Spellbook of magic missile - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: spacing

2025-10-07T20:33:24Z

spacing

Umbire the Phantom: aligned priest, drow healer

2025-07-11T07:47:19Z

aligned priest, drow healer

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ word choice

2025-07-02T00:40:28Z

‎Description: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2025-06-28T10:16:29Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ doors

2025-06-28T08:33:43Z

‎Description: doors

Umbire the Phantom: tweaks - somehow didn't mention the magic mirror here

2025-06-28T08:23:17Z

tweaks - somehow didn't mention the magic mirror here

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ fiq + x

2025-06-27T22:40:57Z

‎Variants: fiq + x

Umbire the Phantom: knights and variants

2025-06-27T20:44:18Z

knights and variants

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ copyedit

2025-06-27T19:54:30Z

‎Strategy: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: formatting, copyedit, updating

2025-06-27T19:32:49Z

formatting, copyedit, updating

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
   |role=wizard
 }}
 In ''[[NetHack]]'', the '''spellbook of magic missile''' can be [[read]] to learn the '''spell of magic missile'''. It is a level 2 [[attack spell]], and the [[spellbook]] takes 4 actions to read. It is the [[special spell]] for [[Wizard]]s.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|85|nethack=3.6.7|comment=described as their "party trick"}}{{refsrc|src/role.c|582|nethack=3.6.7}}
@@ Line 16: / Line 15: @@
 [[Wizard]]s may be given a spellbook of magic missile as the secondary spellbook in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|169|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Spellbooks of magic missile make up {{frac|9|200}} (4.5%) of all randomly-generated spellbooks. General [[store]]s, second-hand bookstores and rare books stores can stock spellbooks of magic missile.
+Spellbooks of magic missile make up {{frac|9|200}} (4.5%) of all spellbooks randomly generated on the ground, in general [[shop]]s or as [[death drop]]s. Second-hand bookstores and rare books stores can also stock spellbooks of magic missile.
 An [[aligned priest]] can be [[generated with]] the spellbook of magic missile as one of their spellbooks.{{refsrc|src/priest.c|264|nethack=3.6.7}}

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 Spellbooks of magic missile make up {{frac|9|200}} (4.5%) of all randomly-generated spellbooks. General [[store]]s, second-hand bookstores and rare books stores can stock spellbooks of magic missile.
 Writing a spellbook of magic missile with a [[magic marker]] uses up 10 to 19 charges.
@@ Line 46: / Line 48: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], a hero wielding [[the Annulus]] in [[chakram]] form can cast magic missile with a 0% chance of failure.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], male [[drow Healer]]s (or hedrow Healers) can start the game having forgotten the spell of magic missile.
 ===FIQHack===

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ==Description==
-Successfully [[cast]]ing the spell prompts the player for a cardinal direction to fire the [[ray]] in: the magic missiles deal ({{sfrac|[[XL]]|2}}+1)d6 damage (with spell damage bonuses applied) to any [[hero]] or [[monster]] they hit unless they have [[magic resistance]]{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3060|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3614|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3620|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3772|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the ray will bounce off the walls, ceiling and floor, is absorbed by [[door]]s, and is affected by [[reflection]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4128|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4216|nethack=3.6.7}} A [[Knight]] carrying the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]] in open inventory deals double damage to monsters when casting the spell.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|142|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|170|nethack=3.6.7}} A hero hit by a rebounding ray [[abuse]]s [[strength]] unless they have magic resistance or reflection.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3778|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Successfully [[cast]]ing the spell prompts the player for a cardinal direction to fire the magic missiles in: the [[ray]] deals ({{sfrac|[[XL]]|2}}+1)d6 damage (with spell damage bonuses applied) to any [[hero]] or [[monster]] that it hits unless they have [[magic resistance]]{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3060|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3614|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3620|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3772|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;magic missile rays will bounce off the walls, ceiling and floor, are absorbed by [[door]]s, and are affected by [[reflection]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4128|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4216|nethack=3.6.7}} A [[Knight]] carrying the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]] in open inventory deals double damage to monsters when casting the spell.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|142|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|170|nethack=3.6.7}} A hero hit by a rebounding ray [[abuse]]s [[strength]] unless they have magic resistance or reflection.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3778|nethack=3.6.7}}
 A hero that zaps themselves with the spell will take 4d6 damage unless they have magic resistance.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2350|nethack=3.6.7}}

