Difference between revisions of "Major demon"

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'''Major demons''' are a type of [[monster]]s that appear in ''[[NetHack]]''. These 'true' demons are defined by the <code>'''M2_DEMON'''</code> flag, which is in turn used by other code such as the <code>is_demon</code> function.
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'''Major demons''' are a type of [[monster]] that appear in ''[[NetHack]]''. These "true" demons are defined by the <code>'''M2_DEMON'''</code> flag, which is in turn used by other code such as the <code>is_demon</code> function.
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==List of demons==
 +
The following monsters are considered demons:
 +
 
 +
** {{monsymlink|water demon}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|succubus}}
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** {{monsymlink|horned devil}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|incubus}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|erinys}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|barbed devil}}
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** {{monsymlink|marilith}}
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** {{monsymlink|vrock}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|hezrou}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|bone devil}}
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** {{monsymlink|ice devil}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|nalfeshnee}}
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** {{monsymlink|pit fiend}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|balrog}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|Juiblex}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|Yeenoghu}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|Orcus}}
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** {{monsymlink|Geryon}}
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** {{monsymlink|Dispater}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|Baalzebub}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|Asmodeus}}
 +
** {{monsymlink|Demogorgon}}
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** {{monsymlink|mail daemon}}
  
 
==Common traits==
 
==Common traits==
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All major demons are part of the [[Demon (monster class)|demon]] [[monster class]]. They resist [[fire]], [[poison]], [[level drain]], and [[death ray]]s, although they are still considered living creatures. Major demons cannot be tamed unless [[you]] are polymorphed into a demon yourself. All major demons can be [[Silver#silver damage|burned by silver]] for an extra d20 damage.
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All demons are part of the [[Demon (monster class)|demon]] [[monster class]]. They possess [[fire resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[drain resistance]], and [[death resistance]] (although they are still considered living creatures). Demons are vulnerable to [[silver]], and take an extra d20 damage when struck with a silver weapon - they also take an extra d4 damage from [[blessed]] weapons. Non-[[unique]] demons cannot be tamed unless the [[player]] character is a demon as well.
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[[Demon lords and princes]] are powerful unique demons that inhabit Gehennom - a character will encounter the lairs of these demons while traversing Gehennom, and some of the demon lords and princes can only be encountered if they are summoned.
  
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Major demons are mostly found in [[Gehennom]]. Non-unique major demons generated at the time of level creation have an 80% chance of starting out asleep, unless you possess the [[Amulet of Yendor]] in which case they will always be awake.{{refsrc|makemon.c|1035}} This does not apply to those generated after level creation.
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===Generation===
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Major demons are always generated hostile, and are mostly found in [[Gehennom]] with the exception of [[quest nemeses]], though they can be summoned in the main dungeon through the various means described below:
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 +
* [[Summon nasties]] can generate demons among the various hostile monsters that appear.
 +
* [[Polymorph trap]]s can create demons and other out of depth monsters, as can the [[wand of polymorph]] and [[potion of polymorph]] if you use them on other monsters.
 +
* Demons [[#Demon summoning|can be summoned]] as the [[minion]]s of [[Moloch]] or a [[chaotic]] god.
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* Demons generated by any of the above methods can also [[#Demons summoning demons|gate in other demons]] with their melee attacks, with the exception of foocubi and balrogs.
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Non-unique major demons that are generated at level creation have a {{frac|4|5}} chance of being created asleep unless you possess the [[Amulet of Yendor]], in which case they will always be awake.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|1318|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
  
 
===Demon summoning===
 
===Demon summoning===
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Hostile demons are generated if you anger Moloch or a chaotic deity, e.g. by converting or destroying their altars, or else by praying to a chaotic god with negative alignment.
 +
 
[[Sacrifice#Sacrificing creatures of own race|Sacrificing your own race]] can summon a major demon or a demon lord (but not a demon prince), as can [[anger]]ing a chaotic god when on an [[altar]] (by [[pray]]ing with negative alignment, converting a chaotic altar, or a few other actions).
 
[[Sacrifice#Sacrificing creatures of own race|Sacrificing your own race]] can summon a major demon or a demon lord (but not a demon prince), as can [[anger]]ing a chaotic god when on an [[altar]] (by [[pray]]ing with negative alignment, converting a chaotic altar, or a few other actions).
  
 
===Demons summoning demons===
 
===Demons summoning demons===
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Major demons, demon lords and demon princes have a {{frac|13}} chance of summoning or "gating in" another demon each time that demon acts when adjacent to you (or your displaced image, in the case of [[displacement]]){{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|590|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} - major demons can summon other major demons and demon lords, while demon lords and princes can summon other demon rulers alongside major demons. Demon quest nemeses can summon other major demons, but cannot be summoned this way; foocubi and balrogs cannot summon demons, but can be gated in by other demons.
  
