Sting attack - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* List of monsters */ pothole

2025-07-25T04:05:38Z

‎List of monsters: pothole

Ion frigate: make it clear it doesn't block the attack entirely

2025-03-22T02:42:50Z

make it clear it doesn't block the attack entirely

Umbire the Phantom: another pasto...

2025-03-21T06:00:27Z

another pasto...

Umbire the Phantom: /* Messages */ pasto

2025-03-21T05:32:20Z

‎Messages: pasto

Umbire the Phantom: punc

2025-03-21T03:53:45Z

punc

Umbire the Phantom: /* List of monsters */ potholes

2025-03-21T03:07:27Z

‎List of monsters: potholes

Umbire the Phantom: create

2025-03-21T03:06:36Z

create

New page

{{otheruses|the attack type|the artifact|Sting}}
A '''sting attack''', also known simply as a '''sting''', is a [[melee]] [[attack type]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]'', and is primarily used by [[monster]]s. The attack type is defined by the '''<tt>AT_STNG</tt>''' flag within <tt>[[monattk.h]]</tt> in the [[source code]].{{refsrc|include/monattk.h|18|nethack=3.6.7}}

==Description==
A monster that has a sting attack, including a [[hero]] [[polymorph]]ed into such a monster, performs the attack by attempting to strike the target with an organ or limb designed for stinging, which causes them to make contact with the defender.

[[Magic cancellation]] can block sting attacks if they use [[damage type]]s that are also blocked by magic cancellation. Stinging a [[cockatrice]] or [[chickatrice]] will turn the attacker to stone, and monsters will avoid doing so against such targets when possible, with the exception of a hero in the form of either monster.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|386|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1784|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|676|nethack=3.6.7|comment=monster sting versus hero}}

===List of monsters===
The following monsters have sting attacks:

* {{monclass|a}}
** {{monsymlink|killer bee}}
** {{monsymlink|soldier ant}}
** {{monsymlink|queen bee}}
* {{monclass|s}}
** {{monsymlink|scorpion}} ([[poisonous]], drains [[strength]])
** {{monsymlink|Scorpius}} ([[sickness]])
* {{monsymlink|xan}} ([[wounded legs]])
* {{monclass|&}}
** {{monsymlink|horned devil}}
** {{monsymlink|bone devil}} (poisonous, drains strength)
** {{monsymlink|ice devil}} [[cold]]
** {{monsymlink|Orcus}} (poisonous, drains strength)
** {{monsymlink|Geryon}} (poisonous, drains strength)
** {{monsymlink|Demogorgon}} ([[Drain life (monster attack)|drain life]])
* {{monsymlink|jellyfish}} (poisonous, drains strength)
* {{monsymlink|Chromatic Dragon}}

==History==
The sting attack type is formally defined in [[NetHack 3.0.0]].

==Messages==
{{message|<The monster> stings!|A monster hit you with a headbutt attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|54|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
{{message|<The monster> lunges wildly and misses!|A monster targeted a sting attack at you, but you are [[invisible]] or else they cannot see you.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|165|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
{{message|<The monster> stings <the other monster>.|A monster hit another monster with a sting attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|592|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
{{message|You sting <the monster>.|You hit a monster with a headbutt attack.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2530|nethack=3.6.7}}}}

==Variants==
[[Variant]]s of ''NetHack'' may add new monsters with sting attacks, as well as different types of sting attacks.

==References==
<references/>
{{nethack-367}}
[[Category:Attack types]]

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 * {{monclass|s}}
 ** {{monsymlink|scorpion}} (poisonous, drains strength)
-** {{monsymlink|Scorpius}} ([[sickness]])
+** {{monsymlink|Scorpius}} ([[illness]])
 * {{monsymlink|xan}} ([[wounded legs]])
 * {{monclass|&}}

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 A monster that has a sting attack, including a [[hero]] [[polymorph]]ed into such a monster, performs the attack by attempting to strike the target with an organ or limb designed for stinging, which causes them to make contact with the defender.
-[[Magic cancellation]] can block sting attacks if they use [[damage type]]s that are also blocked by magic cancellation. Stinging a [[cockatrice]] or [[chickatrice]] will turn the attacker to stone, and monsters will avoid doing so against such targets when possible, with the exception of a hero in the form of either monster.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|386|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1784|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|676|nethack=3.6.7|comment=monster sting versus hero}}
+[[Magic cancellation]] can block special effects from sting attacks if they use [[damage type]]s that are also blocked by magic cancellation. Stinging a [[cockatrice]] or [[chickatrice]] will turn the attacker to stone, and monsters will avoid doing so against such targets when possible, with the exception of a hero in the form of either monster.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|386|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1784|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|676|nethack=3.6.7|comment=monster sting versus hero}}
 ===List of monsters===

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 ==Messages==
-{{message|<The monster> stings!|A monster hit you with a headbutt attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|54|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
+{{message|<The monster> stings!|A monster hit you with a sting attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|54|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 {{message|<The monster> lunges wildly and misses!|A monster targeted a sting attack at you, but you are [[invisible]] or else they cannot see you.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|165|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 {{message|<The monster> stings <the other monster>.|A monster hit another monster with a sting attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|592|nethack=3.6.7}}}}

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 {{message|<The monster> lunges wildly and misses!|A monster targeted a sting attack at you, but you are [[invisible]] or else they cannot see you.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|165|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 {{message|<The monster> stings <the other monster>.|A monster hit another monster with a sting attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|592|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
-{{message|You sting <the monster>.|You hit a monster with a headbutt attack.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2530|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
+{{message|You sting <the monster>.|You hit a monster with a sting attack.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2530|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 ==Variants==

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 ** {{monsymlink|horned devil}}
 ** {{monsymlink|bone devil}} (poisonous, drains strength)
-** {{monsymlink|ice devil}} [[cold]]
+** {{monsymlink|ice devil}} ([[cold]])
 ** {{monsymlink|Orcus}} (poisonous, drains strength)
 ** {{monsymlink|Geryon}} (poisonous, drains strength)

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 * {{monclass|a}}
-** {{monsymlink|killer bee}}
+** {{monsymlink|killer bee}} ([[poisonous]], drains [[strength]])
-** {{monsymlink|soldier ant}}
+** {{monsymlink|soldier ant}} (poisonous, drains strength)
-** {{monsymlink|queen bee}}
+** {{monsymlink|queen bee}} (poisonous, drains strength)
 * {{monclass|s}}
-** {{monsymlink|scorpion}} ([[poisonous]], drains [[strength]])
+** {{monsymlink|scorpion}} (poisonous, drains strength)
 ** {{monsymlink|Scorpius}} ([[sickness]])
 * {{monsymlink|xan}} ([[wounded legs]])