Winter wolf cub - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: various details

2026-05-24T23:19:43Z

various details

Umbire the Phantom: digestion

2026-05-24T21:24:58Z

digestion

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ correction

2026-05-24T10:26:48Z

‎History: correction

Umbire the Phantom: adjust refsrc

2026-05-24T08:55:17Z

adjust refsrc

Umbire the Phantom: and variant pass #2

2026-05-24T08:36:38Z

and variant pass #2

Umbire the Phantom: variant pass

2026-05-24T08:30:08Z

variant pass

Umbire the Phantom: nh5 updates

2026-05-24T08:17:03Z

nh5 updates

Ray Chason: Update alignment

2026-05-14T02:59:24Z

Update alignment

Ray Chason: Include the female tile

2026-05-10T16:39:44Z

Include the female tile

Umbire the Phantom: /* Messages */ clarify

2026-02-11T04:16:06Z

‎Messages: clarify

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 ==History==
-The winter wolf cub first appears in [[NetHack 3.3.0]]. From this version to [[NetHack 3.6.7]], including some variants based on those versions, winter wolf cubs are chaotic with an alignment value of -5, and they share tiles between genders. Additionally, and unlike the winter wolf, eating a winter wolf cub corpse or tin is not considered cannibalism for a hero that has lycanthropy from a werewolf. All of these are changed for [[NetHack 5.0.0]] via {{commit|837da48621b30ce80e195c253a1e35c2aa774e0d}} and {{commit|45766db520ec87d8baea2a26a42a758fbfc16819}}.<!--find commit for tiles changes whenever we get a chance-->
+The winter wolf cub first appears in [[NetHack 3.3.0]]. From this version to [[NetHack 3.6.7]], including some variants based on those versions, winter wolf cubs are chaotic with an alignment value of -5 while adult winter wolves are neutral, and they share tiles between genders. Additionally, and unlike the winter wolf, eating a winter wolf cub corpse or tin is not considered cannibalism for a hero that has lycanthropy from a werewolf. All of these are changed for [[NetHack 5.0.0]] via {{commit|837da48621b30ce80e195c253a1e35c2aa774e0d}} and {{commit|45766db520ec87d8baea2a26a42a758fbfc16819}}.<!--find commit for tiles changes whenever we get a chance-->
 ==Origin==
@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 ===GruntHack===
-In [[GruntHack]], eating winter wolf cubs is not considered cannibalism for a hero given lycanthropy by a werewolf, as in [[NetHack 3.4.3]].
+In [[GruntHack]], eating winter wolf cubs is not considered cannibalism for a hero given lycanthropy by a werewolf, as in NetHack 3.4.3.
 ===UnNetHack===
 In [[UnNetHack]], [[Caveman/UnNetHack|Cavepeople]] and [[Ranger/UnNetHack|Rangers]] each have a {{frac|12}} chance of starting with a pet winter wolf cub (or {{frac|4}} if the player sets the option to always start with exotic pets). Cavepeople and Rangers are also capable of domestically [[taming]] winter wolf cubs with [[thrown]] [[food]].
-Winter wolf cubs are chaotic, and eating winter wolf cubs is counted as cannibalism for heroes given lycanthropy by a werewolf.
+Winter wolf cubs are chaotic, and eating winter wolf cubs is counted as cannibalism for heroes given lycanthropy by a werewolf. They can randomly generate in [[Sheol]].
 ===dNetHack===
@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 ===SpliceHack===
-In [[SpliceHack]], winter wolves are given a third stage of growth in the [[winter wolf pup]], which can grow up into a winter wolf cub and then a winter wolf. The winter wolf pup also acts as the default pet for Valkyries, fulfilling the role of the winter wolf cub that is commented-out in vanilla ''NetHack''.
+In [[SpliceHack]], winter wolves are given a third stage of growth in the [[winter wolf pup]], which can grow up into a winter wolf cub and then a winter wolf&mdash;both the cub and pup are chaotic. The winter wolf pup also acts as the default pet for Valkyries, fulfilling the role of the winter wolf cub that is commented-out in vanilla ''NetHack''.
 Eating winter wolf cubs is not counted as cannibalism for heroes given lycanthropy by a werewolf.
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], eating winter wolf cubs is counted as cannibalism for heroes given lycanthropy by a werewolf.
+In [[EvilHack]], winter wolves and their cubs are both neutral and considered woodland creatures, and eating them is counted as cannibalism for heroes given lycanthropy by a werewolf. Winter wolf cubs can be randomly generated in the [[Ice Queen's Realm]].
 Winter wolf cubs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for [[Infidel]]s and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Infidel quest]].
@@ Line 95: / Line 95: @@
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], the [[Ice Mage/Hack'EM|Ice Mage's]] starting pet is a winter wolf cub as in SLASH'EM. Eating winter wolf cubs is not counted as cannibalism for heroes given lycanthropy by a werewolf.
+In [[Hack'EM]], the [[Ice Mage/Hack'EM|Ice Mage's]] starting pet is a winter wolf cub as in SLASH'EM. Winter wolf cubs are chaotic, and eating winter wolf cubs is not counted as cannibalism for heroes given lycanthropy by a werewolf.<!--yet-->
 As in SLASH'EM, winter wolf cubs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the second quest monster class for [[Yeomen/Hack'EM|Yeomen]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Yeoman quest. Winter wolf cubs can also appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for Infidels and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Infidel quest, as in EvilHack.

