of mind flayers if you are a [[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarf]]!''' Using a blessed [[scroll of genocide]] will remove all {{mcsl|h}} from the current game ''including'' dwarves, serving as a particularly aggravating form of YASD for dwarvish characters. Also, be sure to mind your spelling, ''especially'' if you are a [[Monk]]&mdash;misspelling it as "master mindfalyer" will only parse the word "Master", one of the Monk's [[rank]] titles, and wipe out you and all other monks.
-You should already try to identify the [[beatitude]] of possible scrolls of genocide before reading them if at all possible, and this is especially true if you plan to eliminate master mind flayers with one&mdash;in addition to the above, that randomly read scroll you just found may be cursed, and the summoned horde of master mind flayers will often result in a quick death; even if you can scare them away, their psychic blasts may still overwhelm you. One or two "normal" genocides, either from the uncursed scroll or a [[throne]], should be used instead; the master mind flayer should ideally be targeted first, as regular mind flayers cannot be generated via summon nasties unless they randomly replace an [[extinct]]/genocided nasty.
+You should already try to identify the [[beatitude]] of possible scrolls of genocide before reading them if at all possible, and this is especially true if you plan to eliminate master mind flayers with one&mdash;in addition to the above, that randomly read scroll you just found may be cursed, and the summoned horde of master mind flayers will often result in a quick death; even if you can scare them away, their psychic blasts may still overwhelm you. One or two "normal" genocides, either from the uncursed scroll or a [[throne]], should be used instead; the master mind flayer should ideally be targeted first, as regular mind flayers cannot be generated via summon nasties 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.}}

@@ Line 154: / Line 154: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], master mind flayers and their lesser kin are considered [[primordial]]s.
+{{main|Master mind flayer (dNetHack)}}
+In [[dNetHack]], master mind flayers are considered [[primordial]] [[demihuman]]s, and there are several types of [[Illithid (monster attribute)|illithid]] monsters added as well.
 ===xNetHack===

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:30, 23 April 2025
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	Master mind flayers are notorious for potentially generating within the [[Gnomish Mines]] outside of [[Minetown]] and [[Mines' End]] at level creation. These "minesflayers" are the result of the Mines levels using <tt>[[mkclass]]</tt> to specify that a random humanoid monster should be generated at normal level creation—while this is almost always a [[Dwarf (monster)\|dwarf]], [[hobbit]] or [[bugbear]], <tt>mkclass</tt> can completely ignore the difficulty of the monster it produces and create a mind flayer or master mind flayer.		Master mind flayers are notorious for potentially generating within the [[Gnomish Mines]] outside of [[Minetown]] and [[Mines' End]] at level creation. These "minesflayers" are the result of the Mines levels using <tt>[[mkclass]]</tt> to specify that a random humanoid monster should be generated at normal level creation—while this is almost always a [[Dwarf (monster)\|dwarf]], [[hobbit]] or [[bugbear]], <tt>mkclass</tt> can completely ignore the difficulty of the monster it produces and create a mind flayer or master mind flayer.
		+
		+	Master mind flayers can appear among the random {{white\|h}} that are part of the first quest [[monster class]] for [[Cavepeople]] and make up {{frac\|24\|175}} of monsters that are randomly generated on the [[Caveman quest]].

	{{upcoming\|NetHack 3.7.0\|If a genocided monster with a pre-grown form (that is not explicitly a baby form) is chosen for the summon nasties monster spell, and that pre-grown form is not also genocided, it will appear in place of the genocided monster. This means that mind flayers can be generated via the spell in place of genocided master mind flayers.}}		{{upcoming\|NetHack 3.7.0\|If a genocided monster with a pre-grown form (that is not explicitly a baby form) is chosen for the summon nasties monster spell, and that pre-grown form is not also genocided, it will appear in place of the genocided monster. This means that mind flayers can be generated via the spell in place of genocided master mind flayers.}}

