Wand of cancellation - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2026-01-10T18:47:57Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit and corrections

2026-01-10T18:01:23Z

copyedit and corrections

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2026-01-08T21:57:49Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ word choice, finally move the thing

2026-01-08T20:18:49Z

‎Variants: word choice, finally move the thing

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2025-10-07T18:47:56Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: small pass

2025-06-09T03:44:28Z

small pass

Umbire the Phantom: /* FIQHack */ overdue fix

2025-03-30T22:28:33Z

‎FIQHack: overdue fix

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ bag gen

2025-03-05T18:58:09Z

‎Generation: bag gen

Umbire the Phantom: stray space

2025-03-05T18:39:18Z

stray space

YourAdHereCZ: /* dNetHack */ fix and clarify sentence

2025-02-26T11:06:59Z

‎dNetHack: fix and clarify sentence

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 A hero zapping themselves with a wand of cancellation will cancel all items in their open inventory, and return to normal form if they are [[polymorph]]ed and do not have [[unchanging]]{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2369|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2771|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;a hero in [[clay golem]] form that cancels their polymorph this way will die if they have unchanging, and otherwise will return to normal form.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2764|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Putting a [[charged]] wand of cancellation or any [[bag]] containing one into a [[bag of holding]] will cause a magical [[explosion]] that destroys the wand, along with the bag of holding ''and'' its contents, as well as the bag being inserted and its contents{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2081|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2086|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the odds of explosion are much lower for a deeply-nested bag of holding.{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2091|nethack=3.6.7}} Zapping a bag of holding will only set its beatitude to uncursed, since the magical properties are only applied within the bag.
+Putting a wand of cancellation that has charges or any [[bag]] containing the charged wand into a [[bag of holding]] will cause a magical [[explosion]] that destroys the wand, along with the bag of holding ''and'' its contents, as well as the bag being inserted and its contents{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2081|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2086|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the odds of explosion are much lower for a deeply-nested bag of holding.{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2091|nethack=3.6.7}} Zapping a bag of holding will only set its beatitude to uncursed, since the magical properties are only applied within the bag.
 [[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a charged wand of cancellation by [[applying]] it, or wresting one last charge from an applied wand, will cause an explosion that deals anywhere between 1 and (4&times;<charges>) damage, and cancels monsters and items (including the hero and their inventory) caught in the explosion.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3353|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3388|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 ==Description==
 {{main|Cancellation}}
-A [[hero]] [[zapping]] a wand of cancellation in a given direction fires a [[beam]] in that direction which [[cancel]]s any monsters and items it hits and uncloaks disguised [[mimic]]s, with each affected monster rolling against their [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] to resist the cancellation beam.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|289|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1985|nethack=3.6.7}} Certain items are partly immune to the wand of cancellation: other wands of cancellation will not lose any charges, while [[novel]]s, [[spellbooks of cancellation]] and the [[Book of the Dead]] will not be [[Spellbook of blank paper|blanked]], the [[Bell of Opening]] has its charges set to 0 rather than -1, and all mentioned items have their [[beatitude]] set to uncursed as normal.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1056|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1058|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1069|nethack=3.6.7}} Monsters will not use this wand.
+A [[hero]] [[zapping]] a wand of cancellation in a given direction fires a [[beam]] in that direction which [[cancel]]s any [[monster]]s and items that it hits and uncloaks disguised [[mimic]]s, with each affected monster rolling against their [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] to resist the cancellation beam.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|289|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1985|nethack=3.6.7}} Certain items are partly immune to the wand of cancellation: other wands of cancellation will not lose any charges;{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1056|nethack=3.6.7}} [[magic lamp]]s and the [[Candelabrum of Invocation]] do not lose their light;{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1057-L1058|nethack=3.6.7}} [[novel]]s, [[spellbooks of cancellation]] and the [[Book of the Dead]] will not become [[spellbooks of blank paper]];{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1068-L1072|nethack=3.6.7}} and all mentioned items have their [[beatitude]] set to uncursed as normal.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1069|nethack=3.6.7}} Monsters will not use this wand.
-A hero zapping themselves with a wand of cancellation will cancel all items in their open inventory, and return to normal form if they are [[polymorph]]ed and do not have [[unchanging]]{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2369|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2771|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;a hero in [[clay golem]] form will die if they have unchanging, or else return to normal form.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2764|nethack=3.6.7}}
+A hero zapping themselves with a wand of cancellation will cancel all items in their open inventory, and return to normal form if they are [[polymorph]]ed and do not have [[unchanging]]{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2369|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2771|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;a hero in [[clay golem]] form that cancels their polymorph this way will die if they have unchanging, and otherwise will return to normal form.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2764|nethack=3.6.7}}
 Putting a [[charged]] wand of cancellation or any [[bag]] containing one into a [[bag of holding]] will cause a magical [[explosion]] that destroys the wand, along with the bag of holding ''and'' its contents, as well as the bag being inserted and its contents{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2081|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2086|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the odds of explosion are much lower for a deeply-nested bag of holding.{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2091|nethack=3.6.7}} Zapping a bag of holding will only set its beatitude to uncursed, since the magical properties are only applied within the bag.
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 [[Engraving]] with a wand of cancellation will always remove the engraving on the current square unless it is on a [[headstone]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2963|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/engrave.c|731|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|c7229627137407d3056233f8e85b79830f0b6a57}}, zapping a wand of cancellation at magical [[trap]]s such as [[magic trap]]s, [[level teleporter]]s and [[anti-magic field]]s will destroy them and create a 3x3 magical explosion.
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|c7229627137407d3056233f8e85b79830f0b6a57}}, zapping a wand of cancellation at magical [[trap]]s such as [[magic trap]]s, [[level teleporter]]s and [[anti-magic field]]s will destroy them and create a 3x3 magical explosion.
 Per {{commit|71754910db3be6effface4de88c35a056fe70c2c}}, exploding bags of holding scatter their contents rather than destroying them outright: [[fragile]] items are destroyed, and if caused by a wand of cancellation, the wand is still lost along with the bag itself. Per {{commit|6fd51c29ef120744098348798c17b7ee0595065f}}, {{frac|13}} of the bag's contents are lost (not counting fragile items that are destroyed after), and per {{commit|ce1f4788cdbccaba1533bec1e478c0cc9bd550cf}}, monsters hit by scattered items are angered.}}

