Shock - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2026-07-20T07:01:49Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2026-05-19T10:16:56Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ comment

2026-04-19T11:06:02Z

‎Variants: comment

Umbire the Phantom: /* SlashTHEM */ now how'd we goof that

2026-04-17T13:08:30Z

‎SlashTHEM: now how'd we goof that

Umbire the Phantom: /* Shock damage sources */ punc, upcoming

2026-04-17T13:07:58Z

‎Shock damage sources: punc, upcoming

Umbire the Phantom: fix hatnotes

2026-04-17T13:03:59Z

fix hatnotes

Umbire the Phantom: touch-ups

2026-04-17T12:59:02Z

touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: /* Shock damage effects */ clarify

2026-04-12T21:18:40Z

‎Shock damage effects: clarify

Umbire the Phantom: /* Resistance */ hat note

2026-04-08T12:37:13Z

‎Resistance: hat note

Umbire the Phantom: expand further, thanks sciball

2025-12-24T13:52:05Z

expand further, thanks sciball

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 * Mjollnir's danger to a hero's items occurs very rarely and usually results from either a monster that finds and picks up the [[artifact]] to use as a weapon, or from a [[Valkyrie]] hero using [[gauntlets of power]] to throw Mjollnir and being hit by the returning weapon. The former can be dealt with by an attentive hero who can determine or realize the threat quick enough; though the chance of the latter occurring is extremely low, it is enough that most players avoid throwing Mjollnir at all.
-Barring early misfortunes with a wand of lightning, shock resistance can still be obtained well before encountering most of those damage sources, e.g. by [[eating]] a [[gelatinous cube]] [[corpse]] or [[tin]], a [[glob]] of a [[brown pudding]] or a glob of [[black pudding]]&mdash;heroes that are strong enough to safely fight black puddings can reliably produce them by [[kicking]] a [[sink]] (which produces one each), and can also deliberately [[Division|split the puddings]] to produce more globs and increase their odds of obtaining shock resistance. As indicated above, reflection will also cover a majority of instances where the hero would deal with lightning. [[Blindness resistance]] blocks all forms of blinding inflicted by lightning.
+Barring early misfortunes with a wand of lightning, shock resistance can still be obtained well before encountering most of those damage sources, e.g. by [[eating]] a [[gelatinous cube]] [[corpse]] or [[tin]], a [[glob]] of a [[brown pudding]] or a glob of [[black pudding]]&mdash;heroes that are strong enough to safely fight black puddings can reliably produce them by [[Kick (command)|kicking]] a [[sink]] (which produces one pudding per sink), and can also deliberately [[Division|split the puddings]] to produce more globs and increase their odds of obtaining shock resistance. As indicated above, reflection will also cover a majority of instances where the hero would deal with lightning. [[Blindness resistance]] blocks all forms of blinding inflicted by lightning.
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The changes to shocking spheres make them incredibly annoying and hazardous to a hero's valuables, to the point that they are often chosen as a [[genocide]] target. This makes extrinsic sources of shock resistance incredibly valuable, enough that [[blue dragon scale mail]] is much more popular as a choice of [[body armor]] for its extrinsic resistance and very fast speed (which it grants while worn per {{commit|ef1eeed7550e38fa1e4ff0ef608f3c8b55eaa950}}).

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 * The grid bug is entirely harmless, dealing only 1 damage and not affecting items unless it has somehow gained a [[Monster level|level]], and can even be used to confirm if the hero has a source of shock resistance.
-* Shocking spheres can be killed at range and lack most resistances or any [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]], while their blasts can be partially mitigated with high [[dexterity]] or else diverted by [[displacement]] or [[pet]]s;{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|2080-L2083|nethack=3.6.7}} shock resistance of any kind will completely nullify a shocking sphere's explosion attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|2068-L2071|nethack=3.6.7}}
+* Shocking spheres can be killed at range and lack most resistances or any [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]], while their blasts can be partially mitigated with high [[dexterity]] or else diverted by [[Displacement (property)|displacement]] or [[pet]]s;{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|2080-L2083|nethack=3.6.7}} shock resistance of any kind will completely nullify a shocking sphere's explosion attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|2068-L2071|nethack=3.6.7}}
 * The energy vortex is a notorious mid-game threat that can be very tricky to deal with due to its high movement [[speed]] of 20 and electric passive attack: while it does not normally destroy items, it is capable of [[Energy drain|sapping a hero's energy]] while engulfing them, and a hero that was engulfed by it and breaks free becomes vulnerable to item destruction from converted touch attacks.<ref name="justatouch"/> Wands and thrown projectiles are some ideal methods of killing an energy vortex without zapping yourself (especially while engulfed), although their MR score of 30 makes magical items notably unreliable, and spells will be harder to use due to the energy loss being worsened for casting roles. A {{+ of|slow monster}} spell or [[Wand of slow monster|wand]] used in advance can reduce the energy vortex's threat significantly.
 * Electric eels only dwell in water within [[swamp]]s and some special levels, allowing for some level of preparation, and should ideally be engaged with at a distance if possible&mdash;their lack of MR score means that [[scaring]] and wands are often the most valuable method of dispatching them, e.g. using [[wands of cold]] and {{of|wand|sleep}} to prevent retaliation, or using [[bugle]]s to scare them out of melee range.

