Purple worm - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: cap

2026-04-23T04:51:16Z

cap

Umbire the Phantom: word choice and other touch-ups

2026-04-23T04:51:01Z

word choice and other touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: typo

2026-04-22T23:43:54Z

typo

Umbire the Phantom: some potholes, upcoming tailoring

2026-04-20T04:54:08Z

some potholes, upcoming tailoring

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ word choice

2026-03-19T10:29:23Z

‎dNetHack: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: lede, temp

2025-08-13T03:48:17Z

lede, temp

Umbire the Phantom: /* Purple worms as pets */ word choice

2025-04-05T15:33:45Z

‎Purple worms as pets: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ copyedit + cite

2025-04-05T15:32:59Z

‎Generation: copyedit + cite

Umbire the Phantom: /* Purple worms as pets */ copyedit

2025-04-05T15:16:10Z

‎Purple worms as pets: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: xnh

2024-12-29T04:19:35Z

xnh

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
   |frequency=2
   |genocidable=Yes
-  |attacks=[[Bite]] 2d8 [[Physical damage|physical]], [[Engulf]] 1d10 [[digest]]
+  |attacks=[[Bite]] 2d8 [[Physical damage|physical]], [[engulf]] 1d10 [[digest]]
   |weight=2700
   |nutr=700

