Scroll of enchant armor - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ tweak

2026-01-11T18:45:40Z

‎Description: tweak

Umbire the Phantom: upcoming!!

2026-01-11T18:44:53Z

upcoming!!

Todb: Fixing capitalization

2025-11-12T21:01:01Z

Fixing capitalization

Bathbombman: fix error where article says "weapon" instead of "armor"

2025-07-13T06:50:02Z

fix error where article says "weapon" instead of "armor"

Umbire the Phantom: /* SLASH'EM */ word choice, maybe come back later...

2025-07-06T16:08:30Z

‎SLASH'EM: word choice, maybe come back later...

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

2025-02-08T01:10:58Z

‎SLASH'EM: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2025-02-08T01:07:29Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: fix erodeproofing notes

2025-02-07T21:48:36Z

fix erodeproofing notes

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ DSM

2025-02-07T21:38:49Z

‎History: DSM

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ dtsund + evil

2025-02-07T21:37:34Z

‎Variants: dtsund + evil

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 A [[hero]] that reads the scroll with no worn armor [[exercise]]s [[strength]] and [[constitution]], or abuses it if the scroll is cursed, and the player is prompted to type-[[name]] the scroll afterward if it is unidentified. [[Monster]]s will not use this scroll.
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|6707d3bfbab1c28ac4e897c3fc1833eff9763d28}}, the safe enchantment limit for [[Magical item|magical armor]] is reduced to +2. Per {{commit|3edd07b23efcab685789d2a6079c70de84443db7}}, this is reversed, and the uncursed scroll is more effective when used on [[Elven item|elven armor]], [[artifact]] armor, non-magical armor, and any armor that has not been enchanted, with blessed scrolls being more effective still&mdash;magical armor that is ''not'' elven armor will only gain 1 point of enchantment from a blessed scroll.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|6707d3bfbab1c28ac4e897c3fc1833eff9763d28}}, the safe enchantment limit for [[Magical item|magical armor]] is reduced to +2. Per {{commit|3edd07b23efcab685789d2a6079c70de84443db7}}, this is reversed, and the uncursed scroll is more effective when used on [[Elven item|elven armor]], [[artifact]] armor, non-magical armor, and any armor that has not been enchanted, with blessed scrolls being more effective still&mdash;cursed scrolls of enchant armor will also drain more points of enchantment. Magical armor that is ''not'' elven armor will only gain 1 point of enchantment from a blessed scroll.}}
 ===Evaporating armor===

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 ==Description==
-When [[read]], the scroll alters the [[enchantment]] of a [[worn]] piece of [[armor]] at random{{refsrc|src/read.c|1031|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the outermost layer of armor worn on the torso (i.e. [[cloak]], [[body armor]] or [[shirt]]) is chosen, with a {{frac|4}} chance per slot of swapping targets to worn armor in another slot.{{refsrc|src/do_wear.c|2242|nethack=3.6.7|comment=<tt>some_armor</tt> function}} An effect is then applied to the chosen piece of armor depending on the scroll's [[beatitude]]:
+A [[hero]] that [[read]]s the scroll alters the [[enchantment]] of a [[worn]] piece of [[armor]] at random{{refsrc|src/read.c|1031|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the outermost layer of armor worn on the torso (i.e. [[cloak]], [[body armor]] or [[shirt]]) is chosen, with a {{frac|4}} chance per slot of swapping targets to worn armor in another slot.{{refsrc|src/do_wear.c|2242|nethack=3.6.7|comment=<tt>some_armor</tt> function}} An effect is then applied to the chosen piece of armor depending on the scroll's [[beatitude]]:
 * An uncursed scroll of enchant armor increases the target armor's enchantment by 1, and uncurses the armor if it is cursed{{refsrc|src/read.c|1106|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1140|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;worn [[dragon scales]] targeted this way will be converted to [[dragon scale mail]] of that color, though their enchantment is unchanged.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1107|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1117|nethack=3.6.7}}
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 * A cursed scroll of enchant armor decreases the target armor's enchantment by 1, and curses the armor if it is not cursed.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1101|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1136|nethack=3.6.7}}
-A [[hero]] that reads the scroll with no worn armor [[exercise]]s [[strength]] and [[constitution]], or abuses it if the scroll is cursed, and is prompted to type-[[name]] the scroll if it is unidentified.
+A [[hero]] that reads the scroll with no worn armor [[exercise]]s [[strength]] and [[constitution]], or abuses it if the scroll is cursed, and the player is prompted to type-[[name]] the scroll afterward if it is unidentified. [[Monster]]s will not use this scroll.
 ===Evaporating armor===

