Spellbook of dig - Revision history

JASON10668: Add languages template.

2025-10-18T08:50:31Z

Add languages template.

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2023-06-03T03:29:56Z

word choice

Actual-nh: /* xNetHack */ Grammar/style

2021-06-28T16:55:35Z

‎xNetHack: Grammar/style

Umbire the Phantom at 15:31, 28 June 2021

2021-06-28T15:31:39Z

Umbire the Phantom at 15:30, 28 June 2021

2021-06-28T15:30:06Z

Actual-nh: xNetHack level change

2021-06-28T15:15:30Z

xNetHack level change

Umbire the Phantom at 14:29, 28 June 2021

2021-06-28T14:29:23Z

Linkhyrule5 at 02:24, 27 June 2021

2021-06-27T02:24:56Z

Linkhyrule5 at 02:21, 27 June 2021

2021-06-27T02:21:07Z

Umbire the Phantom at 15:00, 3 March 2020

2020-03-03T15:00:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:50, 18 October 2025
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		+	{{languages}}
	{{spellbook\|name=dig\|level=5\|type=matter\|turns=30\|direction=ray\|equiv=[[wand of digging]]\|abundance=2.03%\|role=caveman}}		{{spellbook\|name=dig\|level=5\|type=matter\|turns=30\|direction=ray\|equiv=[[wand of digging]]\|abundance=2.03%\|role=caveman}}

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 ==History==
-All spellbooks were introduced in [[NetHack 1.3d]].
+All spellbooks are introduced in [[NetHack 1.3d]].
 ==xNetHack==
-In [[xNetHack]], the spell of dig is reduced to a level 3 spell. Both this and overall changes to the casting system make it much less unwieldy to cast, though the wand of digging is still preferable in many scenarios.
+In [[xNetHack]], the spell of dig is lowered to a level 3 spell. Both this and overall changes to the casting system make it much less unwieldy to cast, though the wand of digging may still be preferable in many scenarios.
+{{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Spellbooks|Dig]]

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ==xNetHack==
-In [[xNetHack]], the spell of dig is reduced to a level 3 spell. Both this and overall changes to the casting system make it much less unwieldly to cast, though the wand of digging is still a more preferable option in many scenarios.
+In [[xNetHack]], the spell of dig is reduced to a level 3 spell. Both this and overall changes to the casting system make it much less unwieldy to cast, though the wand of digging is still preferable in many scenarios.
 {{nethack-366}}
 [[Category:Spellbooks|Dig]]

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ==xNetHack==
-In [[xNetHack]], the spell of dig is reduced to a level 3 spell.
+In [[xNetHack]], the spell of dig is reduced to a level 3 spell. Both this and overall changes to the casting system make it much less unwieldly to cast, though the wand of digging is still a more preferable option in many scenarios.
 {{nethack-366}}
 [[Category:Spellbooks|Dig]]

