Wand of polymorph - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: potholes

2026-01-10T19:31:02Z

potholes

Umbire the Phantom: fourk, splice, hackem

2025-04-02T17:13:21Z

fourk, splice, hackem

Umbire the Phantom: message

2025-04-01T22:29:43Z

message

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ more reorganizing

2025-04-01T22:28:33Z

‎Description: more reorganizing

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ pothole

2025-04-01T22:17:42Z

‎Generation: pothole

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit

2025-04-01T22:17:15Z

copyedit

JASON10668: Add languages template.

2025-03-04T11:03:28Z

Add languages template.

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ charges

2025-02-21T04:42:32Z

‎Generation: charges

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2025-01-03T01:02:17Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: history, variants

2025-01-03T00:24:50Z

history, variants

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
    |muse=misc
 }}
 A '''wand of polymorph''' is a type of [[wand]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
@@ Line 17: / Line 16: @@
 Wands of polymorph 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 polymorph.
-Randomly generated [[intelligent monster]]s with a [[monster difficulty]] of 5 or less have an effective {{frac|180}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory|being generated with]] a wand of polymorph as a [[miscellaneous item]].{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2024|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Randomly generated [[intelligent monster]]s with a [[monster difficulty]] of 5 or less have an effective {{frac|180}} chance of being [[generated with]] a wand of polymorph as a [[miscellaneous item]].{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2024|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 Wands of polymorph are created with 4 to 8 charges.
@@ Line 35: / Line 34: @@
 A hero that either zaps the wand downward or [[engrave]]s with it while an engraving is present will change it to a random engraving, and zapping down will also polymorph any items on that square.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2958|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a [[charged]] wand of polymorph 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 also polymorphs items on the ground and monsters that are within the range of the explosion (behaving as a self-zap for the hero).{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3389|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a charged wand of polymorph 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 also polymorphs items on the ground and monsters that are within the range of the explosion (behaving as a self-zap for the hero).{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3389|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 ===dNetHack===
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], polymorphing an engraving by zapping the wand or attempting to engrave with it has a low chance of creating a random [[Ward (dNetHack)|ward]].
 ===SpliceHack===
 In [[SpliceHack]], a wand of polymorph can be combined with a [[wand of nothing]] at a [[furnace]] to create a [[wand of create monster]].
 ===EvilHack===
@@ Line 71: / Line 76: @@
 ===Hack'EM===
 In [[Hack'EM]], [[Doppelganger (starting race)|doppelganger]] heroes start the game with knowledge of items that can polymorph monsters, including the wand of polymorph.
 Monsters will zap the wand of polymorph at the hero, which behaves as in EvilHack.

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 ==History==
 The wand of polymorph 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==

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ==Description==
-A [[hero]] [[zapping]] the wand of polymorph in a given direction will [[polymorph]] any monsters or items hit by the [[beam]]: the effect is subject to each monster's [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]], is blocked if the monster has [[magic resistance]], has a {{frac|25}} chance of inducing [[system shock]], and ignores any inventory dropped by monsters that are either polymorphed or die of system shock.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|224|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|231|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|244|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|251|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} A hero zapping the wand at themselves will polymorph, ignoring any sources of magic resistance.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2361|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} The wand of polymorph is [[auto-identified]] if it polymorphs the hero, a monster or an item.
+A [[hero]] [[zapping]] the wand of polymorph in a given direction will [[polymorph]] any [[monster]]s or items hit by the [[beam]]:
-Monsters can zap this wand at themselves, but will only do so if their difficulty is 6 or less, and this will not turn them into a potentially out-of-depth monster unless they are wearing [[dragon scales]] or [[dragon scale mail]], which creates the corresponding [[dragon]].{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1741|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1761|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<tt>muse_newcham_mon</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1875|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+* For monsters, the effect is subject to each monster's [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]], is blocked if the monster has [[magic resistance]], has a {{frac|25}} chance of inducing [[system shock]], and ignores any inventory dropped by monsters that are either polymorphed or die of system shock.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|224|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|231|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|244|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|251|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-A [[shapeshifter]] hit by the beam is not subject to system shock unless the hero has [[protection from shape changers]], and [[Vampire (monster class)|vampires]] will shift into their alternate forms under the same conditions. [[Long worm]]s that are polymorphed and other monsters that are polymorphed into long worms have special cases applied so that they are not repeatedly polymorphed by the beam coming into contact with their segments.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|227|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} [[Artifact]]s resist the effects of beams from the wand {{frac|19|20}} of the time, while other items resist {{frac|20}} of the time.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1890|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<tt>obj_resists</tt> for wand and spell of poly}} Wands of polymorph themselves, [[spellbooks of polymorph]], [[potions of polymorph]], the [[invocation item]]s, and the [[Amulet of Yendor]] are all completely immune to beams from the wand.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1892|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=cases for immunity to wand and spell}}
+A hero zapping the wand at themselves will polymorph, ignoring any sources of magic resistance.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2361|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} The wand of polymorph is [[auto-identified]] if it polymorphs the hero, a monster or an item.
 A hero that either zaps the wand downward or [[engrave]]s with it while an engraving is present will change it to a random engraving, and zapping down will also polymorph any items on that square.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2958|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 Wands of polymorph 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 polymorph.
-Randomly generated monsters with a [[monster difficulty]] of 5 or less have an effective {{frac|180}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory|being generated with]] a wand of polymorph as a [[miscellaneous item]].{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2024|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Randomly generated [[intelligent monster]]s with a [[monster difficulty]] of 5 or less have an effective {{frac|180}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory|being generated with]] a wand of polymorph as a [[miscellaneous item]].{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2024|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 Wands of polymorph are created with 4 to 8 charges.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:03, 4 March 2025
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		+	{{languages}}
	{{wand		{{wand
	\|name=polymorph		\|name=polymorph