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 ===Evaporating armor===
-Worn armor that is at an enchantment of at least +4 may evaporate and be destroyed when positively enchanted further, with a {{frac|X}} chance of surviving where ''X'' represents the armor's current enchantment{{refsrc|src/read.c|1089|nethack=3.6.7}} &mdash;for example enchanting a +4 [[orcish helm]] has a {{frac|4}} chance of the helm not being destroyed in the process. [[Elven item|elven armor]] is considered "special" and must be enchanted from at least +6 to risk being destroyed, and the [[cornuthaum]] is similarly considered "special" and can be safely enchanted from +5 if the hero is a [[Wizard]].{{refsrc|src/read.c|1075|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Worn armor that is at an enchantment of at least +4 may evaporate and be destroyed when positively enchanted further, with a {{frac|X}} chance of surviving where ''X'' represents the armor's current enchantment{{refsrc|src/read.c|1089|nethack=3.6.7}} &mdash;for example enchanting a +4 [[orcish helm]] has a {{frac|4}} chance of the helm not being destroyed in the process. [[Elven item|Elven armor]] is considered "special" and must be enchanted from at least +6 to risk being destroyed, and the [[cornuthaum]] is similarly considered "special" and can be safely enchanted from +5 if the hero is a [[Wizard]].{{refsrc|src/read.c|1075|nethack=3.6.7}}
 This means that the maximum enchantment a piece of armor can be safely enchanted ''from'' with a scroll of enchant armor is +5 for elven armor and +3 for other armor, with the sole exception of the cornuthaum for Wizards as noted prior&mdash;phrased alternately, special armor can be enchanted safely ''to'' +7 (specifically if using a blessed scroll). Enchanting armor beyond those thresholds also prints a message, which always occurs for "special armor" and occurs with a {{frac|7}} chance for 'normal' armor.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1151|nethack=3.6.7|name="safetybuzz"}}

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 For purposes of erosion-proofing, reading a cursed [[scroll of destroy armor]] while confused can produce similar results, and the scroll itself takes less ink to write, so it is generally preferable especially if enchant armor scrolls are scarce. Unlike cursed destroy armor, reading non-cursed scrolls of enchant armor when confused repairs existing damage; uncursed scrolls also are naturally preferable to blessed ones for erosion repair.
-While most players prefer to uncurse cursed scrolls of enchant weapon, there is a somewhat niche application for them in reducing the enchantment of armor so that it can be safely raised with a blessed scroll. In practice, it is usually better for heroes with some level of spellcasting capability to use the {{+ of|drain life}} spell when reducing armor enchantment.
+While most players prefer to uncurse cursed scrolls of enchant armor, there is a somewhat niche application for them in reducing the enchantment of armor so that it can be safely raised with a blessed scroll. In practice, it is usually better for heroes with some level of spellcasting capability to use the {{+ of|drain life}} spell when reducing armor enchantment.
 ==History==

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 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], [[Valkyrie/SLASH'EM|Valkyries]] can safely enchant [[gauntlets of power]] from +5.{{refsrc|read.c|913|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
+In [[SLASH'EM]], [[Valkyrie/SLASH'EM|Valkyries]] can use the scroll to safely enchant [[gauntlets of power]] from +5.{{refsrc|read.c|913|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
 ===UnNetHack===

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 Elven armor is popular for its ability to be enchanted higher than other armor, either to wear or to [[polypile]] into other types of armor that are more difficult to enchant to those same levels. [[T-shirt]]s and [[Hawaiian shirt]]s are also popular to load up with enchantments for a lightweight source of AC, though this is usually reserved for after the hero obtains [[magic resistance]] or a property such as [[unchanging]] or [[polymorph control]] to ensure that it is not destroyed by [[polymorph]]ing. A spare scroll of enchant armor can also save a [[wish]] or two when making dragon scale mail, assuming the hero can find a dragon of their desired color or create them using a cursed [[scroll of genocide]].
-For purposes of erosion-proofing, reading a cursed [[scroll of destroy armor]] while confused can produce similar results and the scroll itself takes less ink to write; unlike that scroll, non-cursed scrolls of enchant armor repair existing damage; uncursed scrolls also are naturally preferable to blessed ones for erosion-proofing.
+For purposes of erosion-proofing, reading a cursed [[scroll of destroy armor]] while confused can produce similar results, and the scroll itself takes less ink to write, so it is generally preferable especially if enchant armor scrolls are scarce. Unlike cursed destroy armor, reading non-cursed scrolls of enchant armor when confused repairs existing damage; uncursed scrolls also are naturally preferable to blessed ones for erosion repair.
 While most players prefer to uncurse cursed scrolls of enchant weapon, there is a somewhat niche application for them in reducing the enchantment of armor so that it can be safely raised with a blessed scroll. In practice, it is usually better for heroes with some level of spellcasting capability to use the {{+ of|drain life}} spell when reducing armor enchantment.

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 ==History==
-The scroll of enchant armor first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]].
+The scroll of enchant armor first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]]. The use of the scroll in creating dragon scale mail is introduced in [[NetHack 3.1.0]].
 In [[NetHack 3.6.0]], cursed armor will not be made uncursed by a scroll of enchant armor due to a bug. The bug is fixed in [[NetHack 3.6.1]].

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 ==Variants==
 [[Variant]]s of ''NetHack'' may change how the scroll functions in certain instances, which commonly includes the ability to choose the armor targeted. As well, they may also add more types of armor that can be enchanted from higher safe thresholds, whether by any hero or by certain [[role]]s and starting [[race]]s.
 ===SLASH'EM===
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 ===dNetHack===
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], reading a non-cursed scroll of enchant armor while confused and targeting worn dragon scales will convert them into a [[dragon scale shield]] instead of mail.
 ==References==