Turn undead - Revision history

Klepto: fix header.

2026-07-08T01:24:19Z

fix header.

Klepto: added missing races + race/role combos.

2026-07-08T01:23:33Z

added missing races + race/role combos.

Umbire the Phantom: lede

2025-12-28T01:36:08Z

lede

Umbire the Phantom: it's not mentioned because this is for #turn, not the spell

2025-12-28T00:13:25Z

it's not mentioned because this is for #turn, not the spell

Thidwick: link revive

2025-12-27T19:48:04Z

link revive

Thidwick: fix typo

2025-12-27T19:47:08Z

fix typo

Thidwick: Reviving pets not mentioned.

2025-12-27T19:46:24Z

Reviving pets not mentioned.

Umbire the Phantom: /* List of affected monsters */ word choice

2025-05-26T11:20:05Z

‎List of affected monsters: word choice

Darth l33t: The "special effect" is the main point of the article, don't imply that there are two specific effects of the command.

2024-11-08T16:57:44Z

The "special effect" is the main point of the article, don't imply that there are two specific effects of the command.

Umbire the Phantom: variant pass

2024-10-12T04:26:58Z

variant pass

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 In [[EvilHack]], mindless monsters cannot be scared, meaning that the command is ineffective against the much tougher [[Zombie (EvilHack)|zombies]] until you reach experience level six. The Mitre of Holiness also allows the use of #turn and other prayers in Gehennom, as in FIQHack.
-==dNetHack==
+===dNetHack===
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]], and [[notnotdNetHack]] the turn undead ability can alternatively be selected through the #ability extended command. Besides Priests and Knights, all [[vampire (starting race in dNetHack)|vampire]] characters and [[Elf Noble]]s are capable of turning the undead.

@@ Line 73: / Line 73: @@
 ===EvilHack===
 In [[EvilHack]], mindless monsters cannot be scared, meaning that the command is ineffective against the much tougher [[Zombie (EvilHack)|zombies]] until you reach experience level six. The Mitre of Holiness also allows the use of #turn and other prayers in Gehennom, as in FIQHack.
 ==References==

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 The '''#turn''' ('''turn undead''') [[extended command]] is a command in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a form of special prayer to your [[god]] (independent of normal [[prayer]]) that allows [[you]] to attempt turning away [[undead]] [[monster]]s (rather than turning you into one, given the ambiguous syntax), and thus breaks [[atheist]] [[conduct]].
-Only the [[Knight]] and [[Priest]] [[role]]s can turn undead in this manner. Using the command as another role will attempt to cast the [[spell of turn undead]] if memorized, or otherwise will print a message with no effect.
+Only the [[Knight]] and [[Priest]] [[role]]s can turn undead in this manner. Using the command as another role will attempt to cast the [[spell of turn undead]] if that hero knows it, and will otherwise print a message with no effect.
 ==Description==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{religion}}
 {{otheruses|the #turn command}}
-The '''#turn''' ('''turn undead''') [[extended command]] is a command in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a form of special prayer to your [[god]] (independent of normal [[prayer]]) that allows [[you]] to attempt turning away [[undead]] [[monster]]s (rather than turning you into one, given the ambiguous syntax), and thus breaks [[atheist]] [[conduct]]. '''Turn undead''' will also [[revive]] dead pets as well as other corpses.
+The '''#turn''' ('''turn undead''') [[extended command]] is a command in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a form of special prayer to your [[god]] (independent of normal [[prayer]]) that allows [[you]] to attempt turning away [[undead]] [[monster]]s (rather than turning you into one, given the ambiguous syntax), and thus breaks [[atheist]] [[conduct]].
 Only the [[Knight]] and [[Priest]] [[role]]s can turn undead in this manner. Using the command as another role will attempt to cast the [[spell of turn undead]] if memorized, or otherwise will print a message with no effect.
@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 ==Strategy==
-Generally, any singular or even small groups of undead that this command can kill can be disposed of just as easily by hitting them until they die (again), with none of the helplessness that this command entails. However, lawful and neutral characters with enough levels will find that this is a very efficient way in clearing out [[graveyard]]s. For lawful and neutral [[Priests]], whose [[Priest quest|quest]] involves fighting through dozens of graveyards and hundreds of undead enemies, this command can probably save them hundreds to thousands of turns compared to defeating every undead they come across one at a time. Keep in mind, however, that the [[Valley of the Dead]] is considered part of Gehennom, and turn undead will not work on the graveyards there. Also use this spell to [[revive]] your dead pets.
+Generally, any singular or even small groups of undead that this command can kill can be disposed of just as easily by hitting them until they die (again), with none of the helplessness that this command entails. However, lawful and neutral characters with enough levels will find that this is a very efficient way in clearing out [[graveyard]]s. For lawful and neutral [[Priests]], whose [[Priest quest|quest]] involves fighting through dozens of graveyards and hundreds of undead enemies, this command can probably save them hundreds to thousands of turns compared to defeating every undead they come across one at a time. Keep in mind, however, that the [[Valley of the Dead]] is considered part of Gehennom, and turn undead will not work on the graveyards there.
 ==History==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{religion}}
 {{otheruses|the #turn command}}
-The '''#turn''' ('''turn undead''') [[extended command]] is a command in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a form of special prayer to your [[god]] (independent of normal [[prayer]]) that allows [[you]] to attempt turning away [[undead]] [[monster]]s (rather than turning you into one, given the ambiguous syntax), and thus breaks [[atheist]] [[conduct]]. '''Turn Undead''' will also revive dead pets as well as other corpses.
+The '''#turn''' ('''turn undead''') [[extended command]] is a command in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a form of special prayer to your [[god]] (independent of normal [[prayer]]) that allows [[you]] to attempt turning away [[undead]] [[monster]]s (rather than turning you into one, given the ambiguous syntax), and thus breaks [[atheist]] [[conduct]]. '''Turn undead''' will also [[revive]] dead pets as well as other corpses.
 Only the [[Knight]] and [[Priest]] [[role]]s can turn undead in this manner. Using the command as another role will attempt to cast the [[spell of turn undead]] if memorized, or otherwise will print a message with no effect.

