Unicorn - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: potholes, etc.

2026-05-18T22:40:10Z

potholes, etc.

Tomsod: /* Generation */ polytrap dubious

2025-11-26T07:59:34Z

‎Generation: polytrap dubious

Umbire the Phantom: follow-up

2025-09-09T10:59:20Z

follow-up

A1: /* Unicorns and gems */ Adding more detail on blind messages with co-aligned unicorn and gem throwing

2025-09-09T01:04:08Z

‎Unicorns and gems: Adding more detail on blind messages with co-aligned unicorn and gem throwing

Umbire the Phantom: bit of follow-up + upcoming

2023-08-07T18:58:49Z

bit of follow-up + upcoming

Netzhack: /* Combat */ Syntax: removed "them" with no antecedent

2023-08-07T14:55:26Z

‎Combat: Syntax: removed "them" with no antecedent

Netzhack: /* Encyclopedia entry */ Blank lines out.

2023-03-12T05:47:10Z

‎Encyclopedia entry: Blank lines out.

Umbire the Phantom at 06:50, 20 July 2022

2022-07-20T06:50:45Z

Cathartes: /* Strategy */ displacement bug fixed in 3.7.0

2021-08-07T06:03:02Z

‎Strategy: displacement bug fixed in 3.7.0

Umbire the Phantom: /* Combat */ Figured out a better way to phrase what I meant.

2021-08-06T05:37:29Z

‎Combat: Figured out a better way to phrase what I meant.

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 More combat-capable characters can also lead them into hallways and attack with projectiles from a safe distance; rays can be bounced at unicorns from walls, and a [[boomerang]] can be handy as well. Savvy players can trap a unicorn using a [[pit]] or a [[beartrap]], though each trap will only work once. Characters at [[Skilled]] or better in [[polearms]] or [[lance]] can [[pound]] the unicorn while it is a knight's move away with no fear of counterattacks. Players with [[very fast]] speed will have occasional chances to attack with ranged weapons or to close in for direct combat, and a well-armored and well-prepared player with speed can defeat a unicorn fairly easily.
-A good way of closing in on a unicorn is to use [[invisibility]]: unicorns cannot [[see invisible]], so that lining them up to throw weapons or gems at them is much easier. However, invisibility can backfire for a weak character: a hostile unicorn that can't see you will not know to stay a knight's move away, and so may end up skewering you if it accidentally closes in. Due to a bug, unicorns are not fooled by [[displacement]] while moving to avoid you - once within melee range, however, hostile unicorns will attack as normal and possibly target your displaced image instead of you.<ref>[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/issues/564 Issue #564: Unicorns ignore player's displacement when avoiding the player]</ref>
+A good way of closing in on a unicorn is to use [[invisibility]]: unicorns cannot [[see invisible]], so that lining them up to throw weapons or gems at them is much easier. However, invisibility can backfire for a weak character: a hostile unicorn that can't see you will not know to stay a knight's move away, and so may end up skewering you if it accidentally closes in. Due to a bug, unicorns are not fooled by [[Displacement (property)|displacement]] while moving to avoid you - once within melee range, however, hostile unicorns will attack as normal and possibly target your displaced image instead of you.<ref>[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/issues/564 Issue #564: Unicorns ignore player's displacement when avoiding the player]</ref>
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The displacement bug is fixed as of {{commit|62e09ae9f31ea052142544ec0061c292c3d5642c|commit 62e09ae}} - unicorns try to avoid being lined up with where they ''perceive'' you to be, even if you are displaced.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The displacement bug is fixed as of {{commit|62e09ae9f31ea052142544ec0061c292c3d5642c}}&mdash;unicorns try to avoid being lined up with where they ''perceive'' you to be, even if you are displaced.}}
 ===Unicorn horns===

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:59, 26 November 2025
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	Unicorns tend to appear somewhat early in the dungeon, starting around DL 7 or so. Normally generated unicorns matching your alignment will be peaceful;{{refsrc\|src/makemon.c\|1271\|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} all others will be hostile. Unicorns in bones files or created by polymorph traps may be exceptions to this rule. White unicorns are generated slightly more frequently than the other types; this is to compensate for [[Gehennom]] preventing the random generation of lawful monsters.		Unicorns tend to appear somewhat early in the dungeon, starting around DL 7 or so. Normally generated unicorns matching your alignment will be peaceful;{{refsrc\|src/makemon.c\|1271\|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} all others will be hostile. Unicorns in bones files or created by polymorph traps may be exceptions to this rule. White unicorns are generated slightly more frequently than the other types; this is to compensate for [[Gehennom]] preventing the random generation of lawful monsters.

