Wand of striking - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants / dnh

2026-05-13T19:23:25Z

‎Variants: *dnh

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ word choice

2026-05-13T19:04:30Z

‎Generation: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ expound a bit on historical 'piling

2026-05-13T18:44:50Z

‎History: expound a bit on historical 'piling

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ paragraphing

2026-05-13T18:43:07Z

‎Strategy: paragraphing

Umbire the Phantom: the rest all at once: finish updating citations, resolve upcoming, move historical info and bugfixes, update the variant section some...

2026-05-13T18:39:59Z

the rest all at once: finish updating citations, resolve upcoming, move historical info and bugfixes, update the variant section some...

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Umbire the Phantom: continue update work...

2026-05-13T12:01:38Z

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Umbire the Phantom: first block of description done

2026-05-13T03:28:30Z

first block of description done

Umbire the Phantom: start on nh5 updates

2026-05-13T02:02:31Z

start on nh5 updates

Umbire the Phantom: potholes

2026-01-10T18:55:19Z

potholes

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ this cite is for ray stuff

2025-06-27T10:52:25Z

‎Description: this cite is for ray stuff

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 ===dNetHack===
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], [[iron bars]] can be broken by zapping the wand of striking at them, producing one or more [[iron]] [[Bar (dNetHack)|bar items]].
 The inverted ziggurat [[Map inclusion (dNetHack)|map inclusion]] can contain a buried [[iron]] [[chest]] with a wand of striking inside.

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 * Randomly created [[intelligent monster]]s may be generated with a wand of striking as a [[offensive item]], and will be given one in place of a [[scroll of earth]] if they are a monster type that can be affected by falling [[boulder]]s and they are generated without a hard [[helm]].{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2046-L2056|nethack=5.0.0}}
-Wands of striking are generated as blessed {{frac|34}} of the time, cursed {{frac|34}} of the time, and will otherwise be uncursed.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|1125|nethack=5.0.0}} They are created with 4-8 [[charge]]s, and can hold up to a maximum of 8 charges.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|1122-L1124|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|737-L740|nethack=5.0.0}}
+Wands of striking are generated as blessed {{frac|34}} of the time and cursed {{frac|34}} of the time, and will otherwise be uncursed.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|1125|nethack=5.0.0}} They are created with 4-8 [[charge]]s, and can hold up to a maximum of 8 charges.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|1122-L1124|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|737-L740|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Description==

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 The wand of striking first appears in Hack 1.21, which is based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]]. [http://rogue.rogueforge.net/vade-mecum/#staves Wands and staves of striking] also appear in ''[[Rogue (game)|Rogue]]'' v4 and earlier versions, where they never miss and deal 1d8+3 damage with a {{frac|20}} chance of dealing 3d8+9 damage instead (average 8.95).
-In [[NetHack 3.6.7]] and some previous versions, including variants based on these versions, some players going for a [[speed ascension]] and/or [[digging for victory]] may opt to [[polypile]] for the wand if they have not yet found it&mdash;the table below details the odds and given confidence of creating a wand of striking this way, not accounting for shuddering from [[system shock]]:
+In [[NetHack 3.6.7]] and previous versions, including variants based on these versions, the wand of striking makes up {{frac|3|40}} (7.5%) of all randomly-generated wands. Some players going for a [[speed ascension]] and/or [[digging for victory]] in these versions may opt to [[polypile]] for the wand if they have not yet found it&mdash;the table below details the odds and given confidence of creating a wand of striking this way, not accounting for shuddering from [[system shock]]:
 {|class="prettytable"

