Monster spell

In NetHack, a monster spell is a category of spell that only spell-casting monsters can make use of. Some are unique to this category, while others share properties with other magical items and spells that the player character can use.

Description

Hostile monsters that have spell-casting attacks can cast one of three categories of spell: mage spells, clerical spells and ray-type spells. No monster will cast spells in more than one category. Ray spells are handled differently compared to mage and clerical spells - see the section below for more information. Monsters that are cancelled can no longer cast any spells.

For non-ray spells, the monster must be at least level one to cast spells, and spells are selected randomly based on that monster's level (represented in calculations as ML) and spellcasting type, with their level providing the cap for what spells of that type are eligible. Monsters that cast spells from a given category can use any spell in that category if it is available at or below their current level, and will only cast a particular spell once every (10 − ML) turns, with a minimum "cooldown" of two turns between attempts. Monsters that attempt to cast a spell while it is on cooldown will produce a "curse" message. Once the conditions for being able to cast a given spell, there is a ²⁄_ML chance that the spell will fail and produce a different non-"curse" message, with the chance of failure multiplied by 5 if that monster is confused.

Hostile monsters that are scared (e.g., by Elbereth) or are not adjacent to you will only use non-directed spells. If a hostile monster uses a directed spell at you, but you are on a different square than the monster expected, the spell will fail and produce a "curse" message. Monsters will not cast spells of either type if they are more than 7 squares away from you. Peaceful or tame monsters will not cast spells at you unless under the effects of conflict, and will only cast undirected spells that target themselves.

List of spells

In the tables below, Min. level refers to the minimum level required for the monster to be able to cast that spell. The monsters that use the type of spells in each table are listed in the two Monsters column. In the Monsters (at lowest level) column, we assume that the monster is generated at its base level minus one, which is the lowest possible level at which a monster will be randomly generated. In the Monsters (at highest level) column, we assume that the monster is generated at its base level times 1.5, which is the highest possible level at which a monster will be randomly generated. In both cases, each named monster can cast the spell on that row and every spell above it.

As an example, a golden naga is guaranteed to cast psi bolt, cure self, haste self, stun, disappear, drain strength and destroy armor. It may be able to cast curse items and aggravate, if it is generated at a high enough level. Monsters are capable of casting spells that appear below their names in the table if they gain levels, e.g. through killing other monsters (typically via conflict) or potions of gain level.

Mage spells

The list of available mage spells is as follows:

Spell	Min. level	Directed	Monsters (at lowest level)	Monsters (at highest level)
Psi bolt	1	Y	kobold shaman
Cure self	2		barrow wight, orc shaman, gnomish wizard
Haste self	3			kobold shaman
Stun	4	Y	guide, apprentice	barrow wight, orc shaman, gnomish wizard
Disappear	5
Drain strength	7	Y		guide, apprentice
Destroy armor	9	Y	golden naga, lich, nalfeshnee
Curse items	11	Y	demilich
Aggravate	14		ki-rin, titan, Ixoth, Dark One, Minion of Huhetotl, Thoth Amon, Chromatic Dragon, Nalzok	golden naga
Summon nasties	16		master lich, Archon, Neferet the Green	lich, nalfeshnee
Touch of death	21	Y	arch-lich, Orcus, Dispater, Demogorgon	demilich, master lich, arch-lich, ki-rin, titan, Archon, Ixoth, Dark One, Minion of Huhetotl, Thoth Amon, Chromatic Dragon, Nalzok, Neferet the Green, Orcus, Dispater, Demogorgon
Double Trouble	19/unique		Wizard of Yendor	Wizard of Yendor

Peaceful or tame monsters that cast mage spells will only use haste self, cure self and disappear, and will only cast the lattermost spell if you can currently see invisible.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

As part of a rework to make them better emulate their inspirations in the Furies, commit f930a12f gives erinyes the ability to cast mage monster spells among the traits and properties they can gain if a character commits enough alignment abuse.

