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. 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.
  • Other sources of Water Proofing
    • A R'lyehian faceplate (see below).
    • An ample supply of grease for your bag of holding and other critical items, or perhaps even an oilskin sack, may be used instead.

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.

Boots

• Boots with the "Hiking Boots" random appearance give a 100 unit boost to your carrying capacity when worn, and are therefore useful for carrying a larger kit. This can inform your choice between speed boots and jumping boots, if one of those types happens to have gotten this appearance.

Helmet

• Helm of Drain Resistance: Since there are a few more sources of level drain in dNethack than in vanilla Nethack, drain resistance is a more useful property. Most players get by fine without this, though.

Shield

• Dragon Scale Shields: Dragon scales can be converted into a dragon scale shield via confused enchant armor. A dragon scale shield can be used to plug a gap in your resistances, but is inconveniently heavy at 150 units. They provide 3 points of AC and can be enchanted to +5.

Shirt

• Ruffed Shirt: This grants a point of Charisma, but for all intents is interchangeable with the vanilla shirts.
• Victorian Underwear: This grants MC3 as well as providing an extra enchantable item, but its restrictive nature means that it also costs you 2 points of AC. A +5 set of underwear, therefore, provides only +3 net AC.

Rings

• Engagement Ring: This is a random appearance, rather than a separate type of ring. Engagement rings grant immunity to seduction attacks, in addition to their normal abilities. If you find yourself facing Pale Night, Belial, Malcanthet, Lilith, or Graz'zt, this ring may prove essential.

Amulets

• Amulet of Drain Resistance: Since there are a few more sources of level drain in dNethack than in vanilla Nethack, drain resistance is a more useful property. Most players get by fine without this, though.

Tools & miscellaneous items

• R'lyehian Faceplate: When worn over your eyes, this item protects your entire inventory from water, but blinds you (the visor is opaque, or perhaps transparent in a part of the spectrum outside your visual range). Given that the endgame has many Water Elementals and divine spellcasters (with their inventory-wetting geyser and acid rain spells), some form of Water Proofing is essential.
  • Other sources of Water Proofing
    • An oilskin cloak (see above).
    • An ample supply of grease for your bag of holding and other critical items, or perhaps even an oilskin sack, may be used instead.

Wands

• Wand of Opening: Divine spellcasters (such as the priests on the Astral Plane) love to punish you. This wand (or the Knock spell) is an essential countermeasure.