Rock - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: tweaks

2026-04-01T08:39:57Z

tweaks

Tomsod: /* Other uses for rocks */ rearrange to make more sense

2026-04-01T00:56:11Z

‎Other uses for rocks: rearrange to make more sense

JASON10668: Add languages template.

2026-02-03T06:43:27Z

Add languages template.

Umbire the Phantom: some copyedit

2025-06-29T11:27:55Z

some copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: lede + gen + potholes + ver

2023-11-23T11:39:42Z

lede + gen + potholes + ver

Netzhack: /* Encyclopedia entry */ Soft line breaks

2023-02-10T16:53:31Z

‎Encyclopedia entry: Soft line breaks

Tomsod: cannot be enchanted

2021-11-28T03:56:43Z

cannot be enchanted

Umbire the Phantom: /* Other uses for rocks */

2021-10-24T06:26:42Z

‎Other uses for rocks

Umbire the Phantom: Add reference I left off by mistake

2021-10-24T06:08:56Z

Add reference I left off by mistake

Umbire the Phantom at 06:02, 24 October 2021

2021-10-24T06:02:51Z

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 As starvation is mostly a threat only in the early game and usually only until [[Sokoban]], this is generally only useful if a [[wand of polymorph]] be found early, food is particularly rare, or a player is maintaining specific [[conduct]]s (where [[vegan]] [[extinctionist]] is a particularly gruesome combination). It can also be used to lower [[encumbrance]] from carrying food if the polymorph produces a sizable stack of [[lembas wafer]]s.
-Rocks themselves can be polypiled into valuable [[gem]]s for various uses, from selling to jewelers to maximizing [[Luck]] with [[unicorn]]s, or to haul them with you during the [[ascension run]] for a much higher [[score]] (with one example being [[DeathOnAStick]]'s infamous gem-farming ascension attempt).
+Rocks themselves can be polypiled into valuable [[gem]]s for various uses, from selling to jewelers to maximizing [[luck]] with [[unicorn]]s, or to haul them with you during the [[ascension run]] for a much higher [[score]] (with one example being [[DeathOnAStick]]'s infamous gem-farming ascension attempt).
 ==History==
-Rocks as items are introduced in [[Hack 1.0]]. Prior to this, [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]] and its variants did not have rocks&mdash;they instead used various types of "bullets", specifically [[sling bullet]]s.
+Rocks as items are introduced in [[Hack 1.0]]. Prior to this, [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]] and its variants did not have rocks&mdash;they instead use various types of "bullets", specifically [[sling bullet]]s.
 ==Variants==

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 ===Other uses for rocks===
 The stone to flesh spell turns rocks into meatballs, which is the only other way to do so besides casting the spell at a tiny-sized statue. Meatballs can be used to train the [[apport]] of a carnivorous or omnivorous pet, and [[polypiling]] meatballs via the wand or spell can easily create enough food to last the entire game—the odds of getting one or more food items with at least 100 nutrition from a non-shuddering polymorph is 48.3%.
 Rocks themselves can be polypiled into valuable [[gem]]s for various uses, from selling to jewelers to maximizing [[Luck]] with [[unicorn]]s, or to haul them with you during the [[ascension run]] for a much higher [[score]] (with one example being [[DeathOnAStick]]'s infamous gem-farming ascension attempt).
 ==History==

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:43, 3 February 2026
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		+	{{languages}}
	{{weapon		{{weapon
	\|color=gray		\|color=gray

