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Umbire the Phantom: upcoming

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Umbire the Phantom: detailing

2025-06-29T08:44:21Z

detailing

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

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pothole

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ potholes

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‎Description: potholes

Umbire the Phantom: create

2025-03-22T03:33:34Z

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A '''touch attack''', also known simply as a '''touch''', 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_TUCH</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 touch attack, including a [[hero]] [[polymorph]]ed into such a monster, performs the attack by attempting to make contact with the target using their hand, other extremity or body mass and employing some harmful substance or element to inflict damage. Touch attacks account for the attacker's [[worn]] [[gloves]] and/or [[silver]] [[ring]]s (or lack thereof), as well as [[wield]]ed [[weapon]]s if the attacker is a hero in the form of a [[Lich (monster class)|lich]].{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2454|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2489|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1770|nethack=3.6.7}} A touch attack will cause [[passive attack]]s from the defender to trigger.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2772|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2795|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2831|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2842|nethack=3.6.7}}

If an [[engulfing]] attack is landed during the grace period where a hero or monster cannot be re-engulfed, and that engulfing attack deals [[acid]], [[Fire (element)|fire]], [[shock]], or [[cold]] damage, the engulfing attack is converted to a touch attack of the same damage type.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|1572|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|319|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|323|nethack=3.6.7}}

[[Magic cancellation]] can block special effects from touch attacks if they use [[damage type]]s that are also blocked by magic cancellation. Using a touch attack on a [[cockatrice]] or [[chickatrice]] without wearing gloves (or wielding a weapon, for the hero) 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|387|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|677|nethack=3.6.7|comment=monster touch versus hero}}

{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|d963c6dd6f3a5921acf4d4a9a6e46525b29aeeee}}, a touch attack from any type of lich deals reduced physical damage if used against a target with [[cold resistance]].}}

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

* {{monclass|b}}
** {{monsymlink|quivering blob}}
** {{monsymlink|gelatinous cube}} ([[paralysis]])
* all {{monclass|c}}s except the {{monsymlink|pyrolisk}} ([[stoning]])
* {{monclass|F}}
** {{monsymlink|lichen}} ([[sticky]])
** {{monsymlink|violet fungus}} ([[physical damage]], sticky)
* all {{monclass|L}}es (cold)
* {{monsymlink|green slime}} ([[sliming]])
* {{monsymlink|rust monster}} ([[rust]] x2)
* {{monsymlink|python}}
* {{monsymlink|wraith}} ([[drain life]])
* {{monsymlink|skeleton}} ([[slowing attack]])
* {{monsymlink|ghost}}
* {{monsymlink|shade}} (paralysis, slowing attack)
* {{monclass|&}}
** {{monsym|Death}} [[Death (monster)|Death]] (deadly touch x2)
** {{monsymlink|Pestilence}} ([[illness]] x2)
** {{monsymlink|Famine}} ([[hunger]]-inducing x2)
* {{monclass|;}}
** {{monsymlink|giant eel}} ([[drowning]])
** {{monsymlink|electric eel}} ([[drowning]])
* {{monsymlink|salamander}} (fire)
* [[Deferred]] monsters
** {{monsym|Charon}} [[Charon]] (paralysis)

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

==Messages==
{{message|<The monster> touches!|A monster hit you with a touch attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|60|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
{{message|<The monster> <swings/lunges> wildly and misses!|A monster targeted a touch attack at you, but you are [[invisible]] or else they cannot see you.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|167|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
{{message|<The monster> touches <the other monster>.|A monster hit another monster with a touch attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|578|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
{{message|You touch <the monster>.|You hit a monster with a touch attack.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2530|nethack=3.6.7}}}}

