Touch of death - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ tweaks

2025-12-20T11:35:06Z

‎Description: tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ spork + evil

2024-03-30T01:41:07Z

‎Variants: spork + evil

Umbire the Phantom: /* Messages */ spacing

2024-03-06T09:19:04Z

‎Messages: spacing

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ word choice

2024-03-06T09:18:39Z

‎Description: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: languages + copyedit

2024-02-18T15:38:31Z

languages + copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ pothole

2024-02-11T13:57:40Z

‎Description: pothole

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2024-01-20T20:43:03Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* dNetHack */ rephrase again

2024-01-20T14:04:41Z

‎dNetHack: rephrase again

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ dnh

2024-01-20T14:01:13Z

‎Variants: dnh

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ leftover

2024-01-20T09:14:00Z

‎Description: leftover

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 ==Description==
-The touch of death can be used by any monster that can cast [[mage spell]]s and is at least [[Monster level|level]] 21.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|99|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As indicated, you [[Instadeath|die instantly]] if a monster casts the touch of death spell on you.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|378|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=case <code>MGC_DEATH_TOUCH</code>}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|385|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} The spell will fail if you have [[magic resistance]], are [[hallucinating]], or are [[polymorph]]ed into an [[undead]] monster or a [[M2_DEMON|demon]]{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|380|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} - otherwise, it can fail with a chance dependent on the monster's level, where the chance is {{frac|13|ML}} (i.e. a minimum of {{frac|8|21}}).{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|382|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+The touch of death can be used by any monster that can cast [[mage spell]]s and is at least [[Monster level|level]] 21.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|99|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As indicated, the [[hero]] [[Instadeath|dies instantly]] if a monster casts the touch of death spell on them.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|378|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=case <code>MGC_DEATH_TOUCH</code>}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|385|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} The spell will fail if the hero has [[magic resistance]], are [[hallucinating]], or is [[polymorph]]ed into an [[undead]] monster or a [[major demon]]{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|380|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}&mdash;otherwise, it can fail with a chance dependent on the monster's level, where the chance is {{frac|13|ML}} (i.e. a minimum of {{frac|8|21}}).{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|382|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 The Rider [[Death (monster)|Death]] has a "deadly touch" attack, which is unrelated other than the same possibility of instadeath and an identical message if it fails.
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|16105ad0d5d3a4ba32c46a9b0eaff31e1a1e3ce9|commit 16105ad}}: The touch of death now does 8d6+50 damage and reduces your maximum HP by half of the damage dealt; this also applies to Death's deadly touch if it would have had the instadeath effect. However, if the resulting damage would reduce both your maximum and current HP to zero, you die immediately (with no maximum hp reduction); this is an important distinction for cases such as [[polyself]].}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|16105ad0d5d3a4ba32c46a9b0eaff31e1a1e3ce9|commit 16105ad}}, the touch of death deals 8d6+50 damage and reduces your maximum HP by half of the damage dealt; this also applies to Death's deadly touch if it would have had the instadeath effect. However, if the resulting damage would reduce both the hero's maximum and current HP to zero, you die immediately (with no maximum hp reduction); this is an important distinction for cases such as [[polyself]].}}
 ==Messages==

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 ===dNetHack===
 In [[dNetHack]], the touch of death has different effects based on the target's current HP: if the target monster is under 100 HP and is not otherwise immune, they die instantly, with the same chance for the spell to fail as in ''NetHack'' - otherwise, they take 8d8 damage. Magic resistance prevents the instadeath effect as before, with the damage taken reduced to 8.
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], the touch of death is guaranteed to succeed unless the target has [[death resistance]] or is hallucinating. Magic resistance is no longer complete protection against the touch of death: while it will still prevent the instadeath effect, the target will still take 8d6 damage and lose some maximum HP. [[Half spell damage]] combined with magic resistance can reduce the effects further - the [[Gauntlets of Purity]] grant complete protection against death magic while worn.
+In [[EvilHack]], the touch of death is guaranteed to succeed unless the target has [[death resistance]] or is hallucinating. Magic resistance is no longer complete protection against the touch of death: while it will still prevent the instadeath effect, the target will still take 8d6 damage and lose some maximum HP. Half spell damage combined with magic resistance can reduce the effects further - the [[Gauntlets of Purity]] grant complete protection against death magic while worn.
 Spellcasting monsters can use the touch of death and other monster spells against other monsters, making high-level spellcasting pets much better at handling hostiles in comparison to vanilla ''NetHack''. You can also use the spell randomly if you attack while polymorphed into a spellcasting monster with a high enough level to cast it, and you have the [[power]] required.