@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
 ==Variants==
-[[Variant]]s of ''NetHack'' that add [[object property]] systems include shock or lightning as a potential object property for weapons and sometimes armor.<!--keeping a running list of every single monster that has a shock attack isn't feasible for most variants-->
+[[Variant]]s of ''NetHack'' that add [[object property]] systems include shock or lightning as a potential object property for weapons and sometimes armor.<!--keeping a running list of every single monster that has a shock attack isn't feasible for most variants, and any list we do keep should ideally be an exception-->
 ===SLASH'EM===

@@ Line 160: / Line 160: @@
 * The [[electric sword]] is a weapon that has a {{frac|10}} chance (10%) of dealing +1d3 shock damage on each hit.
 * More monsters have attacks that inflict shock damage, such as [[blue naga]]s, [[heisenbug]]s and [[microscopic space fleet]]s.
-* Some artifacts are added that deal shock resistance:
+* Some artifacts are added that deal shock damage:
 ** [[Shocker (artifact)|Shocker]] is an artifact electric sword that deals double shock damage on each hit, and lacks the random shock damage of the normal base item.
 ** [[Shock Brand]] is an artifact [[long sword]] that deals double shock damage on each hit and grants shock resistance.

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 * The [[Lightning (monster spell)|lightning]] [[monster spell]] cast by a [[monster]]{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|560-L577|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 * Lightning from an [[angry]] god smiting the hero
-* The lightning from the [[thrown]] or [[wielded]] [[Mjollnir]] striking a hero or monster.{{refsrc|src/artifact.c|1214|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|1338|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+* The lightning from the [[thrown]] or [[wielded]] [[Mjollnir]] striking a hero or monster{{refsrc|src/artifact.c|1214|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|1338|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 * Surges of electricity from [[container trap]]s{{refsrc|src/trap.c|4924-L4940|nethack=3.6.7}}
 * Electric shocks from sitting on a [[throne]]
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 * The [[touch attack]] of an energy vortex{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|319-L331|nethack=3.6.7|name="justatouch"|comment=engulfing attacks have a grace period after release where a target cannot be immediately re-engulfed, and engulf attacks that hit during this period become touch attacks}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|6b60618e0e662b35b8e9c31dc9c4baee5ae70932}}, the active explosion attack of shocking spheres creates a 3x3 shocking explosion centered on their square and affects all monsters (including the hero) caught in the blast. The explosions of spheres can also destroy items as other attacks of the same element would.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|6b60618e0e662b35b8e9c31dc9c4baee5ae70932}}, the active explosion attack of shocking spheres creates a 3x3 shocking explosion centered on their square and affects all monsters (including the hero) caught in the blast. The explosions of shocking spheres can also destroy items as other shocking attacks would.}}
 ==Shock damage effects==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{tocright}}
-{{otheruses|the elemental damage type sometimes known as "lightning"|the damage done by a failed polymorph|system shock}}
+{{otheruses|the elemental damage type sometimes known as "lightning"|other uses of the term "lightning"|Lightning (disambiguation)}}
-{{for|other uses of the term "lightning"|Lightning (disambiguation)}}
+{{for|the damage done by a failed polymorph|system shock}}
 '''Shock''', also known as '''lightning''' or '''electricity''', is a [[damage type]] that occurs in ''[[NetHack]]'', and is capable of electrifying targets and their vulnerable items.