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 A winter wolf cub has a normal [[bite attack]], as well as a frost [[breath weapon]] that can freeze and destroy [[potion]]s in the open inventory of those hit by the blast depending on the damage sustained&mdash;[[reflection]] will deflect the [[ray]] without any damage. Winter wolf cubs possess [[cold resistance]].
-[[Eating]] a winter wolf cub [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|3}} chance of granting a hero or monster cold resistance. Eating winter wolf cubs is considered [[cannibalism]] for a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a [[werewolf]].{{refsrc|src/eat.c|770-L777|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|83-L88|nethack=5.0.0}}
+[[Eating]] a winter wolf cub [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|3}} chance of granting a hero or monster cold resistance, as does [[digesting]] a live winter wolf cub. Eating winter wolf cubs is considered [[cannibalism]] for a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a [[werewolf]].{{refsrc|src/eat.c|770-L777|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|83-L88|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 ==History==
-The winter wolf cub first appears in [[NetHack 3.3.0]]. From this version to [[NetHack 3.6.7]], including some variants based on those versions, winter wolf cubs are chaotic in alignment like winter wolves with an alignment value of -5, and they share tiles between genders. Additionally, and unlike the winter wolf, eating a winter wolf cub corpse or tin is not considered cannibalism for a hero that has lycanthropy from a werewolf. All of these are changed for [[NetHack 5.0.0]] via {{commit|837da48621b30ce80e195c253a1e35c2aa774e0d}} and {{commit|45766db520ec87d8baea2a26a42a758fbfc16819}}.<!--find commit for tiles changes whenever we get a chance-->
+The winter wolf cub first appears in [[NetHack 3.3.0]]. From this version to [[NetHack 3.6.7]], including some variants based on those versions, winter wolf cubs are chaotic with an alignment value of -5, and they share tiles between genders. Additionally, and unlike the winter wolf, eating a winter wolf cub corpse or tin is not considered cannibalism for a hero that has lycanthropy from a werewolf. All of these are changed for [[NetHack 5.0.0]] via {{commit|837da48621b30ce80e195c253a1e35c2aa774e0d}} and {{commit|45766db520ec87d8baea2a26a42a758fbfc16819}}.<!--find commit for tiles changes whenever we get a chance-->
 ==Origin==

