View source for Potion of oil

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{{potion|name=oil|cost=250}}

A '''potion of oil''' is a type of [[potion]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.

==Generation==
Characters that start the game with an oil lamp will have potions of oil already identified in the discoveries section.

The lighting [[shop]] found in [[Minetown]] will occasionally have a potion of oil among its wares.

==Description==
The potion of oil has a surprisingly wide number of applications, but is primarily intended to be fuel for [[oil lamp]]s. This is done by [[dip]]ping the lamp into the potion of oil, which uses it up - if the lamp is lit and the potion is not, the potion will explode instead. [[Magic lamp]]s and oil lamps behave the same when dipped in potions of oil.

Doing anything with a [[cursed]] potion of oil may cause the oil to spill and make your fingers [[slippery fingers|slippery]].

===Dipping other objects===
Dipping a [[unicorn horn]] into a potion of oil gives the horn an "oily sheen", which identifies and uses up the potion, but has no further effects. Dipping anything into a lit potion of oil uses up the potion and will burn the dipped item(s) if possible. 

===Lighting oil===
You can light a potion of oil by [[apply]]ing it, and snuff it out by applying it again; this also auto-identifies the potion. A lit potion of oil can be [[throw]]n as an [[Explosion#Fiery explosion|explosive]] projectile, dealing 4d4 fire damage to anything caught in the explosion.

===Quaffing===
[[Quaff]]ing an unlit potion of oil only [[exercise|abuses]] your [[Wisdom]] and identifies the potion; quaffing a lit potion additionally deals 3d4 fire damage (1d4 if [[fire resistant]]). However, if you are polymorphed into a monster that likes fire (e.g., fiery monsters such as [[fire vortex|fire vortices]] and [[salamander]]s), you instead exercise wisdom and take no damage.

===Repairing weapons ===
Oil can also be used to fix [[erosion|damaged]] iron weapons; dipping a rusty or corroded weapon into a non-cursed potion of oil removes one degree of damage.

===Squeaky boards===
A potion of oil can be used to untrap a [[squeaky board]], similar to a [[can of grease]].

==Strategy==
Identifying a potion of oil is fairly easy, as it is the only potion that you can [[apply]], and randomly testing potions using this method is generally safe - however, doing this with a potion owned by a shop will result in you being charged a [[Yendorian Fuel Tax]] along with the price for that potion.

The [[scroll of fire]], [[spellbook of fireball]] and other [[fireproof]]ed items can potentially be identified by dipping into a lit potion of oil, but this method is ultimately a waste of a potion (as well as likely wasting whatever you tested with it) and is not recommended. 

A lit potion of oil can be used to cure [[sliming]] if thrown upward; quaffing a lit potion of oil does '''not''' cure sliming.

Potions of oil are useful for repairing weapons, since eroded weapons can only otherwise be repaired by reading a [[scroll of enchant weapon]] while [[confused]], or else a [[favor]] from your god.

==History==
In [[NetHack 3.4.3]], it was possible to indirectly identify the potion without actually applying it (and therefore avoiding payment in shops) by dropping everything else that could be applied, then hitting {{kbd|a}}. If the potion was a potion of oil, the player was asked what they wanted to apply; otherwise, they would be told they have nothing that can be applied. As of [[NetHack 3.6.0]], the applying prompt always appears as long as the player has at least one potion in their inventory, regardless of whether it can be applied or not.

==Messages==
{{message|Ahh, a refreshing drink.|You drank a lit potion of oil, and you are polymorphed into a monster that likes fire.}}
{{message|That was smooth!|You drank a non-cursed potion of oil.}}
{{message|This tastes like castor oil.|You drank a cursed potion of oil.}}

==Variants==
===SLASH'EM===
In [[SLASH'EM]], it is possible to disarm a fire trap with a non-cursed [[potion of water]], similar to using a potion of oil on a squeaky board; this will also generate 1&ndash;4 potions of oil based on your [[Luck]]. Since oil can then be diluted back to water, the large number of fire traps in Gehennom offer an effective way of multiplying one's water potions.

===EvilHack===
In [[EvilHack]], intelligent monsters can light potions of oil to throw at you.
{{nethack-366}}
[[Category:Potions|Oil]]