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 {{spellbook|name=dig|level=5|type=matter|turns=30|direction=ray|equiv=[[wand of digging]]|abundance=2.03%|role=caveman}}
-In ''NetHack'', the '''spellbook of dig''' allows you to learn the '''spell of dig'''. It is a level 5 [[matter spell]], and the [[spellbook]] takes 32 actions to read. It is the [[special spell]] for [[Cavemen]].
+In ''[[NetHack]]'', the '''spellbook of dig''' allows you to learn the '''spell of dig'''. It is a level 5 [[matter spell]], and the [[spellbook]] takes 32 actions to read. It is the [[special spell]] for [[Cavemen]].
 ==Generation==
 The [[Wizard of Yendor]] will have a spellbook of dig with him when he makes his guaranteed reappearance on the [[Plane of Earth]].
 ==Effect==
-When cast, it has a similar effect to [[zap]]ping a [[wand of digging]], which is used to dig through walls and create holes in floors.
+When cast, it has a similar effect to [[zap]]ping a [[wand of digging]] - it fires a ray in a selected direction that digs through walls and can create holes in the floor.
 ==Strategy==
-The spell of dig is quite high-level and [[power]]-intensive for the utility it provides - especially when the more-common wand of digging provides the same benefits and the ability to engrave [[Elbereth]] in exchange for limited charges per wand. For training matter spells to eventually cast the [[spell of polymorph]], the {{spell of|knock|and=1|wizard lock}} spells are better due to their lower power cost and comparatively wider use cases. By the time you reach [[Gehennom]], you should typically have a large supply of digging wands and can obtain more from [[minotaur]]s and other hostiles, so it is typically not worth learning at that point unless you need a forgettable spell for quick [[confusion]].
+While sharing most of the same uses as the wand of digging, the spell is quite high-level and [[power]]-intensive for the utility it provides - especially when the more-common wand grants the same benefits and the ability to engrave [[Elbereth]] in exchange for limited charges per wand. For training matter spells to eventually cast the [[spell of polymorph]], the {{spell of|knock|and=1|wizard lock}} spells are better due to their lower power cost and comparatively wider use cases. By the time you reach [[Gehennom]], you should typically have a large supply of digging wands and can obtain more from [[minotaur]]s and other hostiles, so it is typically not worth learning at that point unless you need a forgettable spell for quick [[confusion]].
 The spell is almost guaranteed to be useless to Cavemen, especially considering the availability of wands of digging - even with the special spell bonus and a robe, Cavemen have the second-highest spellcasting penalty among all vanilla roles, which compounds the above already-existing issues with the spell.
 The guaranteed spellbook of dig you can obtain from the Wizard of Yendor on the Plane of Earth is intended to be a backup in the event you have no other sources of digging&mdash;this is also the case for the accompanying minotaur and [[Elvenking]], who provide the faster wand of digging and a chance for a [[pick-axe]], respectively. Even so, you should still have plenty of your own wands at this point, along with a means of [[charging]] them if needed.
 ==xNetHack==
-[[xNetHack]] reduces the spell of dig's level to 3, which also reduces the spell's energy cost.
+In [[xNetHack]], the spell of dig is reduced to a level 3 spell.
 {{nethack-366}}
 [[Category:Spellbooks|Dig]]

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 ==Strategy==
-While an obviously useful [[matter spell]], it is also quite high-level compared to its effect. A wand of digging provides the same benefits, including digging shortcuts through maze levels and functioning as an emergency escape (e.g. by digging downward to escape non-[[follower]] monsters), without the immense power cost. By the time you reach [[Gehennom]], you should typically have a large supply of such wands and can obtain more from the various enemies - especially [[minotaurs]] - so it is typically not worth learning at that point, much less specifically for that area. As a spell, it is likely most useful for grinding out the 180 skill uses (36 casts) required to raise the matter skill to Expert, for early use of the much more useful (though even more expensive) [[polymorph]].
+While an obviously useful [[matter spell]], it is also quite high-level compared to its effect. A wand of digging provides the same benefits, including digging shortcuts through maze levels and functioning as an emergency escape (e.g. by digging downward to escape non-[[follower]] monsters), without the immense power cost. By the time you reach [[Gehennom]], you should typically have a large supply of such wands and can obtain more from the various enemies - especially [[minotaurs]] - so it is typically not worth learning at that point, much less specifically for that area. As a spell, it is likely most useful for grinding out the 180 skill uses required to raise the matter skill to Expert, for early use of the much more useful (though even more expensive) [[polymorph]]. As dig is a 5th level spell, only 36 casts of dig are required.
 Despite being the special spell for Cavemen, it is almost guaranteed to be useless to them, especially considering the availability of wands mentioned above. Even with a robe and the ability to actually train levels in matter spells as of [[3.6.2]], Cavemen have the second-highest spellcasting penalty among all vanilla roles, and the spell is too-high level to be practical for even the most outside use by them.

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 ==Generation==
-The [[Wizard of Yendor]] is guaranteed to have a spellbook of dig in his inventory when he makes his reappearance on the [[Plane of Earth]].
+The [[Wizard of Yendor]] will have a spellbook of dig when he makes his guaranteed reappearance on the [[Plane of Earth]].
 ==Effect==