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

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

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 [[Magic cancellation]] can block special effects from touch attacks if they use [[damage type]]s that are also blocked by magic cancellation. Using a touch attack on a [[cockatrice]] or [[chickatrice]] without wearing gloves (or wielding a weapon, for the hero) 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|387|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|677|nethack=3.6.7|comment=monster touch versus hero}}
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|d963c6dd6f3a5921acf4d4a9a6e46525b29aeeee}}, a touch attack from any type of lich deals reduced physical damage if used against a target with [[cold resistance]].}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|d963c6dd6f3a5921acf4d4a9a6e46525b29aeeee}}, a touch attack from any type of lich deals reduced physical damage if used against a target with [[cold resistance]].}}
 ===List of monsters===
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 * [[Deferred]] monsters
 ** {{monsym|Charon}} [[Charon]] (paralysis)
 ==History==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ==Description==
-A monster that has a touch attack, including a [[hero]] [[polymorph]]ed into such a monster, performs the attack by attempting to make contact with the target using their hand, other extremity or body mass and employing some harmful substance or element to inflict damage. Touch attacks account for the attacker's [[worn]] [[gloves]] and/or [[silver]] [[ring]]s (or lack thereof), as well as [[wield]]ed [[weapon]]s if the attacker is a hero in the form of a [[Lich (monster class)|lich]].{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2454|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2489|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1770|nethack=3.6.7}} A touch attack will cause [[passive attack]]s from the defender to trigger.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2772|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2795|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2831|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2842|nethack=3.6.7}}
+A monster that has a touch attack, including a [[hero]] [[polymorph]]ed into such a monster, performs the attack by attempting to make contact with the target using their hand, other extremity or body mass and employing some harmful substance or element to inflict damage. Touch attacks account for the attacker's [[worn]] [[gloves]] and/or any [[silver]] [[ring]]s (or lack thereof) on their hands, as well as [[wield]]ed [[weapon]]s if the attacker is a hero in the form of a [[Lich (monster class)|lich]].{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2454|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2489|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1770|nethack=3.6.7}} Performing multiple touch attacks in a round will alternate between the rings on the right and left hands for this check.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2365|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2368|nethack=3.6.7}}
-If an [[engulfing]] attack is landed during the grace period where a hero or monster cannot be re-engulfed, and that engulfing attack deals [[acid]], [[Fire (element)|fire]], [[shock]], or [[cold]] damage, the engulfing attack is converted to a touch attack of the same damage type.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|1572|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|319|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|323|nethack=3.6.7}}
+[[Thick-skinned]] monsters take halved damage (rounded up) from touch attacks.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|1683|nethack=3.6.7}} A touch attack will cause [[passive attack]]s from the defender to trigger.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2772|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2795|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2831|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|2842|nethack=3.6.7}}
 [[Magic cancellation]] can block special effects from touch attacks if they use [[damage type]]s that are also blocked by magic cancellation. Using a touch attack on a [[cockatrice]] or [[chickatrice]] without wearing gloves (or wielding a weapon, for the hero) 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|387|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|677|nethack=3.6.7|comment=monster touch versus hero}}
@@ Line 43: / Line 45: @@
 ==Messages==
-{{message|<The monster> touches!|A monster hit you with a touch attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|60|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
+{{message|<The monster> touches you!|A monster hit you with a touch attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|60|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 {{message|<The monster> <swings/lunges> wildly and misses!|A monster targeted a touch attack at you, but you are [[invisible]] or else they cannot see you.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|167|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 {{message|<The monster> touches <the other monster>.|A monster hit another monster with a touch attack.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|578|nethack=3.6.7}}}}

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ** {{monsym|Death}} [[Death (monster)|Death]] (deadly touch x2)
 ** {{monsymlink|Pestilence}} ([[illness]] x2)
-** {{monsymlink|Famine}} ([[hunger]]-inducing x2)
+** {{monsymlink|Famine}} (hunger-inducing x2)
 * {{monclass|;}}
 ** {{monsymlink|giant eel}} ([[drowning]])

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 * {{monclass|;}}
 ** {{monsymlink|giant eel}} ([[drowning]])
-** {{monsymlink|electric eel}} ([[drowning]])
+** {{monsymlink|electric eel}} (drowning)
 * {{monsymlink|salamander}} (fire)
 * [[Deferred]] monsters