Wizard - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Miscellaneous */ forgot wand explosion damage for them

2026-04-25T10:39:02Z

‎Miscellaneous: forgot wand explosion damage for them

Umbire the Phantom: Undo revision 197625 by Umbire the Phantom (talk) and that should be the last

2026-01-14T23:58:27Z

Undo revision 197625 by Umbire the Phantom (talk) and that should be the last

Umbire the Phantom: /* Attributes */ table-ify hp/pw - that covers all roles

2026-01-13T17:34:15Z

‎Attributes: table-ify hp/pw - that covers all roles

Tomsod: /* Attributes */ hp/pw

2025-12-22T06:04:40Z

‎Attributes: hp/pw

Umbire the Phantom: spellbook message

2025-10-13T09:01:00Z

spellbook message

Umbire the Phantom: buncha citations and other junk about the role's traits

2025-10-13T08:57:31Z

buncha citations and other junk about the role's traits

Umbire the Phantom: /* Starting equipment */ word choice

2025-10-13T07:52:44Z

‎Starting equipment: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Early game */ cite chain lightning

2025-08-08T07:36:10Z

‎Early game: cite chain lightning

Umbire the Phantom: /* Mid game */ copyedit pass

2025-07-27T18:28:36Z

‎Mid game: copyedit pass

Umbire the Phantom: try to integrate it into the text at least

2025-07-27T18:06:40Z

try to integrate it into the text at least

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:39, 25 April 2026
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	===Miscellaneous===		===Miscellaneous===
		+	Wizards only take {{frac\|5}} damage from [[breaking wands]] by [[applying]] them.{{refsrc\|src/explode.c\|71\|nethack=3.6.7}}
		+
	Wizards can safely enchant a [[cornuthaum]] from +5 or below, and are the only role to gain a [[charisma]] boost and [[clairvoyance]] while wearing one.{{refsrc\|src/read.c\|1076\|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc\|src/read.c\|1089\|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc\|src/do_wear.c\|406\|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc\|src/do_wear.c\|472\|nethack=3.6.7}}		Wizards can safely enchant a [[cornuthaum]] from +5 or below, and are the only role to gain a [[charisma]] boost and [[clairvoyance]] while wearing one.{{refsrc\|src/read.c\|1076\|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc\|src/read.c\|1089\|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc\|src/do_wear.c\|406\|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc\|src/do_wear.c\|472\|nethack=3.6.7}}

@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 The means and standard deviations were calculated via simulation, whose source code can be found on [[Talk:Role#Initial attribute simulation code|the role article's talk page]], and assumes that all given roles are played as humans&mdash;non-human races will have different attribute means as a result of different attribute maximums.
-The following table summarizes the starting [[HP]] and [[energy]] values for each race of Wizard, as well as their bonuses upon gaining an experience level:
+Human Wizards start with 12 [[HP]] and 6-8 [[Pw]]. Orcish Wizards start with 11 HP and 6-8 Pw. Elven and gnomish Wizards start with 11 HP and 7-9 Pw.
 ==Skills==

@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 The means and standard deviations were calculated via simulation, whose source code can be found on [[Talk:Role#Initial attribute simulation code|the role article's talk page]], and assumes that all given roles are played as humans&mdash;non-human races will have different attribute means as a result of different attribute maximums.
-Human Wizards start with 12 [[HP]] and 6-8 [[Pw]] at random; orcs get 11 HP and 6-8 Pw, while elves and gnomes have 11 HP and 7-9 Pw.
+The following table summarizes the starting [[HP]] and [[energy]] values for each race of Wizard, as well as their bonuses upon gaining an experience level:
 ==Skills==

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:04, 22 December 2025
Line 66:		Line 66:

	The means and standard deviations were calculated via simulation, whose source code can be found on [[Talk:Role#Initial attribute simulation code\|the role article's talk page]], and assumes that all given roles are played as humans—non-human races will have different attribute means as a result of different attribute maximums.		The means and standard deviations were calculated via simulation, whose source code can be found on [[Talk:Role#Initial attribute simulation code\|the role article's talk page]], and assumes that all given roles are played as humans—non-human races will have different attribute means as a result of different attribute maximums.
		+
		+	Human Wizards start with 12 [[HP]] and 6-8 [[Pw]] at random; orcs get 11 HP and 6-8 Pw, while elves and gnomes have 11 HP and 7-9 Pw.