		+	{{todo\|Recheck the part about polymorphed unicorns failing to drop horns: there's nothing in the 3.6.7 code setting mrevived on polytrap activation. This bit was first added for 3.4.3, but was it true even then?}}
	A unicorn is guaranteed to leave a [[corpse]] behind unless killed in a way that destroys it (e.g., [[disintegration]] or [[digestion]]); it will also leave a [[unicorn horn]] with its corpse, unless it has been [[revive]]d or is a [[polymorph]]ed monster from a polymorph [[trap]], in which case it has only a 50% chance of leaving one.{{refsrc\|src/mon.c\|332\|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}		A unicorn is guaranteed to leave a [[corpse]] behind unless killed in a way that destroys it (e.g., [[disintegration]] or [[digestion]]); it will also leave a [[unicorn horn]] with its corpse, unless it has been [[revive]]d or is a [[polymorph]]ed monster from a polymorph [[trap]], in which case it has only a 50% chance of leaving one.{{refsrc\|src/mon.c\|332\|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 ===Unicorns and gems===
-Throwing any gem to any hostile unicorn will make it [[peaceful]]. A tamed unicorn will catch and immediately drop gems thrown at it, without any effect on [[Luck]] or identification. Unicorns also pick up any gems and stones they come across, worthless or not.
+Throwing any gem to any hostile unicorn will make it [[peaceful]]. A tamed unicorn will catch and immediately drop gems thrown at it, without any effect on [[luck]] or identification. Unicorns also pick up any gems and stones they come across, worthless or not.
-If the gem is worthless glass, a rock, or a [[gray stone]], it will not affect your Luck, and the unicorn will either "graciously" accept it or be "not interested in your junk". If it is valuable, a co-aligned unicorn "gratefully" keeps the gem and improves your [[Luck]], depending on the identification status of the gem: +5 points if the gem is formally identified, +2 points if type-[[name]]d, and +1 point if completely unknown.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|1801|version=NetHack 3.6.6|comment=function gem_accept()}}
+Assuming you are not [[blind]], a gem that is worthless glass, a rock, or a [[gray stone]] will not affect your luck, and the unicorn will either "graciously" accept it or be "not interested in your junk". If it is a valuable gem, a co-aligned unicorn "gratefully" keeps the gem and improves your luck, depending on the identification status of the gem: +5 points if the gem is formally identified, +2 points if [[type-name]]d, and +1 point if completely unknown.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|1801|version=NetHack 3.6.6|comment=<tt>gem_accept()</tt> function}}
 If you are blind, the co-aligned unicorn catches the gem without "gratefully" or "graciously" modifiers.

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:04, 9 September 2025
Line 60:		Line 60:

	If the gem is worthless glass, a rock, or a [[gray stone]], it will not affect your Luck, and the unicorn will either "graciously" accept it or be "not interested in your junk". If it is valuable, a co-aligned unicorn "gratefully" keeps the gem and improves your [[Luck]], depending on the identification status of the gem: +5 points if the gem is formally identified, +2 points if type-[[name]]d, and +1 point if completely unknown.{{refsrc\|src/dothrow.c\|1801\|version=NetHack 3.6.6\|comment=function gem_accept()}}		If the gem is worthless glass, a rock, or a [[gray stone]], it will not affect your Luck, and the unicorn will either "graciously" accept it or be "not interested in your junk". If it is valuable, a co-aligned unicorn "gratefully" keeps the gem and improves your [[Luck]], depending on the identification status of the gem: +5 points if the gem is formally identified, +2 points if type-[[name]]d, and +1 point if completely unknown.{{refsrc\|src/dothrow.c\|1801\|version=NetHack 3.6.6\|comment=function gem_accept()}}
		+
		+	If you are blind, the co-aligned unicorn catches the gem without "gratefully" or "graciously" modifiers.

