Difference between revisions of "Curse items"
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| − | '''Curse items''' is one of the most despised [[monster spell]]s in [[NetHack]]. It can be cast in melee range by monsters such as [[lich]]es, or encountered in other ways. It will unbless or [[curse]] a number of your inventory items, which can reduce their effects or make them dangerous and difficult to remove. | + | '''Curse items''' is one of the most despised [[monster spell]]s in [[NetHack]]. It can be cast in melee range by monsters such as [[lich]]es, or encountered in other ways. It will unbless or [[curse]] a number of your inventory items, which can reduce their effects or make them dangerous and difficult to remove. It can be used by both mage spell users (of level 11 or higher){{refsrc|mcastu.c|387}} and clerical spell users (of level 10 or higher).{{refsrc|mcastu.c|530}} |
| − | + | ==Effects== | |
| + | The spell will normally affect 1d6 random items in your inventory if it succeeds; blessed items will become uncursed and uncursed items will become cursed. If you have [[half spell damage]] or [[magic resistance]], only 1d3 items will be affected; if you have both, only 1d2 will be affected.{{refsrc|sit.c|337}} | ||
| − | + | Additionally, despite not being in your inventory, your steed's [[saddle]] has an independent {{frac|4}} chance of being affected, if you're [[riding]] at the time. | |
| − | + | [[Magicbane]] will absorb the spell entirely 95% of the time if wielded, protecting all of your items. [[Intelligent artifact]]s will individually resist the effect 80% of the time; this doesn't protect other items. | |
==Strategy== | ==Strategy== | ||
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While [[container]]s can themselves be cursed by this spell, their contents cannot. But a [[bag of holding]] becomes much heavier if cursed, and using a cursed bag of holding risks destroying some objects inside. Most players using one will learn the {{spell of|remove curse}} spell or carry a blessed [[scroll of remove curse]], potion of [[holy water]], or a [[wand of cancellation]] in an [[oilskin sack]] or a ([[greased]]) plain [[sack]]. A less preferable alternative is to temporarily stow the bag of holding in a non-magical bag while fighting liches—even if the outer bag gets cursed, the bag of holding will be safe. | While [[container]]s can themselves be cursed by this spell, their contents cannot. But a [[bag of holding]] becomes much heavier if cursed, and using a cursed bag of holding risks destroying some objects inside. Most players using one will learn the {{spell of|remove curse}} spell or carry a blessed [[scroll of remove curse]], potion of [[holy water]], or a [[wand of cancellation]] in an [[oilskin sack]] or a ([[greased]]) plain [[sack]]. A less preferable alternative is to temporarily stow the bag of holding in a non-magical bag while fighting liches—even if the outer bag gets cursed, the bag of holding will be safe. | ||
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To minimize the negative effects of this spell, you can bless even those items in main inventory that are not intrinsically improved by being blessed (such as armor). Another tactic involves filling up inventory slots with individual items that are light and easily obtainable in large numbers (such as [[arrow]]s, [[dart]]s, and [[gem]]s), each given a different name so that they will not stack together. Since the cursing effect randomly chooses items from inventory, this reduces the chance that a valuable item will be hit. | To minimize the negative effects of this spell, you can bless even those items in main inventory that are not intrinsically improved by being blessed (such as armor). Another tactic involves filling up inventory slots with individual items that are light and easily obtainable in large numbers (such as [[arrow]]s, [[dart]]s, and [[gem]]s), each given a different name so that they will not stack together. Since the cursing effect randomly chooses items from inventory, this reduces the chance that a valuable item will be hit. | ||
| − | If you wield a [[two-handed]] [[weapon]], you should plan ahead in case monsters curse your weapon, e.g., deposit some [[holy water]] in the floor in strategic places. Keep it always blessed and make sure it's safe to pray. | + | If you wield a [[two-handed]] [[weapon]], you should plan ahead in case monsters curse your weapon, e.g., deposit some [[holy water]] in the floor in strategic places. Keep it always blessed and make sure it's safe to pray. If your weapon does become cursed, you can empty your bag on the floor with the #[[tip]] command to reach your means of curse removal; it is best to prepare a bag of such items in advance for when prayer is inconvenient or unavailable (e.g., in [[Gehennom]]). |
[[Potion of unholy water#Possible uses|Some items]] are better cursed, and a monster might do you the favor. To use this, you can deliberately get affected by this in a controlled manner. Drop, bag, or stash everything you wouldn't want cursed. Use one of the weaker monsters that can cast this, and confine it into a small space with [[Elbereth]] or [[boulder]]s. You may want to set this up on an early dungeon level, where other generated monsters are less dangerous. | [[Potion of unholy water#Possible uses|Some items]] are better cursed, and a monster might do you the favor. To use this, you can deliberately get affected by this in a controlled manner. Drop, bag, or stash everything you wouldn't want cursed. Use one of the weaker monsters that can cast this, and confine it into a small space with [[Elbereth]] or [[boulder]]s. You may want to set this up on an early dungeon level, where other generated monsters are less dangerous. | ||
