Spellbook of knock - Revision history

JASON10668: Add languages template.

2025-10-15T12:30:39Z

Add languages template.

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

2025-03-31T00:05:27Z

‎SLASH'EM: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ and upcoming!

2025-01-15T18:01:59Z

‎Description: and upcoming!

Umbire the Phantom: finish out slash'em deets

2025-01-15T18:00:16Z

finish out slash'em deets

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ slash'em special spell

2025-01-15T17:56:18Z

‎Variants: slash'em special spell

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit, updating, detailing

2025-01-15T17:51:07Z

copyedit, updating, detailing

Tomsod: /* Strategy */ remove effect descriptions now that it's all in /oOpening

2025-01-11T20:43:18Z

‎Strategy: remove effect descriptions now that it's all in /oOpening

Tomsod: /* Strategy */ turns out it can free you from pretty much anything

2022-01-15T14:58:23Z

‎Strategy: turns out it can free you from pretty much anything

La Ketchup at 22:13, 19 June 2021

2021-06-19T22:13:26Z

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ Remembered wrong

2020-01-11T23:41:53Z

‎Strategy: Remembered wrong

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:30, 15 October 2025
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		+	{{languages}}
	{{spellbook		{{spellbook
	\|name=knock		\|name=knock

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 In [[SLASH'EM]], the spell of knock is the [[Yeoman]]'s special spell. [[Archeologist/SLASH'EM|Archeologists]] have a {{frac|5}} chance of starting the game with a blessed spellbook of knock, and [[Priest/SLASH'EM|Priests]] have a {{frac|9}} chance of starting the game with a blessed spellbook of knock as their secondary spellbook.{{refsrc|u_init.c|1020|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}{{refsrc|u_init.c|1143|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
-The spell has no effect on the indestructible doors in [[Vlad's Tower]].
+The spell of knock has no effect on the indestructible doors in [[Vlad's Tower]].
 ===EvilHack===

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 Monsters hit by the spell's beam will never be awakened from [[sleep]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|329|nethack=3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|149cb96020c9fb6c88e3b405f2fc5637dcc2fe11}}, a cloaked [[mimic]] hit by the spell's beam will uncloak.}}
+{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|149cb96020c9fb6c88e3b405f2fc5637dcc2fe11}}, a cloaked [[mimic]] hit by the spell's beam will uncloak.
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], the spell of knock is the [[Yeoman]]'s special spell.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], the spell of knock is the [[Yeoman]]'s special spell. [[Archeologist/SLASH'EM|Archeologists]] have a {{frac|5}} chance of starting the game with a blessed spellbook of knock, and [[Priest/SLASH'EM|Priests]] have a {{frac|9}} chance of starting the game with a blessed spellbook of knock as their secondary spellbook.{{refsrc|u_init.c|1020|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}{{refsrc|u_init.c|1143|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
 The spell has no effect on the indestructible doors in [[Vlad's Tower]].

