Spellbook of polymorph - Revision history

JASON10668: Add languages template.

2025-10-18T09:57:48Z

Add languages template.

Ais523: /* Strategy */ fix one 3.4.3-ism; I didn't notice anything else that had changed, so marking this page as up to date for 3.6.7 (although it's possible I may have missed something)

2023-12-02T13:07:49Z

‎Strategy: fix one 3.4.3-ism; I didn't notice anything else that had changed, so marking this page as up to date for 3.6.7 (although it's possible I may have missed something)

Ais523: /* Strategy */ mention that the endgame air elementals are one monster that can potentially be useful to polymorph

2023-12-02T12:33:03Z

‎Strategy: mention that the endgame air elementals are one monster that can potentially be useful to polymorph

ChasonBot at 14:40, 21 December 2015

2015-12-21T14:40:37Z

Ais523: spellbooks losing charges is irrelevant in vanilla due to a bug

2011-12-01T13:42:54Z

spellbooks losing charges is irrelevant in vanilla due to a bug

Ion frigate: 1) system shock is instantly fatal for monsters, 2) magical<->non-magical is quite possible

2011-12-01T07:45:29Z

1) system shock is instantly fatal for monsters, 2) magical<->non-magical is quite possible

Resident Mario: +

2011-12-01T04:45:20Z

Usethe4ce: filling in spellbook template

2011-02-08T06:55:58Z

filling in spellbook template

MadDawg2552: Warning.

2007-01-10T23:37:53Z

Warning.

Killian: +oPoly is like cheating

2006-11-15T05:41:05Z

+oPoly is like cheating

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:57, 18 October 2025
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		+	{{languages}}
	{{spellbook\|name=polymorph\|level=6\|type=matter\|turns=48\|direction=beam\|equiv=[[wand of polymorph]]\|abundance=1.01%}}		{{spellbook\|name=polymorph\|level=6\|type=matter\|turns=48\|direction=beam\|equiv=[[wand of polymorph]]\|abundance=1.01%}}

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 Casting it at yourself will transform you into a random monster. This is not terribly useful and can even be ruinous depending on what form you get, but becomes very interesting and useful if you acquire a [[ring of polymorph control]], which allows you to select the form you wish to assume. An [[amulet of unchanging]] can be used to keep you in your current form without needed to recast polymorph.  This is risky, however, since if killed in creature form while wearing an amulet of unchanging, you will die instead of reverting.
-You can also [[polymorph]] junk items in the hope of generating something useful, a process called [[polypiling]]. Combined with [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]], you can do this repeatedly to generate valuable items out of common drops. Note, however, that polymorphed items will have the same BUC status, number of uses (if it is a [[wand]] or [[tool]]), enchantments and class. In addition, [[spellbook]]s will come out with one less use (but due to a bug, this does not matter unless you already know the spell), and there is a chance that polypiling will create a [[golem]] or simply destroy the item.
+You can also [[polymorph]] junk items in the hope of generating something useful, a process called [[polypiling]]. Combined with [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]], you can do this repeatedly to generate valuable items out of common drops. Note, however, that polymorphed items will have the same BUC status, number of uses (if it is a [[wand]] or [[tool]]), enchantments and class. In addition, [[spellbook]]s will come out with fewer uses (rapidly becoming unreadable due to losing all their uses), and there is a chance that polypiling will create a [[golem]] or simply destroy the item.
 Having access to the polymorph spell makes [[magic marker]]s almost redundant, because you can just keep polying your junk scrolls until you get the ones you want. You can then save your marker charges for writing [[spellbooks]], which are harder to poly for.  Make sure you don't polymorph too many scrolls at once, however, because you might create a [[paper golem]], losing all your scrolls.
 [[Category:Spellbooks|Polymorph]]
-{{nethack-343}}
+{{nethack-367}}