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 {{message|You have an out of body experience.|The spell was countered by hallucination.}}
 {{message|Lucky for you, it didn't work!|The spell was countered by magic resistance or failed by random chance.}}
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|{{message|You feel drained...|You were affected by a touch of death.}}}}

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 The touch of death can be used by any monster that can cast [[mage spell]]s and is at least [[Monster level|level]] 21.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|99|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As indicated, you [[Instadeath|die instantly]] if a monster casts the touch of death spell on you.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|378|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=case <code>MGC_DEATH_TOUCH</code>}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|385|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} The spell will fail if you have [[magic resistance]], are [[hallucinating]], or are [[polymorph]]ed into an [[undead]] monster or a [[M2_DEMON|demon]]{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|380|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} - otherwise, it can fail with a chance dependent on the monster's level, where the chance is {{frac|13|ML}} (i.e. a minimum of {{frac|8|21}}).{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|382|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-The Rider [[Death (monster)|Death]] has a "deadly touch" attack, which is unrelated other than the same chance of instadeath and an identical message if it fails.
+The Rider [[Death (monster)|Death]] has a "deadly touch" attack, which is unrelated other than the same possibility of instadeath and an identical message if it fails.
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|16105ad0d5d3a4ba32c46a9b0eaff31e1a1e3ce9|commit 16105ad}}: The touch of death now does 8d6+50 damage and reduces your maximum HP by half of the damage dealt; this also applies to Death's deadly touch if it would have had the instadeath effect. However, if the resulting damage would reduce both your maximum and current HP to zero, you die immediately (with no maximum hp reduction); this is an important distinction for cases such as [[polyself]].}}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 The '''touch of death''' is a [[monster spell]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that is cast by some of the most powerful spell-casting [[monsters]] in the game, such as [[arch-lich]]es and the [[Wizard of Yendor]].
@@ Line 18: / Line 19: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], the touch of death instead has different effects based on the target's current HP: if the target monster is under 100 HP and is not otherwise immune, they die instantly, with the same chance for the spell to fail as in ''NetHack'' - otherwise, they take 8d8 damage. Magic resistance prevents the instadeath effect as before, with the damage taken reduced to 8.
+In [[dNetHack]], the touch of death has different effects based on the target's current HP: if the target monster is under 100 HP and is not otherwise immune, they die instantly, with the same chance for the spell to fail as in ''NetHack'' - otherwise, they take 8d8 damage. Magic resistance prevents the instadeath effect as before, with the damage taken reduced to 8.
 ===EvilHack===

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ==Description==
-The touch of death can be used by any monster that can cast mage monster spells and is at least [[Monster level|level]] 21 in order to cast this spell.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|99|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As indicated, you [[Instadeath|die instantly]] if a monster casts the touch of death spell on you.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|378|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=case <code>MGC_DEATH_TOUCH</code>}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|385|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} The spell will fail if you have [[magic resistance]], are [[hallucinating]], or are [[polymorph]]ed into an [[undead]] monster or a [[demon]]{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|380|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} - otherwise, it can fail with a chance dependent on the monster's level, where the chance is {{frac|13|ML}} (i.e. a minimum of {{frac|8|21}}).{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|382|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+The touch of death can be used by any monster that can cast mage monster spells and is at least [[Monster level|level]] 21.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|99|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As indicated, you [[Instadeath|die instantly]] if a monster casts the touch of death spell on you.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|378|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=case <code>MGC_DEATH_TOUCH</code>}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|385|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} The spell will fail if you have [[magic resistance]], are [[hallucinating]], or are [[polymorph]]ed into an [[undead]] monster or a [[demon]]{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|380|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} - otherwise, it can fail with a chance dependent on the monster's level, where the chance is {{frac|13|ML}} (i.e. a minimum of {{frac|8|21}}).{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|382|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 The Rider [[Death (monster)|Death]] has a "deadly touch" attack, which is unrelated other than the same chance of instadeath and an identical message if it fails.