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 A winter wolf cub has a normal [[bite attack]], as well as a frost [[breath weapon]] that can freeze and destroy [[potion]]s in the open inventory of those hit by the blast depending on the damage sustained&mdash;[[reflection]] will deflect the [[ray]] without any damage. Winter wolf cubs possess [[cold resistance]].
-[[Eating]] a winter wolf cub [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|3}} chance of granting a hero or monster cold resistance. Eating winter wolf cubs is considered [[cannibalism]] for a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a [[werewolf]].{{refsrc|src/eat.c|770-L777|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|87|nethack=5.0.0}}
+[[Eating]] a winter wolf cub [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|3}} chance of granting a hero or monster cold resistance. Eating winter wolf cubs is considered [[cannibalism]] for a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a [[werewolf]].{{refsrc|src/eat.c|770-L777|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|83-L88|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
 ===SpliceHack===
 In [[SpliceHack]], winter wolves are given a third stage of growth in the [[winter wolf pup]], which can grow up into a winter wolf cub and then a winter wolf. The winter wolf pup also acts as the default pet for Valkyries, fulfilling the role of the winter wolf cub that is commented-out in vanilla ''NetHack''.
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], winter wolf cubs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for [[Infidel]]s and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Infidel quest]].
+In [[EvilHack]], eating winter wolf cubs is counted as cannibalism for heroes given lycanthropy by a werewolf.
 ===SlashTHEM===
@@ Line 91: / Line 95: @@
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], the [[Ice Mage/Hack'EM|Ice Mage's]] starting pet is a winter wolf cub as in SLASH'EM.
+In [[Hack'EM]], the [[Ice Mage/Hack'EM|Ice Mage's]] starting pet is a winter wolf cub as in SLASH'EM. Eating winter wolf cubs is not counted as cannibalism for heroes given lycanthropy by a werewolf.
 As in SLASH'EM, winter wolf cubs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the second quest monster class for [[Yeomen/Hack'EM|Yeomen]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Yeoman quest. Winter wolf cubs can also appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for Infidels and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Infidel quest, as in EvilHack.

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
 In [[SLASH'EM]], the [[Ice Mage]]'s starting [[pet]] is a winter wolf cub.{{refsrc|role.c|186|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
-Winter wolf cubs appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the second quest monster class for [[Yeomen]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Yeoman quest]].
+Winter wolf cubs are chaotic, and eating winter wolf cubs is not counted as cannibalism for heroes given lycanthropy by a werewolf as in [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and prior contemporary versions.
 ===UnNetHack===
-In [[UnNetHack]], [[Caveman/UnNetHack|Cavepeople]] and [[Ranger/UnNetHack|Rangers]] each have a {{frac|12}} chance of starting with a pet winter wolf cub (or {{frac|4}} if the player sets the option to always start with exotic pets). Cavepeople and Rangers are capable of domestically [[taming]] winter wolf cubs with [[thrown]] [[food]].
+In [[UnNetHack]], [[Caveman/UnNetHack|Cavepeople]] and [[Ranger/UnNetHack|Rangers]] each have a {{frac|12}} chance of starting with a pet winter wolf cub (or {{frac|4}} if the player sets the option to always start with exotic pets). Cavepeople and Rangers are also capable of domestically [[taming]] winter wolf cubs with [[thrown]] [[food]].
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], winter wolf cubs can be warded by a [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Toustefna|Toustefna]] [[stave]] that is carved into a [[wood]] weapon placed on the hero's square.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], winter wolf cubs are chaotic and can track the hero and other targets through normal vision and [[Scent (vision)|scent]]. Eating winter wolf cubs is not counted as cannibalism for heroes that are turned into a werewolf via lycanthropy.
-Winter wolf cubs appear among the {{white|d}} that make up {{frac|10}} of monsters randomly generated in the [[Windowless Tower]] branch.
+Winter wolf cubs can be warded by a [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Toustefna|Toustefna]] [[stave]] that is carved into a [[wooden]] weapon and placed on the hero's square, and that weapon will also [[Warned of monster type|warn of winter wolf cubs and other canines]] while wielded.
 Winter wolf cubs can be generated as [[minion]]s of [[Skadi]].
 ===SpliceHack===
@@ Line 74: / Line 85: @@
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], winter wolf cubs appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for [[Infidel]]s and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Infidel quest]].
+In [[EvilHack]], winter wolf cubs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for [[Infidel]]s and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Infidel quest]].
 ===SlashTHEM===
-In [[SlashTHEM]], in addition to SLASH'EM details, winter wolf cubs appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for [[Ninja (role)|Ninjas]] and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Ninja quest]].
+In [[SlashTHEM]], in addition to SLASH'EM details, winter wolf cubs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for [[Ninja (role)|Ninjas]] and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Ninja quest]].
 ===Hack'EM===
 In [[Hack'EM]], the [[Ice Mage/Hack'EM|Ice Mage's]] starting pet is a winter wolf cub as in SLASH'EM.
-As in SLASH'EM, winter wolf cubs appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the second quest monster class for [[Yeomen/Hack'EM|Yeomen]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Yeoman quest. Winter wolf cubs also appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for Infidels and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Infidel quest, as in EvilHack.
+As in SLASH'EM, winter wolf cubs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the second quest monster class for [[Yeomen/Hack'EM|Yeomen]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Yeoman quest. Winter wolf cubs can also appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for Infidels and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Infidel quest, as in EvilHack.
 ==References==