	==Skills==		==Skills==

@@ Line 84: / Line 84: @@
 Wizards can write unknown scrolls and spellbooks using a magic marker with [[Magic marker#Unknown scrolls and spellbooks|much higher success rates]] than other roles.{{refsrc|src/write.c|292|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Wizards are warned when they have a significant chance of failing to [[read]] an uncursed spellbook, with a slightly different message for higher-level spellbooks:{{refsrc|src/spell.c|537|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Wizards that attempt to [[read]] a non-cursed spellbook while they are not [[confused]] are warned when they have a significant chance of failing, with a slightly different message given for higher-level spellbooks:{{refsrc|src/spell.c|537|nethack=3.6.7}}
 {{message|This spellbook is <very> difficult to comprehend. Continue?}}

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 * [[wand of wishing]]
-Additionally, a Wizard will not start with a [[ring of polymorph control]] if a source of [[polymorph]] is generated in their starting inventory, and will never start with the [[ring of polymorph]] or [[potion of polymorph]] if a source of [[polymorph control]] (i.e. the ring) is generated in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|1038|nethack=3.6.7}} As mentioned above, orcish Wizards will never have a ring of poison resistance due to starting with the property.
+Additionally, a Wizard will not start with a [[ring of polymorph control]] if a source of [[polymorph]] is generated in their starting inventory, and will never start with the [[ring of polymorph]] or [[potion of polymorph]] if a source of [[polymorph control]] (i.e. the ring) is generated in their starting inventory.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|1038|nethack=3.6.7}} As mentioned above, orcish Wizards will never have a ring of poison resistance due to starting with the [[poison resistance]] property.
 ==Intrinsics==
@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 ===Spellcasting===
-Wizards with an intelligence of 15 or 16 have [[reduced-hunger casting]], lowering the [[nutrition]] drained when casting spells, and Wizards with an intelligence of 17 or more have hungerless casting.
+Wizards with an intelligence of 15 or 16 have [[reduced-hunger casting]], lowering the [[nutrition]] drained when casting spells, and Wizards with an intelligence of 17 or more have fully hungerless casting.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|984-L1003|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Wizards regain [[energy]] more often than other roles.
+Wizards regain [[energy]] more often than other roles, and gain double the energy when reaching a new experience level.{{refsrc|src/exper.c|32|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ===Spellbooks and writing===
-Wizards can write unknown scrolls and spellbooks using a magic marker with [[Magic marker#Unknown scrolls and spellbooks|much higher success rates]] than other roles.
+Wizards can write unknown scrolls and spellbooks using a magic marker with [[Magic marker#Unknown scrolls and spellbooks|much higher success rates]] than other roles.{{refsrc|src/write.c|292|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Wizards are warned when they have a significant chance of failing to [[read]] an uncursed spellbook:
+Wizards are warned when they have a significant chance of failing to [[read]] an uncursed spellbook, with a slightly different message for higher-level spellbooks:{{refsrc|src/spell.c|537|nethack=3.6.7}}
 {{message|This spellbook is <very> difficult to comprehend. Continue?}}
-The Wizard's default [[crowning]] gift is the [[spellbook of finger of death]], which they will receive if they are not already carrying the spellbook or else wielding either [[Vorpal Blade]] or [[Stormbringer]] when they are crowned.{{refsrc|src/pray.c|783|nethack=3.6.7}}
+The Wizard's default [[crowning]] gift is the [[spellbook of finger of death]], which they will receive if they are not already carrying the spellbook or else are wielding their alignment's standard crowning gift ([[Vorpal Blade]] if neutral or [[Stormbringer]] if chaotic) at the time crowning occurs.{{refsrc|src/pray.c|783|nethack=3.6.7}}
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|319dfbdaa3e608e88e39e0a296a9c41febfc1a59}}, Wizards automatically discover the appearances of spellbooks as they gain skill in the relevant spell schools:
@@ Line 99: / Line 99: @@
 ===Miscellaneous===
-Wizards can safely enchant a [[cornuthaum]] from +5 or below, and are the only role to gain a [[charisma]] boost and [[clairvoyance]] while wearing one.