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 :''For the dungeon feature, see [[Solid rock]]''.
-A '''rock''' is a common type of  [[stone]] that appears in ''[[Nethack]]''. It is a [[stackable]] stone that can be used a [[projectile]] weapon by [[throw]]ing them or [[firing]] them from a [[wield]]ed [[sling]]; slung rocks can also be [[multishot]]. Rocks are made of [[mineral]], and have no resale value in [[shop]]s.
+A '''rock''' is a common type of  [[stone]] that appears in ''[[Nethack]]''. It is a [[stackable]] stone that can be used a [[projectile]] weapon by [[throw]]ing them or by [[firing]] them from a [[wield]]ed [[sling]]; slung rocks can also be [[multishot]]. Rocks are made of [[mineral]], and have no resale value in [[shop]]s.
 ==Generation==
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 In addition to random generation, rocks can be found or made in various circumstances:
-* Hitting [[statue]]s and [[boulder]]s with [[digging tool]]s, a [[wand of striking]] or a {{spell of|force bolt}} spell will shatter them into several rocks.
+* Hitting [[statue]]s and [[boulder]]s with [[digging tool]]s, a [[wand of striking]] or a {{+ of|force bolt}} spell will shatter them into several rocks.
-* Using a [[footrice]] [[corpse]] or egg for [[stoning]] [[tiny]]-sized monsters produces rocks instead of a [[statue]]. Hitting a footrice with an [[egg]] will turn it into a rock.
+* [[Tiny]]-sized monsters that are subjected to [[stoning]] will turn into rocks instead of a [[statue]]. Hitting a [[footrice]] with an [[egg]] will turn the egg into a rock.
 * [[Clay golem]]s leave behind several rocks as a special [[death drop]] instead of a [[corpse]].
 * The [[falling rock trap]] will drop a rock on the head of whatever triggers it, dealing 2d6 damage; a metal [[helm]] heavily reduces damage.
 * [[Read]]ing a [[scroll of earth]] while [[confused]] will cause several rocks to fall, with the patterns being the same as a normal scroll of earth dependent on its beatitude.
-* Zapping a [[ray]] from the [[wand of digging]] or {{spell of|dig}} spell upwards can cause a rock to fall on your head.
+* Zapping a [[ray]] from the [[wand of digging]] or {{+ of|dig}} spell upwards into a [[ceiling]] can cause a rock to fall on your head, and zapping a wand of striking or force bolt has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of doing the same.
 * [[Tunneling monster]]s leave rocks behind as they dig around the level, and [[metallivore]]s sometimes produce rocks after eating metallic objects.
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 34: / Line 39: @@
 ===Combat===
-As weapons, rocks are the most accessible means of dealing with enemies from a distance in the early game - even without a sling, they can provide a useful option against [[sessile]] or slow-moving foes with dangerous melee or passive attacks, such as [[mold]]s, [[floating eye]]s and [[jellies]]. This is especially useful for spellcasting characters (e.g. [[wizard]]s) aiming to preserve their magic [[power]] for other purposes, or else any character lacking a viable choice or looking to preserve better weapons (such as [[dagger]]s or [[dart]]s). The player can carry as many as they deem necessary without encumbering themselves; once no longer needed or more reliable options are found, the rocks can safely be disposed of as [[junk]].
+As weapons, rocks are the most accessible means of dealing with enemies from a distance in the early game&mdash;even without a sling, thrown rocks can provide a useful option against [[sessile]] or slow-moving foes with dangerous melee or passive attacks, such as [[mold]]s, [[floating eye]]s and [[jellies]]. This is especially useful for spellcasting characters (e.g. [[wizard]]s) aiming to preserve their magic [[power]] for other purposes, or else any character lacking a viable choice or looking to preserve better weapons (such as [[dagger]]s or [[dart]]s). The player can carry as many as they deem necessary without encumbering themselves; once no longer needed or more reliable options are found, the rocks can safely be disposed of as [[junk]].
 ===Other uses for rocks===
-The [[stone to flesh]] spell turns rocks into meatballs, which is the only other way to do so besides casting the spell at a tiny-sized statue. Meatballs can be used to train the [[apport]] of a carnivorous or omnivorous pet, and [[polypiling]] meatballs via the wand or spell can easily create enough food to last the entire game — the odds of getting one or more food items with at least 100 nutrition from a non-shuddering polymorph is 48.3%.
+The stone to flesh spell turns rocks into meatballs, which is the only other way to do so besides casting the spell at a tiny-sized statue. Meatballs can be used to train the [[apport]] of a carnivorous or omnivorous pet, and [[polypiling]] meatballs via the wand or spell can easily create enough food to last the entire game—the odds of getting one or more food items with at least 100 nutrition from a non-shuddering polymorph is 48.3%.
 Rocks themselves can be polypiled into valuable [[gem]]s for various uses, from selling to jewelers to maximizing [[Luck]] with [[unicorn]]s, or to haul them with you during the [[ascension run]] for a much higher [[score]] (with one example being [[DeathOnAStick]]'s infamous gem-farming ascension attempt).
@@ Line 44: / Line 49: @@
 ==History==
-Rocks as items are introduced in [[Hack 1.0]]. Prior to this, early versions of hack121 and PDP-11, variants of [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], did not have rocks - they instead used various types of "bullets", specifically [[sling bullet]]s.
+Rocks as items are introduced in [[Hack 1.0]]. Prior to this, [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]] and its variants did not have rocks&mdash;they instead used various types of "bullets", specifically [[sling bullet]]s.
 ==Variants==
@@ Line 51: / Line 56: @@
 ===SlashTHEM===
-In [[SlashTHEM]], [[lithivore]]s can consume rocks, and they consider it a treat similarly to carnivorous pets and meatballs.
+In [[SlashTHEM]], [[lithivore]]s can consume rocks, and they consider them treats similarly to carnivorous pets and meatballs.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 :''For the dungeon feature, see [[Solid rock]]''.
