Reflection - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ oprop

2025-12-09T03:56:33Z

‎dNetHack: oprop

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ tweaks

2025-05-24T16:09:06Z

‎dNetHack: tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: big ol' overhaul before I restart (again)

2025-04-10T14:16:45Z

big ol' overhaul before I restart (again)

Umbire the Phantom: /* Messages */ word choice

2025-02-26T20:23:57Z

‎Messages: word choice

Thidwick: /* Strategy */ link to GDSM vs SDSM

2024-07-18T18:46:43Z

‎Strategy: link to GDSM vs SDSM

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ rephrase again

2024-05-30T12:09:52Z

‎dNetHack: rephrase again

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ word choice

2024-05-30T00:16:22Z

‎dNetHack: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ word choice

2024-05-29T23:36:13Z

‎dNetHack: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: spork + evil

2024-03-30T11:21:52Z

spork + evil

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ thanks SB

2024-03-22T01:58:37Z

‎dNetHack: thanks SB

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]], normal reflection does not reflect the breath weapons of [[Dragon (dNetHack)|dragons]], as well as those of [[half-dragon]] monsters that have an [[experience level]] or [[monster level]] of at least 14&mdash;the exception is the black dragon, whose breath is a [[disintegration]] beam. [[Dragon armor (dNetHack)|Dragon armor]] and some artifacts grants "'''dragonbreath reflection'''" that additionally reflects these breath weapons, and functions the same as reflection normally does in ''NetHack''.
+In [[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]], normal reflection does not reflect the breath weapons of [[Dragon (dNetHack)|dragons]], as well as those of [[half-dragon]] monsters that have an [[experience level]] or [[monster level]] of at least 14&mdash;the exception is the black dragon, whose breath is a [[disintegration]] beam. [[Dragon armor (dNetHack)|Dragon armor]] and some artifacts grant "'''dragonbreath reflection'''" that additionally reflects these breath weapons, and ultimately functions the same as reflection normally does in ''NetHack''.
 ===FIQHack===