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
   |resistances conveyed=None
   |attributes={{attributes|A purple worm|animal=1|slithy=1|nolimbs=1|oviparous=1|carnivore=1|hostile=1|strong=1|nasty=1}}
-  |reference=[[monst.c#line928]]
+  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L932 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 932]
 }}
-A '''purple worm''', {{monsym|purple worm}}, is a type of [[monster]] in that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The purple worm is a [[slithy]], [[carnivorous]] and [[oviparous]] [[animal]] that is the strongest monster of the [[worm]] [[monster class]].
+A '''purple worm''', {{monsym|purple worm}}, is a type of [[monster]] in that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The purple worm is a [[slithy]], [[carnivorous]] and [[oviparous]] [[animal]] with no limbs that is the strongest monster of the [[worm]] [[monster class]].
 Purple worms have a [[bite attack]], and also have an [[engulfing]] attack that can potentially [[digest]] its target: this is a [[delayed instadeath]] for the [[hero]], and instantly kills monsters that are large or below in [[physical size]].
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 Purple worms enjoy eating [[shrieker]]s and will [[Grudge|attack any]] that they come across, and a hero [[polymorph]]ed into a purple worm is intrinsically [[Warned of monster type|warned of shriekers]].{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1560|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|0eadf8dfe1dac951a94225831f099de395e56b27}}, a purple worm can gain intrinsics from digesting monsters&mdash;this is an extension from {{commit|8d2407f1f21cc60ac99e08f00233975b32321eef}}, which allows monsters to gain intrinsics from eating [[corpses]], and per {{commit|c78e7af01378d5a54a080c5e5a9ef9f454f6b83f}} a hero polymorphed into a purple worm can also gain intrinsics through digestion attacks. Per {{commit|1a2d844a22358402a93cedbc22ebe7cc32bb0255}}, digestion attacks will not affect wraiths and other [[unsolid]] monsters.
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|0eadf8dfe1dac951a94225831f099de395e56b27}}, a purple worm can gain intrinsics from digesting monsters&mdash;this is an extension from {{commit|8d2407f1f21cc60ac99e08f00233975b32321eef}}, which allows monsters to gain intrinsics from [[eating]] [[corpses]], and per {{commit|c78e7af01378d5a54a080c5e5a9ef9f454f6b83f}} a hero polymorphed into a purple worm can also gain intrinsics through digestion attacks. Per {{commit|1a2d844a22358402a93cedbc22ebe7cc32bb0255}}, digestion attacks will not affect wraiths and other [[unsolid]] monsters.
 Per {{commit|a725447d651e0c68b44a788bdae2e91c90b2f7a5}}, a purple worm will seek out corpses and devour any that they come across.}}
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 A shrieker has an effective {{frac|130}} chance of summoning a purple worm with each shriek, regardless of the current [[difficulty level]].{{refsrc|src/mon.c|2866|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Hostile purple worms can be generated by the [[summon nasties]] [[monster spell]].
+Hostile purple worms can be generated by a monster casting the [[summon nasties]] [[monster spell]].{{refsrc|src/wizard.c|85|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|cf1c72514883f70856a8b98c654f52f2a9896794}}, baby purple worms appear in place of adult purple worms when the latter would be generated by a shrieker on an out-of-depth level.}}
 ==Strategy==
-Purple worms are both fearsome enemies and popular [[pet]]s due to their digestion attack. Though they are slow at 9 [[speed]], hostile purple worms are usually the strongest and fastest monsters with digestion attacks that you will encounter, requiring you to dispatch them quickly. If you see a purple worm approaching, you can use your best ranged attacks to kill or weaken it before it can engulf you. A purple worm's [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] of 20 is not too impressive, but can be enough to make some spell-based approaches less than completely reliable.
+Purple worms are both fearsome enemies and popular [[pet]]s due to their digestion attack. Though they are slow at 9 [[speed]], hostile purple worms are usually the strongest and fastest monsters with digestion attacks that you will encounter, requiring you to dispatch them quickly. If you see a purple worm approaching, you can use your best ranged attacks to kill or weaken it before it can engulf you. A purple worm's [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] of 20 is not too impressive, but can make some magic-based approaches less reliable than expected.
 One of the most common means of escaping the stomach of a purple worm is to zap a [[wand of digging]]: this reduces its health to 1 and forces you out, allowing you to kill it easily. A [[footrice]] [[corpse]] or [[egg]] can also turn the purple worm to stone, and will free you if done while being digested. Wearing a [[ring of slow digestion]] will prevent a purple worm from engulfing you in the first place. [[Conflict]] can be used to turn the worm against other hostile monsters and get rid of them instantly, including higher-level monsters that can generate purple worms by casting summon nasties.
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 ===Purple worms as pets===
-Purple worms' digestion attacks also make them powerful pets in their own right, for the same reasons that make them threats to your other pets. A purple worm can be raised to a monster level beyond its normal maximum by engulfing [[wraiths]] or eating wraith corpses, allowing them to target and engulf monsters they would ordinarily not attack; a similar effect can be produced using a source of conflict, though this comes with the risk of being eaten by the worm yourself.
+Purple worms' digestion attacks also make them powerful pets in their own right, for the same reasons that make them threats to your other pets. A purple worm can be raised to a monster level beyond its normal maximum by engulfing [[wraith]]s or [[eating]] wraith corpses, allowing them to target and engulf monsters they would ordinarily not attack; a similar effect can be produced using a source of conflict, though this comes with the risk of being eaten by the worm yourself.
-Unfortunately, purple worms are extremely vulnerable to [[chameleon]]s and [[doppelganger]]s: the worm will polymorph from digesting them alive or eating their corpse unless you are wearing a [[ring of protection from shape changers]]. Purple worms are also susceptible to [[green slime]]s, who can turn them into more green slimes by touching them, or else by being engulfed and digested. In addition, they will often have some trouble dealing with monsters too big to engulf, such as [[giant]]s, [[ettin]]s and their [[undead]] forms. These and other scenarios require a purple worm owner to be diligent in monitoring their pet's welfare and eliminating problem monsters.
+Unfortunately, purple worms are extremely vulnerable to [[chameleon]]s and [[doppelganger]]s: the worm will polymorph from digesting them alive or eating their corpse unless you are wearing a [[ring of protection from shape changers]]. Purple worms are also susceptible to [[green slime]]s, who can turn them into slimes by touching the worm or else being engulfed and digested by it. In addition, purple worms will often have some trouble dealing with monsters too big to engulf, such as [[giant]]s, [[ettin]]s and their [[undead]] forms. These and other scenarios require a purple worm owner to be diligent in monitoring their pet's welfare and eliminating monsters that are problematic for them.
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|f54485b9131fa945ac363e6531edabaa72ddb097}}, pets will avoid eating shapeshifter corpses unless they are starving or on the verge of untaming. This is refined via {{commit|b363b702d755a3c84e003d2dd66d0be9c9598d91}} and {{commit|64f6ae6d1965eb3543ae00a10bda5f3bb48127d0}} to extend to all corpses that would induce shapeshifting&mdash;this specifically covers eating corpses, rather than digesting live monsters that would cause shapeshifting.}}
 ===Purple rain===
-Upon reaching the [[Astral Plane]], some players [[reverse genocide]] purple worms, then tame them or activate a source of [[conflict]], and finally break a [[wand of teleportation]] to warp them around the Plane in order to thin the hordes of [[player monster]]s and [[aligned priest]]s standing between them and the [[high altar]]s&mdash;this is known informally as '''"purple rain"'''.
+Upon reaching the [[Astral Plane]], some players [[reverse genocide]] purple worms, then tame them and/or activate a source of [[conflict]], and finally break a [[wand of teleportation]] to warp them around the Plane in order to thin the hordes of [[player monster]]s and [[aligned priest]]s standing between them and the [[high altar]]s&mdash;this is known informally as '''"purple rain"'''.
 ===Polymorph===
 Polymorphing yourself into a purple worm allows you to dispatch elusive and powerful enemies such as the dreaded [[arch-lich]] in a single turn, so long as you are not wearing a [[ring of slow digestion]]. However, a lack of [[limb]]s can impede prolonged progress in this state, and you must take special care not to swallow deadly prey such as cockatrices. Engulfing a wraith while polymorphed does not increase your experience level as with pets.
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|As mentioned above, a hero using a polyself with a digestion attack to swallow a monster whole may get the normal secondary effects of eating that monster's corpse, such as intrinsics, attribute gains or level gain (i.e. from wraith corpses).}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|As mentioned above, a hero using a polyself with a digestion attack to swallow a monster whole may get the normal secondary effects of eating that monster's corpse, such as intrinsics, attribute gains or level gain (i.e. from wraith corpses).}}
 ==History==

