Unicorn horn - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2026-05-18T22:41:40Z

pothole

Ais523: Undo revision 204009 by Ch3182 (talk) – this isn't the right way to update a page to a new version: 5.0.0 isn't "upcoming" any more, and you don't sign edits except talk page comments

2026-05-18T02:53:30Z

Undo revision 204009 by Ch3182 (talk) – this isn't the right way to update a page to a new version: 5.0.0 isn't "upcoming" any more, and you don't sign edits except talk page comments

Ch3182: /* Description */ changing 3.7.0 to 5.0.0

2026-05-18T02:50:20Z

‎Description: changing 3.7.0 to 5.0.0

Umbire the Phantom: /* Messages */ tweaks

2026-02-17T21:46:14Z

‎Messages: tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ rephrase

2026-02-17T11:59:29Z

‎Description: rephrase

Netzhack: /* Monsters and pets */ Wroding

2025-12-09T15:06:16Z

‎Monsters and pets: Wroding

Umbire the Phantom: /* Monsters and pets */ follow-up

2025-11-14T18:18:02Z

‎Monsters and pets: follow-up

Tomsod: /* Monsters and pets */ BUC

2025-11-13T21:36:11Z

‎Monsters and pets: BUC

Umbire the Phantom: tweaks

2025-10-29T12:07:09Z

tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ word choice

2025-10-09T03:10:42Z

‎Description: word choice

@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 Unicorns that generate as hostile can be somewhat difficult foes to deal with early on, due to their movement patterns, speed and teleportation ability. Most such unicorns will be cross-aligned, although circumstances involving bones or polymorphing can result in a hostile co-aligned unicorn; in either case, a thrown [[gem]] (ideally ones you suspect to be [[worthless glass]]) can pacify them.
-Decently strong [[pet]]s can be used to run down a unicorn without incurring luck penalties for co-aligned unicorns specifically, though the pet will be in danger from counterattacks. Once a player has solid [[AC]], they can approach hostiles unicorn in melee or make use of tools such as [[invisibility]], [[displacement]], [[trap]]s, and even [[rebound]]s from spells and wands to dispatch them. As you kill more unicorns, it will be worth carrying a couple of backup horns with you, [[#Monsters and pets|handing spare ones to humanoid pets]], and [[stash]]ing others in the event you need to retrieve a spare later.
+Decently strong [[pet]]s can be used to run down a unicorn without incurring luck penalties for co-aligned unicorns specifically, though the pet will be in danger from counterattacks. Once a player has solid [[AC]], they can approach hostiles unicorn in melee or make use of tools such as [[invisibility]], [[Displacement (property)|displacement]], [[trap]]s, and even [[rebound]]s from spells and wands to dispatch them. As you kill more unicorns, it will be worth carrying a couple of backup horns with you, [[#Monsters and pets|handing spare ones to humanoid pets]], and [[stash]]ing others in the event you need to retrieve a spare later.
 If you informally identify a noncursed unicorn horn, especially from a bones pile, be sure to formally identify its [[beatitude]] as soon as possible so you will know if it becomes cursed later on. It is also advised to bless your unicorn horn the first chance you get; in addition to reliability, blessing it will provide extra protection against becoming cursed by hostile spellcasters, as with most items. Some players may consider wielding it during prayer&mdash;your god may bless your wielded weapon as a successful prayer boon.

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 [[Dipping]] a non-cursed unicorn horn into certain potions can "cure" them as well:{{refsrc|src/apply.c|2221|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} dipping one into a [[potion of sickness]] changes it to a [[potion of fruit juice]], and dipping one into a [[potion of blindness]], {{! of|confusion|or=1|hallucination}} will turn it into an uncursed [[potion of water]], and neither the horn or potion are used up in both cases.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|1817|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 5.0.0|Per {{commit|43d331c4ebe7bcd30a7cab7d4228957e283584c2}}, non-cursed unicorn horns cannot restore reduced attributes. Alternatives include {{! of|restore ability|or=1|gain ability}} potions, the {{+ of|restore ability}} spell, or [[prayer]]. Cursed unicorn horns also do not reduce attributes when applied.}}--[[User:Ch3182|Ch3182]] ([[User talk:Ch3182|talk]]) 02:50, 18 May 2026 (UTC)
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|43d331c4ebe7bcd30a7cab7d4228957e283584c2}}, non-cursed unicorn horns cannot restore reduced attributes. Alternatives include {{! of|restore ability|or=1|gain ability}} potions, the {{+ of|restore ability}} spell, or [[prayer]]. Cursed unicorn horns also do not reduce attributes when applied.}}
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 [[Dipping]] a non-cursed unicorn horn into certain potions can "cure" them as well:{{refsrc|src/apply.c|2221|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} dipping one into a [[potion of sickness]] changes it to a [[potion of fruit juice]], and dipping one into a [[potion of blindness]], {{! of|confusion|or=1|hallucination}} will turn it into an uncursed [[potion of water]], and neither the horn or potion are used up in both cases.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|1817|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|43d331c4ebe7bcd30a7cab7d4228957e283584c2}}, non-cursed unicorn horns cannot restore reduced attributes. Alternatives include {{! of|restore ability|or=1|gain ability}} potions, the {{+ of|restore ability}} spell, or [[prayer]]. Cursed unicorn horns also do not reduce attributes when applied.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 5.0.0|Per {{commit|43d331c4ebe7bcd30a7cab7d4228957e283584c2}}, non-cursed unicorn horns cannot restore reduced attributes. Alternatives include {{! of|restore ability|or=1|gain ability}} potions, the {{+ of|restore ability}} spell, or [[prayer]]. Cursed unicorn horns also do not reduce attributes when applied.}}--[[User:Ch3182|Ch3182]] ([[User talk:Ch3182|talk]]) 02:50, 18 May 2026 (UTC)
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 141: / Line 141: @@
 ==Messages==
 ===Unicorns===
-{{message|The tip of the <color> unicorn's horn glows!|A unicorn cured a status problem using its horn.}}
+{{message|The tip of <the unicorn's> horn glows!|A unicorn cured a status problem using its horn.}}
-{{message|The <color> unicorn's recently regrown horn crumbles to dust.|A revived unicorn died, but did not drop a unicorn horn.}}
+{{message|The <unicorn's> recently regrown horn crumbles to dust.|A revived unicorn died, but did not drop a unicorn horn.}}
 ===Non-cursed unicorn horns===