+Wizards can safely enchant a [[cornuthaum]] from +5 or below, and are the only role to gain a [[charisma]] boost and [[clairvoyance]] while wearing one.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1076|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1089|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/do_wear.c|406|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/do_wear.c|472|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Wizards do not gain [[multishot]] bonuses from reaching Skilled in a given weapon or projectile, and do not gain a multishot bonus for racial [[launcher]] weapons, though they do gain standard multishot bonuses for Expert skill.
+Wizards do not gain [[multishot]] bonuses from reaching Skilled in a given weapon or projectile, and do not gain a multishot bonus for racial [[launcher]] weapons, though they do gain standard multishot bonuses for Expert skill.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|116|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|128|nethack=3.6.7}}
-Wizards spend the least time of all playable roles as a [[beginner]], and with [[teleportitis]] they can teleport at-will starting at experience level 8, rather than XL 12 as with other roles.
+Wizards spend the least time of all playable roles as a [[beginner]], and with [[teleportitis]] they can teleport at-will starting at experience level 8, rather than XL 12 as with other roles.{{refsrc|src/exper.c|196|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/teleport.c|695|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Rank titles==
@@ Line 128: / Line 128: @@
 ==Quest==
 {{main|Wizard quest}}
-The Wizard's quest sees them fighting the [[Dark One]] for [[the Eye of the Aethiopica]], an [[artifact]] [[amulet of ESP]]. While carried, The Eye of the Aethiopica grants [[half spell damage]] and fast energy regeneration that restores at least one point of power per turn. While worn, the Eye also grants [[magic resistance]] alongside the base item's normal extrinsic [[telepathy]]. [[Invoking]] The Eye of the Aethiopica allows the hero to [[branchport]] and warp to another [[dungeon branch]] that they have visited.
+The Wizard's quest sees them fighting the [[Dark One]] for [[The Eye of the Aethiopica]], an [[artifact]] [[amulet of ESP]]. While carried, The Eye of the Aethiopica grants [[half spell damage]] and fast energy regeneration that restores at least one point of power per turn. While worn, the Eye also grants [[magic resistance]] alongside the base item's normal extrinsic [[telepathy]]. [[Invoking]] The Eye of the Aethiopica allows the hero to [[branchport]] and warp to another [[dungeon branch]] that they have visited.
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ==Starting equipment==
 Each Wizard starts with the following equipment:{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|159|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 * a [[blessed]] +1 [[quarterstaff]]
 * a +0 [[cloak of magic resistance]]
@@ Line 20: / Line 21: @@
 Any ring that is generated with an [[enchantment]] of +0 or lower is given a random enchantment from +1 to +3.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|1029|nethack=3.6.7}} Multiples of rings and spellbooks are not possible to start the game with.<ref name="nodupes"/>
-Orcish Wizards are not given extra food like orcish heroes in other roles, and will never be given a [[ring of poison resistance]] as their random ring.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|851|nethack=3.6.7|name="xtrafood"|comment=food is intended to be compensation for inferior equipment, and orcish Wizards are not subject to racial armor and weapon replacements}}{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|1012|nethack=3.6.7}} Elven Wizards are additionally given a random non-[[Magical item|magical]] [[instrument]].{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|814|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Orcish Wizards are not given extra food like orcish heroes in other roles, and will never be given a [[ring of poison resistance]] as either of their random rings.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|851|nethack=3.6.7|name="xtrafood"|comment=food is intended to be compensation for inferior equipment, and orcish Wizards are not subject to racial armor and weapon replacements}}{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|1012|nethack=3.6.7}} Elven Wizards are additionally given a random non-[[Magical item|magical]] [[instrument]].{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|814|nethack=3.6.7}}
 Wizards start with knowledge of any applicable racial equipment.