Clerical spells

Spell	Min. level	Directed	Monsters (at lowest level)	Monsters (at highest level)
Open wounds	1	Y
Cure self	2
Confuse	3	Y	abbot, acolyte
Paralyze	5	Y
Blind	6	Y		abbot, acolyte
Summon insects	9
Curse items	10	Y	aligned priest
Lightning	12	Y
Fire pillar	13	Y
Geyser	14	Y	high priest, Grand Master, Master Kaen, Arch Priest	aligned priest, high priest, Grand Master, Master Kaen, Arch Priest

Peaceful or tame monsters that cast clerical spells will only use cure self.

Ray-type spells

Ray-type spells can be cast by monsters with the corresponding attack type and can be used at melee-range, or from a distance if the caster is lined up with its perceived target. At a distance, the spell behaves the same as a wand or breath weapon; when cast at an adjacent square, they act as melee attacks that deal damage based on the caster's level and cannot be blocked by reflection. Each of the ray spells can be nullified with the appropriate resistance property, and half spell damage applies. Ray spells that are cast unsuccessfully do not produce "curse" messages.

The ray-type spells are as follows:

• Magic missile: This is used by Angels, Yeenoghu and the Oracle - the Oracle only uses the melee-range version as a passive, which will only occur in response to a melee attack from your character. When used in melee range, it deals (^ML⁄₂ + 1)d6 damage, e.g. an Angel at its base level will deal 8d6 damage. Magic resistance completely blocks the attack in either form.
• Cone of cold: This is used by Asmodeus. When used at a distance, the attack deals 6d6 damage; when used in melee range, the spell can deal upwards of 180 damage before half spell damage is applied. Cold resistance blocks the spell completely in either form.
• Fireball: This attack is present in the code, but currently unused by any monsters, and functions as the cone of cold does above. Fire resistance blocks the spell in either form.

Strategy

For non-ray spells, a monster subjected to any form of life drain can lose its ability to cast higher-level spells; however, many higher-level spellcasters are immune, and those that aren't generally have a very high MR score. Stormbringer and the Staff of Aesculapius bypass monster MR, with the caveat that it is possible to kill a non-resistant target before any effect on their spellcasting is noticeable.

Messages

<Monster> points at you, then curses.

<Monster> points all around, then curses.

The monster attempted to cast a spell before they were able to do so.

<Monster> points and curses in your general direction.

As above, but the monster cannot see you.

<Monster> points and curses at your displaced image.

As above, but you are displaced.

You hear a mumbled curse.

As above, but you cannot see the monster.

The air crackles around <monster>.

The monster cast a spell when able to do so, but the spell failed.

<Monster> casts a spell!

<Monster> casts a spell at you!

The monster successfully cast a spell.

<Monster> casts a spell at a spot near you!

As above, but the monster cannot see you.

<Monster> casts a spell at your displaced image!

As above, but you are displaced.

You are hit by a shower of missiles!

A monster used a magic missile attack against you.

The missiles bounce off!

As above, but you have magic resistance.

You are covered in frost!

You were hit by the cold ray spell.

You are enveloped in flames!

You were hit by the fire ray spell.

Variants

SLASH'EM

SLASH'EM has many new spellcasting monsters, including fire vampires which use the previously-unimplemented fire ray spell. It also introduces two new mage spells:

• Call undead, which can be used by all liches (and no other monsters);
• Create pool, which can be used by monsters of level 13 or higher.

GruntHack

In GruntHack, mages and other similar casters have the ability to cast the same spells available to the player, with their spell repertoire dependent on their level. This turns weaker hostile casters such as gnomish mages (which replace gnomish wizards) from virtual pushovers to fairly dangerous threats, and stronger casters such as liches and vampire mages become even more powerful threats that can deal significant damage with the spell of acid blast or even zap the spell of cancellation at you.

dNetHack

In dNetHack, monster spellcasting is divided into three broad categories: magical casting, divine casting, and psionic casting. In addition to basic spell lists, many spellcasting monsters also have specific lists of spells that they can cast with varying probabilities - these lists are consistent for a given monster type, and vary between monster types; monster spell type is a factor for interactions with various items and madnesses. Most regular spellcasting monsters have a cooldown on their ability to cast spells frequently, while much stronger casters (including most unique spellcasters) are able to cast without any cooldown. A list of monster spells and the monsters that can cast them is available in the linked article above.