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 }}
-In ''[[NetHack]]'', the '''spellbook of magic missile''' can be [[read]] to learn the '''spell of magic missile'''. It is a level 2 [[attack spell]], and the [[spellbook]] takes 4 actions to read. It is the special spell for [[Wizard]]s.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|85|nethack=3.6.7|comment=described as their "party trick"}}{{refsrc|src/role.c|582|nethack=3.6.7}}
+In ''[[NetHack]]'', the '''spellbook of magic missile''' can be [[read]] to learn the '''spell of magic missile'''. It is a level 2 [[attack spell]], and the [[spellbook]] takes 4 actions to read. It is the [[special spell]] for [[Wizard]]s.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|85|nethack=3.6.7|comment=described as their "party trick"}}{{refsrc|src/role.c|582|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ==Description==
-Successfully [[cast]]ing the spell prompts the player for a cardinal direction to fire the [[ray]] in: the magic missiles deal ({{sfrac|[[XL]]|2}}+1)d6 damage (with spell damage bonuses applied) to any [[hero]] or [[monster]] they hit unless they have [[magic resistance]]{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3060|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3614|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3620|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3772|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the ray will bounce off the walls, ceiling and floor, and is affected by [[reflection]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4128|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4216|nethack=3.6.7}} A [[Knight]] carrying the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]] in open inventory deals double damage to monsters when casting the spell.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|142|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|170|nethack=3.6.7}} A hero hit by a rebounding ray [[abuse]]s [[strength]] unless they have magic resistance or reflection.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3778|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Successfully [[cast]]ing the spell prompts the player for a cardinal direction to fire the [[ray]] in: the magic missiles deal ({{sfrac|[[XL]]|2}}+1)d6 damage (with spell damage bonuses applied) to any [[hero]] or [[monster]] they hit unless they have [[magic resistance]]{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3060|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3614|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3620|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3772|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the ray will bounce off the walls, ceiling and floor, is absorbed by [[door]]s, and is affected by [[reflection]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4128|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4216|nethack=3.6.7}} A [[Knight]] carrying the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]] in open inventory deals double damage to monsters when casting the spell.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|142|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|170|nethack=3.6.7}} A hero hit by a rebounding ray [[abuse]]s [[strength]] unless they have magic resistance or reflection.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3778|nethack=3.6.7}}
 A hero that zaps themselves with the spell will take 4d6 damage unless they have magic resistance.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2350|nethack=3.6.7}}