@@ Line 123: / Line 123: @@
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], shock damage cannot destroy rings and has a chance of draining one or more charges from affected wands, with a chance of destroying them entirely&mdash;affected wands that are not destroyed will shoot sparks that add +1d6 damage for each charge lost from those wands.
-The [[Object properties#Shocking|shocking]], [[sparking]] and [[arcing]] object properties grant shock damage to weapons and certain types of armor. [[Tonitrus|Tonitrūs]] are [[mace]] weapons that deal +1d10 shock damage to monsters with [[telepathy]].
+The [[Shocking (property)|shocking]], [[sparking]] and [[arcing]] object properties grant shock damage to weapons and certain types of armor. The [[tonitrus]] is a type of weapon that deals +1d10 shock damage to monsters with [[telepathy]].
-Randomized gaze attacks often include shock as one of the possible damage types.
+[[Random gaze|Randomized gaze attacks]] often include shock as one of the possible damage types.
 The {{+ of|lightning bolt}} and {{+ of|lightning storm}} spell both allow the hero to cast lightning rays and explosions of lightning respectively. The eldritch style [[knightly stance]] can be used to add shock damage to wielded weapons via these spells, at the cost of some [[power]].
@@ Line 161: / Line 161: @@
 * More monsters have attacks that inflict shock damage, such as [[blue naga]]s, [[heisenbug]]s and [[microscopic space fleet]]s.
 * Some artifacts are added that deal shock resistance:
-** [[Shocker]] is an artifact electric sword that deals double shock damage on each hit, and lacks the random shock damage of the normal base item.
+** [[Shocker (artifact)|Shocker]] is an artifact electric sword that deals double shock damage on each hit, and lacks the random shock damage of the normal base item.
 ** [[Shock Brand]] is an artifact [[long sword]] that deals double shock damage on each hit and grants shock resistance.
 ** [[Bugzapper]], [[Debugger]] and [[Poseidon's Treasure]] all deal shock damage on each hit.

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 Per {{commit|eb22a81088c220ba18c26a872d9087035c5c444d}}, item destruction caused by shock damage is dependent on the amount of damage dealt, with the amount of items in open inventory that are affected being equal to {{frac|5}} of the shock damage inflicted.
-Per {{commit|ef6a88e1e10287c7e09fb8f7f5cf97bc877103d2}}, chargeable rings that are hit by lightning will be charged {{frac|2|3}} of the time instead of being destroyed. Normal charging limits apply.
+Per {{commit|ef6a88e1e10287c7e09fb8f7f5cf97bc877103d2}}, chargeable rings that are hit by shock damage will be charged {{frac|2|3}} of the time instead of being destroyed, with normal charging limits (and chance of destruction) applied.
 Per {{commit|738c2239c9063cbf62e5650977da45c1e38a3108}}, there is a {{frac|10}} chance that [[iron bars]] will melt when hit by [[lightning]]. Per {{commit|6b8079a16f425aa80239b0b1009ec98a70af56ff}}, the lightning spell will destroy any iron bars if the hero is targeted while occupying their square.

@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 ===Resistance===
-[[Shock resistance]] is a [[property]] that protects a hero or monster from shock damage by reducing or nullifying the amount of damage dealt, though it does not necessarily protect their items from destruction by shock damage.
+{{main|Shock resistance}}
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|9942b65df78dd55a7806ec}}, extrinsic shock resistance protects items in open inventory from breaking and exploding {{frac|99|100}} of the time, with a separate roll for each item that would be destroyed.}}

@@ Line 125: / Line 125: @@
 Randomized gaze attacks often include shock as one of the possible damage types.
 Certain monsters take doubled damage from spells, attacks and items that inflict shock damage:
@@ Line 134: / Line 138: @@
 * [[Moon entity eye cluster]]
-[[Chain golem]]s, [[argentum golem]]s and [[green-steel golem]]s are slowed if they are subjected to shock damage, with the exception of a hero polymorphed into one. Flesh golems are healed by shock damage as they are in ''NetHack'', though the calculations for restoring HP floor the result rather than rounding it up.
+Some artifacts deal shock damage:
 ===FIQHack===
@@ Line 142: / Line 150: @@
 In [[EvilHack]], the "lightning" object property grants shock damage to weapons with the property, while armor with the property grants shock resistance.
-[[Tempest]] is an artifact that can inflict shock damage similar to Mjollnir, and also protects the wielder from shock damage.
+[[Tempest]] is an artifact [[halberd]] that can inflict shock damage on hit similar to Mjollnir, causes lighting explosions centered on targets when used to pound or perform melee attacks while the hero is mounted or a [[Centaur (starting race)|centaur]], and also protects the wielder from shock damage.
-Vulnerability to shock can be inflicted with the [[Vulnerability (monster spell)|vulnerability]] monster spell by clerical casters.
+* The [[electric sword]] is a weapon that has a {{frac|10}} chance (10%) of dealing +1d3 shock damage on each hit.
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], the "lightning" object property behaves as in EvilHack, as does the vulnerability monster spell.
+In [[Hack'EM]], the "lightning" object property behaves as in EvilHack, as does shock vulnerability the vulnerability monster spell.
 Worn blue [[dragon-scaled armor]] grants the wearer a passive shock attack.