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], the spell has no effect on the indestructible doors in [[Vlad's Tower]].
+In [[SLASH'EM]], the spell of knock is the [[Yeoman]]'s special spell.
 ===EvilHack===
 In [[EvilHack]], the wand of opening is one of a few ways to unlock an [[iron safe]], and is one of a handful of methods that can unlock a locked [[crystal chest]].
 ==Reference==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{spellbook|name=knock|level=1|type=matter|turns=1|direction=beam|equiv=[[wand of opening]]|abundance=3.56%}}
+{{spellbook
-In ''[[NetHack]]'', the '''spellbook of knock''' allows you to learn the '''spell of knock'''.
+In ''[[NetHack]]'', the '''spellbook of knock''' can be read to learn the '''spell of knock'''. It is a level 1 [[matter spell]], and the [[spellbook]] takes roughly 1 turn to read.
-==Effects==
+==Generation==
-The effect is the exact same as a [[wand of opening]], and will unlock doors and [[container]]s, as well as revealing hidden doors.{{refsrc|spell.c|859}}
+[[Wizard]]s may be given a spellbook of knock as the secondary spellbook in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|169|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==
-The primary use of the spell is obsolete once one obtains a [[lock pick]] or [[skeleton key]], which can unlock doors and chests with no power cost.  However, knock has a number of other situational uses, such as quickly escaping from certain [[trap]]s, [[engulf]]ing monsters, or even (together with other means) from [[lava]].  Also, as a [[matter spell]], it can be used to train for casting more powerful spells in the school, notably {{spell of|polymorph}}.
+Similar to the wand of opening, the spell can be used to unlock doors and containers and open drawbridges from a distance, and does so instantaneously where an [[unlocking tool]] can sometimes require multiple actions. The spell can also be used to escape engulfing monsters, though unlike the [[spell of dig]] it does no damage&mdash;this gives it a very slight advantage in cases where a hero wishes to escape from a non-hostile engulfer that is [[confused]] or under [[conflict]], such as a pet [[purple worm]], though the wand is superior for reliable escapes. The spell can also be used by the hero to quickly and painlessly free themselves from a floor they were stuck in as a result of cooled lava.
-Casting knock also unlocks doors at a distance and does so slightly faster than a key would manage; because of this, it might be useful on the [[Astral Plane]], though a [[wand of digging]] is better because it will raze the doors.  It can also expose secret doors whose locations are known to the player but not the character (especially on special levels), and can open the [[Castle]] [[drawbridge]] without needing an instrument to play the [[passtune]].
+The spell can be used with with the {{+ of|wizard lock}} spell or [[wand of locking]] to weaponize the [[Castle]] drawbridge. Unlike the wands, using one or both spells to crush monsters requires a fair amount of [[energy]] investment, which is generally only feasible for spellcasting [[hero]]es with a means of [[energy regeneration]] or recovery (e.g. Wizards or [[Priest]]s that have completed their respective [[Quest]]s). Both the wizard lock and knock spells can also be used to train up skill in matter spells in order to cast high-level spells such as {{+ of|polymorph}}.
-==SLASH'EM==
+==History==
-In [[SLASH'EM]], there are new indestructible doors at the top level of [[Vlad's Tower]]. This spell has no effect on them, there is no message, and nothing happens.
+The spellbook of knock first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]], along with the wand of opening.
-==See also==
+==Messages==
-*[[Spellbook of wizard lock]]
+{{main|Wand of opening#Messages}}
 ==Reference==
-<references />
+<references/>
+{{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Spellbooks|Knock]]

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 Since a [[lock pick]] or [[skeleton key]] can unlock doors with no power cost, this spell is considered almost useless, and the spellbook is usually thrown away, [[polypile]]d, or [[magic marker|overwritten]]. However, it has many other uses besides the obvious: as a [[matter spell]], it can be used to train for casting more powerful spells in the school, notably {{spell of|polymorph}}. It can also expose secret doors whose locations are known to the player but not the character (especially on special levels), and can open the [[Castle]] [[drawbridge]] without needing an instrument to play the [[passtune]].
-Casting knock also unlocks doors at a distance and does so slightly faster than a key would manage; because of this, it might be useful on the [[Astral Plane]], though a [[wand of digging]] is better because it will raze the doors. The spell also causes engulfing monsters to expel you, making it useful on the [[Plane of Air]]. It can also free you from a [[bear trap]] or a [[web]].{{refsrc|zap.c|2744|nethack=3.6.1}}
+Casting knock also unlocks doors at a distance and does so slightly faster than a key would manage; because of this, it might be useful on the [[Astral Plane]], though a [[wand of digging]] is better because it will raze the doors. The spell also causes engulfing monsters to expel you, making it useful on the [[Plane of Air]]. It can also free you from most kinds of "holding traps"{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2744|nethack=3.6.1}}, including [[bear trap]]s, [[web]]s, [[pit]]s, buried [[punishment|iron ball]], or being [[lava|stuck in the floor]].{{refsrc|src/trap.c|4617|nethack=3.6.6}}  Technically it can also free you from being stuck in [[lava]], but usually you will immediately start sinking again (unless you're e.g. [[levitating]]).
 ==SLASH'EM==

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:13, 19 June 2021
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	Casting knock also unlocks doors at a distance and does so slightly faster than a key would manage; because of this, it might be useful on the [[Astral Plane]], though a [[wand of digging]] is better because it will raze the doors. The spell also causes engulfing monsters to expel you, making it useful on the [[Plane of Air]]. It can also free you from a [[bear trap]] or a [[web]].{{refsrc\|zap.c\|2744\|nethack=3.6.1}}		Casting knock also unlocks doors at a distance and does so slightly faster than a key would manage; because of this, it might be useful on the [[Astral Plane]], though a [[wand of digging]] is better because it will raze the doors. The spell also causes engulfing monsters to expel you, making it useful on the [[Plane of Air]]. It can also free you from a [[bear trap]] or a [[web]].{{refsrc\|zap.c\|2744\|nethack=3.6.1}}
		+
		+	It can also release you from a pit. When asked for a direction use ">".

	==SLASH'EM==		==SLASH'EM==