-A '''rock''' is a common type of [[stackable]] [[stone]] that appears in ''[[Nethack]]''. You can use them as a [[projectile]] weapon by [[throw]]ing them or [[firing]] them from a [[wield]]ed [[sling]]; slung rocks can also be [[multishot]]. They are considered to be made of [[mineral]], and have no resale value in [[shop]]s.
+A '''rock''' is a common type of  [[stone]] that appears in ''[[Nethack]]''. It is a [[stackable]] stone that can be used a [[projectile]] weapon by [[throw]]ing them or [[firing]] them from a [[wield]]ed [[sling]]; slung rocks can also be [[multishot]]. Rocks are made of [[mineral]], and have no resale value in [[shop]]s.
 ==Generation==
-The [[Caveman]] [[role]] starts with 18-33 rocks to use as sling ammo.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|55|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}
+The [[Caveman]] [[role]] starts with 18-33 rocks to use as sling ammo.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|55|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 In addition to random generation, rocks can be found or made in various circumstances:
 * Hitting [[statue]]s and [[boulder]]s with [[digging tool]]s, a [[wand of striking]] or a {{spell of|force bolt}} spell will shatter them into several rocks.
+* Using a [[footrice]] [[corpse]] or egg for [[stoning]] [[tiny]]-sized monsters produces rocks instead of a [[statue]]. Hitting a footrice with an [[egg]] will turn it into a rock.
-* Using a [[footrice]] [[corpse]] or egg for [[stoning]] [[tiny]]-sized monsters produces rocks instead of a [[statue]]. [[Clay golem]]s also [[death drop|collapse into several rocks]] upon death. Hitting a footrice with an [[egg]] will turn it into a rock.
+* [[Clay golem]]s leave behind several rocks as a special [[death drop]] instead of a [[corpse]].
 * The [[falling rock trap]] will drop a rock on the head of whatever triggers it, dealing 2d6 damage; a metal [[helm]] heavily reduces damage.
+* [[Read]]ing a [[scroll of earth]] while [[confused]] will cause several rocks to fall, with the patterns being the same as a normal scroll of earth dependent on its beatitude.
 * Zapping a [[ray]] from the [[wand of digging]] or {{spell of|dig}} spell upwards can cause a rock to fall on your head.
 * [[Tunneling monster]]s leave rocks behind as they dig around the level, and [[metallivore]]s sometimes produce rocks after eating metallic objects.
@@ Line 38: / Line 34: @@
 ===Combat===
-As weapons, rocks are the most accessible means of dealing with enemies from a distance in the early game - even without a sling, they can provide a useful option against [[sessile]] or slow-moving foes with dangerous melee or passive attacks, such as [[mold]]s, [[floating eye]]s and [[jellies]]. This is especially useful for spellcasting characters (e.g. [[wizard]]s) aiming to preserve their magic [[power]] for other purposes, or else any character lacking a viable choice or looking to preserve better weapons (such as [[daggers]] or [[darts]]). The player can carry as many as they deem necessary without encumbering themselves; once no longer needed or more reliable options are found, the rocks can safely be disposed of as [[junk]].
+As weapons, rocks are the most accessible means of dealing with enemies from a distance in the early game - even without a sling, they can provide a useful option against [[sessile]] or slow-moving foes with dangerous melee or passive attacks, such as [[mold]]s, [[floating eye]]s and [[jellies]]. This is especially useful for spellcasting characters (e.g. [[wizard]]s) aiming to preserve their magic [[power]] for other purposes, or else any character lacking a viable choice or looking to preserve better weapons (such as [[dagger]]s or [[dart]]s). The player can carry as many as they deem necessary without encumbering themselves; once no longer needed or more reliable options are found, the rocks can safely be disposed of as [[junk]].
 ===Other uses for rocks===
@@ Line 48: / Line 44: @@
 ==History==
-Rocks as items are introduced in [[Hack 1.0]]. Prior to this, early versions of hack121 and PDP-11, variants of [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], did not have rocks - they instead used various types of "bullets", specifically [[sling bullets]].
+Rocks as items are introduced in [[Hack 1.0]]. Prior to this, early versions of hack121 and PDP-11, variants of [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], did not have rocks - they instead used various types of "bullets", specifically [[sling bullet]]s.
 ==Variants==
@@ Line 66: / Line 62: @@
 ==References==
 <references/>
-{{nethack-366}}
+{{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Gems]]
 [[Category:Weapons]]

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
 {{Encyclopedia|
- Bilbo saw that the moment had come when he must do something.
+Bilbo saw that the moment had come when he must do something. He could not get up at the brutes and he had nothing to shoot with; but looking about he saw that in this place there were many stones lying in what appeared to be a now dry little watercourse.  Bilbo was a pretty fair shot with a stone, and it did not take him long to find a nice smooth egg-shaped one that fitted his hand cosily.  As a boy he used to practise throwing stones at things, until rabbits and squirrels, and even birds, got out of his way as quick as lightning if they saw him stoop; and even grownup he had still spent a deal of his time at quoits, dart-throwing, shooting at the wand, bowls, ninepins and other quiet games of the aiming and throwing sort - indeed he could do lots of things, besides blowing smoke-rings, asking riddles and cooking, that I haven't time to tell you about.  There is no time now.  While he was picking up stones, the spider had reached Bombur, and soon he would have been dead.  At that moment Bilbo threw.
- He could not get up at the brutes and he had nothing to shoot
+The stone struck the spider plunk on the head, and it dropped senseless off the tree, flop to the ground, with all its legs  curled up.
          [ The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien ]
 }}

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
    |skill=sling
    |cost=0
    |weight=10
    |material=mineral