@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 Applying a cursed unicorn horn instead ''inflicts'' sickness, blindness, hallucination, confusion, stunning, deafness, or lowered attributes upon the hero, with a {{frac|13}} chance of deafening them and a {{frac|2|13}} chance of the other ailments occurring{{refsrc|src/apply.c|1919|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/apply.c|1922|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}&mdash;when losing any attribute score this way, a random attribute is lowered by 1 point unless the hero has a source of [[sustain ability]], in which case nothing happens.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|1940|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As with other sources of the ailment, sickness inflicted upon an already-sick hero will reduce their turns-to-live timer to {{frac|X|3}} + 1 of its current value.{{refsrc|src/potion.c|135|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} Other ailments that are inflicted will last for 10-99 (more) turns.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|1920|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-A monster that is [[intelligent]] will hold on to a unicorn horn that they [[pick up]] rather than eventually dropping it, and if they have [[hands]] and the horn is not cursed, they will apply it to cure any blindness, confusion and/or stunning one at a time without a chance of failure.{{refsrc|src/muse.c|351|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|357|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|652|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2098|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As a weapon, monsters that are not wearing a [[shield]] [[Monster weapon preference|prefer the unicorn horn]] over the [[crysknife]], and prefer the [[katana]] over the horn.{{refsrc|src/weapon.c|642|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+A monster that is [[intelligent]] will hold on to a unicorn horn that they [[pick up]] rather than eventually dropping it. A monster that has [[hands]] will apply a non-cursed unicorn horn to cure any blindness, confusion and/or stunning one at a time without a chance of failure.{{refsrc|src/muse.c|351|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|357|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|652|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2098|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As a weapon, monsters that are not wearing a [[shield]] [[Monster weapon preference|prefer the unicorn horn]] over the [[crysknife]], and prefer the [[katana]] over the horn.{{refsrc|src/weapon.c|642|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 Unicorns can use their natural horn the same way that other monsters use the item, and a hero that is polymorphed into a unicorn can also do so via the [[Monster (command)|#monster]] [[extended command]]{{refsrc|src/muse.c|656|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|782|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}&mdash;in both cases, they behave the same as applying an uncursed unicorn horn.

@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 ===Monsters and pets===
-As mentioned prior, intelligent monsters with hands can apply unicorn horns and may also use them as weapons. Be sure to give applicable [[pets]] any spare unicorn horns you find: a [[black light]] sneaking up on you and confusing your pet is a potential worst-case scenario, leaving you immediately adjacent to danger with little warning unless they can use the horn to immediately cure themselves.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1234|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=a black light's hallucination [[explosion attack]] will instead confuse monsters}} There is no need to bless the unicorn horn in this instance, since monsters can reliably use uncursed ones and there is no risk of it being cursed while in their inventory. If the pet does not have a unicorn horn available, remember that confused tame monsters do not respect [[Elbereth]], but can be scared, immobilized or brought to their senses by other means, e.g. being put to [[sleep]].
+As mentioned above, intelligent monsters with hands can apply unicorn horns and may also use them as weapons. Be sure to give applicable [[pets]] any spare unicorn horns you find: a [[black light]] sneaking up on you and confusing your pet is a potential worst-case scenario, leaving you immediately adjacent to danger with little warning unless they can use the horn to immediately cure themselves.{{refsrc|src/mhitm.c|1234|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=a black light's hallucination [[explosion attack]] will instead confuse monsters}} There is no need to bless the unicorn horn in this instance, since monsters can reliably use uncursed ones and there is no risk of it being cursed while in their inventory. If the pet does not have a unicorn horn available, remember that confused tame monsters do not respect [[Elbereth]], but can be scared, immobilized or brought to their senses by other means, e.g. being put to [[sleep]].
 ===As a curative item===