Divine monster spells largely consist of the clerical spells from NetHack and are cast by clerical monsters, while magical monster spells are usually the domain of various demon casters and magicians. A relatively small portion of spells are psionic 'spells', which is typically the domain of eldritch and/or extraplanar beings such as star spawn and certain insight monsters. A character polymorphed into a monster can cast that monster's spells as part of their attack chain if they have the appropriate amount of energy: relatively unique or niche spells are replaced with fallbacks.

In addition to cancellation, monster spellcasting can be blocked via the following methods:

• Antimagic rifts block magical casting for several turns, which includes the character's own casting if they use intelligence as their spellcasting attribute. The base duration of an antimagic rift is 50 turns, with additional rifts adding an amount of turns equal to ¹⁄₁₀ of the previous duration rounded down, i.e. 50 turns, then 55, 60, 66, etc.
• Catapsi vortices block psionic casting for several turns, which includes the character's own casting if they use charisma as their spellcasting attribute. The base duration of a catapsi vortex is 100 turns, with additional vortices adding an amount of turns equal to ¹⁄₁₀ of the previous duration.
• Misotheistic pyramids and misotheistic fragments block clerical casting for several turns, which includes the character's own casting if they use wisdom as their spellcasting attribute. The base duration of misotheistic pyramids and fragments are 33 turns, and additional pyramids and fragments add an amount of turns equal to ¹⁄₁₀ of the previous item's duration, which is shared between both item types. If a misotheistic item is used anywhere that your god's influence can be felt normally, your god will have their anger increased by 1 and smite you. If used by a Binder that is Void-aligned (i.e., not using a helm of opposite alignment), or else it is used within Gehennom or another area where the gods' influence is already blocked, your god will not be angered; the Void in particular cannot become angry by any means.
  • If a misotheistic pyramid is used, you are given a form of darkvision that overrides all other sight-based intrinsic forms of vision for that duration, while excluding x-ray vision and other senses such as smell.
  • If a misotheistic fragment is used, it will cause 'Shattering' for the duration of that effect, which gives monsters that are killed a ¹⁄₂ chance of "fracturing": this resurrects the monster and applies the 'fractured' monster template, making them unbreathing, undead and always hostile while boosting their current level by 4, and also gives them a weakness to the Elder Sign ward. Fractured monsters will remain fractured regardless of whether Shattering is active, and have the same ¹⁄₂ chance to resurrect when killed unless they are cancelled.

FIQHack

In FIQHack, monsters use the same spellcasting system as the player, and can also read spellbooks to acquire new spells. This makes higher-level spellcasting monsters much more dangerous. Low-level spellcasting monsters (kobold shamans, orc shamans and gnomish wizards) no longer approach you due to lacking melee ability, and will instead attempt to line up with you in order to cast spells.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, many new monster spells are added:

• Mage spells
  • acid blast
  • cancellation
  • fire bolt
  • ice bolt
  • protection
  • reflection
  • stone to flesh
• Clerical spells
  • summon minion
  • vulnerability

Some existing spells also have changes made:

• The cure self spell is not directly altered, but the spell is made a priority if the spellcasting monster's hit points drop to a life-threatening level.
• The touch of death deals 8d6 damage against a target with magic resistance and drains maximum HP, and half spell damage can reduce HP and max HP damage.
• The destroy armor spell erodes a target piece of armor, destroying it upon inflicting enough erosion, and can also remove erosion-proofing even from inherently proofed materials such as dragonhide and mithril. One to three levels of erosion can occur per casting, with magic resistance lowering the armor damage to one level per casting. Blessed armor has a small chance of resisting, while crystal plate mail, quest artifact armor and The Hand of Vecna are immune.
• The geyser spell can rust any unprotected worn armor, and certain monsters will cast a variation that deals cold damage and affects inventory.
• The summon insects spell will create hostile arachnid or centipede monsters instead of insects if cast by Lolth or a drow monster.

Several new spellcasting monsters are added, and some existing spellcasters also have their attack routines adjusted to make them stronger.

Monsters can use their spells in combat against other monsters, but tame and peaceful monsters will not cast any spell that summons or aggravates monsters. Polymorphing into a spellcasting monster and attacking in melee will cast a random monster spell, with the same attack order as that monster would have normally; the spellcasting attack fails if you do not have enough power.

See also

• List of monster spells