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 A hero zapping themselves with a wand of cancellation will cancel all items in their open inventory, and return to normal form if they are [[polymorph]]ed and do not have [[unchanging]]{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2369|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2771|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;a hero in [[clay golem]] form will die if they have unchanging, or else return to normal form.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2764|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Putting a charged wand of cancellation or any [[bag]] containing one into a [[bag of holding]] will cause a magical [[explosion]] that destroys the wand, along with the bag of holding ''and'' its contents, as well as the bag being inserted and its contents{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2081|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2086|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the odds of explosion are much lower for a deeply-nested bag of holding.{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2091|nethack=3.6.7}} Zapping a bag of holding will only set its beatitude to uncursed, since the magical properties are only applied within the bag.
+Putting a [[charged]] wand of cancellation or any [[bag]] containing one into a [[bag of holding]] will cause a magical [[explosion]] that destroys the wand, along with the bag of holding ''and'' its contents, as well as the bag being inserted and its contents{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2081|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2086|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;the odds of explosion are much lower for a deeply-nested bag of holding.{{refsrc|src/pickup.c|2091|nethack=3.6.7}} Zapping a bag of holding will only set its beatitude to uncursed, since the magical properties are only applied within the bag.
-[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a [[charged]] wand of cancellation by [[applying]] it, or wresting one last charge from an applied wand, will cause an explosion that deals anywhere between 1 and (4&times;<charges>) damage, and cancels monsters and items (including the hero and their inventory) caught in the explosion.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3353|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3388|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a charged wand of cancellation by [[applying]] it, or wresting one last charge from an applied wand, will cause an explosion that deals anywhere between 1 and (4&times;<charges>) damage, and cancels monsters and items (including the hero and their inventory) caught in the explosion.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3353|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3388|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 [[Engraving]] with a wand of cancellation will always remove the engraving on the current square unless it is on a [[headstone]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2963|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/engrave.c|731|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 ==Variants==
-Many variants give monsters the ability to use the wand of cancellation.
+Many ''NetHack'' [[variant]]s give monsters the ability to zap the wand of cancellation.
 ===SLASH'EM===
@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 ===GruntHack===
-In [[GruntHack]], monsters will zap wands of cancellation offensively at the hero, randomly canceling items in their open inventory with no means to resist the effects.
+In [[GruntHack]], monsters will zap wands of cancellation offensively at the hero, randomly cancelling items in their open inventory with no means to resist the effects.
 ===UnNetHack===
@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 ===FIQHack===
-In [[FIQHack]], monsters will zap wands of cancellation at the hero. A hero or monster with player-style [[magic resistance]] that is zapped with the wand has a chance of resisting dependent on the user's wand skill&mdash;at Unskilled level, the wand is completely blocked by magic resistance, while Basic and higher skill has a chance of ignoring it: Basic usage has a {{frac|5}} chance of ignoring the property, Skilled usage has a {{frac|3}} chance of ignoring the property, Expert usage has a {{frac|2}} chance of ignoring the property, and Master usage has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of ignoring the property.
+In [[FIQHack]], monsters will zap wands of cancellation at the hero to try and [[Cancellation#FIQHack|cancel them]]. A hero or monster that has player-style [[magic resistance]] and is zapped by the wand has a chance of resisting dependent on the user's wand skill&mdash;at Unskilled level, the wand is completely blocked by magic resistance, while Basic and higher skill has a chance of ignoring it: Basic usage has a {{frac|5}} chance of ignoring the property, Skilled usage has a {{frac|3}} chance of ignoring the property, Expert usage has a {{frac|2}} chance of ignoring the property, and Master usage has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of ignoring the property.
 ===EvilHack===