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
   |color=white
 }}
 A '''unicorn horn''', informally called a '''unihorn''', is a type of [[Magical item|magical]] [[tool]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a [[two-handed]] [[weapon-tool]] that is used in [[melee]] and is made of [[bone]].
@@ Line 43: / Line 42: @@
 * Lost [[attribute]] points{{refsrc|src/apply.c|1988|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-A unicorn horn cannot cure [[stoning]], [[sliming]], [[lycanthropy]], [[wounded legs]], or [[amnesia]], nor can it cure attribute loss tied to wounded legs or weakness from [[hunger]].
+Applying unicorn horn cannot cure [[stoning]], [[sliming]], [[lycanthropy]], [[wounded legs]], or [[amnesia]], nor can it cure attribute loss tied to wounded legs or weakness from [[hunger]].
 Applying an uncursed unicorn horn will fix [[rn2]](2d2) of the above ailments if they are applicable, while a blessed one can heal rn2(2d4) ailments, and that number of ailments is then randomly selected to fix from all those that apply to the hero (or all of them, if they have fewer ailments than the result of the roll).{{refsrc|src/apply.c|2030|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/apply.c|2035|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} In the case of lost attribute points, they will not be restored if the hero is wearing a [[ring of sustain ability]], and every 3 lost attribute points are considered their own separate ailment.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|1994|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/apply.c|2001|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}For example, if a player has lost 10 points of strength and 2 points of dexterity, and is also blind and deaf, the unicorn horn will recognize 7 ailments: 3 ailments of strength loss, 2 ailments of dexterity loss, 1 ailment of blindness and 1 ailment of deafness). Lost attribute points are 'healed' by raising the affected attribute(s) by 1, and other ailments are completely healed.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|2038|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/apply.c|2067|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
@@ Line 51: / Line 50: @@
 A monster that is [[intelligent]] will hold on to a unicorn horn that they [[pick up]] rather than eventually dropping it, and if they have [[hands]] and the horn is not cursed, they will apply it to cure any blindness, confusion and/or stunning one at a time without a chance of failure.{{refsrc|src/muse.c|351|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|357|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|652|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2098|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As a weapon, monsters that are not wearing a [[shield]] [[Monster weapon preference|prefer the unicorn horn]] over the [[crysknife]], and prefer the [[katana]] over the horn.{{refsrc|src/weapon.c|642|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-Unicorns can use their natural horn as monsters use the item, and a hero that is polymorphed into a unicorn can also do so via the [[Monster (command)|#monster]] [[extended command]]{{refsrc|src/muse.c|656|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|782|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}&mdash;in both cases, they behave the same as applying an uncursed unicorn horn.
+Unicorns can use their natural horn the same way that other monsters use the item, and a hero that is polymorphed into a unicorn can also do so via the [[Monster (command)|#monster]] [[extended command]]{{refsrc|src/muse.c|656|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|782|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}&mdash;in both cases, they behave the same as applying an uncursed unicorn horn.
 [[Dipping]] a non-cursed unicorn horn into certain potions can "cure" them as well:{{refsrc|src/apply.c|2221|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} dipping one into a [[potion of sickness]] changes it to a [[potion of fruit juice]], and dipping one into a [[potion of blindness]], {{! of|confusion|or=1|hallucination}} will turn it into an uncursed [[potion of water]], and neither the horn or potion are used up in both cases.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|1817|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
@@ Line 66: / Line 65: @@
 Decently strong [[pet]]s can be used to run down a unicorn without incurring luck penalties for co-aligned unicorns specifically, though the pet will be in danger from counterattacks. Once a player has solid [[AC]], they can approach hostiles unicorn in melee or make use of tools such as [[invisibility]], [[displacement]], [[trap]]s, and even [[rebound]]s from spells and wands to dispatch them. As you kill more unicorns, it will be worth carrying a couple of backup horns with you, [[#Monsters and pets|handing spare ones to humanoid pets]], and [[stash]]ing others in the event you need to retrieve a spare later.
-If you informally identify a noncursed unicorn horn, especially from a bones pile, be sure to formally identify its [[beatitude]] as soon as possible so you will know if it becomes cursed later on. It is also advised to bless your unicorn horn the first chance you get; in addition to reliability, blessing it will provide extra protection against becoming cursed by hostile spellcasters, as with most items. Some players may consider wielding it during prayer - your god may bless your wielded weapon as a successful prayer boon.
+If you informally identify a noncursed unicorn horn, especially from a bones pile, be sure to formally identify its [[beatitude]] as soon as possible so you will know if it becomes cursed later on. It is also advised to bless your unicorn horn the first chance you get; in addition to reliability, blessing it will provide extra protection against becoming cursed by hostile spellcasters, as with most items. Some players may consider wielding it during prayer&mdash;your god may bless your wielded weapon as a successful prayer boon.
 ===Monsters and pets===