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
   |resistances conveyed=[[cold resistance]] (33%)
   |attributes={{attributes|A winter wolf cub|nohell=1|sgroup=1|animal=1|nohands=1|carnivore=1|hostile=1}}
-  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L258 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 258]
+  |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-5.0.0_Released/include/monsters.h#L275 NetHack 5.0.0 - include/monsters.h, line 275]
 }}
-A '''winter wolf cub''', {{monsym|winter wolf cub}}, is a is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The winter wolf cub is a small and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that is a juvenile form of [[winter wolf]] with an affinity to [[cold]].
+A '''winter wolf cub''', {{monsym|winter wolf cub}}, is a is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The winter wolf cub is a small, [[neutral]] and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that is a juvenile form of [[winter wolf]] and shares its affinity to [[cold]]. Female winter wolf cubs have shorter tails than the males. Winter wolf cubs are considered "[[children of the night]]" for the purpose of [[chatting]] to vampires in their humanoid form.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|752|nethack=5.0.0}}
-A winter wolf cub has a [[bite attack]], as well as a frost [[breath weapon]] that can freeze and destroy [[potion]]s in the open inventory of a [[hero]] or monster that is hit by the blast (unless they have [[reflection]]). Winter wolf cubs possess [[cold resistance]].
+A winter wolf cub has a normal [[bite attack]], as well as a frost [[breath weapon]] that can freeze and destroy [[potion]]s in the open inventory of those hit by the blast depending on the damage sustained&mdash;[[reflection]] will deflect the [[ray]] without any damage. Winter wolf cubs possess [[cold resistance]].
-[[Eating]] a winter wolf cub [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|3}} chance of granting cold resistance.
+[[Eating]] a winter wolf cub [[corpse]] or [[tin]] has a {{frac|3}} chance of granting a hero or monster cold resistance. Eating winter wolf cubs is considered [[cannibalism]] for a [[hero]] that has [[lycanthropy]] from a [[werewolf]].{{refsrc|src/eat.c|770-L777|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|87|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Generation==
-Randomly generated winter wolf cubs are always created hostile, and can appear in small [[group]]s. They will not be randomly generated in [[Gehennom]]. A winter wolf cub can [[grow up]] into a winter wolf.
+Randomly-generated winter wolf cubs are always created [[hostile]], and can appear in small [[group]]s. They are not randomly generated in [[Gehennom]]. A winter wolf cub can [[grow up]] into a winter wolf.
-Winter wolf cubs appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first [[quest]] monster class for [[Samurai]] and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Samurai quest]].
+Winter wolf cubs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first [[quest]] monster class for [[Samurai]] and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Samurai quest]].
-A comment indicates that the winter wolf cub was considered as a default starting pet for the [[Valkyrie]] [[role]].{{refsrc|src/role.c|517|nethack=3.6.7}}
+A comment indicates that the winter wolf cub was considered as a default starting pet for the [[Valkyrie]] [[role]].{{refsrc|src/role.c|508|nethack=5.0.0}}
 ==Strategy==