	Coaligned unicorns are great for improving Luck and sorting out worthless glass. The game does not check what the gem is named, or what its type is called, as long as one of them is defined - ideally, you should type-name all gems before throwing them at coaligned unicorns. It is easiest to increase Luck this way in a no-teleport level, e.g. [[Sokoban]], in order to prevent them teleporting away after each catch. If you are sure you will not need the unicorn again after, you may want to encourage a [[pet]] to kill it so you can recover your gems without any Luck penalty.		Coaligned unicorns are great for improving Luck and sorting out worthless glass. The game does not check what the gem is named, or what its type is called, as long as one of them is defined - ideally, you should type-name all gems before throwing them at coaligned unicorns. It is easiest to increase Luck this way in a no-teleport level, e.g. [[Sokoban]], in order to prevent them teleporting away after each catch. If you are sure you will not need the unicorn again after, you may want to encourage a [[pet]] to kill it so you can recover your gems without any Luck penalty.

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 In the beginning of the game, when you typically are weak and most need the horn, the most sound strategy for fighting unicorn is to let a [[pet]] take it out; this naturally also avoids any Luck penalties for killing a co-aligned unicorn, though the pet may be killed if the unicorn lands enough counterattacks.
-More combat-capable characters can also lead them into hallways and attack with projectiles from a safe distance; rays which bounce from walls are also viable, and a [[boomerang]] can be handy in this situation as well. Savvy players can trap a unicorn using a [[pit]] or a [[beartrap]], though each trap will only work once. Characters at [[Skilled]] or better in [[polearms]] or [[lance]] can [[pound]] the unicorn while it is a knight's move away with no fear of counterattacks. Players with [[very fast]] speed will have occasional chances to attack with ranged weapons or to close in for direct combat, and a well-armored and well-prepared very fast player can defeat a unicorn fairly easily.
+More combat-capable characters can also lead them into hallways and attack with projectiles from a safe distance; rays can be bounced at unicorns from walls, and a [[boomerang]] can be handy as well. Savvy players can trap a unicorn using a [[pit]] or a [[beartrap]], though each trap will only work once. Characters at [[Skilled]] or better in [[polearms]] or [[lance]] can [[pound]] the unicorn while it is a knight's move away with no fear of counterattacks. Players with [[very fast]] speed will have occasional chances to attack with ranged weapons or to close in for direct combat, and a well-armored and well-prepared player with speed can defeat a unicorn fairly easily.
 A good way of closing in on a unicorn is to use [[invisibility]]: unicorns cannot [[see invisible]], so that lining them up to throw weapons or gems at them is much easier. However, invisibility can backfire for a weak character: a hostile unicorn that can't see you will not know to stay a knight's move away, and so may end up skewering you if it accidentally closes in. Due to a bug, unicorns are not fooled by [[displacement]] while moving to avoid you - once within melee range, however, hostile unicorns will attack as normal and possibly target your displaced image instead of you.<ref>[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/issues/564 Issue #564: Unicorns ignore player's displacement when avoiding the player]</ref>
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The aforementioned bug is now fixed, and unicorns try to avoid being lined up with where they ''perceive'' you to be, even if you are displaced. ([https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/commit/62e09ae9f31ea052142544ec0061c292c3d5642c commit])}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The displacement bug is fixed as of {{commit|62e09ae9f31ea052142544ec0061c292c3d5642c|commit 62e09ae}} - unicorns try to avoid being lined up with where they ''perceive'' you to be, even if you are displaced.}}
 ===Unicorn horns===

