Wand of secret door detection - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2026-01-10T18:42:31Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: and so on...

2025-07-09T07:28:56Z

and so on...

Umbire the Phantom: history

2025-07-07T05:09:48Z

history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ correction

2025-04-01T22:00:29Z

‎Generation: correction

Umbire the Phantom: variatns

2025-04-01T12:27:38Z

variatns

Umbire the Phantom: formatting treatment

2025-04-01T08:44:04Z

formatting treatment

Phol ende wodan: /* Description */ 3.7 further note: automatically identifies itself

2024-12-28T00:44:09Z

‎Description: 3.7 further note: automatically identifies itself

Phol ende wodan: 3.7: extra detections, animations, and message; 3.6: strategy advice didn't account for wand of nothing maybe being non-directional

2024-12-27T23:01:40Z

3.7: extra detections, animations, and message; 3.6: strategy advice didn't account for wand of nothing maybe being non-directional

Furey: fix paste-o. "alchemy smock" -> "this wand". Also, fix the shop types. accessory shops ARE wand shops.

2024-06-10T21:56:20Z

fix paste-o. "alchemy smock" -> "this wand". Also, fix the shop types. accessory shops ARE wand shops.

Umbire the Phantom: gen

2024-02-18T16:12:29Z

gen

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
   |spell=detect unseen
 }}
 A '''wand of secret door detection''' is a type of [[wand]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
@@ Line 22: / Line 21: @@
 The wand of secret door detection is non-directional, and a hero [[zapping]] the wand produces the same effect as casting the {{+ of|detect unseen}} spell: the wand detects all undiscovered [[secret door]]s, [[mimic]]s, [[hiding]] [[monster]]s (including submerged [[sea monster]]s), and [[trap]]s in a radius of 8 squares within the hero's line of sight, [[auto-identify]]ing the wand if the hero sees it reveal any of the aforementioned monsters or features.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2164|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/detect.c|1455|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/detect.c|1574|nethack=3.6.7}} This will also mark the location of [[invisible]] monsters within the area with a {{white|I}} and remove other {{white|I}} where no monsters are present.{{refsrc|src/vision.c|2747|nethack=3.6.7}} The wand's effects can penetrate [[cloud]]s on the [[Plane of Air]], but will have no effect if the hero is [[engulfed]].{{refsrc|src/detect.c|1578|nethack=3.6.7}} Monsters will not use this wand.
-[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a [[charged]] wand of secret door detection by [[applying]] it&ndash;or else wresting one last charge from an applied wand&ndash;will have no effect.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3363|nethack=3.6.7}}
+[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a charged wand of secret door detection by [[applying]] it&ndash;or else wresting one last charge from an applied wand&ndash;will have no effect.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3363|nethack=3.6.7}}
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The wand of secret door detection (and also the spell of detect unseen) are also capable of detecting trapped [[door]]s and trapped [[container]]s. It will additionally display a brief flashing animation at the locations where something was detected, and then print a message summarizing what was detected, including if nothing was detected. Since the wand always gives some unambiguous feedback, it always auto-identifies.}}

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], the [[Lawful Quest]] has a {{frac|3|5}} chance of generating a cursed wand of secret door detection with no charges among the items found in the Chamber of Junk at level creation.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], the [[Lawful Quest]] has a {{frac|3|5}} chance of placing a cursed wand of secret door detection with no charges amongst the items generated in the Chamber of Junk at level creation.
 ===UnNetHack===
-In [[UnNetHack]], the [[wand of secret door detection]] is renamed to the wand of detection.
+In [[UnNetHack]], the wand of secret door detection is renamed to the '''wand of detection'''.
 ===NetHack Fourk===
-In [[NetHack Fourk]], which implements the [[Wands Balance Patch]], the wand of secret door detection still reveals the same types of monsters and dungeon features, but its range depends on the user's wand [[skill]]: at Unskilled, the wand only affects squares adjacent to the zapper, while at Basic it affects the area within a 5-square radius; at Skilled, it affects a 9-square radius, at Expert it affects a 15-square radius, and at Master it affects the entire level. This also applies to [[FIQHack]].
+In [[NetHack Fourk]], which implements the [[Wands Balance Patch]], the wand of secret door detection still reveals the same types of monsters and dungeon features, but its range depends on the user's wand [[skill]]: at Unskilled, the wand only affects squares adjacent to the zapper, while at Basic it affects the area within a 5-square radius; at Skilled, it affects a 9-square radius, at Expert it affects a 15-square radius, and at Master it affects the entire level.
 ===SpliceHack===
-In [[SpliceHack]], the wand of secret door detection is one of the wand whose effects can be replicated by a [[wand of wonder]].
+In [[SpliceHack]], the wand of secret door detection is one of the wand whose effects can be replicated by zapping a [[wand of wonder]].
 ===SlashTHEM===
 In [[SlashTHEM]], in addition to SLASH'EM details, the [[Undertaker quest]] goal level has the same layout as the Lawful Quest, including the {{frac|3|5}} chance of generating a cursed wand of secret door detection with no charges in the Chamber of Junk at level creation.
-The wand of secret door detection is one of the wand whose effects can be replicated by a wand of wonder.
+Zapping a wand of wonder has a {{frac|21}} chance of replicating the effect of zapping a wand of secret door detection.
 ===Hack'EM===

