Nazgul
W Nazgul 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 17 |
| Attacks |
Weapon 1d4 drain life, breath 2d25 sleep |
| Base level | 13 |
| Base experience | 376 |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | 0 |
| Base MR | 25 |
| Alignment | −17 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 1 (Very rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 1450 |
| Nutritional value | 0 |
| Size | Medium |
| Resistances | Cold, sleep, poison |
| Resistances conveyed | None |
|
A Nazgul:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line1895 |
A Nazgul, W, is a monster that appears in NetHack. They share the life draining-weapon attack of other wraiths, and also possess the ability to breathe sleeping gas.
A player killed by a Nazgul may appear as a wraith instead of a ghost in their bones file.
Contents
Generation
Nazgul are generated with cursed rings of invisibility, and always receive a knife and long sword similar to the barrow wight.[1][2]
Only nine Nazgul will be generated in any given game, after which they become extinct, and they are not a valid form for polymorph.[3]
Strategy
Players without sleep resistance can be caught off-guard by the Nazgul's sleeping breath, which may leave them free to close in and drain levels or even kill them out right.
Many souvenir hunters name the Nazgul's rings and attempt to ascend with a set of all nine.
History
The Nazgul first appears in NetHack 3.0.0. From this version to NetHack 3.0.10, the Nazgul's inclusion could be toggled with the TOLKIEN compile-time option - it becomes a default part of the bestiary in NetHack 3.1.0.
Origin
The Nazgûl (from Black Speech nazg, "ring", and gûl, "wraith, spirit") are derived from the world of Middle-earth created by J. R. R. Tolkien. They are introduced as "Black Riders" and also called Ringwraiths, Dark Riders, the Nine Riders, or simply the Nine. They were originally nine mortal humans who had succumbed to Sauron's power through wearing Rings of Power, which gave them immortality at the cost of reducing them to invisible wraiths bound to the power of the One Ring and completely under Sauron's control; this is the basis for the cursed rings of invisibility they spawn with in NetHack, as well as why only nine ever generate in a given game.
In their early forays, Nazgûl rode on black horses, and they later ride flying monsters that Tolkien described as "pterodactylic". They used fear as their main weapon, though they have also been seen carrying ordinary swords as well as Morgul-knives that reduce their victims to wraiths (hence why players slain by Nazgûl in NetHack arise as wraiths.
Variants
Many variants grant the Nazgul additional traits derived from the works of Tolkien that they appeared in, including their mutual grudge against hobbits derived from Nephi's grudge patch.
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, Nazgul can hit as a +2 weapon, and require a +1 weapon to hit.
SporkHack
In SporkHack, Nazgul have a screaming attack that stuns you and covers the entire level, making them a prime target for genocide. Nazgul also have a mutual grudge against hobbits, and both will attack each other on sight.
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, Nazgul have a screaming attack similar to SporkHack, but with much shorter range, and also have a mutual grudge against hobbits.
Players killed by a Nazgul in UnNetHack will arise as a barrow wight if a bones file is created.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, the presence of Nazgul on a level will cause monsters that are killed to rise as shades. Their born counter decreases each time a Nazgul is killed, meaning they will not stop generating and will not become extinct unless they are all left alive.
The Mordor Ruins Quest has several Nazguls:
- The Deep Forest levels each have a 1⁄20 chance of generating a Nazgul at level creation.
- At the edge of the Elven Forest, a Nazgul leads a horde of orcs against a group of elves led by an Elvenqueen. All monsters are generated on level creation.
- Two Nazgul are generated on the Mordor Wall level of the Mordor Ruins at level creation.
Nazgul can be warded off by Elbereth.
xNetHack
In xNetHack, Nazgul cannot be genocided and have the innate ability to see invisible. Nazgul also possess a shrieking attack that awakens and may stun the player and various nearby monsters within a 10-square radius - they will use this attack less often if the player is not in line-of-sight. The shriek always affects elves and will never affect orcs, undead and animals. Higher charisma gives you a slightly better chance of resisting the shriek's stunning effect.
SpliceHack
In SpliceHack, Nazgul have a screaming attack, and Nazgul and hobbits will also attack each other.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, Nazgul are made stronger and generate riding fell beasts as steeds, which are dangerous creatures in their own right; a Nazgul's scream can also shatter any glass objects in open inventory that have not been fixed. Nazgul and hobbits will also attack each other.
Encyclopedia entry
Immediately, though everything else remained as before, dim and dark, the shapes became terribly clear. He was able to see beneath their black wrappings. There were five tall figures: two standing on the lip of the dell, three advancing. In their white faces burned keen and merciless eyes; under their mantles were long grey robes; upon their grey hairs were helms of silver; in their haggard hands were swords of steel. Their eyes fell on him and pierced him, as they rushed towards him. Desperate, he drew his own sword, and it seemed to him that it flickered red, as if it was a firebrand. Two of the figures halted. The third was taller than the others: his hair was long and gleaming and on his helm was a crown. In one hand he held a long sword, and in the other a knife; both the knife and the hand that held it glowed with a pale light. He sprang forward and bore down on Frodo.