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 Remember that none of these methods will prevent amnesia from a successful brain-sucking, and you are likely to be very forgetful after a fight with a master mind flayer &mdash;have a means of re-identifying items on hand if possible. As a precaution, you can #[[name]] and label one of a particular type of item(s) that you consider vital and/or does not [[auto-identify]] itself.
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|In addition to master mind flayer attacks no longer causing amnesia, unicorn horns will no longer restore lowered stats.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|43d331c4ebe7bcd30a7cab7d4228957e283584c2}}, unicorn horns will no longer restore lowered stats.}}
 ===Genocide===
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 You should already try to identify the [[beatitude]] of possible scrolls of genocide before reading them if at all possible, and this is especially true if you plan to eliminate master mind flayers with one&mdash;in addition to the above, that randomly read scroll you just found may be cursed, and the summoned horde of master mind flayers will often result in a quick death; even if you can scare them away, their psychic blasts may still overwhelm you. One or two "normal" genocides, either from the uncursed scroll or a [[throne]], should be used instead; the master mind flayer should ideally be targeted first, as regular mind flayers cannot be generated via summon nasties unless they randomly replace an [[extinct]]/genocided nasty.
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|If master mind flayers are genocided, mind flayers can appear in their place if the summon nasties monster spell is cast.}}
+{{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.}}
 ===As pets===
@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 * [[Cockatrice]]s, chickatrices and [[Medusa]] will turn a master mind flayer to stone if a tentacle attack lands.
 * [[Jellies]] have passive attacks that can easily rack up enough damage to kill a hapless master mind flayer attacking one.
-* Shapeshifters and [[green slime]]s are similarly dangerous: the former may go down quickly, but will polymorph a master mind flayer that eats its corpse, while the latter is extremely likely to turn it into another slime.
+* Shapeshifters and [[green slime]]s are similarly dangerous: the former may go down quickly, but will polymorph a master mind flayer that eats its corpse, while the latter is extremely likely to turn it into another slime since consuming one (including eating their brain) induces sliming.
-* [[Rider]]s that master mind flayers target are immediately fatal if they manage to eat one's brain, though the Rider in question still takes the extra "brain loss" damage.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|621|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}
+* The [[Rider]]s will instantly kill a master mind flayer if one manages to eat their brains, though the Rider in question still takes the extra "brain loss" damage.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|621|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 [[Ochre jellies]] are a common sight in the late game, especially as a summonable nasty&mdash;consider giving your master mind flayer any [[yellow dragon scales]] (or [[yellow dragon scale mail|dragon scale mail]]) that you happen upon to provide them with valuable [[acid resistance]].

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 Eating a master mind flayer [[corpse]] or [[tin]] can either grant [[telepathy]] or raise intelligence by 1 point, with an equal probability of each.{{refsrc|src/eat.c|1084|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|d6dd5c743c6520652a82937063f788d7be747014}}, mind flayer attacks may cause spells and skills to be forgotten as with [[amnesia]], which was reworked per {{commit|04c59fff0a80e244a1e7bfba8d64c5d0b5550d6c}}&mdash;prior to the former commit, mind flayer attacks did not cause amnesia.
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|d6dd5c743c6520652a82937063f788d7be747014}}, master mind flayer attacks may cause spells and skills to be forgotten as with [[amnesia]], which was reworked per {{commit|04c59fff0a80e244a1e7bfba8d64c5d0b5550d6c}}&mdash;prior to the former commit, mind flayer attacks did not cause amnesia.
-Per {{commit|ecb3a1a68dcd9073c04f6dbb4f659eb9522a1129}}, the mind flayer's glyph color is changed to bright magenta, {{brightmagenta|h}}.}}
+Per {{commit|ecb3a1a68dcd9073c04f6dbb4f659eb9522a1129}}, the master mind flayer's glyph color is changed to bright magenta, {{brightmagenta|h}}.}}
 ==Generation==

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 The [[Drow Noble Quest]] involves infiltrating a colony of mind flayers and retrieving the [[quest artifact]], the [[Web of the Chosen]]: there are two master mind flayers scattered about the goal level at level creation, generally situated near the [[elder brain]] guarding the [[Bell of Opening]].
 <simpletabs>
 Anachrononaut quest|
-The [[Anachrononaut quest]] features master mind flayers in a major role.
+The [[Anachrononaut quest]] features master mind flayers in a major role that constitutes major spoilers for the [[Anachrononaut]] role. They can be accessed by selecting the "Role spoiler" tab.
 |-|
 Role spoiler|

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 If you start sensing waves of psychic energy, that is your cue to [[farlook]] and check any {{magenta|h}} you encounter&mdash;a somewhat common [[YASD]] is to mistake a master mind flayer for an easier-to-kill dwarf king, then march in and promptly have your character's brain eaten. If you have telepathy, blinding yourself temporarily (e.g., via [[blindfold]] or [[towel]]) can be used to quickly confirm if a flayer is present on a level; dwarves also do not generate randomly inside [[Gehennom]], making detection there more trivial.
-Master mind flayers have an impressive [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] of 90 and a base [[AC]] of 0, and can wear all armor. They will often resist many forms of magic available to a character, and [[Scare|scaring]] them through other means is a similarly difficult task. Polymorphing, e.g. via [[polymorph trap]], can also produce hostile master mind flayers much earlier than they can generate normally.
+Master mind flayers have an impressive [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] of 90, and will often resist many forms of magic available to a character, and [[scaring]] them through other means is a similarly difficult task. Polymorphing, e.g. via [[polymorph trap]], can also produce hostile master mind flayers much earlier than they can generate normally.
 ===Combat===

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 Randomly-generated master mind flayers are always generated hostile. A mind flayer can [[grow up]] into a master mind flayer.
-In addition to random generation, hostile master mind flayers can also be generated by the [[summon nasties]] [[monster spell]].
+Hostile master mind flayers can be generated by the [[summon nasties]] [[monster spell]].
 Master mind flayers are notorious for potentially generating within the [[Gnomish Mines]] outside of [[Minetown]] and [[Mines' End]] at level creation. These "minesflayers" are the result of the Mines levels using <tt>[[mkclass]]</tt> to specify that a random humanoid monster should be generated at normal level creation&mdash;while this is almost always a [[Dwarf (monster)|dwarf]], [[hobbit]] or [[bugbear]], <tt>mkclass</tt> can completely ignore the difficulty of the monster it produces and create a mind flayer or master mind flayer.