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:42, 21 February 2025
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	Randomly generated monsters with a [[monster difficulty]] of 5 or less have an effective {{frac\|180}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory\|being generated with]] a wand of polymorph as a [[miscellaneous item]].{{refsrc\|src/muse.c\|2024\|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}		Randomly generated monsters with a [[monster difficulty]] of 5 or less have an effective {{frac\|180}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory\|being generated with]] a wand of polymorph as a [[miscellaneous item]].{{refsrc\|src/muse.c\|2024\|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
		+
		+	Wands of polymorph are created with 4 to 8 charges.

	==Description==		==Description==

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 ==Description==
-[[Zap]]ping the wand will [[polymorph]] any monsters or items hit by the [[beam]]: the effect is subject to each monster's [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]], is blocked if the monster has [[magic resistance]], has a {{frac|25}} chance of inducing [[system shock]], and ignores any inventory dropped by monsters that are polymorphed or else die of system shock.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|224|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|231|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|244|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|251|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} A [[hero]] zapping the wand at themselves will polymorph, ignoring any sources of magic resistance.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2361|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} The wand of polymorph is [[auto-identified]] if it polymorphs the hero, a monster or an item.
+[[Zapping]] the wand of polymorph will [[polymorph]] any monsters or items hit by the [[beam]]: the effect is subject to each monster's [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]], is blocked if the monster has [[magic resistance]], has a {{frac|25}} chance of inducing [[system shock]], and ignores any inventory dropped by monsters that are polymorphed or else die of system shock.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|224|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|231|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|244|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|251|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} A [[hero]] zapping the wand at themselves will polymorph, ignoring any sources of magic resistance.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2361|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} The wand of polymorph is [[auto-identified]] if it polymorphs the hero, a monster or an item.
 A [[shapeshifter]] hit by the beam is not subject to system shock unless the hero has [[protection from shape changers]], and [[Vampire (monster class)|vampires]] will shift into their alternate forms under the same conditions. [[Long worm]]s that are polymorphed and monsters that are polymorphed into long worms have special cases applied so that they are not repeatedly polymorphed by the beam coming into contact with their segments.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|227|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} [[Artifact]]s resist beams from the wand {{frac|19|20}} of the time, other items resist {{frac|20}} of the time, and wands of polymorph, [[spellbooks of polymorph]], [[potions of polymorph]], the [[invocation item]]s and the [[Amulet of Yendor]] are completely immune.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1890|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<tt>obj_resists</tt> for wand and spell of poly}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1892|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=cases for immunity to wand and spell}}

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 With [[polymorph control]], you can zap the wand and choose what monster to become; see [[Polymorph#Self-polymorph|the section on polyself]] for details. If you have polymorph control or [[unchanging]] and are surrounded by hordes of nasty monsters, breaking this wand may be a fairly effective last resort to get out of such a jam, but it is entirely dependent on if the new forms are easier to deal with. You can also use this technique to polymorph hordes of pets into stronger ones, though be warned that you ''do'' not want to attempt this with pets that are too weak to survive the blast to begin with (such as jackals); a mass pet die-off can leave you with ''very'' low alignment.
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], polymorphing from the wand and other sources is temporary for monsters and items.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], [[Polymorph#SLASH'EM|polymorphing]] from the wand and other sources is temporary for monsters and items as well as the hero.
 [[Doctor Frankenstein]] is always generated with a wand of polymorph.{{refsrc|makemon.c|1129|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
@@ Line 53: / Line 56: @@
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], monsters will zap the wand of polymorph at the hero, which behaves as in GruntHack, and they will also refrain from further attempts to polymorph the hero if they see that it has no effect.
+In [[EvilHack]], monsters will zap the wand of polymorph at the hero, which behaves as in GruntHack&mdash;they will refrain from further attempts to polymorph the hero if they see that it has no effect.
 ===Hack'EM===