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]], normal reflection does not reflect the breath weapons of [[Dragon (dNetHack)|dragons]], as well as those of [[half-dragon]] monsters that have an [[experience level]] or [[monster level]] of at least 14 - the exception is the black dragon, whose breath is a [[disintegration]] beam. [[Dragon armor (dNetHack)|Dragon armor]] and some artifacts confer "dragonbreath reflection" that additionally reflects these breath weapons, and functions the same as reflection normally does in ''NetHack''.
+In [[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]], normal reflection does not reflect the breath weapons of [[Dragon (dNetHack)|dragons]], as well as those of [[half-dragon]] monsters that have an [[experience level]] or [[monster level]] of at least 14&mdash;the exception is the black dragon, whose breath is a [[disintegration]] beam. [[Dragon armor (dNetHack)|Dragon armor]] and some artifacts grants "'''dragonbreath reflection'''" that additionally reflects these breath weapons, and functions the same as reflection normally does in ''NetHack''.
 ===FIQHack===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Reflection''' is a [[property]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that causes magical [[ray]]s to bounce back from whatever they hit.
+'''Reflection''' is a [[property]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that causes magical [[ray]]s and certain [[gaze attack]]s to bounce back from whatever they hit.
 ==Description==
-If a ray of any type hits you or a monster with reflection, it will have no effect and be rebounded back in the direction it originated from. Reflection does not protect against [[beam]]s.
+A ray of any type hits a [[hero]] or monster with reflection will have no effect and be rebounded back in the direction it originated from&mdash;the only exception is a ray of [[lightning]], which will still [[blind]] the reflecting hero or monster. Lightning from an [[angry]] [[god]] that is actively smiting the hero will also be reflected with no effect, though this will prompt that god to attempt a [[wide-angle disintegration beam]] instead. Reflection does not protect against [[beam]]s of any kind.
-Reflection also protects against [[floating eye]]s' passive paralysis [[gaze]] and [[Medusa]]'s [[stoning]] gaze: Medusa is also special-cased so that if she can see you or a monster that reflects her gaze, she turns to stone instead.
+Reflection also protects against a [[floating eye]]'s [[passive]] [[paralysis]] gaze and [[Medusa]]'s [[stoning]] gaze: Medusa is also special-cased so that if she can see a hero or monster with reflection, her gaze will turn her to stone instead, as she otherwise possesses [[stoning resistance]].
-==Sources==
+Reflection can be obtained as an [[extrinsic]] from the following items:
 * [[Amulet of reflection]]
@@ Line 15: / Line 14: @@
 * Wielding [[Dragonbane]]
-The item must have the property of reflection, rather than merely being reflective; [[crystal plate mail]] and [[mirror]]s cannot grant reflection. The only way to obtain [[intrinsic]] reflection is to [[polymorph]] into a [[silver dragon]].
+The only way to obtain [[intrinsic]] reflection is to [[polymorph]] into a [[silver dragon]].
-The top level of [[Sokoban]] has a {{frac|2}} chance of containing an uncursed amulet of reflection. In the variation of [[Medusa's Island]] that generates a [[titan]], the statue of Perseus has a {{frac|4}} chance of containing a cursed +0 [[shield of reflection]], and has a {{frac|3|4}} chance on other maps.
+An item having the reflection property is independent of whether that item is itself normally reflective, i.e. [[crystal plate mail]] and [[mirror]]s cannot grant reflection (though a mirror can be [[applied]] for similar purposes).
-If you have multiple sources of reflection, only one of them will be triggered when a ray hits you. Rays will reflect first from a shield, then from a wielded artifact weapon, then from an amulet, then from body armor, and finally from the silver dragon polymorph form.{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2164|nethack=3.6.7}}
+If a hero has multiple sources of reflection, only one of them will be triggered when a ray hits them: in order of priority, rays will reflect first from a shield, then from a wielded artifact weapon, then from an amulet, then from body armor, and finally from the hero's scales while they are polymorphed into a silver dragon.{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2164|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==
-Reflection is a high priority in the early game, and the preferred means of obtaining it are usually an amulet of reflection or silver dragon scale mail (SDSM). Players who get a wish from a [[magic lamp]] in the [[Gnomish Mines]] often use it for SDSM (see [[GDSM versus SDSM]]); dragon scale mail does not interfere with spellcasting, making it ideal for roles such as Wizards. A shield of reflection hinders spellcasting and prevents [[two-weapon combat]] and use of [[two-handed]] weapons, making it the preferred wish for characters in roles that cannot use or do not seek to use either skill, e.g. a [[Caveman]]. While multiple worn sources of reflection are almost always redundant, the order that reflection sources activate in when reflecting rays may become relevant if you are trying to identify the amulet of reflection.
+Reflection is a high priority in the early game, since it stops damage from dangerous ray-based [[wand]]s that otherwise-weak monsters may come across or generate with, and is especially important for dealing with [[breath weapon]]s, e.g. from [[winter wolf cub]]s. Later in the game, reflection's protective uses against rays are somewhat superseded with enough elemental resistances and [[magic resistance]], but remains critical to prevent inventory damage from those rays, especially wands and rings, and works particularly well against ones such as the [[black dragon]]'s breath attack that lack a commonplace resistance property and can result in [[instadeath]] otherwise&mdash;while [[disintegration resistance]] also offers protection against black dragon breath specifically, it is very difficult to obtain without killing a black dragon first.
-Reflection is especially important for dealing with high-damage wands and [[breath weapon]]s, particularly ones such as the [[black dragon]]'s breath attack that can result in [[instadeath]] otherwise - while [[disintegration resistance]] also offers protection against black dragon breath specifically, it is very difficult to obtain without killing a black dragon first. Later in the game, reflection's protective uses against rays are somewhat superseded with enough elemental resistances and [[magic resistance]], but remains critical to prevent inventory damage from those rays, especially wands and rings.
+Heroes who get a singular wish from a [[magic lamp]] or some other early source often use it for a reflection source. The preferred items for the property are usually an amulet of reflection or silver dragon scale mail (SDSM), though some heroes will also use a shield of reflection:
 ==History==
 Dragonbane's reflection property is added in [[NetHack 3.6.1]].
 ==Messages==
 {{todo|This doesn't list all reflection messages yet.}}
-{{message|But it reflects from your <item>!|A [[ray]] hitting you was reflected.}}
+{{message|But it reflects from your <item>!|A ray hitting you was reflected.}}
 {{message|For some reason you are not affected.|As above, while you are blind.}}
 {{message|But it reflects from <monster>'s <item>!|A ray hitting a monster was reflected.}}
-{{message|It reflects from your <item>!|A lightning bolt from an [[Anger#Smiting|angry god]] was reflected.}}
+{{message|It reflects from your <item>!|A lightning bolt from an angry god was reflected.}}
 {{message|For some reason you're unaffected.|As above, while you are blind.}}
 {{message|<Monster>'s gaze is reflected by your <item>.|A reflectable [[gaze attack]] used against you was reflected.}}

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ==Messages==
 {{todo|This doesn't list all reflection messages yet.}}
-{{message|But it reflects from your <foo>!|A [[ray]] hitting you was reflected.}}
+{{message|But it reflects from your <item>!|A [[ray]] hitting you was reflected.}}
 {{message|For some reason you are not affected.|As above, while you are blind.}}
-{{message|But it reflects from <monster>'s <foo>!|A ray hitting a monster was reflected.}}
+{{message|But it reflects from <monster>'s <item>!|A ray hitting a monster was reflected.}}
-{{message|It reflects from your <foo>!|A lightning bolt from an [[Anger#Smiting|angry god]] was reflected.}}
+{{message|It reflects from your <item>!|A lightning bolt from an [[Anger#Smiting|angry god]] was reflected.}}
 {{message|For some reason you're unaffected.|As above, while you are blind.}}
-{{message|<Monster>'s gaze is reflected by your <foo>.|A reflectable [[gaze attack]] against you was reflected.}}
+{{message|<Monster>'s gaze is reflected by your <item>.|A reflectable [[gaze attack]] used against you was reflected.}}
 {{message|Medusa doesn't seem to notice that her gaze was reflected.|[[Medusa]]'s reflected gaze attack had no effect because she can't see the reflection.}}
-{{message|The gaze is reflected away by <its> <foo>!|A reflectable gaze attack against a monster was reflected.}}
+{{message|The gaze is reflected away by <its> <item>!|A reflectable gaze attack used against a monster was reflected.}}
 ==Variants==

