Wand of create monster - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2026-01-10T18:57:18Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ copyedit

2025-07-03T11:35:18Z

‎Description: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ word choice

2025-03-30T21:48:58Z

‎History: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ word choice, charges

2025-03-05T18:55:18Z

‎Generation: word choice, charges

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2025-03-05T18:54:51Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: /* SLASH'EM */ word choice

2025-02-27T13:08:50Z

‎SLASH'EM: word choice

JASON10668: Add languages template.

2025-02-27T11:11:59Z

Add languages template.

Umbire the Phantom: formatting, copyedit, updating, detailing

2025-01-03T01:01:08Z

formatting, copyedit, updating, detailing

Furrykef: /* History */ This scroll exists in NetHack, too

2022-01-12T14:21:59Z

‎History: This scroll exists in NetHack, too

Umbire the Phantom at 07:46, 18 April 2021

2021-04-18T07:46:11Z

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 A '''wand of create monster''' is a type of [[wand]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
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 [[Zapping]] the wand of create monster or using one to [[engrave]] creates one or more [[monster]]s near the user, with a {{frac|22|23}} chance of creating a single monster and a {{frac|23}} chance of creating 2-9 monsters{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2171|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/engrave.c|659|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}&mdash;seeing the wand create monsters will [[auto-identify]] it. Normal [[monster creation]] is used to generate each monster, meaning that monsters generated in [[group]]s count as a single instance. Creating monsters with the wand in [[wizard mode]] will prompt the player for what kind of monster(s) to create.
-[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a [[charged]] wand of create monster by [[applying]] it&ndash;or else wresting one last charge from an applied wand&ndash;will cause an explosion that deals anywhere between 1 and (4&times;<charges>) damage and creates nine monsters around the [[hero]], using normal monster creation as above.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3448|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a charged wand of create monster by [[applying]] it&ndash;or else wresting one last charge from an applied wand&ndash;will cause an explosion that deals anywhere between 1 and (4&times;<charges>) damage and creates nine monsters around the [[hero]], using normal monster creation as above.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3448|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==

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 [[Zapping]] the wand of create monster or using one to [[engrave]] creates one or more [[monster]]s near the user, with a {{frac|22|23}} chance of creating a single monster and a {{frac|23}} chance of creating 2-9 monsters{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2171|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/engrave.c|659|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}&mdash;seeing the wand create monsters will [[auto-identify]] it. Normal [[monster creation]] is used to generate each monster, meaning that monsters generated in [[group]]s count as a single instance. Creating monsters with the wand in [[wizard mode]] will prompt the player for what kind of monster(s) to create.
-[[Apply]]ing a wand of create monster with charges will break it, causing an explosion  that deals anywhere between 1 and (4&times;<charges>) damage and creates nine monsters around the [[hero]], using normal monster creation as above.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3448|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a [[charged]] wand of create monster by [[applying]] it&ndash;or else wresting one last charge from an applied wand&ndash;will cause an explosion that deals anywhere between 1 and (4&times;<charges>) damage and creates nine monsters around the [[hero]], using normal monster creation as above.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3448|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==

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 ==History==
-The wand of create monster appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are both based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]].
+The wand of create monster first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are both based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]].
 ==Variants==

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 Wands of create monster 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 create monster.
-Randomly generated monsters may be [[Monster starting inventory|generated with]] a wand of create monster as a [[defensive item]].{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1038|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Randomly generated monsters may be [[Monster starting inventory|created with]] a wand of create monster as a [[defensive item]], which has a somewhat lower chance than other defensive items.{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1038|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 ==Description==

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 }}
-A '''wand of create monster''' is a type of wand that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
+A '''wand of create monster''' is a type of [[wand]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
 ==Generation==