==Non-spell sources== | ==Non-spell sources== | ||
| − | * [[Pray]]ing: one possible | + | * [[Pray]]ing: one possible negative effect is a malignant aura. |
| − | * The [[Wizard of Yendor]]: Once he is dead or the [[invocation ritual]] has been performed, various effects will occur at random intervals. One of these effects will curse your items. | + | * The [[Wizard of Yendor]]: Once he is dead or the [[invocation ritual]] has been performed, various [[Wizard of Yendor#Harassment|effects]] will occur at random intervals. One of these effects will curse your items. |
* [[Sit]]ting on a [[throne]] with zero or negative [[Luck]] can produce a curse effect. | * [[Sit]]ting on a [[throne]] with zero or negative [[Luck]] can produce a curse effect. | ||
| − | <!--* Failing to read a [[spellbook]] can theoretically result in a malignant aura, but this cannot actually happen in vanilla 3. | + | <!--* Failing to read a [[spellbook]] can theoretically result in a malignant aura, but this cannot actually happen in vanilla 3.6.6 because [[Cursed spellbook|no spellbooks are difficult enough]].--> |
==Messages== | ==Messages== | ||
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<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Monster spells]] | [[Category:Monster spells]] | ||
| − | {{nethack- | + | {{nethack-366}} |
Revision as of 13:46, 12 June 2022
Curse items is one of the most despised monster spells in NetHack. It can be cast in melee range by monsters such as liches, or encountered in other ways. It will unbless or curse a number of your inventory items, which can reduce their effects or make them dangerous and difficult to remove. It can be used by both mage spell users (of level 11 or higher)[1] and clerical spell users (of level 10 or higher).[2]
Effects
The spell will normally affect 1d6 random items in your inventory if it succeeds; blessed items will become uncursed and uncursed items will become cursed. If you have half spell damage or magic resistance, only 1d3 items will be affected; if you have both, only 1d2 will be affected.[3]
Additionally, despite not being in your inventory, your steed's saddle has an independent 1⁄4 chance of being affected, if you're riding at the time.
Magicbane will absorb the spell entirely 95% of the time if wielded, protecting all of your items. Intelligent artifacts will individually resist the effect 80% of the time; this doesn't protect other items.
Strategy
While containers can themselves be cursed by this spell, their contents cannot. But a bag of holding becomes much heavier if cursed, and using a cursed bag of holding risks destroying some objects inside. Most players using one will learn the remove curse spell or carry a blessed scroll of remove curse, potion of holy water, or a wand of cancellation in an oilskin sack or a (greased) plain sack. A less preferable alternative is to temporarily stow the bag of holding in a non-magical bag while fighting liches—even if the outer bag gets cursed, the bag of holding will be safe.
To minimize the negative effects of this spell, you can bless even those items in main inventory that are not intrinsically improved by being blessed (such as armor). Another tactic involves filling up inventory slots with individual items that are light and easily obtainable in large numbers (such as arrows, darts, and gems), each given a different name so that they will not stack together. Since the cursing effect randomly chooses items from inventory, this reduces the chance that a valuable item will be hit.
If you wield a two-handed weapon, you should plan ahead in case monsters curse your weapon, e.g., deposit some holy water in the floor in strategic places. Keep it always blessed and make sure it's safe to pray. If your weapon does become cursed, you can empty your bag on the floor with the #tip command to reach your means of curse removal; it is best to prepare a bag of such items in advance for when prayer is inconvenient or unavailable (e.g., in Gehennom).
Some items are better cursed, and a monster might do you the favor. To use this, you can deliberately get affected by this in a controlled manner. Drop, bag, or stash everything you wouldn't want cursed. Use one of the weaker monsters that can cast this, and confine it into a small space with Elbereth or boulders. You may want to set this up on an early dungeon level, where other generated monsters are less dangerous.
Non-spell sources
- Praying: one possible negative effect is a malignant aura.
- The Wizard of Yendor: Once he is dead or the invocation ritual has been performed, various effects will occur at random intervals. One of these effects will curse your items.
- Sitting on a throne with zero or negative Luck can produce a curse effect.
Messages
- "You feel as if you need some help."
- The spell was cast by an adjacent monster
or:
- "You notice a black glow surround you."
- The spell was cast remotely by the Wizard of Yendor.
or:
- "A black glow surrounds you."
- The spell is punishment from a god.
If blind, none of the above messages will be displayed. If hallucinating, the color black will be replaced.
Then:
- "You feel a malignant aura surround you."
- Some random inventory items were cursed.
or:
- "You feel a malignant aura surround the magic-absorbing blade."
- The curse was absorbed by Magicbane.
Then, possibly:
- "<artifact> resists!"
- An intelligent artifact resisted being cursed. Will be displayed for each resisting artifact.
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, if curse items targets an already-cursed container, one random item inside it is cursed instead. This can theoretically happen recursively if you have nested cursed containers. If you are double-bagging to protect your bag of holding, it is important that the bag containing the bag of holding remains non-cursed.
