Scroll of light - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ word choice

2026-07-14T10:52:11Z

‎History: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: history, message correction, ref adjustment

2026-07-14T10:49:59Z

history, message correction, ref adjustment

Umbire the Phantom: properly update to nh5

2026-07-14T10:27:40Z

properly update to nh5

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ fix this

2026-07-14T06:58:12Z

‎History: fix this

Umbire the Phantom: /* Identification */ detail

2026-07-14T06:56:51Z

‎Identification: detail

Netzhack: /* Identification */ c/e

2026-07-13T23:25:20Z

‎Identification: c/e

Phol ende wodan: update to 5.0.0: resolve upcoming notes

2026-06-19T00:12:12Z

update to 5.0.0: resolve upcoming notes

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ tweaks

2026-03-02T19:47:25Z

‎Description: tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: lot more to expand this with, actually

2025-07-06T16:53:12Z

lot more to expand this with, actually

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ ID, etc.

2025-07-06T15:32:20Z

‎Strategy: ID, etc.

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 The effect of the scroll to create a light monster when read while confused is added in NetHack 3.6.0 via {{commit|f65d0710b62f79039313802d81a7ff8b2dcfe3f3}}. This also introduces a bug that causes the game prompts the player to type-name the scroll after reading it while confused, even if the scroll was already identified&mdash;this is fixed in [[NetHack 3.6.1]] via {{commit|eb22f7f583120343ee3f8ba54fd277fed82fafd5}}.
-In versions prior to [[NetHack 5.0.0]], reading a scroll of light while confused has a {{frac|4|5}} chance of creating a radius of darkness corresponding to the scroll's beatitude around the hero, and otherwise will generate a [[Light (monster class)|light monster]] adjacent to them:{{refsrc|src/read.c|1451|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1459|nethack=3.6.7}} the monster summoned by the scroll will be a black light if the scroll was cursed and a yellow light otherwise. The scroll will not auto-identify for the hero if it creates a monster, but will prompt the player to type-name it.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1460|nethack=3.6.7}}
+In versions prior to [[NetHack 5.0.0]], reading a scroll of light while confused has a {{frac|4|5}} chance of creating a radius of darkness corresponding to the scroll's beatitude around the hero, and otherwise will generate a single [[Light (monster class)|light monster]] adjacent to them:{{refsrc|src/read.c|1451|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1459|nethack=3.6.7}} the monster summoned by the scroll will be a black light if the scroll was cursed and a yellow light otherwise. The scroll will not auto-identify for the hero if it creates a monster, but will prompt the player to type-name it.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1460|nethack=3.6.7}}
 The current confused behavior for scrolls of light is implemented in NetHack 5.0.0 via {{commit|1ba1422eba147c875ea90c1d0456511a8519cecf}}, while the effects of the scroll on the wielded Sunsword (along with the new gold dragon scales and dragon scale mail) are introduced via {{commit|e8341dc9d79dbdc0013a287a9c8dfd627798883b}}. NetHack 5.0.0 also adds scrolls of light to Izchak's lighting shop stock via {{commit|5d3e237ffc6e39bf53ae006cd6d610973f8ffd77}}, which originates from [[xNetHack]].