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ===Combat===
-In the beginning of the game, when you typically are weak and most need the horn, the most sound strategy for fighting unicorn is to let a [[pet]] take it out; this naturally also avoids any Luck penalties for killing a co-aligned unicorn, though the pet may still be killed if the unicorn lands enough counterattacks.
+In the beginning of the game, when you typically are weak and most need the horn, the most sound strategy for fighting unicorn is to let a [[pet]] take it out; this naturally also avoids any Luck penalties for killing a co-aligned unicorn, though the pet may be killed if the unicorn lands enough counterattacks.
-In addition to pets, more combat-capable characters can lead them into hallways and attack with projectiles from a safe distance; rays which bounce from walls are also viable, and a [[boomerang]] can be handy in this situation as well. Savvy players can trap it using a [[pit]] or a [[beartrap]], though it will only work once per trap; characters at [[Skilled]] or better in [[polearms]] or [[lance]] can [[pound]] the unicorn while it is a knight's move away with no fear of counterattacks. Players with [[very fast]] speed will have occasional chances to attack with ranged weapons or else close in to attempt direct combat, and a well-armored and prepared very fast player can defeat them fairly easily.
+More combat-capable characters can also lead them into hallways and attack with projectiles from a safe distance; rays which bounce from walls are also viable, and a [[boomerang]] can be handy in this situation as well. Savvy players can trap a unicorn using a [[pit]] or a [[beartrap]], though each trap will only work once. Characters at [[Skilled]] or better in [[polearms]] or [[lance]] can [[pound]] the unicorn while it is a knight's move away with no fear of counterattacks. Players with [[very fast]] speed will have occasional chances to attack with ranged weapons or to close in for direct combat, and a well-armored and well-prepared very fast player can defeat a unicorn fairly easily.
-A good way of closing in on a unicorn is to use [[invisibility]]: unicorns cannot [[see invisible]], making for a much easier time lining them up to throw weapons or gems at them. However, invisibility can backfire for a weak character - a hostile unicorn that can't see you will not know to stay a knight's move away, resulting in a potential skewering if it closes in. Due to a bug, unicorns are not fooled by [[displacement]] while moving to avoid you - once within melee range, however, hostile unicorns will attack as normal and possibly target your displaced image instead of you.<ref>[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/issues/564 Issue #564: Unicorns ignore player's displacement when avoiding the player]</ref>
+A good way of closing in on a unicorn is to use [[invisibility]]: unicorns cannot [[see invisible]], so that lining them up to throw weapons or gems at them is much easier. However, invisibility can backfire for a weak character: a hostile unicorn that can't see you will not know to stay a knight's move away, and so may end up skewering you if it accidentally closes in. Due to a bug, unicorns are not fooled by [[displacement]] while moving to avoid you - once within melee range, however, hostile unicorns will attack as normal and possibly target your displaced image instead of you.<ref>[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/issues/564 Issue #564: Unicorns ignore player's displacement when avoiding the player]</ref>
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The aforementioned bug is now fixed, and unicorns try to avoid being lined up with where they ''perceive'' you to be, even if you are displaced. ([https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/commit/62e09ae9f31ea052142544ec0061c292c3d5642c commit])}}

@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
-{{encyclopedia|Men have always sought the elusive unicorn, for the single twisted horn which projected from its forehead was thought to be a powerful talisman.  It was said that the unicorn had simply to dip the tip of its horn in a muddy pool for the water to become pure.  Men also believed that to drink from this horn was a protection against all sickness, and that if the horn was ground to a powder it would act as an antidote to all poisons.  Less than 200 years ago in France, the horn of a unicorn was used in a ceremony to test the royal food for poison.<br>
+{{encyclopedia|Men have always sought the elusive unicorn, for the single twisted horn which projected from its forehead was thought to be a powerful talisman.  It was said that the unicorn had simply to dip the tip of its horn in a muddy pool for the water to become pure.  Men also believed that to drink from this horn was a protection against all sickness, and that if the horn was ground to a powder it would act as an antidote to all poisons.  Less than 200 years ago in France, the horn of a unicorn was used in a ceremony to test the royal food for poison.
 Although only the size of a small horse, the unicorn is a very fierce beast, capable of killing an elephant with a single thrust from its horn.  Its fleetness of foot also makes this solitary creature difficult to capture.  However, it can be tamed and captured by a maiden.  Made gentle by the sight of a virgin, the unicorn can be lured to lay its head in her lap, and in this docile mood, the maiden may secure it with a golden rope.
 {{right-align|[ Mythical Beasts, by Deirdre Headon (The Leprechaun Library) ]}}
-<br>
+Martin took a small sip of beer.  "Almost ready," he said.
-Martin took a small sip of beer.  "Almost ready," he said.<br>
+"You hold your beer awfully well."
 Tlingel laughed.  "A unicorn's horn is a detoxicant.  Its possession is a universal remedy.  I wait until I reach the warm glow stage, then I use my horn to burn off any excess and keep me right there."
-{{right-align|[ Unicorn Variations, by Roger Zelazny ]}}}}
+|[ Unicorn Variations, by Roger Zelazny ]}}
 ==References==