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 Purple worms enjoy eating [[shrieker]]s and will [[Grudge|attack any]] that they come across, and a hero [[polymorph]]ed into a purple worm is intrinsically [[Warned of monster type|warned of shriekers]].{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1560|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|0eadf8dfe1dac951a94225831f099de395e56b27}}, a purple worms can gain intrinsics from digesting monsters&mdash;this is an extension from {{commit|8d2407f1f21cc60ac99e08f00233975b32321eef}}, which allows monsters to gain intrinsics from eating [[corpses]], and per {{commit|c78e7af01378d5a54a080c5e5a9ef9f454f6b83f}} a hero polymorphed into a purple worm can also gain intrinsics through digestion attacks. Per {{commit|1a2d844a22358402a93cedbc22ebe7cc32bb0255}}, digestion attacks will not affect wraiths and other [[unsolid]] monsters.
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|0eadf8dfe1dac951a94225831f099de395e56b27}}, a purple worm can gain intrinsics from digesting monsters&mdash;this is an extension from {{commit|8d2407f1f21cc60ac99e08f00233975b32321eef}}, which allows monsters to gain intrinsics from eating [[corpses]], and per {{commit|c78e7af01378d5a54a080c5e5a9ef9f454f6b83f}} a hero polymorphed into a purple worm can also gain intrinsics through digestion attacks. Per {{commit|1a2d844a22358402a93cedbc22ebe7cc32bb0255}}, digestion attacks will not affect wraiths and other [[unsolid]] monsters.
 Per {{commit|a725447d651e0c68b44a788bdae2e91c90b2f7a5}}, a purple worm will seek out corpses and devour any that they come across.}}