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 In addition to the regular effects, reading a blessed or cursed scroll of light while the hero is not confused and wielding Sunsword, wearing gold dragon scales and/or [[gold dragon scale mail]] equipped will affect the radius of the permanent light they each provide:{{refsrc|src/light.c|879-L911|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>arti_light_radius()</tt> function is used for weapon and armor-based light sources}}{{refsrc|src/light.c|899|nethack=5.0.0|comment=beatitude and light radius}}{{refsrc|src/light.c|907-L908|nethack=5.0.0|comment=worn gold dragon mail gives more light than gold scales}} a blessed scroll will increase their light radius as though they were [[dipped]] in [[holy water]], while a cursed scroll will decrease it as though they were dipped in [[unholy water]].{{refsrc|src/read.c|2243-L2245|nethack=5.0.0|comment=calls <tt>seffect_light()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1742-L1755|nethack=5.0.0|comment=standard scroll effects in <tt>seffect_light()</tt> function; calls <tt>litroom()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|2518-L2524|nethack=5.0.0|comment=cursed scroll effects and call to <tt>impact_arti_light()</tt> in <tt>litroom()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|2543-L2552|nethack=5.0.0|comment=blessed scroll effects and call to <tt>impact_arti_light()</tt> in <tt>litroom()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/potion.c|1591-L1621|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>impact_arti_light()</tt> function simulates the effects of (un)holy water, which in turn affects the strength of the light source}}
-Reading a scroll of light while [[confused]] will conjure [[yellow light]]s around the hero, or [[black light]]s if the scroll is cursed: these lights will always be [[tame]] and [[cancelled]] (which prevents them from exploding), and the scroll will be auto-identified if the hero can see the resulting lights.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1756-L1784|nethack=5.0.0}} If the species of light in question has been [[genocided]], then the scroll has no effect except for a unique message.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1759-L1760|nethack=5.0.0|name="sparkles"}}
+Reading a scroll of light while [[confused]] will conjure [[black light]]s around the hero if the scroll is cursed and create [[yellow light]]s otherwise:{{refsrc|src/read.c|1756-L1784|nethack=5.0.0}} these lights will always be [[tame]] and [[cancelled]] (which prevents them from exploding), and the scroll will be auto-identified if the hero can see the resulting lights. If the species of light in question has been [[genocided]], then the scroll has no effect except for a unique message.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1759-L1760|nethack=5.0.0|name="sparkles"}}
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 The effect of the scroll to create a light monster when read while confused is added in NetHack 3.6.0 via {{commit|f65d0710b62f79039313802d81a7ff8b2dcfe3f3}}. This also introduces a bug that causes the game prompts the player to type-name the scroll after reading it while confused, even if the scroll was already identified&mdash;this is fixed in [[NetHack 3.6.1]] via {{commit|eb22f7f583120343ee3f8ba54fd277fed82fafd5}}.
 ==Messages==
@@ Line 49: / Line 56: @@
 {{message|<The monster> glistens.|As above, while you are engulfed by any other type of monster.}}
-{{message|You are surrounded by darkness!|You read a cursed scroll, or a scroll of any beatitude while confused.}}
+{{message|You are surrounded by darkness!|You read a cursed scroll of light.}}
 {{message|It seems even darker in here than before.|As above, while you are engulfed.}}
 {{message|Your <light source> goes out!|Your lit [[lamp]] or [[lantern]] went out as a result of the above.}}