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 The '''unicorn''' is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
-There are three types of unicorns: white, gray, and black, which correspond to [[lawful]], [[neutral]], and [[chaotic]] alignments respectively; directly killing a unicorn of your own alignment always carries a &minus;5 [[Luck]] penalty. Eating a unicorn corpse is safe regardless of alignment, and has a 27% chance of giving [[poison resistance]].
+There are three types of unicorns: white, gray, and black, which correspond to [[lawful]], [[neutral]], and [[chaotic]] alignments respectively. Directly killing a unicorn of your own alignment always carries a &minus;5 [[Luck]] penalty; eating a unicorn corpse is safe regardless of alignment, and has a 27% chance of giving [[poison resistance]].
 ==Generation==
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 ==Strategy==
-Unicorns are extremely fast and can easily outpace even players with [[very fast]] speed. If they can see the player, they attempt to avoid being "lined up" by the player (orthogonally or diagonally) even while hostile.{{refsrc|src/monmove.c|1089|version=NetHack 3.6.6|comment=Unicorns have NOTONL flag set on teleportable levels}}{{refsrc|src/monmove.c|1125|version=NetHack 3.6.6|comment=Non-teleportable levels are handled specially, but unicorns still attempt avoidance if possible}}{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1492|version=NetHack 3.6.6|comment=Implementation of NOTONL flag behavior in mfndpos()}} If a unicorn has no available neighboring square where it would not be lined up, it has a 50% chance of teleporting away each time it tries to move.{{refsrc|src/monmove.c|1251|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} Attempting to move into melee range of a non-peaceful unicorn will usually cause it to attack you before leaping or teleporting away to an applicable square.
+Unicorns are extremely fast and can easily outpace even players with [[very fast]] speed. A unicorn that can see the player will attempt to avoid being "lined up" by the player (orthogonally or diagonally) even if they are hostile.{{refsrc|src/monmove.c|1089|version=NetHack 3.6.6|comment=Unicorns have NOTONL flag set on teleportable levels}}{{refsrc|src/monmove.c|1125|version=NetHack 3.6.6|comment=Non-teleportable levels are handled specially, but unicorns still attempt avoidance if possible}}{{refsrc|src/mon.c|1492|version=NetHack 3.6.6|comment=Implementation of NOTONL flag behavior in mfndpos()}} If a unicorn has no available neighboring square where it would not be lined up, it has a 50% chance of teleporting away each time it tries to move.{{refsrc|src/monmove.c|1251|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} Attempting to move into melee range of a non-peaceful unicorn will usually cause it to attack you before leaping or teleporting away to an applicable square.
-Unicorns do surprising amounts of damage, getting in multiple kicks and butts per turn. However, because they will not intentionally move into melee range, it is usually not difficult to avoid combat with them. This does not apply to pet unicorns, who will attack monsters normally as any other pet would.
+Unicorns do surprising amounts of damage, getting in multiple kicks and butts per turn. However, because they will not intentionally move into melee range, it is usually not difficult to avoid combat with them. This does not apply to pet unicorns that attack monsters, which occurs normally as with any other pet.
 ===Combat===
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 A good way of closing in on a unicorn is to use [[invisibility]]: unicorns cannot [[see invisible]], making for a much easier time lining them up to throw weapons or gems at them. However, invisibility can backfire for a weak character - a hostile unicorn that can't see you will not know to stay a knight's move away, resulting in a potential skewering if it closes in. Due to a bug, unicorns are not fooled by [[displacement]] while moving to avoid you - once within melee range, however, hostile unicorns will attack as normal and possibly target your displaced image instead of you.<ref>[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/issues/564 Issue #564: Unicorns ignore player's displacement when avoiding the player]</ref>
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Unicorns try to avoid being lined up with where they ''perceive'' you to be, even if you are displaced. ([https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/commit/62e09ae9f31ea052142544ec0061c292c3d5642c commit])}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The aforementioned bug is now fixed, and unicorns try to avoid being lined up with where they ''perceive'' you to be, even if you are displaced. ([https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/commit/62e09ae9f31ea052142544ec0061c292c3d5642c commit])}}
 ===Unicorn horns===
@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 The unicorn is a creature that features prominently in European-styled fairy tales, though it is much older and appears in many other folklores, being depicted as far back as the Indus Valley Civilization in ancient seals, and has been mentioned by the ancient Greeks in accounts of natural history by various writers such as Strabo, Pliny the Younger, and Aelian. In the Middle Ages, depictions of a unicorn trapped by a maiden were an elaborate allegory for the Incarnation of Christ (with the maiden representing the virgin Mary); this likely gave rise to the recurring motif of unicorns appearing to and/or being tameable only by a fair, virgin maiden. Naturally, unicorns are one of many folkloric creatures included in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''.
-The unicorn is commonly depicted as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead; it is quadrupedal and almost always equine or caprine in appearance, with white or light-colored hair. Unicorns are generally nearly impossible to catch, and are fittingly sought after for their various magical properties, such as those inherent to [[wikipedia:Unicorn horn|its horn]]; modern fiction often extends those properties to its other features, such as its hair or blood. "Unicorn" is used as a colloquial term that refers to someone or something that is rare and hard to find.
+The unicorn is commonly depicted as an equine beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead; it is quadrupedal and almost always equine or caprine in appearance, with white or light-colored hair. Unicorns are generally nearly impossible to catch, and are fittingly sought after for their various magical properties, such as those inherent to [[wikipedia:Unicorn horn|its horn]]; modern fiction often extends those properties to its other features, such as its hair or blood. "Unicorn" is used as a colloquial term that refers to someone or something that is rare and hard to find.
 The Chinese ''qilin'' (Chinese: 麒麟), is sometimes called "the Chinese unicorn", and is described as a hybrid animal with the body of a deer, the head of a lion, green scales and a long forwardly-curved horn. The Japanese [[ki-rin]] is based on the ''qilin'', but more closely resembles the Western unicorn.

