Potion of invisibility
! 
| |
|---|---|
| Name | invisibility |
| Appearance | random |
| Base price | 150 zm |
| Weight | 20 |
| Monster use | May be used by monsters as misc items. |
A potion of invisibility is a type of potion that appears in NetHack.
Contents
Generation
Wizards may be given a potion of invisibility as any of the three random potions in their starting inventory.[1]
Potions of invisibility make up 1⁄25 (4%) of all randomly-generated potions. General stores and liquor emporiums can sell potions of invisibility.
Randomly generated monsters may receive a potion of invisibility as a miscellaneous item: if an invisibility item is chosen for that monster's starting inventory, it has a 5⁄6 chance of receiving the potion, unless it is not hostile and the hero cannot currently see invisible.[2]
Description
Quaffing a potion of invisibility turns the drinker invisible and will auto-identify the potion, with effects varying depending on beatitude and whether the hero or a monster drank it.
A blessed potion grants the hero permanent invisibility, while an uncursed potion grants the hero temporary invisibility for 31-45 more turns.[3] A cursed potion has the same effect as an uncursed one, but will additionally aggravate monsters by awakening all sleeping and meditating monsters on the level.[4] The potion will have the same effects if the hero is blind, already invisible or else wearing a mummy wrapping, but does not auto-identify the potion and prints different messages.
Monsters will quaff this potion unless they are wearing a mummy wrapping, and the potion auto-identifies if the hero sees a monster quaff it. A monster that quaffs this potion becomes permanently invisible, and the same effects occur if a monster is hit with a thrown potion. If a monster quaffs a cursed potion, the hero is also "aggravated": the invisible monster's position will briefly be displayed on the map along with a message, and the hero is awakened from any unconscious state.[5][6] Peaceful and tame monsters that are not invisible will not quaff the potion if the hero cannot see invisible.
Inhaling the vapors from a potion of invisibility will cause the hero to become invisible very briefly, and auto-identifies the potion if they saw it break.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
Per commit f83a57c5, the quaffing effects for a hero are as follows:
- blessed: You have a 1⁄30 chance of becoming permanently invisible (1⁄15 if already invisible). Otherwise, you gain (3d100)+100 (more) turns of temporary invisibility.
- uncursed: You become invisible for (6d100)+100 (more) turns.
- cursed: You become invisible for (9d100)+100 (more) turns. All sleeping and meditating monsters on the level are awoken.
Strategy
Uncursed potions of invisibility are useful for escaping or clearing out tricky combat situations early in the game, but will usually not be as reliable once a hero gets off the ground. A blessed potion is a quick and easy way to attain permanent invisibility, provided the hero also has a mummy wrapping or other means of handling shopping (or else is not concerned about it). A hero that is already permanently invisible or does not plan to become permanently invisible may consider non-cursed potions of invisibility a good candidate for dilution.
On the other hand, a cursed potion of invisibility is useful for remotely waking up covetous monsters such as the quest nemesis, any of the demon lords and princes in Gehennom, or the Wizard of Yendor while within his Tower. This is best done while standing on the up stair, both to save the hero a trek across the level and to block off their escape while fighting them.
History
The potion of invisibility first appears in Hack 1.21, Hack for PDP-11 and PC/IX Hack, which are all based on Jay Fenlason's Hack. It is included in the initial item list for Hack 1.0.
Messages
- Gee! All of a sudden, you can't see yourself.
- You quaffed a potion of invisibility.
- For some reason, you feel your presence is known.
- This is additionally printed if you quaffed a cursed potion.
- Gee! All of a sudden, you can see right through yourself.
- As above, but you have see invisible.
- Far out, man! You can't see yourself.
- You quaffed a potion of invisibility while hallucinating.
- Far out, man! You can see right through yourself.
- As above, but you also have see invisible.
- You have a peculiar feeling for a moment, then it passes.
- You quaffed the potion while blind, already invisible, or else wearing a mummy wrapping.
- You have a normal feeling for a moment, then it passes.
- As above, while hallucinating.
- Suddenly you cannot see <monster>.
- A monster became invisible by quaffing the potion.
- <monster's> body takes on a strange transparency.
- As above, but you have see invisible.
- <monster's> body takes on a normal transparency.
- As above, but you were also hallucinating.
- For some reason, <monster's> presence is known to you.
- You feel aggravated at the invisible <monster>.
- A monster quaffed a cursed potion.
- Aggravated, you are jolted into full consciousness.
- As above, but the effect also roused you from unconsciousness.
- For an instant you couldn't see yourself!
- You inhaled the vapors of the potion while not blind.
- For an instant you could see right through yourself!
- As above, but you have see invisible.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, dipping an item in a potion of invisibility will turn it invisible.
Two potions of invisibility are placed randomly in the open area of Grund's Stronghold at level creation.
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, the fake "throne room" in Asmodeus' Lair has a potion of invisibility in each of its four corners.
SpliceHack
In SpliceHack, the fake "throne room" in Asmodeus' Lair has a potion of invisibility in each of its four corners as in UnNetHack.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, agents are always generated with potions of invisibility.
SlashTHEM
In SlashTHEM, in addition to SLASH'EM details, the Ninja starts each game with a blessed potion of invisibility.
Making a potion of invisibility via chemistry set uses up three charges.
References
- ↑ src/u_init.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 166
- ↑ src/muse.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 2035: peaceful monsters are not generated with invisibility items unless you can see them after use
- ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 737
- ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 748
- ↑ src/muse.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1990
- ↑ src/muse.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 2001