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 ==History==
-The wand of secret door first appears in Hack 1.21 as the '''wand of trap detection''', and also appears in Hack for PDP-11 as the '''wand of secret door + trap detection'''&mdash;both games are based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]]. The item is included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]], where it is given its current name.
+The wand of secret door detection first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]]&mdash;in Hack 1.21, it is known as the '''wand of trap detection''', and in Hack for PDP-11 it is known as the '''wand of secret door + trap detection'''. The item is also included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]], where it is given its current name.
 ==Variants==

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 Wands of secret door detection make up {{frac|20}} (5%) of all randomly-generated wands. General [[store]]s and "quality apparel and accessories" shops can sell wands of secret door detection.
-Wands of secret door detection can generate with 8 to 15 charges.
+Wands of secret door detection can generate with 11 to 15 charges.
 ==Description==

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 ==History==
 The wand of secret door first appears in Hack 1.21 as the '''wand of trap detection''', and also appears in Hack for PDP-11 as the '''wand of secret door + trap detection'''&mdash;both games are based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]]. The item is included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]], where it is given its current name.
 ==References==

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Generation==
-The wand of secret door detection makes up 5% of all randomly-generated wands.
+[[Wizard]]s may be given a wand of secret door detection as the random wand in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|164|nethack=3.6.7}}
-In addition to random generation, this wand can be sold in general [[shop]]s and quality apparel and accessory shops.
+Wands of secret door detection make up {{frac|20}} (5%) of all randomly-generated wands. General [[store]]s and "quality apparel and accessories" shops can sell wands of secret door detection.
 ==Description==
-{{float right| {{caption|{{Circleradius9|r=8}}|Area in which traps etc. are revealed}} }}
+{{float right|{{caption|{{Circleradius9|r=8}}|Area in which traps etc. are revealed}}}}
-When zapped, the wand has the same effect as a [[spell of detect unseen]]: it detects all undiscovered [[secret door]]s, [[mimic]]s, and [[trap]]s in a radius of 8 squares in line-of-sight upon zapping/engraving.<ref>[[Zap.c#zapnodir]], [[Detect.c#findit]], [[Hack.h#line21]], [[Vision.c#do_clear_area]], [[Detect.c#findone]]</ref> It will also show the location of submerged creatures in pools. On the [[Plane of Air]] only, the wand also penetrates [[cloud]]s.
+The wand of secret door detection is non-directional, and a hero [[zapping]] the wand produces the same effect as casting the {{+ of|detect unseen}} spell: the wand detects all undiscovered [[secret door]]s, [[mimic]]s, [[hiding]] [[monster]]s (including submerged [[sea monster]]s), and [[trap]]s in a radius of 8 squares within the hero's line of sight, [[auto-identify]]ing the wand if the hero sees it reveal any of the aforementioned monsters or features.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2164|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/detect.c|1455|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/detect.c|1574|nethack=3.6.7}} This will also mark the location of [[invisible]] monsters within the area with a {{white|I}} and remove other {{white|I}} where no monsters are present.{{refsrc|src/vision.c|2747|nethack=3.6.7}} The wand's effects can penetrate [[cloud]]s on the [[Plane of Air]], but will have no effect if the hero is [[engulfed]].{{refsrc|src/detect.c|1578|nethack=3.6.7}} Monsters will not use this wand.
-Nearby monsters that you can't see due to [[invisibility]] will be revealed as {{gray|I}}. Marks on spaces without monsters are removed, and monsters that are [[hiding]] will be revealed. Engraving with the wand will only [[auto-identify]] it if any of these things are present; otherwise, it gives no message.
+[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a [[charged]] wand of secret door detection by [[applying]] it&ndash;or else wresting one last charge from an applied wand&ndash;will have no effect.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3363|nethack=3.6.7}}
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The wand of secret door detection (and also the spell of detect unseen) are also capable of detecting trapped [[door]]s and trapped [[container]]s.
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The wand of secret door detection (and also the spell of detect unseen) are also capable of detecting trapped [[door]]s and trapped [[container]]s. It will additionally display a brief flashing animation at the locations where something was detected, and then print a message summarizing what was detected, including if nothing was detected. Since the wand always gives some unambiguous feedback, it always auto-identifies.}}
-It will additionally display a brief flashing animation at the locations where something was detected, and then print a message summarizing what was detected, including if nothing was detected.
+==Strategy==
+The wand of secret door detection is an invaluable tool for trap detection throughout the game, from avoiding early [[spiked pit]]s and [[polymorph trap]]s to finding the [[magic portal]] to the [[Quest]], to discovering the [[vibrating square]] and finding the [[temple]] entrance in [[Moloch's Sanctum]], to finding portals on the [[Elemental Planes]] in the last stages of the [[ascension run]]. It can also be used as [[polyfodder]] due to generating with a higher number of charges like most non-directional wands.
-==Strategy==
+Formally identifying the wand of secret door detection is very easy, with the only potential hurdle being a non-directional [[wand of nothing]]: both wands will appear to produce the same effects unless the former actually reveals anything hidden.
-The wand of secret door detection is most often used for finding the hidden entrance to the [[temple]] in [[Moloch's Sanctum]]. It can also be used to find the [[portal]]s on the [[Elemental Planes]].
+==History==
 ==References==
 <references/>
-{{nethack-364}}
+{{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Wands|Secret door detection]]