Difference between revisions of "Helm"

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The '''helm''' is one of the seven slots for [[armor]] in ''[[NetHack]]''. Their primary use is protecting your head and cranium, especially against [[mind flayer]]s. The most popular helms to carry are [[helm of telepathy]], [[helm of brilliance]], and [[elven leather helm]]. [[Cornuthaum]]s are occasionally used by [[wizard]]s, and a [[helm of opposite alignment]] is often used on the [[ascension run]].
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A '''helm''' is a form of [[armor]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]'', and is one of seven armor slots available to the [[hero]] and certain other [[monster]]s.
  
The helm of telepathy grants extrinsic [[telepathy]], similar to an [[amulet of ESP]]. The helm of brilliance will increase your [[intelligence]] and [[wisdom]] by its enchantment, so +5 HoB and 18 Int and 17 Wis will produce 23 Int and 22 Wis. Elven leather helms can take a higher enchantment than other items and [[weight|weigh]] less than most other helms: 3 wt versus 50.
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==Description==
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Helms can be [[worn]] by any [[intelligent monster]] that has a [[head]] and meets the following conditions:
  
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The helm of brilliance now has a fixed unidentified description of "crystal helm", and is made of glass so does not inhibit spellcasting. A new helm has been added, the [[helm of caution]], which conveys [[warning]] when worn.}}
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# Their head lacks horns and/or other features that would obstruct wearing the helm:{{reffunc|mondata.h|num_horns}} horned monsters cannot wear [[metallic]] helms, and [[polymorph]]ing into such a monster will force a worn metallic helm off the monster's head.{{refsrc|do_wear.c|1293}}{{refsrc|polyself.c|624}}
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# They have [[hands]] to put on the helm with: a [[naga]] can technically wear a helm, but is unable to put on one themselves and is typically the result of a helm-wearing monster being polymorphed.
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Wearing any type of helm has a {{frac|7|8}} chance of blocking the [[intelligence]]-draining effects from the individual tentacle attacks from a [[mind flayer]] or [[master mind flayer]] - a [[greased]] helm always blocks these effects, but the grease has a {{frac|2}} chance of wearing off after each attack.
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Wearing a metallic helm significantly lowers damage from falling objects, such as [[falling rock trap]]s, boulders from a [[scroll of earth]], objects [[thrown]] upward by the hero, and falling [[piercer]]s - however, metallic helms also increase [[spellcasting]] failure rates, with the exception of the [[helm of brilliance]].
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The helm of brilliance now has an unidentified description of "crystal helm" and is made of [[glass]], which does not inhibit spellcasting as a material.
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The [[helm of caution]] is a new helm that grants 1 AC and [[warning]] when worn.}}
  
 
==List of helms==
 
==List of helms==
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     plumed    etched    crested    visored
 
     plumed    etched    crested    visored
 
Of these, the visored helmet is always special. It protects against the blinding attack of ravens and the venom-spitting attack of cobras.
 
Of these, the visored helmet is always special. It protects against the blinding attack of ravens and the venom-spitting attack of cobras.
 
==Hard helms==
 
[[Metallic]] helms provide protection against falling objects and [[piercer]]s, greatly reducing the damage taken from [[falling rock trap]]s, [[iron ball]]s, non-blessed [[scrolls of earth]], and objects [[thrown]] upward by the hero. The [[helm of brilliance]] is the only item providing this benefit without increasing spell failure rates.
 
 
Polymorphed players or monsters with horns,{{reffunc|mondata.h|num_horns}} such as ki-rin or unicorns, cannot equip{{refsrc|do_wear.c|1293}} or wear{{refsrc|polyself.c|624}} metallic helms. When you polymorph into a horned monster while wearing a soft helm, you receive the message "Your horn(s) pierce(s) through your <hat>." This does not damage or destroy your helm, though a comment in the source suggests that it someday might.{{refsrc|polyself.c|629}} There is no special message for putting on a soft helm over horns.
 
  
 
==Variants==
 
==Variants==
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<references />
 
<references />
 
{{nethack-343}}
 
{{nethack-343}}
 
 
[[Category:Helms]]
 
[[Category:Helms]]

Revision as of 18:50, 6 July 2024

A helm is a form of armor that appears in NetHack, and is one of seven armor slots available to the hero and certain other monsters.

Description

Helms can be worn by any intelligent monster that has a head and meets the following conditions:

  1. Their head lacks horns and/or other features that would obstruct wearing the helm:[1] horned monsters cannot wear metallic helms, and polymorphing into such a monster will force a worn metallic helm off the monster's head.[2][3]
  2. They have hands to put on the helm with: a naga can technically wear a helm, but is unable to put on one themselves and is typically the result of a helm-wearing monster being polymorphed.

Wearing any type of helm has a 78 chance of blocking the intelligence-draining effects from the individual tentacle attacks from a mind flayer or master mind flayer - a greased helm always blocks these effects, but the grease has a 12 chance of wearing off after each attack.

Wearing a metallic helm significantly lowers damage from falling objects, such as falling rock traps, boulders from a scroll of earth, objects thrown upward by the hero, and falling piercers - however, metallic helms also increase spellcasting failure rates, with the exception of the helm of brilliance.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

The helm of brilliance now has an unidentified description of "crystal helm" and is made of glass, which does not inhibit spellcasting as a material.

The helm of caution is a new helm that grants 1 AC and warning when worn.

List of helms

Name Cost Weight AC Material Appearance Effect
Fedora 1 3 0 Cloth
Dunce cap 1 4 0 Cloth Conical hat Autocurses when worn; Int and Wis set to 6
Cornuthaum 80 4 0 Cloth Conical hat MC1; wizards can enchant to +7; clairvoyance and Ch+1 for wizards; blocks clairvoyance and Ch−1 for non-wizards
Elven leather helm 8 3 1 Leather Leather hat Can be enchanted to +7
Orcish helm 10 30 1 Iron Iron skull cap
Dented pot 8 10 1 Iron
Dwarvish iron helm 20 40 2 Iron Hard hat
Helmet (kabuto) 10 30 1 Iron (randomized)
Helm of brilliance 50 50 1 Iron (randomized) Int and Wis +/− enchantment amount; doesn't hinder spellcasting
Helm of opposite alignment 50 50 1 Iron (randomized) Autocurses when worn; opposite alignment
Helm of telepathy 50 50 1 Iron (randomized) Grants telepathy

The helms marked (randomized) in the chart above have their appearances randomly chosen from:

   plumed    etched    crested    visored

Of these, the visored helmet is always special. It protects against the blinding attack of ravens and the venom-spitting attack of cobras.

Variants

In UnNetHack and SporkHack, a helm with the appearance tin foil hat blocks telepathy from all sources.

References

This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.

It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.4.3. Information on this page may be out of date.

Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-343}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.