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 A '''purple worm''', {{monsym|purple worm}}, is a type of [[monster]] in that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The purple worm is a [[slithy]], [[carnivorous]] and [[oviparous]] [[animal]] that is the strongest monster of the [[worm]] [[monster class]].
-Purple worms have a [[bite]] attack, and also have an [[engulfing]] attack that can potentially [[digest]] its target: this is a [[delayed instadeath]] for the [[hero]], and instantly kills monsters that have a large [[physical size]] or smaller.
+Purple worms have a [[bite attack]], and also have an [[engulfing]] attack that can potentially [[digest]] its target: this is a [[delayed instadeath]] for the [[hero]], and instantly kills monsters that are large or below in [[physical size]].
-Purple worms enjoy eating [[shrieker]]s and will attack any that they come across, and a hero [[polymorph]]ed into a purple worm is intrinsically [[Warned of monster type|warned of shriekers]].{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1560|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Purple worms enjoy eating [[shrieker]]s and will [[Grudge|attack any]] that they come across, and a hero [[polymorph]]ed into a purple worm is intrinsically [[Warned of monster type|warned of shriekers]].{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1560|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Purple worms will now devour [[corpse]]s that they come across, and a worm that engulfs and digests monsters or eats monster corpses can gain intrinsics.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|0eadf8dfe1dac951a94225831f099de395e56b27}}, a purple worms can gain intrinsics from digesting monsters&mdash;this is an extension from {{commit|8d2407f1f21cc60ac99e08f00233975b32321eef}}, which allows monsters to gain intrinsics from eating [[corpses]], and per {{commit|c78e7af01378d5a54a080c5e5a9ef9f454f6b83f}} a hero polymorphed into a purple worm can also gain intrinsics through digestion attacks. Per {{commit|1a2d844a22358402a93cedbc22ebe7cc32bb0255}}, digestion attacks will not affect wraiths and other [[unsolid]] monsters.
 ==Generation==
@@ Line 48: / Line 50: @@
 Unfortunately, purple worms are extremely vulnerable to [[chameleon]]s and [[doppelganger]]s: the worm will polymorph from digesting them alive or eating their corpse unless you are wearing a [[ring of protection from shape changers]]. Purple worms are also susceptible to [[green slime]]s, who can turn them into more green slimes by touching them, or else by being engulfed and digested. In addition, they will often have some trouble dealing with monsters too big to engulf, such as [[giant]]s, [[ettin]]s and their [[undead]] forms. These and other scenarios require a purple worm owner to be diligent in monitoring their pet's welfare and eliminating problem monsters.
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|1a2d844a22358402a93cedbc22ebe7cc32bb0255}}, digestion attacks will not affect wraiths and other [[unsolid]] monsters.
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|f54485b9131fa945ac363e6531edabaa72ddb097}}, pets will avoid eating shapeshifter corpses unless they are starving or on the verge of untaming. This is refined via {{commit|b363b702d755a3c84e003d2dd66d0be9c9598d91}} and {{commit|64f6ae6d1965eb3543ae00a10bda5f3bb48127d0}} to extend to all corpses that would induce shapeshifting&mdash;this specifically covers eating corpses, rather than digesting live monsters that would cause shapeshifting.}}
 ===Purple rain===
-Upon reaching the [[Astral Plane]], some players [[reverse genocide]] purple worms, then tame them or activate a source of [[conflict]], and finally break a [[wand of teleportation]] to warp them around the Plane in order to thin the hordes of [[player monster]]s and [[aligned priest]]s standing between them and the [[high altar]]s - this is known informally as '''"purple rain"'''.
+Upon reaching the [[Astral Plane]], some players [[reverse genocide]] purple worms, then tame them or activate a source of [[conflict]], and finally break a [[wand of teleportation]] to warp them around the Plane in order to thin the hordes of [[player monster]]s and [[aligned priest]]s standing between them and the [[high altar]]s&mdash;this is known informally as '''"purple rain"'''.
 ===Polymorph===
 Polymorphing yourself into a purple worm allows you to dispatch elusive and powerful enemies such as the dreaded [[arch-lich]] in a single turn, so long as you are not wearing a [[ring of slow digestion]]. However, a lack of [[limb]]s can impede prolonged progress in this state, and you must take special care not to swallow deadly prey such as cockatrices. Engulfing a wraith while polymorphed does not increase your experience level as with pets.
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|A hero using a polyself with a digestion attack to swallow a monster whole may get the normal secondary effects of eating that monster's corpse, such as intrinsics, attribute gains or level gain (i.e. from wraith corpses).}}
+{{upcoming|3.7.0|As mentioned above, a hero using a polyself with a digestion attack to swallow a monster whole may get the normal secondary effects of eating that monster's corpse, such as intrinsics, attribute gains or level gain (i.e. from wraith corpses).}}
 ==History==

@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
 {{frac|10}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Nightmare Temple levels of the [[Chaos Temple Quest]] will be purple worms.
-The [[Stranger]] can summon a purple worm with the [[finger]] template as part of his "yellow nasties" harassment.
+The [[Stranger]] can summon a [[psurlon]] purple worm as part of his "yellow nasties" harassment.
 ===FIQHack===

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 Unfortunately, purple worms are extremely vulnerable to [[chameleon]]s and [[doppelganger]]s: the worm will polymorph from digesting them alive or eating their corpse unless you are wearing a [[ring of protection from shape changers]]. Purple worms are also susceptible to [[green slime]]s, who can turn them into more green slimes by touching them, or else by being engulfed and digested. In addition, they will often have some trouble dealing with monsters too big to engulf, such as [[giant]]s, [[ettin]]s and their [[undead]] forms. These and other scenarios require a purple worm owner to be diligent in monitoring their pet's welfare and eliminating problem monsters.
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|1a2d844a22358402a93cedbc22ebe7cc32bb0255|commit 1a2d844}}, digestion will not affect incorporeal monsters such as wraiths.
+{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|1a2d844a22358402a93cedbc22ebe7cc32bb0255}}, digestion attacks will not affect wraiths and other [[unsolid]] monsters.
 Pets will no longer eat shapeshifter corpses unless they are starving or on the verge of untaming.}}

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 Randomly-generated purple worms are always created hostile. A [[baby purple worm]] can [[grow up]] into a purple worm.
-In addition to random generation, a shrieker has an effective {{frac|130}} chance of summoning a purple worm with its shriek, regardless of the current [[difficulty level]]. Purple worms can also be generated by the [[summon nasties]] [[monster spell]].
+A shrieker has an effective {{frac|130}} chance of summoning a purple worm with each shriek, regardless of the current [[difficulty level]].{{refsrc|src/mon.c|2866|nethack=3.6.7}}
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|cf1c72514883f70856a8b98c654f52f2a9896794}}, baby purple worms appear in place of adult purple worms when the latter would be generated by a shrieker on an out-of-depth level.}}

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 ===FIQHack===
 In [[FIQHack]], purple worms [[grudge]] shriekers and attack them on sight.
 ===EvilHack===