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
   |level=2
   |type=attack
-  |turns=2
+  |turns=4
   |direction=[[ray]]
   |equiv=[[wand of magic missile]]
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 }}
-In ''[[NetHack]]'', the '''spellbook of magic missile''' can be [[read]] to learn the '''spell of magic missile'''. It is a level 2 [[attack spell]], and the [[spellbook]] takes 4 actions (roughly 2 turns) to read. It is the special spell for [[Wizard]]s.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|85|nethack=3.6.7|comment=described as their "party trick"}}{{refsrc|src/role.c|582|nethack=3.6.7}}
+In ''[[NetHack]]'', the '''spellbook of magic missile''' can be [[read]] to learn the '''spell of magic missile'''. It is a level 2 [[attack spell]], and the [[spellbook]] takes 4 actions to read. It is the special spell for [[Wizard]]s.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|85|nethack=3.6.7|comment=described as their "party trick"}}{{refsrc|src/role.c|582|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Generation==
@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ==Description==
-Successfully [[cast]]ing the spell prompts the player for a cardinal direction to fire the [[ray]] in: the magic missiles deal (([[XL]]/2)+1)d6 damage (with spell damage bonuses applied) to any [[hero]] or [[monster]] they hit unless they have [[magic resistance]]{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3060|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3614|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3620|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3772|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the ray will bounce off the walls, ceiling and floor, and is affected by [[reflection]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4128|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4216|nethack=3.6.7}} A hero hit by a rebounding ray [[abuse]]s [[strength]] unless they have magic resistance or reflection.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3778|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Successfully [[cast]]ing the spell prompts the player for a cardinal direction to fire the [[ray]] in: the magic missiles deal ({{sfrac|[[XL]]|2}}+1)d6 damage (with spell damage bonuses applied) to any [[hero]] or [[monster]] they hit unless they have [[magic resistance]]{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3060|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3614|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3620|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3772|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the ray will bounce off the walls, ceiling and floor, and is affected by [[reflection]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4128|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4216|nethack=3.6.7}} A [[Knight]] carrying the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]] in open inventory deals double damage to monsters when casting the spell.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|142|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|170|nethack=3.6.7}} A hero hit by a rebounding ray [[abuse]]s [[strength]] unless they have magic resistance or reflection.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3778|nethack=3.6.7}}
 A hero that zaps themselves with the spell will take 4d6 damage unless they have magic resistance.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2350|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==
-The spell of magic missile is a must-have for almost any hero aiming to cast spells in combat: it is a level 2 spell whose damage scales with experience level, and so remains viable and useful throughout the entire game, even if the hero is normally restricted in attack spells; a level 30 character deals 16d6 damage with magic missile, averaging 56 damage per hit. As with most ray-based spells and wands, magic missile can be rebounded using walls to hit targets repeatedly. Wizards, [[Monk]]s and [[Priest]]s will find it especially useful as an all-purpose ranged attack; most other roles like [[Archeologist]]s, [[Healer]]s and [[Knight]]s may find it helpful as a backup against a row of hostiles or monsters with dangerous passives (e.g., [[disenchanter]]s), and Knights in particular can use it to avoid caitiff penalties against immobile or fleeing hostiles. Advanced Wizards armed with [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]] can easily rely on magic missile as their primary attack.
+The spell of magic missile is a must-have for almost any hero aiming to cast spells in combat: it is a level 2 spell whose damage scales with experience level, and so remains viable and useful throughout the entire game, even if the hero is normally restricted in attack spells; a level 30 character deals 16d6 damage with magic missile, averaging 56 damage per hit. As with most ray-based spells and wands, magic missile can be rebounded using walls to hit targets repeatedly. Casting-focused heroes such as Wizards, [[Monk]]s and [[Priest]]s will find it especially useful as an all-purpose ranged attack; most other roles like [[Archeologist]]s, [[Healer]]s and melee-focused Knights may find it helpful as a backup against a row of hostiles or monsters with dangerous passives (e.g., [[disenchanter]]s), and Knights in particular can use it to avoid caitiff penalties against immobile or fleeing hostiles. Advanced Wizards armed with [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]] can easily rely on magic missile as their primary attack.
 In general, the spell's utility is high enough that Wizard players will often go [[start scumming]] for the spellbook, although the {{+ of|force bolt}} spell they also start with is usually a more efficient use of power in the early game&mdash;force bolts cost 5 [[Pw]] and deal 2d12 damage, where magic missile costs 10 Pw and only begins to deal more damage starting at experience level 6 (ignoring intentionally-rebounded rays). Even then, magic missile can still be useful in certain early-game situations: it does not break fragile items, boulders or doors as force bolt does, making it especially invaluable in [[Sokoban]]; its [[to-hit]] chance is also not fixed like force bolt, making it more viable against low-[[AC]] targets such as [[giant ant]]s and [[killer bee]]s. As the Wizard's special spell, its failure rate is lowered enough that some early-game Wizards can wear some [[metallic]] [[armor]] and still reliably cast it.

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 In [[FIQHack]], monsters can use the same set of spells as the hero, with skill levels to match, and can learn and utilize the magic missile spell.
-Shopkeepers are given the magic missile spell if they do not receive force bolt (which occurs {{frac|3}} of the time), while [[Angel]]s, [[Yeenoghu]], [[Dispater]], [[Thoth Amon]], and the [[Dark One]] will always have magic missile. For Angels and Yeenoghu, this replaces their [[Magic missile (monster spell)|magic missile]] monster spell.
+Shopkeepers are given the magic missile spell if they do not receive force bolt (which occurs {{frac|3}} of the time), while [[Angel]]s, [[Yeenoghu]], [[Dispater]], [[Thoth Amon]], and the [[Dark One]] will always have magic missile. For Angels and Yeenoghu, this replaces their [[Magic missile (monster spell)|magic missile]] [[monster spell]] from ''NetHack''.
-The damage of the magic missile spell is scaled to be lower depending on the user's skill level, with the reduction being higher the further their skill is below Expert. At Skilled level, magic missiles can partially bypass reflection, while at Expert level its damage is only halved by magic resistance.
+The damage of the magic missile spell is scaled to be lower depending on the user's skill level, with the reduction being higher the further their skill is below Expert. At Skilled level, magic missiles can partially bypass reflection, while at Expert level its damage is only halved by magic resistance rather than nullified.
 ==References==