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 The wand of striking is slightly better than the [[wand of magic missile]] for dealing damage: though it fires a beam that cannot rebound like a [[ray]] does, it also cannot be stopped by [[reflection]], though magic resistance still nullifies it. On the other hand, the {{+ of|magic missile}} spell becomes much more damaging and reliable compared to both wands at [[experience level]] 6, and the wand of striking's reliance on beating a target's AC makes it unreliable from around the mid-game onward: monsters with 0 AC or better become more commonplace, and monsters with much higher MR scores can lower the potential damage. Additionally, using the wand against [[Nymph (monster class)|nymphs]] is perilous, since they are likely to be carrying a [[mirror]] that will break if the wand kills them, resulting in a -2 [[luck]] penalty.
-Outside of combat, the wand is also useful for blasting through boulders that block the hero's path: remember that doing so in [[Sokoban]] carries a -1 luck penalty, and be careful that there are no peacefuls in the beam's path! A wand of striking is also worth keeping on hand for heroes who do not care about the [[passtune]] and want to enter the [[Castle]] as quickly as possible by destroying its drawbridge. Conversely, the wand of striking is perhaps the worst thing a hero can encounter when crossing any drawbridge (e.g. on the [[Valkyrie quest]]), since a monster with the wand is likely to pick the moment you are over its square to zap you by sheer happenstance, resulting in an unceremonious [[instant death]]&mdash;a daring hero can inflict the same fate upon other monsters if they so choose, though they can only utilize this once per drawbridge.
+Outside of combat, the wand is also useful for blasting through boulders that block the hero's path: remember that doing so in [[Sokoban]] carries a -1 luck penalty, and be careful that there are no peacefuls in the beam's path!
 ===Identification===