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This section of the page is based on a spoiler by M. Stage which can now be accessed [http://web.archive.org/web/20080415192434/http://www.nethack.de/spoiler/demon_summoning.txt on the web archive] or [http://alt.org/nethack/mirror/www.nethack.de/spoiler/demon_summoning.txt on alt.org's mirror of www.nethack.de].
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Demon gating will always generate co-aligned demons, e.g. mariliths can gate in other chaotic demons and demon lords - as there are no lawful demon lords, lawful major demons will only summon other major demons, because there are no lawful demon lords. The [[Wizard of Yendor]] summoning nasties is an exception, as is any use of the spell in Gehennom (which is treated as though the Wizard cast it), and can create demons of any alignment.{{refsrc|src/minion.c|78|nethack=3.6.7}}
  
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Every major demon and [[demon lords and princes|demon lord or prince]] has a {{frac|13}} chance of summoning (sometimes called "gating in") another major demon or unique demon every time it acts when it thinks it's adjacent to you (wearing a [[cloak of displacement]] can result in gating if the demon attacks your displaced image).<ref>[[mhitu.c#line589]] /* Special demon handling code */</ref> [[Foocubus|Foocubi]] and [[balrog]]s cannot summon demons, but can be summoned by them. [[Quest nemesis]] demons can summon as major demons, but cannot be summoned. Restrictions on demons being generated outside Gehennom are ignored. Demons will never summon demons while attacking other monsters, therefore tame demons will not normally summon other demons (which would be hostile, anyway).<ref>[[Mhitu.c#line482]], [[Wizard.c#line432]], [[Minion.c#msummon]],[[Minion.c#ndemon]],[[Makemon.c#mkclass]]</ref> [[Minor demon]]s cannot summon or be summoned at all.
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The difference between major demons, demon lords, and demon princes lies in which other demons they can summon, and how often: all demons can summon other major demons, and are capable of summoning stronger demons as well. Major demons and demon lords have a {{frac|20}} chance of summoning a co-aligned demon lord, while demon lords have a {{frac|20}} chance of summoning another co-aligned demon lord, and a {{frac|50}} chance of summoning a demon prince. Demon princes and the Wizard of Yendor have a {{frac|20}} chance of summoning a co-aligned demon prince, and a {{frac|4}} chance of summoning a co-aligned demon lord if a prince is not summoned. Major demons that summon other major demons will choose their own type {{frac|5|6}} of the time, and otherwise choose a random type.{{refsrc|src/minion.c|89|nethack=3.6.7}} Demon lords and princes that summon a major demon have a {{frac|4}} chance of summoning two demons of that type.{{refsrc|src/minion.c|82|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/minion.c|87|nethack=3.6.7}} [[Demonbane]] completely blocks all forms of demon gating while wielded.{{refsrc|src/minion.c|62|nethack=3.6.7}}
  
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|[[Bone devil]]s summon [[skeleton]]s instead of other demons (but can still be summoned by other demons).}}
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The following table shows the chance of a given demon gating in another demon of a specific rank:
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The difference between major demons, demon lords, and demon princes lies in which other demons they can summon, and how often. The following table shows the chance of a given demon gating in another demon of a specific rank:
 
  
 
{| class="prettytable"
 
{| class="prettytable"
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|}
 
|}
  
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Summoned demons will always be the same alignment as the summoner&mdash;that is, summoners are only capable of summoning co-aligned demons. In practice, this means that lawful major demons only summon other major demons, because there are no lawful demon lords. The Wizard of Yendor's [[summon nasties]] (remote or in person) is an exception: he can create any demon.  Major demons summoning other major demons will choose their own type {{frac|5|6}} of the time, and otherwise choose a random type.{{refsrc|minion.c|87|nethack=3.6.1}} When a prince or lord summons a major demon, there is a 1 in 4 chance it will summon two demons of that type instead of one.
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|[[Bone devil]]s summon [[skeleton]]s instead of other demons, and can still be summoned by other demons.}}
  