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
   |spell=cancellation
 }}
 A '''wand of cancellation''' is a type of [[wand]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
@@ Line 83: / Line 82: @@
 ===FIQHack===
-In [[FIQHack]], monsters will zap wands of cancellation at the hero. A hero or monster with player-style [[magic resistance]] that is zapped with the wand has a chance to resist dependent on the user's wand skill&mdash;at Unskilled level, the wand is completely blocked by magic resistance, while Basic and higher skill has a chance of ignoring it: Basic usage has a {{frac|5}} chance of ignoring the property, Skilled usage has a {{frac|3}} chance of ignoring the property, Expert usage has a {{frac|2}} chance of ignoring the property, and Master usage has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of ignoring the property.
+In [[FIQHack]], monsters will zap wands of cancellation at the hero. A hero or monster with player-style [[magic resistance]] that is zapped with the wand has a chance of resisting dependent on the user's wand skill&mdash;at Unskilled level, the wand is completely blocked by magic resistance, while Basic and higher skill has a chance of ignoring it: Basic usage has a {{frac|5}} chance of ignoring the property, Skilled usage has a {{frac|3}} chance of ignoring the property, Expert usage has a {{frac|2}} chance of ignoring the property, and Master usage has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of ignoring the property.
 A hero that is cancelled cannot utilize several of their abilities, including any that require energy&mdash;this can be cured by successful [[prayer]] (where it is considered a [[major trouble]]), or by any means of obtaining energy: [[quaff]]ing a non-cursed [[potion of gain energy]], [[read]]ing a non-cursed [[scroll of charging]] while confused, or being caught in an exploding [[magic trap]].<!--move to cancellation article eventually-->