@@ Line 155: / Line 155: @@
 Whether or not a Wizard wears metallic armor varies widely from player to player: the choice between going without metallic armor and being prepared to flee when the hero is low on power, or else wearing metallic armor and minding their carrying capacity while relying on other skills, comes down entirely to a player's confidence in their ability to survive situations without relying as much on spellcasting. In any event, a Wizard should plan to swap metallic armor out as non-metal options become available.
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|With the guaranteed magic marker, skill-based spellbook knowledge, the introduction of the {{+ of|chain lightning}} spell, and changes to the levels of some spells, several aspects of the Wizard's early game are changed significantly.
+{{upcoming|3.7.0|The guaranteed magic marker, skill-based spellbook knowledge, the introduction of the {{+ of|chain lightning}} spell via {{commit|0d508cc93628b7b0ebb1a335bfe2f7eee3fe4188}}, and changes to the levels of some spells all change several aspects of the Wizard's early game significantly.
 Per {{commit|47724f01374300151a4900939407259c79b14c62}}, the [[killer bee]]'s difficulty is increased to 6 and the [[soldier ant]]'s difficulty is increased to 7&mdash;both are notorious early-game hero killers in general, and are especially so for Wizards that are not yet equipped to handle them.}}

@@ Line 173: / Line 173: @@
 ===Mid game===
-A mid-game Wizard that has not yet found a [[luckstone]] or other item to maintain their [[luck]] should prioritize obtaining one, and [[Mines' End]] may also have several spellbooks if generated with the Catacombs map. Sokoban is also worth finishing for the remainder of its loot if the hero has yet to do so, even if they have found both a [[bag of holding]] and a [[reflection]] source elsewhere. A Wizard that finds the [[magic portal]] to their quest before they reach experience level 14 may seek out any [[wraith]]s generated on the home level, or else generate them with a create monster spell, [[Wand of create monster|wand]] or [[Scroll of create monster|scroll]], in order to gain levels from their [[corpse]]s and get access as soon as possible.
+A mid-game Wizard that has not yet found a [[luckstone]] or other item to maintain their [[luck]] should prioritize obtaining one, and [[Mines' End]] may also have several spellbooks if the level is generated with the Catacombs map. Sokoban is also worth finishing for the remainder of its loot if the hero has yet to do so, even if they have found both a [[bag of holding]] and a [[reflection]] source elsewhere. A Wizard that finds the [[magic portal]] to their quest before they reach experience level 14 may seek out any [[wraith]]s generated on the home level, or else generate them with a create monster spell, [[Wand of create monster|wand]] or [[Scroll of create monster|scroll]], in order to gain levels from their [[corpse]]s and get access as soon as possible.
-Most Wizards should have Magicbane at this point, which provides very strong effects while wielded even if it will not be their primary melee weapon. A stack of daggers (or [[elven dagger]]s) is among their best non-magical ranged weapons, and daggers may be worth training to Expert for the ability to [[multishot]] them, as well as improving melee capabilities with Magicbane. As before, a Wizard should be minimizing spellcasting penalties from worn armor if at all possible; an enchanted [[small shield]] is a great source of AC for minimal spellcasting penalty, and the [[cornuthaum]] or [[elven leather helm]] are light, non-metal and can be enchanted further than other [[helm]]s.
+Most Wizards should have Magicbane at this point, which provides very strong effects while wielded even if it will not be their primary melee weapon. A stack of daggers (or [[elven dagger]]s) is among their best non-magical ranged weapons, and daggers are usually worth training to Expert for the ability to [[multishot]] them, as well as improving melee capabilities with Magicbane. As before, a Wizard should be minimizing spellcasting penalties from worn armor if at all possible: an enchanted [[small shield]] is a great source of AC for minimal spellcasting penalty, and the [[cornuthaum]] or [[elven leather helm]] are light and non-metallic [[helm]]s that can be enchanted safely from +5 by Wizards.
-Spellcasting will become a Wizard's strongest tool before the end of the mid-game, but should also be part of a diverse tool kit to deal with monsters have high [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR scores]], [[magic resistance]] and/or [[reflection]]: {{+ of|fireball}} and {{+ of|cone of cold}} at Skilled can take out monsters that lack [[fire resistance]] and/or [[cold resistance]]; thrown projectiles and wielded artifact weapons can be used for still other highly-resistant foes; and smart use of status-inducing spells can nullify the threat of physically-imposing monsters with low MR scores such as [[minotaur]]s and [[dragon]]s. Wizards with high luck and a magic marker can blank other spellbooks to write highly-useful ones they have not yet obtained: {{+ of|identify}} trivializes item discovery and tracking of enchantments, while polymorph allows Wizards that are not observing [[polypileless]] conduct (or else observing more restrictive conducts) to thoroughly expand their available kit. High luck can also be used to farm for spellbooks and obtain the finger of death spellbook from [[crowning]].
