Difference between revisions of "Asmodeus"
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
==Generation== | ==Generation== | ||
| − | Asmodeus will generally be encountered in [[Asmodeus' Lair|his lair]], unless you have somehow managed to meet him before reaching that level. The lair is eligible for [[bones]]. | + | Asmodeus will generally be encountered in [[Asmodeus' Lair|his lair]], waiting just one tile north of the room's downstair unless you have somehow managed to meet him before reaching that level.{{refsrc|dat/gehennom.des|470|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} The lair is also eligible for [[bones]]. |
Asmodeus will never generate with a random [[offensive item]], instead [[Monster starting inventory|always appearing with]] a [[wand of cold]] and a [[wand of fire]].{{refsrc|makemon.c|643}}{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|772|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} | Asmodeus will never generate with a random [[offensive item]], instead [[Monster starting inventory|always appearing with]] a [[wand of cold]] and a [[wand of fire]].{{refsrc|makemon.c|643}}{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|772|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} | ||
Revision as of 04:05, 4 April 2021
& Asmodeus 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 53 |
| Attacks |
Claw 4d4, magic cold |
| Base level | 49 |
| Base experience | 3225 |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | −7 |
| Base MR | 90 |
| Alignment | 20 (lawful) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | Unique |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 1500 |
| Nutritional value | 500 |
| Size | Huge |
| Resistances | Fire, cold, poison, death rays |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
Asmodeus:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line2722 |
Asmodeus, &, is a demon prince who appears in NetHack. He is the most powerful of the demon princes guaranteed to appear in Gehennom.
One of the random epitaphs found on randomly generated graves may read "Postman, please note forwarding address: Gehennom, Asmodeus's Fortress, fifth lemure on the left". He and the other demon rulers are also the subject of a false rumor.
Contents
Generation
Asmodeus will generally be encountered in his lair, waiting just one tile north of the room's downstair unless you have somehow managed to meet him before reaching that level.[1] The lair is also eligible for bones.
Asmodeus will never generate with a random offensive item, instead always appearing with a wand of cold and a wand of fire.[2][3]
Strategy
Asmodeus will appear before you first if you attract his attention; if you weren't wielding Excalibur upon entering, he will demand that you pay him for safe passage, with the amount being a portion of your visible gold. If you were wielding Excalibur or Demonbane at the time of level creation, refuse the bribe when he asks, or else he fails to see where you are, he becomes hostile.[4][5]
Giving Asmodeus the desired gold will cause him to disappear from the level, allowing you to continue on safely; this is the preferred strategy for speedruns in particular. If you plan to pay him off, be sure to unwield Excalibur beforehand. Unless you are not particularly attached to your wallet's contents at this point, it is best to hide most of it, e.g. in a bag or other container.
For those who elect to fight him instead, Asmodeus has 198 HP, high monster MR and a good natural AC of -7 - but he is of little trouble to a player with good AC of their own and cold resistance. He is covetous and will teleport to the upstairs when he takes a few hits.
Magical cold attack
Asmodeus has a unique magical cold attack. When used in melee, this attack does 30d6 damage (31d6 if Asmodeus has increased his level to 50),[6] for a maximum of 186 points of damage. This damage is reduced by half spell damage, and completely nullified by cold resistance. Magic resistance and reflection provide no protection against this melee attack. The cold melee attack cannot freeze potions in your inventory. In a normal game, most players will have acquired cold resistance by the time they meet Asmodeus; however, if you do not (for example, because of conducts), then Asmodeus becomes a fearsome opponent.
Asmodeus can also use a ranged version of his cold attack ("Asmodeus zaps you with a cone of cold"). The ranged version only does 6d6 damage. The ranged version's damage is also reduced by half spell damage, and is nullified by cold resistance and by reflection. Unlike the melee version, the ranged version can destroy potions in your inventory; reflection prevents this destruction.
Fighting Asmodeus
The easiest way to defeat Asmodeus is to lure him down one level and then stand on the upstairs, or else use an item that can wake him while still on the upstair yourself. A less effective method is to drive him upstairs until you reach a level that allows you to teleport to the upstairs ahead of him. Note also that level teleportation can be used to lure him to a level that permits teleportation.
Alternatively, you can use a cockatrice corpse or egg to turn him into a statue the first time he shows his face, then break the statue for his wands and any scrolls.
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.
You can no longer teleport to the stairs if Asmodeus is on the level. Jumping is effective as an alternative.Other tactics
Since Asmodeus wants the Amulet of Yendor as much as you do, you can exploit this behaviour. If you can lure him to Moloch's Sanctum, he will teleport to the high priest, engage (and hopefully defeat) them, take the Amulet, and go back to attacking you, allowing you to obtain the Amulet without leaving the vicinity of the staircase.
In principle, you could wound him just enough to chase him up the stairs, and repeat on each level. This lets you avoid the mysterious force, but is generally not worth the effort; Asmodeus can be struck by the force, too.
Origin
Asmodeus comes from Dungeons and Dragons, which in turn borrowed from Christian demonology. In both sources, he is a very powerful demon. It is possible that the name (if not the demon himself) was derived from the Zoroastrian daēva Aēšma, the demon of wrath.
The D&D Asmodeus is a handsome, red-eyed, dark-skinned and dark-haired humanoid bearing two small horns and clad in very expensive clothing. He is more than 4 meters (13 feet) tall.
Variants
Most variants, including SLASH'EM, don't have an encyclopedia entry for Asmodeus.
dNetHack
| & Asmodeus
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | |
| Attacks |
weapon 9d1 physical, |
| Base level | 99 |
| Base experience | |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | −9 to −99 |
| Base MR | 99 |
| Alignment | 20 (lawful) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | Unique |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | |
| Nutritional value | |
| Size | large |
| Resistances | fire, cold, poison, stoning, sickness |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
Asmodeus:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line4991 |
Asmodeus is probably the second or third most powerful monster in dNetHack, and is certainly the most powerful creature that the character may be forced to confront. This being the case, it is best when exploring Nessus to check all the perimeter rooms for the true downstairs before checking the center room. He will always demand a bribe of at least 9000 gold, and up to 9999, no matter how much the player has visible.
Encyclopaedia entry
It is said that Asmodeus is the overlord over all of hell.
His appearance, unlike many other demons and devils, is
human apart from his horns and tail. He can freeze flesh
with a touch.
The evil demon who appears in the Apocryphal book of _Tobit_
and is derived from the Persian _Aeshma_. In _Tobit_ Asmodeus
falls in love with Sara, daughter of Raguel, and causes the
death of seven husbands in succession, each on his bridal night.
He was finally driven from Egypt through a charm made by Tobias
of the heart and liver of a fish burned on perfumed ashes, as
described by Milton in _Paradise Lost_ (IV, 167-71). Hence
Asmodeus often figures as the spirit of matrimonial jealousy
or unhappiness.
