Ascension kit (dNethack)

The ascension kit is the nickname given to a set of items that are virtually required for a successful ascension. The dNethack ascension kit is similar to, but more inclusive than, the vanilla ascension kit. This article discusses the additional options and concerns presented by dNethack, and how they modify the standard ascension kit reasoning.

Common items

Armor

Cloak

• Robe: The robe now provides magic cancellation 2, rather than 3.
• oilskin cloak: The oilskin cloak now protects your entire inventory from water damage. Given that the endgame has many Water Elementals and divine spellcasters (with their inventory-wetting geyser and acid rain spells), this cloak is a serious contender for inclusion in the ascension kit. If it is not used, an ample supply of grease for your bag of holding and other critical items, or perhaps even an oilskin sack, are necessary instead. Further, genociding ';' before reaching the Plane of Water causes a large army of deep ones to spawn in the Plane of Water, in place of the native seamonsters.

Body armor

• Dragon scale mail, usually silver or grey: This provides either reflection or magic resistance, 9 base points of AC, and does not hinder spellcasting, but weighs 150 units (fairly heavy) and does not provide Magic cancellation. The other colors can be used to augment your offensive ability, or to plug a gap left in your energy resistances.
• Plate mail, either regular or bronze: When fully enchanted, these provide lower AC than Dragon scale, as well as MC 3, but are heavy at over 200 units, and hinder spellcasting.
• Crystal Plate mail: When highly enchanted, this provides the lowest possible AC, does not hinder spellcasting, and MC 2, but is also the heaviest option at 250 units (1/4 the maximum unburdened carrying capacity).
• Elven Mithril-coat: When enchanted to +7, gives 1 more point of AC than the dwarven variety. Both mithril coats grant MC3 and allow the character to apply their full dex bonus to AC, but still provide less of a bonus to AC than either of the other options. The coats are the lightest possible armor, however, weighing in at 40 units for dwarven and 20 units for elven coats.