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 In addition to pets, more combat-capable characters can lead them into hallways and attack with projectiles from a safe distance; rays which bounce from walls are also viable, and a [[boomerang]] can be handy in this situation as well. Savvy players can trap it using a [[pit]] or a [[beartrap]], though it will only work once per trap; characters at [[Skilled]] or better in [[polearms]] or [[lance]] can [[pound]] the unicorn while it is a knight's move away with no fear of counterattacks. Players with [[very fast]] speed will have occasional chances to attack with ranged weapons or else close in to attempt direct combat, and a well-armored and prepared very fast player can defeat them fairly easily.
-A good way of closing in on a unicorn is to use [[invisibility]]: unicorns cannot [[see invisible]], making for a much easier time lining them up to throw weapons or gems at them. However, invisibility can backfire for a weak character - a hostile unicorn that can't see you will not know to stay a knight's move away, resulting in a potential skewering if it closes in. While [[displacement]] cannot be used to line up a unicorn for ranged attacks, they may still attack your displaced image instead of you.<ref>[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/issues/564 Issue #564: Unicorns ignore player's displacement when avoiding the player]</ref>
+A good way of closing in on a unicorn is to use [[invisibility]]: unicorns cannot [[see invisible]], making for a much easier time lining them up to throw weapons or gems at them. However, invisibility can backfire for a weak character - a hostile unicorn that can't see you will not know to stay a knight's move away, resulting in a potential skewering if it closes in. Unicorns are not fooled by [[displacement]] while moving to avoid you - once within melee range, however, hostile unicorns will attack as normal and possibly target your displaced image instead of you.<ref>[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/issues/564 Issue #564: Unicorns ignore player's displacement when avoiding the player]</ref>
 ===Unicorn horns===