Priest

This page describes a priest as a player character For the monster, see aligned priest.

A priest is one of the roles in NetHack, and can be lawful, neutral, or chaotic.

General description

Abilities

One distinct advantage enjoyed by the clergy is the ability to ascertain BUC independently of their pets.

The main disadvantage of a priest are his weapon skills. Priests don't use any sharp weapons and only exercise to basic in the long-range weapons. Combined with lack of attack spellcasting skills, it makes it hard to find a good way of killing for a priest.

Priests are decent spellcasters. They can advance to expert in clerical, divination and healing, but are restricted in other classes. Note that their spellcasting is based on Wis, not Int.

Priests can #turn undead, which can be helpful in their quest, but should be done carefully.

Equipment

The starting equipment is definitely an advantage of a priest. They get a spellcasting set of two spellbooks (random from their schools) and a robe, as well as a +1 mace and small shield (should be enough for the beginning). This is complemented with a sprig of wolfsbane (getting lycanthropy in the early game can be annoying) and some holy water.

Strategy

Weapon policy

This is quite a sorrow for a priest. The mace you get in the beginning works fine in the early game, but is certainly unsufficient later. There is a good idea to use an artifact, but as most of them can be only trainded to basic (and this only if they are granted by god). The exceptions are Mjollnir (for neutral priests or wished for by any) and Sceptre of Might (may be wished for by a lawful priest, gives magic resistance, but will blast you).

Priests can get skilled in polearms. It may be worth training to fight with large-slow monsters (like mumaks) and water creatures.

Spellcasting

Probably the best way to spend your starting holy water set is to bless any book you find and learn new spells (unless you've got the identify spell which makes thing easier) As you rather won't have any problems with skill slots (you don't learn many weapon skills and advance quickly in the quest) you can advance skill slots as soon as possibly. If however there is some problem, make the clerical your precedence, as most useful spells belong there.

In the later game you can learn simple attack spells (like force bolt or drain life) and cast it with 0% failure rate, especially with your mitre

Turn undead only if you are 100% positive there is no non-undead monster nearby.

Quest

Nalzok, the Priest quest nemesis is quite tough, but he respects Elbereth and the scroll of scare monster. Beware the bullwhip-wielders (you may lose your weapon). Most of the quest is, however, rather boring and extremely profitable. All the levels contain several graveyards with wraiths (lure them out) and chests full of goodies.

The quest artifact is The Mitre of Holiness. While even an ordinary helm of brilliance is a great thing, the mitre additionally allows you to regain you power, gives fire resistance and halves damage from undead. It doesn't however unlike many quest artifacts confer magic resistance, so you have to get it from a different source.