Purple worm
w baby purple worm 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 9 |
| Attacks |
Bite 1d6 |
| Base level | 8 |
| Base experience | 113 |
| Speed | 3 |
| Base AC | 5 |
| Base MR | 0 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | Extremely rare |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 600 |
| Nutritional value | 250 |
| Size | Large |
| Resistances | None |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
A baby purple worm:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line997 |
w purple worm 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 17 |
| Attacks |
Bite 2d8, Engulf 1d10 digest |
| Base level | 15 |
| Base experience | 474 |
| Speed | 9 |
| Base AC | 6 |
| Base MR | 20 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | Rare |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 2700 |
| Nutritional value | 700 |
| Size | Gigantic |
| Resistances | None |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
A purple worm:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line1011 |
The purple worm is a monster in NetHack. It is a popular pet due to its engulfing attack, which can kill many monsters in one hit ("Burrrrp!"). Purple worms will eat shriekers on sight; the reason given for this is that purple worms enjoy eating shriekers[1].
Strategy
Purple worms tend to be dangerous if you are unprepared. This is because the purple worm can engulf you, and as soon that happened it will start to digest you ("The purple worm digests you!"). If you are not able to kill the purple worm fast, it will kill you. To be on the very safe side that you will survive after being engulfed zap a wand of digging. The purple worm will have its health points dropped to 1, so one hit will get rid of it. See also engulfing.
Ranged attacks are of course also an option.
Encyclopedia entry
A gargantuan version of the harmless rain-worm, the purple worm poses a huge threat to the ordinary adventurer. It is known to swallow whole and digest its victims within only a few minutes. These worms are always on guard, sensitive to the most minute vibrations in the earth, but may also be awakened by a remote shriek.