+Spellcasting will become a Wizard's strongest tool before the end of the mid-game, but should also be part of a diverse tool kit to deal with monsters have high [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR scores]], [[magic resistance]] and/or [[reflection]]: {{+ of|fireball}} and {{+ of|cone of cold}} at Skilled can take out monsters that lack [[fire resistance]] and/or [[cold resistance]]; thrown projectiles and wielded artifact weapons can be used for other highly-resistant foes; and smart use of status-inducing spells can nullify the threat of physically-imposing monsters with low MR scores, such as [[minotaur]]s and [[dragon]]s. Wizards with high luck and a magic marker can blank other spellbooks to write highly-useful ones they have not yet obtained: {{+ of|identify}} trivializes item discovery and tracking of enchantments, while {{+ of|polymorph}} allows Wizards that are not observing [[polypileless]] conduct (and some that are additionally observing more restrictive conducts) to thoroughly expand their available kit. High luck can also be used to [[farm]] for spellbooks by praying at co-aligned altars, and the finger of death spellbook can be obtained by [[crowning]].
-The [[Wizard quest]] is fairly easy, with the most concerning threats being [[xorn]]s and possible level drain from [[Wraith (monster class)|wraith]] monsters. The [[Dark One]], the quest nemesis and its designated biggest threat, is a pushover: though they boast strong [[monster spell]]s that can include [[summon nasties]], and can even have the [[touch of death]] in very rare cases (usually involving a much higher-level hero), they will not wear the quest artifact and are comically vulnerable to the finger of death or a [[wand of death]] among other methods; almost every Wizard facing them will have magic resistance of their own to boot. Wizards without a way to instantly kill the Dark One can still devastate them through various other means, from a few Skilled castings of fireball or cone of cold, to rebounded magic missile spells, to common quest nemesis strategies such as a [[potion of paralysis]] paired with a [[ring of free action]].
+The [[Wizard quest]] is fairly easy, with the most concerning threats being [[xorn]]s and possible level drain from [[Wraith (monster class)|wraith]] monsters. The [[Dark One]], the quest nemesis and its designated biggest threat, is a pushover: though he boasts strong [[monster spell]]s that can include [[summon nasties]], and can even have the [[touch of death]] in very rare cases (usually involving a much higher-level hero), he will not wear the quest artifact and is comically vulnerable to the finger of death or a [[wand of death]] among other methods; almost every Wizard facing them will have magic resistance of their own to boot. Wizards without a way to instantly kill the Dark One can still devastate him through various other means, from a few Skilled castings of fireball or cone of cold, to rebounded magic missile spells, to common quest nemesis strategies such as a wielded [[potion of paralysis]] paired with a [[ring of free action]].
-[[The Eye of the Aethiopica]] is so fantastically useful that a Wizard completing their quest has the game blown wide open for them: the energy regeneration provided makes [[farming]] altars and crowning incredibly easy with the create monster and magic missile spells, while the ability to [[branchport]] when [[invoking]] the artifact has a nigh-endless amount of uses, from setting up a stash base in the quest branch or Sokoban where you can store most of your heavier non-essentials, to easily luring adjacent wraiths out of [[graveyard]] levels for their corpses, to making quick escapes from nasty monsters or else creating a much more favorable combat scenario.
+[[The Eye of the Aethiopica]] is so fantastically useful that a Wizard completing their quest has the game blown wide open for them. The energy regeneration provided makes farming altars and crowning incredibly easy with the create monster and magic missile spells, while the ability to [[branchport]] when [[invoking]] the artifact has a nigh-endless amount of uses: you can set up a stash base in the quest branch or Sokoban where you can store most of your heavier non-essentials, easily lure adjacent wraiths out of [[graveyard]] levels for their corpses, make quick escapes from nasty monsters, or create much more favorable combat scenarios against such monsters.
 ===Late game===