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 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-[[SLASH'EM]] introduces the similar [[wand of create horde]], which is non-directional and always creates several monsters when zapped.
+[[SLASH'EM]] introduces the similar [[wand of create horde]], which is also non-directional and always creates several monsters when zapped.
 A wand of create monster is placed in the outside area of [[Grund's Stronghold]] at level creation.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:11, 27 February 2025
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-The '''wand of create monster''' is a wand that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
+A '''wand of create monster''' is a type of wand that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
 ==Generation==
-Monsters may be generated with a wand of create monster in their inventory as a [[defensive item]].
+[[Wizard]]s may be given a wand of create monster as the random wand in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|164|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|1039|nethack=3.6.7}}
-==Effects==
+Wands of create monster 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 create monster.
-The wand is automatically identified if you are not blind when zapping or [[engraving]].
+Randomly generated monsters may be [[Monster starting inventory|generated with]] a wand of create monster as a [[defensive item]].{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1038|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-[[Apply]]ing a wand with charges will break it, causing a damaging explosion and creating a horde of monsters around the player.{{refsrc|apply.c|2692}} See [[breaking wands]] for details.
+==Description==
 ==Strategy==
-A wand of create monster is often a terrible thing to discover in a monster's inventory; while not as immediately perilous as a [[cursed]] [[scroll of create monster]], a monster at low health will begin zapping the wand with impunity. While this [[auto-identifies]] the wand, it also means that you will have to face down several more monsters unless you can kill its owner quickly, especially if they were fought at a distance. [[Autopickup exception]]s are often set to pick up wands of create monster, if only to keep them out of monsters' hands and reduce the risk of being overwhelmed and killed.
+A wand of create monster is often a terrible thing to discover in a monster's inventory: while not as immediately perilous as a [[cursed]] [[scroll of create monster]], a monster at low health will begin zapping the wand with impunity. While this [[auto-identifies]] the wand, it also means that you will have to face down several more monsters unless you can kill its owner quickly, especially if fighting the zapper at a distance. [[Autopickup exception]]s are often set to pick up wands of create monster, if only to keep them out of monsters' hands and reduce the risk of being overwhelmed and killed.
-[[Recharging]] this wand is worthwhile if you have the [[Platinum Yendorian Express Card]], allowing you to produce multiple corpses for sacrifices at [[altar]]s, especially in an aligned temple. The monsters you create and kill can also be used as an alternate food source, especially in the later stages of the game; in some cases, it can also be used to farm for specific monsters if done in the [[quest]] level.
+Wands of create monster are ideal to use near [[altar]]s, especially in a co-aligned [[temple]], and any hero with a source of [[charging]] (most ideally the [[Platinum Yendorian Express Card]]) can recharge the wands multiple times. The monsters you create and kill can also be used as an alternate food source, especially in later stages of the game&mdash;in some cases, it can also be used to farm for specific monsters if done in the [[quest]] level.
 ===Maximizing monsters created===
 If you want to maximize the number of monsters created from a wand, you should break it with one charge left, so long as you are able to survive the onslaught and the damage from the magical blast. Many of the usual tactics apply: stand on a burned [[Elbereth]], have a source of [[magic resistance]] for attack wands, and be prepared with [[escape item]]s in case you get particularly dangerous monsters. In a [[temple]], don't catch the [[aligned priest]] in the blast, or you will [[anger]] them.
-Breaking generates 18.8 monsters per wand on average if you can identify the number of charges. If you don't know the number of charges, the optimal strategy is to zap it 9 times, then break it for an expected 14.0 monsters. Zapping and wresting the last charge produces only 13.2 monsters on average in comparison. <!-- See talk page for the code. Things that aren't yet considered: cursed wands exploding, certain monsters generated in groups. I think the latter effect only introduces a constant in the comparison. -->
+Breaking generates 18.8 monsters per wand on average if you can identify the number of charges. If you don't know the number of charges, the optimal strategy is to zap it 9 times, then break it for an expected 14.0 monsters. Zapping and wresting the last charge produces only 13.2 monsters on average in comparison.<!-- See talk page for the code. Things that aren't yet considered: cursed wands exploding, certain monsters generated in groups. I think the latter effect only introduces a constant in the comparison.-->
 ==History==
-In [[Rogue (game)|Rogue]], there was no wand of create monster, per se, but the [[Scroll of create monster|scroll of the same name]] did exist; it would produce the message ''"You hear the cries of anguish in the distance"'' when a monster read the scroll if the player was already surrounded.<ref>http://rogue.rogueforge.net/vade-mecum/#scrolls</ref>
+The wand of create monster appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are both based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]].
-The wand of create monster made its debut in [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]].
+==Variants==
-==FIQHack==
+A wand of create monster is placed in the outside area of [[Grund's Stronghold]] at level creation.
-In [[FIQHack]], the wand of create monster has been replaced by the [[wand of summoning]].
+===FIQHack===
-==See also==
+===SpliceHack===
-* [[Wand of create horde (SLASH'EM)]]
+In [[SpliceHack]], a wand of create monster can be created at a [[furnace]] by combining a [[wand of polymorph]] with a [[wand of nothing]].
 ==References==
 <references/>
+{{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Wands|Create monster]]