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 ===List of affected monsters===
-The table below displays the minimum level required for an undead monster of each class to be potentially killed instantly by the #turn command (or made peaceful if chaotic):
+The table below displays the minimum level required for a [[hero]] to potentially kill an undead monster of each class instantly using the #turn command (or make them peaceful if chaotic):
 {|class="prettytable"
 ![[Monster class]]
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 |}
-It is theoretically possible to instantaneously destroy an [[arch-lich]] by #turning if you are at least level 16 and beat its MR of 90 in two sequential rolls, and are outside its native Gehennom. Vampires can only be destroyed or pacified if they are in base form ({{white|V}}), not if they are in a shapeshifted form ({{monsym|vampire bat}}{{monsym|fog cloud}}{{monsym|wolf}}), though they will still be scared when shapeshifted.
+It is theoretically possible to instantaneously destroy an [[arch-lich]] by #turning if you are at least level 16 and beat its MR of 90 in two sequential rolls, and are outside its native area of Gehennom. Vampires can only be destroyed or pacified if they are in base form ({{white|V}}), not if they are in a shapeshifted form ({{monsym|vampire bat}}{{monsym|fog cloud}}{{monsym|wolf}}), though they will still be scared when shapeshifted.
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 The '''#turn''' ('''turn undead''') [[extended command]] is a command in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a form of special prayer to your [[god]] (independent of normal [[prayer]]) that allows [[you]] to attempt turning away [[undead]] [[monster]]s (rather than turning you into one, given the ambiguous syntax), and thus breaks [[atheist]] [[conduct]].
-The command has a special effect for the [[Knight]] and [[Priest]] roles, and will attempt to cast the [[spell of turn undead]] for all other roles if they know it, printing a message with no effect otherwise.
+Only the [[Knight]] and [[Priest]] [[role]]s can turn undead in this manner. Using the command as another role will attempt to cast the [[spell of turn undead]] if memorized, or otherwise will print a message with no effect.
 ==Description==
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 The following effects occur for Knights and Priests using #turn:{{refsrc|src/pray.c|1995|nethack=3.6.7}}
-* All hostile undead monsters within line of sight and a range of <math>8 + xlvl / 5</math> (rounded down, where ''xlvl'' is your [[experience level]]) must pass a check against their [[Magic resistance (monster)|monster MR]], or else they are turned: turning an undead monster awakens and [[scare]]s them for an indefinite duration. Depending on your experience level and the class of undead monster (indicated in [[#List of affected monsters|the table below]]), successfully turned monsters must make a second check against monster MR - monsters that fail this check become peaceful if you are chaotic, and are otherwise instantly killed.
+* All hostile undead monsters within line of sight and a range of <math>8 + xlvl / 5</math> (rounded down, where ''xlvl'' is your [[experience level]]) must pass a check against their [[Magic resistance (monster)|monster MR]], or else they are turned: turning an undead monster awakens and [[scare]]s them for an indefinite duration. Depending on your experience level and the class of undead monster (indicated in [[#List of affected monsters|the table below]]), successfully turned monsters must make a second check against monster MR - monsters that fail this check become peaceful if you are chaotic, and are otherwise instantly killed. Killing a monster in this way grants [[experience point]]s and breaks [[pacifist]] conduct.
-** At experience level 16 or higher, hostile [[major demon]] and [[minor demon]]s may be turned as well.
+** At experience level 16 or higher, hostile [[major demon]]s and [[minor demon]]s may be turned as well.
 * You become helpless for up to five [[turn]]s while you are praying, with a reduction of 1 turn for every 6 experience levels after the first: you are helpless for 5 turns at levels 1&ndash;6, 4 turns at levels 7&ndash;12, 3 turns at levels 13&ndash;18, 2 turns at levels 19&ndash;24, and 1 turn at levels 25&ndash;30.{{refsrc|src/pray.c|2077|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Knights and Priests using this command [[exercise]] [[wisdom]].
+Using the command successfully [[exercise]]s [[wisdom]].
 ===Failure effects===

@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===FIQHack===
-In [[FIQHack]], the duration of helplessness scales lower with your experience level: At level 1, you will be helpless for 5 turns, while at level 24 you will be helpless for 1 turn; at level 30, you will be helpless for one action.
+In [[FIQHack]], the duration of helplessness scales lower with the hero's experience level: At level 1, the hero will be helpless for 5 turns, while at level 24 they will be helpless for 1 turn; at level 30, they will be helpless for one action.
-[[The Mitre of Holiness]] allows praying in Gehennom, including the use of #turn.
+[[The Mitre of Holiness]] allows the use of #turn and other prayers in Gehennom.
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], mindless monsters cannot be scared, meaning that the command is ineffective against the much tougher [[Zombie (EvilHack)|zombies]] until you reach experience level six. The Mitre of Holiness also allows prayer and use of #turn in Gehennom as in FIQHack.
+In [[EvilHack]], mindless monsters cannot be scared, meaning that the command is ineffective against the much tougher [[Zombie (EvilHack)|zombies]] until you reach experience level six. The Mitre of Holiness also allows the use of #turn and other prayers in Gehennom, as in FIQHack.
 ==References==
@@ Line 77: / Line 80: @@
 [[Category:Spellcasting]]
 [[Category:Religion]]