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 ===Identification===
-[[Engraving]] over existing writing on the floor gives a message about the writing "vanishing", which can indicate a wand of cancellation, {{of|wand|make invisible|or=1|teleportation}}; a [[wand of cold]] will also produce this message if used to write on a square with a burnt engraving. '''Do not zap yourself with an unidentified wand that makes an engraving disappear if you have not conclusively identified it, informally or identified.'''
+[[Engraving]] over existing writing on the floor gives a message about the writing "vanishing", which can indicate a wand of cancellation, {{of|wand|make invisible|or=1|teleportation}}; a [[wand of cold]] will also produce this message if used to write on a square with a burnt engraving. '''Do not zap yourself with an unidentified wand that makes an engraving disappear if you have not conclusively identified it, informally or otherwise.'''
-One good means to test a suspected cancellation wand is to zap it at a monster that is hostile and lacks a special attack - [[floating eye]]s are among the best monsters to test on, and pets can also be sufficient, provided you can [[see invisible]] and they do not have a special attack themselves. If the zapped monster does not disappear, end up elsewhere in the room or turn transparent (which reveals a wand of make invisible if you can see invisible), then the wand is likely to be cancellation; you can use a [[stethoscope]] to confirm. Since monsters have a chance of resisting cancellation, do not rely on the above test to zap it at yourself.
+One good means to test a suspected cancellation wand is to zap it at a monster that is hostile and lacks a special attack&mdash;[[floating eye]]s are among the best monsters to test on, and pets can also be sufficient, provided you can [[see invisible]] and they do not have a special attack themselves. If the zapped monster does not disappear from view, relocate to a much further square within your vision, or turn transparent (which reveals a wand of make invisible if you can see invisible), then the wand is likely to be cancellation; you can use a [[stethoscope]] to confirm. Since monsters have a chance of resisting cancellation, do not rely on the above test to zap it at yourself.
-You can also test the suspected wand on 'junk' items that can be canceled as listed above, such as a scroll or potion: if it vanishes, then the wand is teleportation; if it remains unchanged, then the wand is make invisible; otherwise, it is cancellation. Good test items include useless non-blank scrolls, known blessed or cursed objects, unwanted potions other than water, and less-important items with known enchantment.
+You can also test the suspected wand on 'junk' items that can be canceled as listed above, such as a scroll or potion: if it vanishes, then the wand is teleportation; if it remains unchanged, then the wand is make invisible; otherwise, it is cancellation, and will likely be blanked or turned into water respectively. Good test items include useless or unwanted non-blank scrolls, known blessed or cursed objects, unwanted potions other than water, and less-important weapons and armor with known enchantments.
 ==History==
@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], monsters may zap the wand of cancellation at at the hero, with different effects from the hero zapping the wand at themselves: every item in the hero's open inventory has a {{frac|24}} chance of being canceled, and if the hero is polymorphed and does not have unchanging, they will return to their base form and lose current and maximum HP equal to the monster level of the form they were in{{refsrc|zap.c|2726|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}&mdash;this will kill the hero if their HP drops below zero, or if they are in the form of a clay golem with unchanging, and a hero that survives dying this way (e.g. due to an [[amulet of life saving]]) will have their max HP set to 1.{{refsrc|zap.c|2747|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}} This effect can be prevented with [[magic resistance]].
+In [[SLASH'EM]], monsters may zap the wand of cancellation offensively at at the hero, with different effects from the hero zapping the wand at themselves: every item in the hero's open inventory has a {{frac|24}} chance of being canceled, and if the hero is polymorphed and does not have unchanging, they will return to their base form and lose current and maximum HP equal to the monster level of the form they were in{{refsrc|zap.c|2726|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}&mdash;this will kill the hero if their HP drops below zero, or if they are in the form of a clay golem with unchanging, and a hero that survives dying this way (e.g. due to an [[amulet of life saving]]) will have their max HP set to 1.{{refsrc|zap.c|2747|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}} This effect can be prevented with [[magic resistance]].
-Remember that wands which explode from [[shock]] damage, over-charging or being zapped while cursed will behave as if they were applies, cancelling all items in the holder's open inventory&mdash;this makes the wand especially dangerous to carry in the open. Fortunately, identifying this wand is somewhat easier, owing to the addition of [[Invisible item (SLASH'EM)|invisible items]]: zapping any junk item with a wand that makes engravings vanish can unambiguously identify the wand, since a wand of make invisible will make the item invisible, teleportation will teleport it, and cancellation will leave it visibly unchanged.
+Remember that wands which explode from [[shock]] damage, over-charging or being zapped while cursed will behave as if they were applied, cancelling all items in the holder's open inventory&mdash;this makes the wand especially dangerous to carry in the open. Fortunately, identifying this wand is somewhat easier, owing to the addition of [[Invisible item (SLASH'EM)|invisible items]]: zapping any junk item with a wand that makes engravings vanish can unambiguously identify the wand, since a wand of make invisible will make the item invisible, teleportation will teleport it, and cancellation will leave it visibly unchanged.
 ====Messages====
-{{message|You are covered in sparkling lights!<br>You feel a strange sense of loss.|You were zapped by a wand of cancellation, with the second line occurring if it has canceled at least one item in your inventory.}}
+{{message|You are covered in sparkling lights!}}
 ===GruntHack===
-In [[GruntHack]], monsters will zap wands of cancellation at the hero, randomly canceling items in their open inventory with no means to resist the effects.
+In [[GruntHack]], monsters will zap wands of cancellation offensively at the hero, randomly canceling items in their open inventory with no means to resist the effects.
 ===UnNetHack===
-In [[UnNetHack]], monsters may use a wand of cancellation against the hero, with the same effects as in SLASH'EM.
+In [[UnNetHack]], monsters may use a wand of cancellation offensively against the hero, with the same effects as in SLASH'EM.
 ===AceHack===
@@ Line 87: / Line 88: @@
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], monsters will zap wands of cancellation at the hero, which can be partially blocked with magic resistance and/or [[half spell damage]], and [[dragon-scaled armor]] made with [[gray dragon scales]] has a {{frac|14|15}} chance of blocking cancellation effects.
+In [[EvilHack]], monsters will zap wands of cancellation offensively at the hero as in GruntHack, which can be partially blocked with magic resistance and/or [[half spell damage]], and [[dragon-scaled armor]] made with [[gray dragon scales]] has a {{frac|14|15}} chance of blocking all cancellation effects.
 ==References==