-A group of winter wolf cubs can be distressing to face: they can appear quite early and usually before the hero has a known source of cold resistance, and the [[ray]]s of frost breath can deal significant damage and destroy valuable potions if there is no convenient [[container]] to stash them in. They also cannot be seen via [[infravision]], making them worse to deal with in darker areas, and their breath weapons can easily kill non-resistant pets. While Valkyries have little to fear from them overall, they will not appreciate losing potions to the cubs' breath. Players that find and identify an early source of cold resistance or reflection can handle winter wolf cubs with relatively little trouble.
+A group of winter wolf cubs can be distressing to face for early heroes: they can appear quite early and usually before the hero has a known source of cold resistance, and the [[ray]]s of frost breath can deal significant damage and destroy valuable potions if there is no convenient [[container]] to stash them in. They also cannot be seen via [[infravision]], making them worse to deal with in darker areas, and their breath weapons can easily kill non-resistant pets. While Valkyries have little to fear from them overall, they will not appreciate losing potions to the cubs' breath.
 Winter wolf cubs lack any [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]], so [[wand]]s and [[spell]]s that can slow them down or immobilize them will help to close the distance. They are also especially vulnerable to the [[wand of fire]] and other sources of [[Fire (element)|fire]] damage, such as a lit [[potion of oil]]. Winter wolf cubs also respect [[Elbereth]] like other canines and can be [[scared]] off with ease&mdash;beware that they can still use breath attacks as they flee from you.
-The ability to deal with breath attacks and other rays from early hostiles is often [[GDSM versus SDSM|an argument in favor of choosing]] [[silver dragon scale mail]] from an early-enough [[wish]]. Once a group of cubs is dealt with, heroes that are not observing [[vegetarian]] or [[foodless]] [[conduct]] can eat any corpses they leave for a potential source of intrinsic cold resistance, making future encounters much less troublesome.
+Once a group of cubs is dealt with, heroes that are not observing [[vegetarian]] or [[foodless]] [[conduct]] can eat any corpses they leave for a potential source of intrinsic cold resistance, making future encounters much less troublesome. They can also leave some of the corpses to meat-eating pets to grant them cold resistance as well.
 ==History==
-The winter wolf cub first appears in [[NetHack 3.3.0]].
+The winter wolf cub first appears in [[NetHack 3.3.0]]. From this version to [[NetHack 3.6.7]], including some variants based on those versions, winter wolf cubs are chaotic in alignment like winter wolves with an alignment value of -5, and they share tiles between genders. Additionally, and unlike the winter wolf, eating a winter wolf cub corpse or tin is not considered cannibalism for a hero that has lycanthropy from a werewolf. All of these are changed for [[NetHack 5.0.0]] via {{commit|837da48621b30ce80e195c253a1e35c2aa774e0d}} and {{commit|45766db520ec87d8baea2a26a42a758fbfc16819}}.<!--find commit for tiles changes whenever we get a chance-->
 ==Origin==
@@ Line 96: / Line 86: @@
 ==References==
 <references/>
-{{nethack-367}}
+{{nethack-500}}
 [[Category:Monsters]]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
   |AC=4
   |MR=0
-  |align=-5
+  |align=0
   |frequency=2
   |genocidable=Yes

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{monster
   |name=winter wolf cub
   |difficulty=7
   |level=5

@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 ==Messages==
-Messages associated with winter wolves can be found on other articles:
+Messages associated with winter wolves and their cubs can be found on other articles:
 * For messages specific to communicating with vampires as a wolf, see [[Vampire (monster class)#Messages|the article on the vampire monster class]].