Master Kaen

@ Master Kaen
Difficulty	31
Attacks	Claw 16d2, claw 16d2, spell-casting (clerical), claw 1d4 amulet-stealing

@ Master Kaen
Difficulty	31
Attacks	Claw 16d2, claw 16d2, spell-casting (clerical), claw 1d4 amulet-stealing
Base level	25
Base experience	1066
Speed	12
Base AC	-10
Base MR	10
Alignment	20 (lawful)
Frequency (by normal means)	Unique
Genocidable	No
Weight	1450
Nutritional value	400
Size	Medium
Resistances	Poison, stoning
Resistances conveyed	Poison (100%)

Master Kaen is the extremely difficult Monk Quest nemesis. He hits hard and often, casts spells, and ignores Elbereth.

Strategy

Boulder fort

After Kaen ports to the upstairs, go up and read a scroll of earth and use ranged attacks such as spells or wands. You can also try this on the upstair to prevent him from porting away.

Drain life

Use the drain life spell until he croaks. It is a good idea to do this on the level above and when he teleports away, go downstairs to heal, preferably on a burned Elbereth. Eidolos uses this method for his instructional ttyrec posted on RGRN.

Levitation

Use fireproof water walking boots while fire resistant or levitate over the lava and use ranged attacks. At a distance, Kaen only casts the heal self and create insects spells.

Melee

Fight Kaen mano-a-mano. Not recommended. Master Kaen has more hit dice than any other monster, resulting in very stable and impressive damage, counterintuitive to the monk's low AC. Sufficiently advanced players have managed to do this, however.

Paralysis or sleep

Wield or throw a potion of paralysis while wearing a ring of free action or zap him with the sleep spell. Make sure you can use this method multiple times to ensure his immobility.

Sleep is the keyword to defeat him even at Lvl 14, and after that be sure to hit him hard, for example with Mjollnir

Polymorph

Although Master Kaen gains magic resistance from the quest artifact, he is NOT immune to disintegration. Polymorphing into a Black Dragon and using #Monster will allow you to kill him VERY easily. One thing to note is his low AC causes the beam to miss him occasionally. To be extra safe, polymorphing can be combined with the boulder fort or levitation strategies mentioned above (Levitating over lava can be risky as if the polymorph wears off, you'll lose the dragon's flying ability and die in the lava. However if you have a ring of levitation you can remain over the lava safely).

External links

• The Monk FAQ.

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