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
   |ink=4–7
 }}
+A '''scroll of light''' is a type of [[Magical item|magical]] [[scroll]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
 ==Generation==
-[[Monk]]s may be given a scroll of light as the random scroll in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|89|nethack=3.6.7}} [[Wizard]]s may be given a scroll of light as any of the three random scrolls in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|167|nethack=3.6.7}}
+[[Monk]]s may be given a scroll of light as the random scroll in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|104|nethack=5.0.0}} [[Wizard]]s may be given a scroll of light as any of the three random scrolls in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|173|nethack=5.0.0}}
 Scrolls of light make up {{frac|9|100}} (9%) of all randomly-generated scrolls. General [[store]]s, second-hand bookstores, rare books shops, and [[Izchak]]'s lighting shop can stock scrolls of light.
-Writing a scroll of light with a [[magic marker]] takes up 4 to 7 charges.
+Writing a scroll of light with a [[magic marker]] takes up 4 to 7 charges.{{refsrc|src/write.c|24-L31|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Description==
-A [[hero]] [[reading]] a non-cursed scroll of light will create a radius of permanent light around them:{{refsrc|src/read.c|1450|nethack=3.6.7}} an uncursed scroll creates light in a 5-square radius, while a blessed scroll creates a 9-unit radius of light, and [[gremlin]]s caught in the light will take up to 5 points of damage.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1957|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1998|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|2018|nethack=3.6.7}} Reading a cursed scroll of light instead darkens a 5-square area around the hero, extinguishing any [[light source]]s other than a [[wielded]] [[Sunsword]].{{refsrc|src/read.c|1938|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1954|nethack=3.6.7|name="blackout"}} In either case, the scroll will [[auto-identify]].{{refsrc|src/read.c|1453|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1457|nethack=3.6.7}} Monsters will not read this scroll.
+A [[hero]] [[reading]] a non-cursed scroll of light will create a radius of permanent light around them:{{refsrc|src/read.c|1748-L1755|nethack=5.0.0}} an uncursed scroll creates light in a 5-square radius, while a blessed scroll creates a 9-unit radius of light, and [[gremlin]]s caught in the light will take up to 5 points of damage.{{refsrc|src/read.c|2600-L2619|nethack=5.0.0|comment=room lighting in <tt>litroom()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|2620-L2634|nethack=5.0.0|comment=damage to gremlins}} Reading a cursed scroll of light instead darkens a 5-square area around the hero, extinguishing any [[light source]]s other than the light from any of the [[wielded]] [[Sunsword]], [[worn]] [[gold dragon scales]], or worn [[gold dragon scale mail]].{{refsrc|src/read.c|2502-L2526|nethack=5.0.0|name="blackout"}} In either case, the scroll will [[auto-identify]] if the hero can see its effects.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1750|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1754|nethack=5.0.0}} [[Monster]]s will not read this scroll.
 {|
@@ Line 25: / Line 24: @@
 |}
-Reading the scroll will not light or darken anything if the hero is [[engulfed]], underwater or on the [[Plane of Water]], though a cursed scroll will still extinguish most active light sources as above.<ref name="blackout"/>{{refsrc|src/read.c|1973|nethack=3.6.7}} On the [[Rogue level]], reading the non-cursed scroll in an unlit room will always light the entire room, while reading the cursed scroll in a lit room will fully darken it.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1983|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Reading the scroll will not light or darken anything if the hero is [[engulfed]], underwater or on the [[Plane of Water]], though a cursed scroll will still extinguish most active light sources as above.<ref name="blackout"/>{{refsrc|src/read.c|2498|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|2569-L2571|nethack=5.0.0}} On the [[Rogue level]], reading the non-cursed scroll in an unlit room will always light the entire room, while reading the cursed scroll in a lit room will fully darken it, and the scroll has no effect in hallways.{{refsrc|src/read.c|2580-L2595|nethack=5.0.0}}
-In addition to the regular effects, reading a blessed or cursed scroll of light while you are not confused and have [[Sunsword]], [[gold dragon scales]], or [[gold dragon scale mail]] equipped may bless or curse, respectively, those items, affecting the radius of the permanent light they provide.
+In addition to the regular effects, reading a blessed or cursed scroll of light while the hero is not confused and wielding Sunsword, wearing gold dragon scales and/or [[gold dragon scale mail]] equipped will affect the radius of the permanent light they each provide:{{refsrc|src/light.c|879-L911|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>arti_light_radius()</tt> function is used for weapon and armor-based light sources}}{{refsrc|src/light.c|899|nethack=5.0.0|comment=beatitude and light radius}}{{refsrc|src/light.c|907-L908|nethack=5.0.0|comment=worn gold dragon mail gives more light than gold scales}} a blessed scroll will increase their light radius as though they were [[dipped]] in [[holy water]], while a cursed scroll will decrease it as though they were dipped in [[unholy water]].{{refsrc|src/read.c|2243-L2245|nethack=5.0.0|comment=calls <tt>seffect_light()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1742-L1755|nethack=5.0.0|comment=standard scroll effects in <tt>seffect_light()</tt> function; calls <tt>litroom()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|2518-L2524|nethack=5.0.0|comment=cursed scroll effects and call to <tt>impact_arti_light()</tt> in <tt>litroom()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|2543-L2552|nethack=5.0.0|comment=blessed scroll effects and call to <tt>impact_arti_light()</tt> in <tt>litroom()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/potion.c|1591-L1621|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>impact_arti_light()</tt> function simulates the effects of (un)holy water, which in turn affects the strength of the light source}}
-Reading a scroll of light while [[confused]] will conjure [[yellow light]]s around the hero, or [[black light]]s if the scroll is cursed. The lights will always be [[cancelled]], so they will never explode, and [[tame]], so they will follow you around and you can displace them. There will be 3-4 lights, unless the scroll is blessed, in which case 5-6 will be created. If the species of light in question has been [[genocided]], there is no effect except for a unique message. There is no way to make the lights non-tame, so creating any will break [[petless]] conduct.
+Reading a scroll of light while [[confused]] will conjure [[yellow light]]s around the hero, or [[black light]]s if the scroll is cursed: these lights will always be [[tame]] and [[cancelled]] (which prevents them from exploding), and the scroll will be auto-identified if the hero can see the resulting lights.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1756-L1784|nethack=5.0.0}} If the species of light in question has been [[genocided]], then the scroll has no effect except for a unique message.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1759-L1760|nethack=5.0.0|name="sparkles"}}
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 57: / Line 56: @@
 {{message|Lights appear all around you!|You read the scroll while confused and summoned lights. This auto-identifies the scroll if you can see any of the lights.}}
-{{message|Tiny lights sparkle in the air momentarily.|You read the scroll while confused, but lights could not be summoned because they are genocided.}}
+{{message|Tiny lights sparkle in the air momentarily.|You read the scroll while confused, but lights could not be summoned because they are genocided.<ref name="sparkles"/>}}
 ==Variants==
-Some [[variant]]s of ''NetHack'' based on [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions may or may not adopt the ability to summon lights by reading the scroll while confused that is introduced in later versions.
+Some [[variant]]s of ''NetHack'' based on NetHack 3.4.3 and earlier versions may or may not adopt the ability to summon lights by reading the scroll while confused that is introduced in later versions.
 ===SLASH'EM===
@@ Line 78: / Line 77: @@
 ===xNetHack===
-In [[xNetHack]], an uncursed scroll of light illuminates a radius of 11 squares rather than 5, while a blessed scroll illuminates the entire level.
+In [[xNetHack]], the scroll of light behaves similarly to NetHack 5.0.0 with additional changes: an uncursed scroll of light illuminates a radius of 11 squares rather than 5, while a blessed scroll illuminates the entire level.
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], the uncursed and blessed scroll of light behaves as it does in xNetHack, and otherwise behaves as it does in NetHack 3.6.7.
+In [[Hack'EM]], the uncursed and blessed scroll of light behaves as it does in xNetHack, and otherwise the scroll behaves as it does in [[NetHack 3.6.7]].
 ==References==