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If you are trying to summon [[Demogorgon]] (perhaps as an unofficial [[conduct]]) the quickest way to do it is with [[Orcus]]<!-- he can cast haste self, so no need to zap the wand at him -->. The chance of getting Demogorgon per turn is {{sfrac|13}}&nbsp;× {{sfrac|5|100}}&nbsp;= {{sfrac|1|260}} per turn. Your chance of having summoned Demogorgon after ''n'' turns is then:
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===Summoning while polymorphed===
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If you are polymorphed into a major demon that can summon, each time you attack a monster while unarmed has a {{frac|13}} chance of summoning a [[tame]] demon to your side.{{refsrc|src|uhitm.c|1483|nethack=3.6.7|comment=<code>demonpet</code> function}} As with hostile major demons, demons that you summon will be of the same type as your current form {{frac|5|6}} of the time, and will otherwise be a random demon of the same alignment.
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==Strategy==
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The major demons are decently strong opponents, and an otherwise-prepared character entering the [[Valley of the Dead]] and Gehennom proper should ensure they have a means of consistently dealing with them. The demon lords and princes in particular are all the more threatening to various degrees, which is compounded by their [[covetous]] behavior and the inability to [[teleport]] on their levels.
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If you are trying to summon [[Demogorgon]] (e.g. to fight for bragging rights) or else avoid him, Orcus is the most likely demon to summon him - the chances of Demogorgon being summoned per turn is {{sfrac|13}}&nbsp;× {{sfrac|5|100}}&nbsp;= {{sfrac|1|260}} per turn. Your chance of having summoned Demogorgon after ''n'' turns is then:
  
 
{| class="prettytable"
 
{| class="prettytable"
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|}
 
|}
  
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If you don't want to deal with Orcus' spells, Yeenoghu is also an option, although he'll take about 150% longer, assuming Orcus has already been generated. Zap a [[wand of speed monster]] at him to give him more actions per turn.
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For those who do not want to weather Orcus's spells and [[wand of death]], the next most likely demon ruler to summon Demogorgon is Yeenoghu, though he is slower and cannot haste himself without a [[wand of speed monster]] or a [[potion of speed]].
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=== Summoning while polymorphed ===
 
  
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If you are polymorphed into a major demon that can summon, and you hit a monster with bare or gloved hands, there is a 1 in 13 chance of summoning a [[tame]] demon at your side, announced with the message "Some hell-p has arrived!"<ref>{{function|uhitm.c|demonpet}}</ref> This chance occurs on each attack, so a demon with many attacks, such as a [[marilith]], will be more likely to summon a demon.
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|d86b7e8e7c687a711912e8682894a3ef34c0c7f8}}, the presence of a demon lord or prince on a Gehennom level will block regular teleportation.
  
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When a demon is summoned, it will be of the same type as your current form {{frac|5|6}} of the time and a random demon of the same alignment as you the rest of the time. You will never summon a unique demon.
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Orcus will not use his wand of death if he sees that you resist its effects.}}
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==Strategy==
 
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Major demons are quite strong opponents and can summon other major demons and unique demons; [[foocubi]] and [[balrog]]s cannot summon, but other demons can summon them. The unique demons are very strong and can be dangerous in some circumstances.
 
  
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|In Gehennom, the presence of a demon lord or prince will now block others on the same level from teleporting.}}
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==Messages==
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{{message|<The demon> appears in a cloud of smoke!|A hostile demon was summoned by another hostile demon.}}
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{{message|Some hell-p has arrived!|You summoned a tame demon while in the form of a demon.}}
  
 
==Variants==
 
==Variants==
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==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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{{nethack-343}}
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{{nethack-367}}
 
[[Category:Monsters]]
 
[[Category:Monsters]]

Revision as of 10:19, 11 February 2024

Major demons are a type of monster that appear in NetHack. These "true" demons are defined by the M2_DEMON flag, which is in turn used by other code such as the is_demon function.

List of demons

The following monsters are considered demons:

Common traits

All demons are part of the demon monster class. They possess fire resistance, poison resistance, drain resistance, and death resistance (although they are still considered living creatures). Demons are vulnerable to silver, and take an extra d20 damage when struck with a silver weapon - they also take an extra d4 damage from blessed weapons. Non-unique demons cannot be tamed unless the player character is a demon as well.

Demon lords and princes are powerful unique demons that inhabit Gehennom - a character will encounter the lairs of these demons while traversing Gehennom, and some of the demon lords and princes can only be encountered if they are summoned.

Generation

Major demons are always generated hostile, and are mostly found in Gehennom with the exception of quest nemeses, though they can be summoned in the main dungeon through the various means described below:

Non-unique major demons that are generated at level creation have a 4⁄5 chance of being created asleep unless you possess the Amulet of Yendor, in which case they will always be awake.[1]

Demon summoning

Hostile demons are generated if you anger Moloch or a chaotic deity, e.g. by converting or destroying their altars, or else by praying to a chaotic god with negative alignment.

Sacrificing your own race can summon a major demon or a demon lord (but not a demon prince), as can angering a chaotic god when on an altar (by praying with negative alignment, converting a chaotic altar, or a few other actions).

