Vlad's Tower - Revision history

Phol ende wodan: /* Top level */ 3.7: brides of Dracula

2026-01-23T13:29:21Z

‎Top level: 3.7: brides of Dracula

Neuros: typo

2026-01-22T19:47:05Z

typo

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ bulleted list like above, more to come

2026-01-14T17:30:57Z

‎Strategy: bulleted list like above, more to come

Umbire the Phantom: document Vlad's throne and strategies to play around it, because it CAN be played around no matter how scary-looking

2026-01-14T17:30:27Z

document Vlad's throne and strategies to play around it, because it CAN be played around no matter how scary-looking

Umbire the Phantom: /* SLASH'EM */ touch-ups

2026-01-11T17:30:37Z

‎SLASH'EM: touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: word choie

2026-01-11T17:29:10Z

word choie

Umbire the Phantom: /* Top level */ upcoming fix

2026-01-11T17:23:40Z

‎Top level: upcoming fix

Umbire the Phantom: tweaks

2025-12-19T20:33:21Z

tweaks

NDusN: /* Top level */ copying from throne article, this warning is long overdue

2025-12-02T12:06:20Z

‎Top level: copying from throne article, this warning is long overdue

Umbire the Phantom: /* Middle level */ replace

2025-06-29T10:33:53Z

‎Middle level: replace

@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 </replacecharsblock></div>
 Vlad the Impaler occupies the [[throne]] in the center of the top floor, carrying the [[Candelabrum of Invocation]]; a chest sits behind the throne. Each of the six marked niches contains a random [[Vampire (monster class)|vampire]] and a chest; if vampires are [[extinct]] or [[genocide]]d, they will be replaced with random monsters. Two of the six chests in the closets are guaranteed to contain stacks of 4–8 candles: one chest contains [[wax candle]]s and the other contains [[tallow candle]]s.{{refsrc|src/tower.des|48|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/tower.des|51|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ====Vlad's throne====

@@ Line 93: / Line 93: @@
 ====Vlad's throne====
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The throne of Vlad the Impaler is made distinct from other thrones in {{commit|3fd30c4ec82ffa3a70a1f8e21ecdd6fc421ca572}}: It will only disappear upon granting a [[wish]], but sitting on it can also cause a variety of powerful effects, some of which are unresistable and may of which are negative&mdash;below is a list of the effects possible from sitting on Vlad's throne as of {{commit|ceaffcbd47845ce933ad2a83e370f249fbd8761c}}.
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The throne of Vlad the Impaler is made distinct from other thrones in {{commit|3fd30c4ec82ffa3a70a1f8e21ecdd6fc421ca572}}: It will only disappear upon granting a [[wish]], but sitting on it can also cause a variety of powerful effects, some of which are unresistable and many of which are negative&mdash;below is a list of the effects possible from sitting on Vlad's throne as of {{commit|ceaffcbd47845ce933ad2a83e370f249fbd8761c}}.
 * An [[experience level]] is drained from the [[hero]], and their peak experience level is also reduced by one. [[Drain resistance]] prevents both effects.

@@ Line 109: / Line 109: @@
 Most of the items present in the branch will not be necessary for a hero that reaches it, though the set of water walking boots may prove welcome to heroes who have trouble obtaining [[levitation]] or choose to forego it&mdash;this is especially pertinent for [[conduct]] play, such as [[wishless]]. Vlad is easily the biggest threat in the Tower, and most heroes will want to consider options such as a source of drain resistance
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|While the effects of Vlad's throne may seem intimidating and can be quite detrimental, it is very possible to plan and play around each of them. As mentioned above, a source of polymorph control or unchanging can prevent the throne from polymorphing the hero and destroying armor&mdash;additionally, per {{commit|ceaffcbd47845ce933ad2a83e370f249fbd8761c}}, cloaks are forced off the body rather than destroyed. Drain resistance and sources of restore ability are already commonly employed for the eventual fight with Vlad, and can similarly be used to stave off level-draining effects and restore lowered attributes&mdash;in the absence of drain resistance, spare potions of gain level can be used to push the hero's level back towards its maximum.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|While the effects of Vlad's throne may seem intimidating and can be quite detrimental, it is very possible to plan and play around each of them:
 ==History==