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:58, 5 March 2025
Line 15:		Line 15:

	Wands of cancellation make up {{frac\|9\|200}} (4.5%) of all randomly-generated wands. General [[store]]s and "quality apparel and accessories" shops can sell wands of cancellation.		Wands of cancellation make up {{frac\|9\|200}} (4.5%) of all randomly-generated wands. General [[store]]s and "quality apparel and accessories" shops can sell wands of cancellation.
		+
		+	The game will attempt to avoid creating a wand of cancellation while generating contents for a randomly-created [[bag of holding]].{{refsrc\|src/mkobj.c\|346\|nethack=3.6.7}}

	Wands of cancellation are created with 4 to 8 charges.		Wands of cancellation are created with 4 to 8 charges.

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 [[Wizard]]s may be given a wand of cancellation as the random wand in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|164|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Wands of cancellation  make up {{frac|9|200}} (4.5%) of all randomly-generated wands. General [[store]]s and "quality apparel and accessories" shops can sell wands of cancellation.
+Wands of cancellation make up {{frac|9|200}} (4.5%) of all randomly-generated wands. General [[store]]s and "quality apparel and accessories" shops can sell wands of cancellation.
 Wands of cancellation are created with 4 to 8 charges.

@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], monsters can zap wands of cancellation at the hero, reducing your their [[energy]] by 10d10 and their maximum energy by 10.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], monsters can zap wands of cancellation at the hero, reducing the hero's [[energy]] by 10d10 and their maximum energy by 10.
 ===FIQHack===