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 The spell of magic missile is a must-have for almost any hero aiming to cast spells in combat: it is a level 2 spell whose damage scales with experience level, and so remains viable and useful throughout the entire game, even if the hero is normally restricted in attack spells; a level 30 character deals 16d6 damage with magic missile, averaging 56 damage per hit. As with most ray-based spells and wands, magic missile can be rebounded using walls to hit targets repeatedly. Wizards, [[Monk]]s and [[Priest]]s will find it especially useful as an all-purpose ranged attack, while other roles like [[Archeologist]]s, [[Healer]]s and [[Knight]]s may find it helpful as a backup against a row of hostiles or monsters with dangerous passives (e.g., [[disenchanter]]s). Advanced Wizards armed with [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]] can easily rely on magic missile as their primary attack.
-For low-level Wizards, the {{+ of|force bolt}} spell they start with is usually a more efficient use of power in the early game: it costs 5 Pw and does 2d12 damage, where magic missile costs 10 Pw and only begins to deal more damage starting at experience level 6 (ignoring intentionally-rebounded rays). Even then, magic missile can still be useful in certain early-game situations: it does not break fragile items, boulders or doors as force bolt does, making it especially invaluable in [[Sokoban]]; its [[to-hit]] chance is also not fixed like force bolt, making it more viable against low-[[AC]] targets such as [[giant ant]]s and [[killer bee]]s. As the Wizard's special spell, its failure rate is lowered enough that some early-game Wizards can wear some [[metallic]] [[armor]] and still reliably cast it.
+In general, the spell's utility is high enough that Wizard players will often go [[start scumming]] for the spellbook, although the {{+ of|force bolt}} spell they also start with is usually a more efficient use of power in the early game&mdash;force bolts cost 5 [[Pw]] and deal 2d12 damage, where magic missile costs 10 Pw and only begins to deal more damage starting at experience level 6 (ignoring intentionally-rebounded rays). Even then, magic missile can still be useful in certain early-game situations: it does not break fragile items, boulders or doors as force bolt does, making it especially invaluable in [[Sokoban]]; its [[to-hit]] chance is also not fixed like force bolt, making it more viable against low-[[AC]] targets such as [[giant ant]]s and [[killer bee]]s. As the Wizard's special spell, its failure rate is lowered enough that some early-game Wizards can wear some [[metallic]] [[armor]] and still reliably cast it.
 ==History==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{languages}}
-{{spellbook|name=magic missile|level=2|type=attack|turns=2|direction=[[ray]]|equiv=[[wand of magic missile]]|abundance=4.58%|role=wizard}}
+{{spellbook
 In ''[[NetHack]]'', the '''spellbook of magic missile''' can be [[read]] to learn the '''spell of magic missile'''. It is a level 2 [[attack spell]], and the [[spellbook]] takes 4 actions (roughly 2 turns) to read. It is the special spell for [[Wizard]]s.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|85|nethack=3.6.7|comment=described as their "party trick"}}{{refsrc|src/role.c|582|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Generation==
-There is a ~4.58% chance that a randomly-generated spellbook is a spellbook of magic missile.
+[[Wizard]]s may be given a spellbook of magic missile as the secondary spellbook in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|169|nethack=3.6.7}}
-A spellbook of magic missile requires 10 to 19 charges from a [[magic marker]] to write.
+Spellbooks of magic missile make up {{frac|9|200}} (4.5%) of all randomly-generated spellbooks. General [[store]]s, second-hand bookstores and rare books stores can stock spellbooks of magic missile.
 ==Description==
-When cast successfully, you are prompted to select a direction to cast the [[ray]] of magic missiles in. The ray deals (([[XL]]/2)+1)d6 damage to monsters it hits before [[Spellcasting#Damage|spell damage bonuses]] are applied, making the spell more damaging for higher-level casting characters: A level 30 character deals 16d6 damage with magic missile, averaging 56 damage per hit. This spell's damage is doubled for [[Knight]]s carrying [[the Magic Mirror of Merlin]].
+Successfully [[cast]]ing the spell prompts the player for a cardinal direction to fire the [[ray]] in: the magic missiles deal (([[XL]]/2)+1)d6 damage (with spell damage bonuses applied) to any [[hero]] or [[monster]] they hit unless they have [[magic resistance]]{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3060|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3614|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3620|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3772|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the ray will bounce off the walls, ceiling and floor, and is affected by [[reflection]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4128|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4216|nethack=3.6.7}} A hero hit by a rebounding ray [[abuse]]s [[strength]] unless they have magic resistance or reflection.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3778|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Targets with [[magic resistance]] or [[reflection]] are immune to the spell.