@@ Line 92: / Line 92: @@
 Vlad the Impaler occupies the [[throne]] in the center of the top floor, carrying the [[Candelabrum of Invocation]]; a chest sits behind the throne. Each of the six marked niches contains a random [[Vampire (monster class)|vampire]] and a chest; if vampires are [[extinct]] or [[genocide]]d, they will be replaced with random monsters. Two of the six chests in the closets are guaranteed to contain stacks of 4–8 candles: one chest contains [[wax candle]]s and the other contains [[tallow candle]]s.{{refsrc|src/tower.des|48|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/tower.des|51|nethack=3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|3fd30c4ec82ffa3a70a1f8e21ecdd6fc421ca572}}, the throne in Vlad's Tower will only disappear if it gives a wish, guaranteeing that it will eventually grant one&mdash;however, sitting on it can also cause a variety of powerful, unresistable, and mostly negative effects: permanent level drain, cursing containers, intrinsic loss, level teleport to the [[vibrating square]] level, summoning demons, replicating the effect of a blessed [[scroll of remove curse]] read while confused, unresistable polymorph, acid damage, and ability score shuffle.}}
+====Vlad's throne====
 ==History==
@@ Line 131: / Line 148: @@
 In [[UnNetHack]], there is a [[magic portal]] from the Valley of the Dead that leads directly into the courtyard of Vlad's Tower; the down stair leading out into Gehennom is still present.
-The chests on the top floor are now [[large box]]es that double as coffins, with each containing a vampire monster that will awaken upon the box being opened.
+The chests on the top floor are exchanged for [[large box]]es that double as coffins, with each containing a vampire monster that will awaken upon the box being opened.
 ===dNetHack===

@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], the up staircase to [[Vlad's Tower]] can be found anywhere from the 3rd to 12th levels, and the top level of the branch is notably different:
+In [[SLASH'EM]], the up staircase to Vlad's Tower can be found anywhere from the 3rd to 12th levels, and the top level of the branch is changed:
 <div class="ttymap"><replacecharsblock rules="ttymap">
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 </replacecharsblock></div>
-Vlad's room is blocked off behind six indestructible locked doors, which are marked orange on the map above: these must normally be opened using at least two of the three [[alignment key]]s, though there are some methods available to [[Alignment quest#Necessity|circumvent them]]. Vlad, his throne and the chest also occupy the same square.
+Vlad's room is blocked off behind six indestructible locked doors, which are marked orange on the map above&mdash;these must normally be opened using at least two of the three [[alignment key]]s, though there are some methods available to [[Alignment quest#Necessity|circumvent them]]. Vlad, his throne and the chest also occupy the same square.
-As a variant of [[NetHack 3.4.3]], there are no guaranteed candles in any of the chests; SLASH'EM solves the issue of candle generation through other means, such as [[wax golem]]s.
+As a variant of [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, there are no guaranteed candles in any of the chests, though SLASH'EM solves the issue of candle generation through other means, such as [[wax golem]]s.
 ===UnNetHack===

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
   |digwalls=no
 }}
+'''Vlad's Tower''' is a dungeon [[branch]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is accessed through an up [[stair]] in [[Gehennom]], and is the home of [[Vlad the Impaler]]&mdash;because it is not part of Gehennom, [[prayer]] is permitted in the Tower. Vlad's Tower consists of three levels connected by ladders, and all of the floors are [[no-teleport]] and completely [[undiggable]].
 ==Generation==
@@ Line 138: / Line 137: @@
 In [[dNetHack]], Vlad's Tower is redesigned: it is now known as the [[Windowless Tower]], and is located above the Gnomish Mines, which extend upward for another level. The base floor to the tower itself is set in a desolate field, with a moat and drawbridge surrounding the actual tower entrance.
-While a low-level character can attempt to get the Candelabrum early and use the candles provided in and around Minetown, actually facing Vlad and his cronies may prove a [[bad idea]] for the unprepared. Even so, players capable of defeating the formidable [[Cerberus]] can access the tower, including a hidden section in the third floor (corresponding to the middle level in ''NetHack'') that contains an extremely useful stash of [[holy water]], especially for [[atheist]]s or [[Anachrononaut]]s. Cerberus can be repelled with the Circle of Acheron [[ward]], and fire resistance provides a defense against its breath attack.
+While a low-level character can attempt to get the Candelabrum early and use the candles provided in and around Minetown, actually facing Vlad and his cronies may prove a [[bad idea]] for the unprepared. Even so, players capable of defeating the formidable [[Cerberus (dNetHack)|Cerberus]] can access the tower, including a hidden section in the third floor (corresponding to the middle level in ''NetHack'') that contains an extremely useful stash of [[holy water]], especially for [[atheist]]s or [[Anachrononaut]]s. Cerberus can be repelled with the Circle of Acheron [[ward]], and fire resistance provides a defense against its breath attack.
 ===xNetHack===

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 * [[spellbook of invisibility]]
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|d42efcd}}, the spellbook of invisibility may be replaced with a spellbook chosen randomly from the following pool: {{spell of|cone of cold}}, {{spell of|create familiar}}, {{spell of|clairvoyance}}, {{spell of|charm monster}}, {{spell of|stone to flesh}}, or {{spell of|polymorph}}.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|d42efcd}}, the spellbook of invisibility may be replaced with a spellbook chosen randomly from the following pool: {{+ of|cone of cold}}, {{+ of|create familiar}}, {{+ of|clairvoyance}}, {{+ of|charm monster}}, {{+ of|stone to flesh}}, or {{+ of|polymorph}}.}}
 ===Top level===