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ==Strategy==
-Reflection is a high priority in the early game, and the preferred means of obtaining it are usually an amulet of reflection or silver dragon scale mail (SDSM). Players who get a wish from a [[magic lamp]] in the [[Gnomish Mines]] often use it for SDSM; dragon scale mail does not interfere with spellcasting, making it ideal for roles such as Wizards. A shield of reflection hinders spellcasting and prevents [[two-weapon combat]] and use of [[two-handed]] weapons, making it the preferred wish for characters in roles that cannot use or do not seek to use either skill, e.g. a [[Caveman]]. While multiple worn sources of reflection are almost always redundant, the order that reflection sources activate in when reflecting rays may become relevant if you are trying to identify the amulet of reflection.
+Reflection is a high priority in the early game, and the preferred means of obtaining it are usually an amulet of reflection or silver dragon scale mail (SDSM). Players who get a wish from a [[magic lamp]] in the [[Gnomish Mines]] often use it for SDSM (see [[GDSM versus SDSM]]); dragon scale mail does not interfere with spellcasting, making it ideal for roles such as Wizards. A shield of reflection hinders spellcasting and prevents [[two-weapon combat]] and use of [[two-handed]] weapons, making it the preferred wish for characters in roles that cannot use or do not seek to use either skill, e.g. a [[Caveman]]. While multiple worn sources of reflection are almost always redundant, the order that reflection sources activate in when reflecting rays may become relevant if you are trying to identify the amulet of reflection.
 Reflection is especially important for dealing with high-damage wands and [[breath weapon]]s, particularly ones such as the [[black dragon]]'s breath attack that can result in [[instadeath]] otherwise - while [[disintegration resistance]] also offers protection against black dragon breath specifically, it is very difficult to obtain without killing a black dragon first. Later in the game, reflection's protective uses against rays are somewhat superseded with enough elemental resistances and [[magic resistance]], but remains critical to prevent inventory damage from those rays, especially wands and rings.

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]], normal reflection does not reflect a dragon's breath weapons - specifically, the breath weapons of [[Dragon (dNetHack)|dragons]] and [[half-dragon]] monsters that have an [[experience level]] or [[monster level]] of at least 14 will bypass reflection from sources that are not [[Dragon armor (dNetHack)|dragon armor]] or artifacts; the exception is the black dragon, whose breath is a [[disintegration]] beam. Dragon armor and some other items (typically artifacts) confer "dragonbreath reflection" that additionally reflects these breath weapons and functions the same as reflection normally does in ''NetHack''.
+In [[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]], normal reflection does not reflect a dragon's breath weapons - specifically, the breath weapons of [[Dragon (dNetHack)|dragons]] and [[half-dragon]] monsters that have an [[experience level]] or [[monster level]] of at least 14 will bypass reflection from "mundane" sources - the exception is the black dragon, whose breath is a [[disintegration]] beam. Dragon armor and some artifacts confer "dragonbreath reflection" that additionally reflects these breath weapons and functions the same as reflection normally does in ''NetHack''.
 ===FIQHack===

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 ===SporkHack===
-SporkHack introduces a [[spellbook of reflection]].
+In [[SporkHack]], reflection only partially deflects damage from reflected rays, with the remaining damage subject to the relevant resistance for that ray's damage type - this also means that reflection does not always prevent inventory damage from rays.
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], normal reflection does not reflect a dragon's breath weapons - specifically, the breath weapons of [[Dragon (dNetHack)|dragons]] and [[half-dragon]] monsters that are at least [[experience level]] 14 bypass reflection from sources that are not [[Dragon armor (dNetHack)|dragon armor]]; the exception is the black dragon, whose breath is a [[disintegration]] beam. Dragon armor and some other items, typically artifacts, confer "dragonbreath reflection" that additionally reflects these breath weapons and functions the same as typical reflection would in ''[[NetHack]]''.
+In [[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]], normal reflection does not reflect a dragon's breath weapons - specifically, the breath weapons of [[Dragon (dNetHack)|dragons]] and [[half-dragon]] monsters that are at least [[experience level]] 14 bypass reflection from sources that are not [[Dragon armor (dNetHack)|dragon armor]]; the exception is the black dragon, whose breath is a [[disintegration]] beam. Dragon armor and some other items, typically artifacts, confer "dragonbreath reflection" that additionally reflects these breath weapons and functions the same as typical reflection would in ''NetHack''.
 ===FIQHack===
 In [[FIQHack]], dragon breath weapons and rays from wands [[Wands Balance Patch|used at Skilled or higher]] ignore most sources of reflection with the exception of [[dragon armor]].
 ==References==