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 The scroll of light first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are both based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]].
-From [[NetHack 3.1.0]] to [[NetHack 3.4.3]], including some variants based on those versions, a blind and engulfed hero that reads a cursed scroll of light will darken the room they are currently in. This is fixed in [[NetHack 3.6.0]] https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/commit/e995d889974435455f16ea3547a0ddb6b1a93475
+From [[NetHack 3.1.0]] to [[NetHack 3.4.3]], including some variants based on those versions, a blind and engulfed hero that reads a cursed scroll of light will still darken the room they are currently in. This is fixed in [[NetHack 3.6.0]] via {{commit|e995d889974435455f16ea3547a0ddb6b1a93475}}.
-The effect of the scroll to create a light monster when read while confused is added in [[NetHack 3.6.0]] via {{commit|f65d0710b62f79039313802d81a7ff8b2dcfe3f3}}&mdash;a bug in NetHack 3.6.0 prompts the player to type-name the scroll after reading it while confused, even if the scroll was already identified; this is fixed in [[NetHack 3.6.1]] via {{commit|eb22f7f583120343ee3f8ba54fd277fed82fafd5}}.
 ==Messages==

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 ===Identification===
-Scrolls of light are trivial to identify, being the only scroll type with a base price of 50[[zm]].
+Scrolls of light are trivial to identify, being the only scroll type with a base price of 50[[zm]]. They are also the only type of scroll that Izchak will buy or sell.
 ==History==