+A hero that zaps themselves with the spell will take 4d6 damage unless they have magic resistance.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2350|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==
-If your character can only learn one attack spell, it should almost certainly be magic missile. Because it is a level 2 spell and the damage scales with experience level, magic missile remains viable and useful throughout the entire game for almost any character with some spellcasting ability, even when they are otherwise restricted in attack spells. As with most ray-based spells and wands, magic missile can also be rebounded using walls to hit targets repeatedly.
+The spell of magic missile is a must-have for almost any hero aiming to cast spells in combat: it is a level 2 spell whose damage scales with experience level, and so remains viable and useful throughout the entire game, even if the hero is normally restricted in attack spells; a level 30 character deals 16d6 damage with magic missile, averaging 56 damage per hit. As with most ray-based spells and wands, magic missile can be rebounded using walls to hit targets repeatedly. Wizards, [[Monk]]s and [[Priest]]s will find it especially useful as an all-purpose ranged attack, while other roles like [[Archeologist]]s, [[Healer]]s and [[Knight]]s may find it helpful as a backup against a row of hostiles or monsters with dangerous passives (e.g., [[disenchanter]]s). Advanced Wizards armed with [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]] can easily rely on magic missile as their primary attack.
-In addition to wizards, Roles such as [[Monk]]s and [[Priest]]s will find it especially useful as an all-purpose ranged attack, while others like [[Archeologist]]s, [[Healer]]s and [[Knight]]s may find it helpful as a backup against a row of hostiles or monsters with dangerous passives (e.g., [[disenchanter]]s Advanced Wizards armed with [[the Eye of the Aethiopica]] can rely on magic missile as their primary attack.
+For low-level Wizards, the {{+ of|force bolt}} spell they start with is usually a more efficient use of power in the early game: it costs 5 Pw and does 2d12 damage, where magic missile costs 10 Pw and only begins to deal more damage starting at experience level 6 (ignoring intentionally-rebounded rays). Even then, magic missile can still be useful in certain early-game situations: it does not break fragile items, boulders or doors as force bolt does, making it especially invaluable in [[Sokoban]]; its [[to-hit]] chance is also not fixed like force bolt, making it more viable against low-[[AC]] targets such as [[giant ant]]s and [[killer bee]]s. As the Wizard's special spell, its failure rate is lowered enough that some early-game Wizards can wear some [[metallic]] [[armor]] and still reliably cast it.
-For low-level Wizards, the {{spell of|force bolt}} spell they start with is usually a more efficient use of power in the early game: it costs 5 Pw and does 2d12 damage, where magic missile costs 10 Pw and only begins to deal more damage starting at experience level 6 (ignoring intentionally-rebounded rays). Even then, magic missile can still be useful in certain early-game situations: it does not break fragile items, boulders or doors as force bolt does, making it especially invaluable in [[Sokoban]]; its [[to-hit]] chance is also not fixed like force bolt, making it more viable against low-[[AC]] targets. Wizards also get a bonus toward their success rate due to it being their [[special spell]] - some early-game wizards may be able to wear some metal [[armor]] and still get an acceptably low failure rate.
+==History==
 ==Origin==
-The spell originates from ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', where it was initially [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/magicMissile.htm a stereotypical puny level one wizard spell] that quickly became a staple of the wizard class, as it was effectively a homing attack with each bullet doing its own damage roll, which can easily rack up significant damage short of the target having magic resistance. The spell of magic missile in ''Nethack'' retains this scaling ability and removes the cap of five missiles at level nine, though it requires a target to be in particular squares and can miss the target.
+The spell of magic missile originates from ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', where it was initially [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/magicMissile.htm a stereotypical puny level one wizard spell] that quickly became a staple of the wizard class, as it was effectively a homing attack with each bullet doing its own damage roll, which can easily rack up significant damage short of the target having magic resistance. The spell of magic missile in ''NetHack'' retains this scaling ability and lacks the cap of five missiles at level nine that the spell in ''Dungeons & Dragons'' has, though it requires a target to be lined up and can miss as well.
 ==Variants==