@@ Line 164: / Line 164: @@
 While there are many spells that gain effects when their spell school's associated skill is raised from Basic to Skilled, such as {{+ of|fireball|cone of cold|remove curse|and=1|detect monsters}}, only {{+ of|jumping|and=1|protection}} (which are respectively an escape spell and clerical spell) gain additional effects when their skill is advanced from Skilled to Expert. Wizards can become Expert in [[escape spells]], but there is no benefit from advancing to Expert skill with [[Attack spells|attack]], [[Divination spells|divination]] or [[matter spells]] unless they know and want to cast any associated high-level spells (e.g. {{+ of|finger of death|cancellation|or=1|polymorph}}).
-Divination spells are usually best left at Skilled, since they have no spells that go beyond level 5 and gain no additional effects outside of failure rate reduction from training to Expert level. [[Enchantment spells]] and [[healing spells]] may similarly be worth leaving at Basic: the only enchantment spell that gains benefits from Skilled level is {{+ of|confuse monster}}, while {{+ of|healing|and=1|restore ability}} are the only healing spells to benefit from Skilled level and such benefits are often negligible; the confuse monster spell is not often employed to begin with, and [[unicorn horn]]s render the restore ability spell redundant, though Skilled healing curing a monster's [[blindness]] has some use (e.g. for pets). Altogether, this leaves 4 more skill slots available for a total of seven, which is valuable maneuvering room to have early on (assuming daggers are trained to Expert as above).
+Divination spells are usually best left at Skilled, since they have no spells that go beyond level 5 and gain no additional effects outside of failure rate reduction from training to Expert level. [[Enchantment spells]] and [[healing spells]] may similarly be worth leaving at Basic: the only enchantment spell that gains benefits from Skilled level is {{+ of|confuse monster}}, while {{+ of|healing|and=1|restore ability}} are the only healing spells to benefit from Skilled level and such benefits are often negligible; the confuse monster spell is not often employed to begin with, and [[unicorn horn]]s render the restore ability spell redundant, though Skilled healing curing a monster's [[blindness]] has some use (e.g. for pets). Altogether, with divination trained to Skilled, healing trained to basic, enchantment left at basic, and daggers trained to Expert&ndash;and assuming the hypothetical level 30 Wizard discussed earlier&ndash;this leaves 4 more skill slots available for a total of seven, which is valuable maneuvering room to have early on.
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|43d331c4ebe7bcd30a7cab7d4228957e283584c2}}, the unicorn horn no longer restores lowered attributes, so Skilled casting of the restore ability spell is more worthwhile.