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 |}
-The scroll will not light or darken anything if the hero is [[engulfed]], underwater or on the [[Plane of Water]], though it will still extinguish most active light sources as above.<ref name="blackout"/>{{refsrc|src/read.c|1973|nethack=3.6.7}} On the [[Rogue level]], reading the non-cursed scroll in an unlit room will always light the entire room, while reading the cursed scroll in a lit room will fully darken it.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1983|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Reading the scroll will not light or darken anything if the hero is [[engulfed]], underwater or on the [[Plane of Water]], though a cursed scroll will still extinguish most active light sources as above.<ref name="blackout"/>{{refsrc|src/read.c|1973|nethack=3.6.7}} On the [[Rogue level]], reading the non-cursed scroll in an unlit room will always light the entire room, while reading the cursed scroll in a lit room will fully darken it.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1983|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Reading the scroll of light while [[confused]] has a {{frac|4|5}} chance of creating a radius of darkness corresponding to the scroll's [[beatitude]] around the hero, and otherwise will generate a [[Light (monster class)|light monster]] adjacent to them:{{refsrc|src/read.c|1451|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1459|nethack=3.6.7}} the monster summoned by the scroll will be a [[black light]] if the scroll was cursed and a [[yellow light]] otherwise. The scroll will not auto-identify for the hero if it creates a monster, but will prompt the player to type-[[name]] it.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1460|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Reading a scroll of light while [[confused]] has a {{frac|4|5}} chance of creating a radius of darkness corresponding to the scroll's [[beatitude]] around the hero, and otherwise will generate a [[Light (monster class)|light monster]] adjacent to them:{{refsrc|src/read.c|1451|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1459|nethack=3.6.7}} the monster summoned by the scroll will be a [[black light]] if the scroll was cursed and a [[yellow light]] otherwise. The scroll will not auto-identify for the hero if it creates a monster, but will prompt the player to type-[[name]] it.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1460|nethack=3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|1ba1422eba147c875ea90c1d0456511a8519cecf}} Reading the scroll while confused summons multiple [[tame]] and [[cancelled]] lights. An uncursed scroll will summon 3–4 yellow lights, a blessed scroll will summon 5–6 yellow lights, and a cursed scroll will summon 3–4 black lights. Nothing will be summoned if the appropriate type of light is [[genocided]].
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|1ba1422eba147c875ea90c1d0456511a8519cecf}}, reading the scroll while confused summons multiple [[tame]] and [[cancelled]] lights. An uncursed scroll will summon 3–4 yellow lights, a blessed scroll will summon 5–6 yellow lights, and a cursed scroll will summon 3–4 black lights. Nothing will be summoned if the appropriate type of light is [[genocided]].
 Per {{commit|e8341dc9d79dbdc0013a287a9c8dfd627798883b}}, reading cursed and blessed scrolls of light while not confused may respectively decrease or increase the light radius of [[Sunsword]], [[gold dragon scales]], and [[gold dragon scale mail]].}}

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 ==Strategy==
-Scrolls of light are generally used to light up singular dark rooms and areas such as the [[Gnomish Mines]], though [[light source]]s are relied on more often for long term use, and the [[wand of light]] and the {{+ of|light}} spell can be used repeatedly to light up multiple areas. While learning the spell of light is often cause for some players to reserve scrolls of light for [[blanking]] or [[polypiling]] later on, blessed scrolls of light can still be fairly useful for lighting up dark squares more thoroughly or quickly. They can also be useful supplements for aiding in [[jumping]] or [[pounding]], though they are generally less efficient for this purpose than standard light sources or even the spell and wand.
+Scrolls of light are generally used to light up singular dark rooms and areas such as the [[Gnomish Mines]], though [[light source]]s are relied on more often for long term use, and the [[wand of light]] and the {{+ of|light}} spell can be used repeatedly to light up multiple areas. While learning the spell of light is often cause for some players to reserve scrolls of light for [[blanking]] or [[polypiling]] later on, blessed scrolls of light can still be occasionally useful for lighting up dark squares more thoroughly or quickly. Blessed scrolls can also be useful supplements for aiding in [[jumping]] or [[pounding]], though they are generally less efficient for this purpose than standard light sources or even the spell and wand.
 ==History==