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 Polymorph is one of the most complicated and useful abilities in the game, and having its spellbook and being able to cast it is extremely useful if applied right. There are several aspects to polymorphing that having this spellbook allows you to do.
-First of all, you can cast it at monsters, pets, or yourself. Casting it at a monster is usually a bad idea (as it will frequently generate out-of-depth monsters), but ''may'' work if you meet an out-of-depth monster. Casting it at pets allows you to, basically, reroll pet forms until you get a strong one. Beware of [[system shock]]: any monster has a 1/25 chance of being instakilled by polymorph, if they don't resist the polymorph itself.  This will break [[pacifist]] conduct.  A [[polytrap]] is usually preferable for changing pet forms, since it does not carry the risk of system shock.
+First of all, you can cast it at monsters, pets, or yourself. Casting it at a monster is usually a bad idea (as it will frequently generate out-of-depth monsters), but ''may'' work if you meet an out-of-depth monster; it can also be useful against [[air elemental]]s on the [[Plane of Air]] (given that polymorphing them into almost anything else is likely to make them less dangerous), although lower-level enchantment spells (if available) are normally a better use of your [[Pw]] against those. Casting it at pets allows you to, basically, reroll pet forms until you get a strong one. Beware of [[system shock]]: any monster has a 1/25 chance of being instakilled by polymorph, if they don't resist the polymorph itself.  This will break [[pacifist]] conduct.  A [[polytrap]] is usually preferable for changing pet forms, since it does not carry the risk of system shock.
 Casting it at yourself will transform you into a random monster. This is not terribly useful and can even be ruinous depending on what form you get, but becomes very interesting and useful if you acquire a [[ring of polymorph control]], which allows you to select the form you wish to assume. An [[amulet of unchanging]] can be used to keep you in your current form without needed to recast polymorph.  This is risky, however, since if killed in creature form while wearing an amulet of unchanging, you will die instead of reverting.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:40, 21 December 2015
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	[[Category:Spellbooks\|Polymorph]]		[[Category:Spellbooks\|Polymorph]]
		+	{{nethack-343}}

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 Casting it at yourself will transform you into a random monster. This is not terribly useful and can even be ruinous depending on what form you get, but becomes very interesting and useful if you acquire a [[ring of polymorph control]], which allows you to select the form you wish to assume. An [[amulet of unchanging]] can be used to keep you in your current form without needed to recast polymorph.  This is risky, however, since if killed in creature form while wearing an amulet of unchanging, you will die instead of reverting.
-You can also [[polymorph]] junk items in the hope of generating something useful, a process called [[polypiling]]. Combined with [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]], you can do this repeatedly to generate valuable items out of common drops. Note, however, that polymorphed items will have the same BUC status, number of uses (if it is a [[wand]] or [[tool]]), enchantments and class. In addition, [[spellbook]]s will come out with one less use (as if they were read an extra time), and there is a chance that polypiling will create a [[golem]] or simply destroy the item.
+You can also [[polymorph]] junk items in the hope of generating something useful, a process called [[polypiling]]. Combined with [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]], you can do this repeatedly to generate valuable items out of common drops. Note, however, that polymorphed items will have the same BUC status, number of uses (if it is a [[wand]] or [[tool]]), enchantments and class. In addition, [[spellbook]]s will come out with one less use (but due to a bug, this does not matter unless you already know the spell), and there is a chance that polypiling will create a [[golem]] or simply destroy the item.
 Having access to the polymorph spell makes [[magic marker]]s almost redundant, because you can just keep polying your junk scrolls until you get the ones you want. You can then save your marker charges for writing [[spellbooks]], which are harder to poly for.  Make sure you don't polymorph too many scrolls at once, however, because you might create a [[paper golem]], losing all your scrolls.
 [[Category:Spellbooks|Polymorph]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{spellbook|name=polymorph|level=6|type=matter|turns=48|direction=beam|equiv=[[wand of polymorph]]|abundance=1.01%}}
-If you can master its contents, the '''spellbook of polymorph''' is very useful when combined with an [[artifact]] that quickly recharges your [[power]], [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]]. The combination allows you to frequently cast [[polymorph]] against piles of [[object]]s (thus [[polypiling]]) until you reform most junk into valuable items that increase your score.
+The '''spellbook of polymorph''' allows you to cast the [[polymorph]] spell, casting a beam that changes any monster, item, or player it hits into something else of its type.
 Having access to the polymorph spell makes [[magic marker]]s almost redundant, because you can just keep polying your junk scrolls until you get the ones you want. You can then save your marker charges for writing [[spellbooks]], which are harder to poly for.  Make sure you don't polymorph too many scrolls at once, however, because you might create a [[paper golem]].
 [[Category:Spellbooks|Polymorph]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:55, 8 February 2011
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−	{{spellbook\|name=polymorph\|level=6\|type=[[~~matter~~]]\|~~cost~~=~~600\|turns=48~~}}	+	{{spellbook\|name=polymorph\|level=6\|type=matter\|turns=48\|direction=beam\|equiv=[[wand of polymorph]]\|abundance=1.01%}}

	If you can master its contents, the '''spellbook of polymorph''' is very useful when combined with an [[artifact]] that quickly recharges your [[power]], [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]]. The combination allows you to frequently cast [[polymorph]] against piles of [[object]]s (thus [[polypiling]]) until you reform most junk into valuable items that increase your score.		If you can master its contents, the '''spellbook of polymorph''' is very useful when combined with an [[artifact]] that quickly recharges your [[power]], [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]]. The combination allows you to frequently cast [[polymorph]] against piles of [[object]]s (thus [[polypiling]]) until you reform most junk into valuable items that increase your score.