Demons summoning demons

Major demons, demon lords and demon princes have a 1⁄13 chance of summoning or "gating in" another demon each time that demon acts when adjacent to you (or your displaced image, in the case of displacement)[2] - major demons can summon other major demons and demon lords, while demon lords and princes can summon other demon rulers alongside major demons. Demon quest nemeses can summon other major demons, but cannot be summoned this way; foocubi and balrogs cannot summon demons, but can be gated in by other demons.

Demon gating will always generate co-aligned demons, e.g. mariliths can gate in other chaotic demons and demon lords - as there are no lawful demon lords, lawful major demons will only summon other major demons, because there are no lawful demon lords. The Wizard of Yendor summoning nasties is an exception, as is any use of the spell in Gehennom (which is treated as though the Wizard cast it), and can create demons of any alignment.[3]

The difference between major demons, demon lords, and demon princes lies in which other demons they can summon, and how often: all demons can summon other major demons, and are capable of summoning stronger demons as well. Major demons and demon lords have a 1⁄20 chance of summoning a co-aligned demon lord, while demon lords have a 1⁄20 chance of summoning another co-aligned demon lord, and a 1⁄50 chance of summoning a demon prince. Demon princes and the Wizard of Yendor have a 1⁄20 chance of summoning a co-aligned demon prince, and a 1⁄4 chance of summoning a co-aligned demon lord if a prince is not summoned. Major demons that summon other major demons will choose their own type 5⁄6 of the time, and otherwise choose a random type.[4] Demon lords and princes that summon a major demon have a 1⁄4 chance of summoning two demons of that type.[5][6] Demonbane completely blocks all forms of demon gating while wielded.[7]

The following table shows the chance of a given demon gating in another demon of a specific rank:

Summoner Summoned demon
Major demon Demon lord Demon prince
Major demons
(except foocubi and balrogs) 		95% 5% 0%
Demon lords
Juiblex, Yeenoghu 		93.1% 4.9% 2%
Demon princes
Asmodeus, Baalzebub, Dispater,
Geryon, Demogorgon, Orcus 		71.75% 23.75% 5%

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.

Bone devils summon skeletons instead of other demons, and can still be summoned by other demons.

Summoning while polymorphed

If you are polymorphed into a major demon that can summon, each time you attack a monster while unarmed has a 1⁄13 chance of summoning a tame demon to your side.[8] As with hostile major demons, demons that you summon will be of the same type as your current form 5⁄6 of the time, and will otherwise be a random demon of the same alignment.

Strategy

The major demons are decently strong opponents, and an otherwise-prepared character entering the Valley of the Dead and Gehennom proper should ensure they have a means of consistently dealing with them. The demon lords and princes in particular are all the more threatening to various degrees, which is compounded by their covetous behavior and the inability to teleport on their levels.

If you are trying to summon Demogorgon (e.g. to fight for bragging rights) or else avoid him, Orcus is the most likely demon to summon him - the chances of Demogorgon being summoned per turn is 113 × 5100 = 1260 per turn. Your chance of having summoned Demogorgon after n turns is then:

Number of turns n Chance of Demogorgon
1 0.38%
50 17.5%
100 32.0%
200 53.7%
500 85.4%
1000 97.9%

For those who do not want to weather Orcus's spells and wand of death, the next most likely demon ruler to summon Demogorgon is Yeenoghu, though he is slower and cannot haste himself without a wand of speed monster or a potion of speed.

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.

Per commit d86b7e8e, the presence of a demon lord or prince on a Gehennom level will block regular teleportation.

Orcus will not use his wand of death if he sees that you resist its effects.

Messages

<The demon> appears in a cloud of smoke!
A hostile demon was summoned by another hostile demon.
Some hell-p has arrived!
You summoned a tame demon while in the form of a demon.

Variants

SLASH'EM

SLASH'EM introduces the following major demons:

UnNetHack

In UnNetHack, a shambling horror can be defined as a demon in certain games, allowing them to appear via demon gating and gate other demons themselves.

Angels and demons attack each other on sight, as part of Nephi's grudge patch.

SpliceHack

Main article: Infernal (starting race)

In SpliceHack, the infernal is a playable demonic race.

References

  1. ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1318
  2. ↑ src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 590
  3. ↑ src/minion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 78
  4. ↑ src/minion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 89
  5. ↑ src/minion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 82
  6. ↑ src/minion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 87
  7. ↑ src/minion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 62
  8. ↑ src in NetHack 3.6.7, line uhitm.c: demonpet function
Retrieved from "https://nethackwiki.com/index.php?title=Major_demon&oldid=161882"