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 * Randomly created [[intelligent monster]]s may be generated with a wand of striking as a [[offensive item]], and will be given one in place of a [[scroll of earth]] if they are a monster type that can be affected by falling [[boulder]]s and they are generated without a hard [[helm]].{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2046-L2056|nethack=5.0.0}}
-Wands of striking are generated as blessed {{frac|34}} of the time, cursed {{frac|34}} of the time, and will otherwise be uncursed.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|1125|nethack=5.0.0}} They are created with 4-8 [[charge]]s, and can hold up to a maximum of 8 charges.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|1118-L1121|nethack=5.0.0|comment=stasis is deliberately given fewer initial charges than other non-directional wands}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|737-L740|nethack=5.0.0}}
+Wands of striking are generated as blessed {{frac|34}} of the time, cursed {{frac|34}} of the time, and will otherwise be uncursed.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|1125|nethack=5.0.0}} They are created with 4-8 [[charge]]s, and can hold up to a maximum of 8 charges.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|1122-L1124|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|737-L740|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Description==
 [[Zapping]] this wand prompts the [[hero]] for a direction to zap it in, and has mostly the same effects as the {{+ of|force bolt}} spell:{{refsrc|src/zap.c|189-L217|nethack=5.0.0|comment=fall through to force bolt spell case}} the bolt rolls a d20 against any [[monster]]s in its path or against a single monster that is currently [[engulfing]] the hero zapping it, and the bolt hits if that roll is lower than each target's [[AC]] plus 10, dealing 2d12 damage (subject to [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] and [[half spell damage]]).{{refsrc|src/zap.c|6099-6158|nethack=5.0.0|comment=<tt>resist()</tt> function}} [[Magic resistance]] blocks the effects of the wand.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|196-L200|nethack=5.0.0}} A [[Knight]] carrying the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]] in open inventory deals double damage to monsters when zapping the wand.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|165|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|206|nethack=5.0.0}} Monsters will use this wand for the same effect, with hostile monsters seeking out the wand and zapping it at the hero unless it has no charges or they believe that the hero has magic resistance.{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1501-L1506|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1609-L1650|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1878-L1890|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2735-L2738|nethack=5.0.0}}
-[[Boulder]]s and [[statue]]s in the zap's path will crumble into [[rock]]s, while [[door]]s, [[drawbridge]]s (on either square that they occupy) and [[fragile]] items are destroyed{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1950|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2867|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3315|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3432|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4656|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;this includes any inventory dropped from monsters killed by the wand. [[Statue trap]]s hit by the wand will instead activate.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2099|nethack=3.6.7}}
+A hero zapping the wand upward has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of dislodging a rock from the ceiling and cause it to fall on the hero's head, dealing up to 6 damage (or up to 2 if they are wearing a hard [[helm]]), and has no effect in areas without a ceiling.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2860|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2876|nethack=3.6.7}} Zapping the wand downward wipes 2-8 letters from any [[engraving]] on that square, and doing so over a [[trap door]] will shatter the door and turn it into a [[hole]] that the hero may then fall into, unless they are [[levitating]] or [[flying]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2893|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2981|nethack=3.6.7}} Zapping the wand downward while [[riding]] will affect the steed as with any other monster.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2702|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Zapping the wand upward has a {{frac|2|3}} chance of dislodging a rock from the ceiling and cause it to fall on the hero's head, dealing up to 6 damage (or up to 2 if they are wearing a hard [[helm]]), and has no effect in areas without a ceiling.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2860|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2876|nethack=3.6.7}} Zapping the wand downward wipes 2-8 letters from any [[engraving]] on that square, and doing so over a [[trap door]] will shatter the door and turn it into a [[hole]] that the hero may then fall into, unless they are [[levitating]] or [[flying]].{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2893|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2981|nethack=3.6.7}} Zapping the wand downward while [[riding]] will affect the steed as with any other monster.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2702|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Several items and [[dungeon feature]]s can be hit and broken by a zapped wand of striking, including any inventory left behind from a monster that is killed by the wand:
-A hero zapping the wand at themselves will auto-identify the wand, and takes 2d12 damage and [[abuse]]s [[strength]] unless they have magic resistance.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2279|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2286|nethack=3.6.7}} The wand is also auto-identified under the following conditions:{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1954|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1982|nethack=3.6.7}}
+* [[Boulder]]s and [[statue]]s hit by a zapped wand of striking will crumble into [[rock]]s, while [[door]]s are destroyed, and [[drawbridge]]s that have either of their squares in the path will collapse and additionally scatter [[Iron chain|metal debris]] if they were open.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2275-L2312|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3290-L3306|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3707-L3715|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4060|nethack=5.0.0}}
 * The hero zaps it at a monster and sees it hit or miss.
-* The hero sees a monster zap the wand at them, and it hits them or is nullified by magic resistance.
+* The hero sees a monster zap the wand at them, and it hits the hero or is nullified by their magic resistance.
 * The hero zaps the wand and see it destroy an object(s) or any dungeon features.
 * The hero sees the wand destroy an object(s) or any dungeon features as a result of a monster zapping the wand.
-[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a charged wand of striking by [[applying]] it, or wresting one last charge from an applied wand, will cause an explosion that deals (X+1)d6 damage, where ''X'' represents the amount of charges, and affects all objects in the range of the explosion that a force bolt would normally affect.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3353|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3383|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2279|nethack=3.6.7}} As with zapping the wand, damage from this explosion is blocked by player-style magic resistance.
+[[Breaking wands|Breaking]] a charged wand of striking by [[applying]] it, or wresting one last charge from an applied wand, will cause an explosion that deals (X+1)d6 damage, where ''X'' represents the amount of charges, and affects all objects in the range of the explosion that a force bolt would normally affect.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3353|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/apply.c|3383|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2279|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|5443-L5451|nethack=5.0.0}} As with zapping the wand, damage from this explosion is blocked by player-style magic resistance.
 Engraving with a wand of striking gives a distinct message, but does not auto-identify the wand.{{refsrc|src/engrave.c|668|nethack=3.6.7}}

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
   |type=beam
   |maxcharges=8
-  |abundance=7.5%
+  |abundance=3%
   |spell=force bolt
   |muse=off
 }}
-A '''wand of striking''' is a type of [[wand]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
+A '''wand of striking''' is a type of [[wand]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a [[magical item|magical]] directional wand that has a [[randomized appearance]] when [[Identification|unidentified]]&mdash;the default one associated with it is an "ebony wand".{{refsrc|include/objects.h|1464|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Generation==
-[[Wizard]]s may be given a wand of striking as the random wand in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|164|nethack=3.6.7}}
+[[Wizard]]s may be given a wand of striking as the random wand in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|170|nethack=5.0.0}}
-Wands of striking make up {{frac|3|40}} (7.5%) of all randomly-generated wands. General [[store]]s and "quality apparel and accessories" shops can stock wands of striking.
+Wands of striking make up {{frac|3|100}} (3%) of all wands that are randomly generated on the ground, in general [[shop]]s or as [[death drop]]s. "Quality apparel and accessories" shops can also stock wands of striking.
-Three wands of striking with no charges are generated in the Orcish Town map of [[Minetown]] at level creation.{{refsrc|dat/mines.des|147-L149|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Three wands of striking with no [[charge]]s are placed randomly within the town walls on the Orcish Town map of [[Minetown]] during level creation.{{refsrc|dat/minetn-1.lua|110-L112|nethack=5.0.0}}
-[[Shopkeeper]]s are [[Monster starting inventory|always generated with]] a wand of striking.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|675|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} [[Dispater]] is always generated with a wand of striking.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|499|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+Several monsters can be [[generated with]] a wand of striking:
-Randomly created [[intelligent monster]]s may be [[generated with]] a wand of striking as a [[offensive item]], and will be given one in place of a [[scroll of earth]] if they are a monster that is affected by falling [[boulder]]s and was generated without a hard [[helm]].{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1588|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1592|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+* [[Dispater]] is always generated with a wand of striking.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|512-L514|nethack=5.0.0}}
-Wands of striking are created with 4 to 8 charges.
+Wands of striking are generated as blessed {{frac|34}} of the time, cursed {{frac|34}} of the time, and will otherwise be uncursed.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|1125|nethack=5.0.0}} They are created with 4-8 [[charge]]s, and can hold up to a maximum of 8 charges.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|1118-L1121|nethack=5.0.0|comment=stasis is deliberately given fewer initial charges than other non-directional wands}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|737-L740|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Description==

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 ==Description==
-[[Zapping]] this wand prompts the [[hero]] for a direction to zap it in, and has mostly the same effects as the {{+ of|force bolt}} spell:{{refsrc|src/zap.c|157|nethack=3.6.7}} the bolt rolls a d20 against any [[monster]] in its path, skipping this check if zapped by the hero at a monster [[engulfing]] them, and if the roll is lower than the target's [[AC]] plus 10, it hits and deals 2d12 damage (subject to [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] and [[half spell damage]]).{{refsrc|src/zap.c|5160|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<tt>resist()</tt> function}} Monsters will use this wand, with hostile monsters zapping it at the hero. [[Magic resistance]] blocks the effects of the wand.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|164|nethack=3.6.7}} A [[Knight]] carrying the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]] in open inventory deals double damage to monsters when zapping the wand.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|142|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|170|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3750|nethack=3.6.7}}
+[[Zapping]] this wand prompts the [[hero]] for a direction to zap it in, and has mostly the same effects as the {{+ of|force bolt}} spell:{{refsrc|src/zap.c|157|nethack=3.6.7}} the bolt rolls a d20 against any [[monster]] in its path, skipping this check if zapped by the hero at a monster [[engulfing]] them, and if the roll is lower than the target's [[AC]] plus 10, it hits and deals 2d12 damage (subject to [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] and [[half spell damage]]).{{refsrc|src/zap.c|5160|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<tt>resist()</tt> function}} Monsters will use this wand, with hostile monsters zapping it at the hero. [[Magic resistance]] blocks the effects of the wand.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|164|nethack=3.6.7}} A [[Knight]] carrying the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]] in open inventory deals double damage to monsters when zapping the wand.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|142|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|170|nethack=3.6.7}}
 [[Boulder]]s and [[statue]]s in the zap's path will crumble into [[rock]]s, while [[door]]s, [[drawbridge]]s (on either square that they occupy) and [[fragile]] items are destroyed{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1950|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2867|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3315|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|3432|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|4656|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;this includes any inventory dropped from monsters killed by the wand. [[Statue trap]]s hit by the wand will instead activate.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2099|nethack=3.6.7}}