Difference between revisions of "Reflection"

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(Reflection is not unnecessary later in the game)
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'''Reflection''' is a [[property]] which causes magical [[ray]]s, such as [[cold]], [[fire]], [[sleep]], [[lightning]], [[death]] and [[disintegration]] to bounce back. It also protects you from [[Medusa]]'s stoning gaze and the [[floating eye]]'s paralysis attack. It does not, however, protect against [[beam]]s. Reflection is normally obtained [[extrinsic]]ally through various items, although polymorphing into a [[silver dragon]] gives you the property [[intrinsic]]ally.
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'''Reflection''' is a [[property]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that causes magical [[ray]]s to bounce back from whatever they hit.
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==Description==
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If a ray of any type hits you or a monster with reflection, it will have no effect and be rebounded back in the direction it originated from. Reflection does not protect against [[beam]]s.
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Reflection also protects against [[floating eye]]s' passive paralysis [[gaze]] and [[Medusa]]'s [[stoning]] gaze: Medusa is also special-cased so that if she can see you or a monster that reflects her gaze, she turns to stone instead.
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==Sources==
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Reflection can be obtained [[extrinsic]]ally from the following items:
  
Reflection can be acquired extrinsically from the following sources:
 
 
* [[Amulet of reflection]]
 
* [[Amulet of reflection]]
 
* [[Shield of reflection]]
 
* [[Shield of reflection]]
 
* [[Silver dragon scales]] or [[silver dragon scale mail]]
 
* [[Silver dragon scales]] or [[silver dragon scale mail]]
* Wielding [[The Longbow of Diana]], the [[Ranger]] [[quest]] artifact
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* Wielding [[the Longbow of Diana]], the [[Ranger]] [[quest artifact]]
* Wielding [[Dragonbane]] ''(only in vanilla 3.6.1+)''
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* Wielding [[Dragonbane]]
  
It cannot be acquired by [[crystal plate mail]], the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]], wielding or applying a mirror, or other silver items. However, you can kill [[Medusa]] with a mirror.
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The item must have the property of reflection, rather than merely being reflective; [[crystal plate mail]] and [[mirror]]s cannot grant reflection. The only way to obtain [[intrinsic]] reflection is to [[polymorph]] into a [[silver dragon]].
  
The top level of [[Sokoban]] has a 50% chance of containing an uncursed [[amulet of reflection]]. In the titan version of [[Medusa's Island]], the statue of Perseus has a 75% chance of containing a cursed +0 [[shield of reflection]]. In the other version the chance is 25%.
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The top level of [[Sokoban]] has a {{frac|2}} chance of containing an uncursed amulet of reflection. In the variation of [[Medusa's Island]] that generates a [[titan]], the statue of Perseus has a {{frac|4}} chance of containing a cursed +0 [[shield of reflection]], and has a {{frac|3|4}} chance on other maps.
  
Not only the player character and monsters can be reflective, but walls also bounce magical [[ray]]s.
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If you have multiple sources of reflection, only one of them will be triggered when a ray hits you. Rays will reflect first from a shield, then from a wielded artifact weapon, then from an amulet, then from body armor, and finally from the silver dragon polymorph form.{{refsrc|src/muse.c|2164|nethack=3.6.7}}
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
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Reflection is a high priority in the early game, and the preferred means of obtaining it are usually an amulet of reflection or silver dragon scale mail (SDSM). Players who get a wish from a [[magic lamp]] in the [[Gnomish Mines]] often use it for SDSM; dragon scale mail does not interfere with spellcasting, making it ideal for roles such as Wizards. A shield of reflection hinders spellcasting and prevents [[two-weapon combat]] and use of [[two-handed]] weapons, making it the preferred wish for characters in roles that cannot use or do not seek to use either skill, e.g. a [[Caveman]]. While multiple worn sources of reflection are almost always redundant, the order that reflection sources activate in when reflecting rays may become relevant if you are trying to identify the amulet of reflection.
  
Reflection is a high priority in the early game. Usually the first time a player may ever get it is by [[wishing]] for a [[silver dragon scale mail]] (SDSM) when you get a [[magic lamp]] from the [[Gnomish Mines]]. Silver dragon scale mail is especially good if your character can do [[two-weapon combat]] because then you will have both hands for your weapons, compared to wearing a [[shield of reflection]]. Some weapons, such as [[Cleaver]], are also used with two hands, preventing the use of a shield at the same time. Also, a shield will increase spell failure rates to the point spellcasting is usually unavailable.
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Reflection is especially important for dealing with high-damage wands and [[breath weapon]]s, particularly ones such as the [[black dragon]]'s breath attack that can result in [[instadeath]] otherwise - while [[disintegration resistance]] also offers protection against black dragon breath specifically, it is very difficult to obtain without killing a black dragon first. Later in the game, reflection's protective uses against rays are somewhat superseded with enough elemental resistances and [[magic resistance]], but remains critical to prevent inventory damage from those rays, especially wands and rings.
 
 
Reflection is especially important because of high-damage wand and breath attacks. A black dragon's [[disintegration]] breath can kill you [[Instadeath|instantly]], unless you have reflection or [[disintegration resistance]]. It is very hard to gain disintegration resistance without killing a black dragon first, so reflection is the best option.
 
  
Later in the game, reflection's protective use is superseded from obtaining all elemental resistances and [[magic resistance]], however, it is still an important property because it prevents inventory damage from attack wands and breath weapons. Without reflection, keeping wands and rings in open inventory is much more dangerous.
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==History==
 
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Dragonbane's reflection property is added in [[NetHack 3.6.1]].
Staying out of monsters' line of fire is not a viable alternative because monsters can move and zap at the same time. However, in melee range, breath attacks are impossible and wand usage much decreased, so movement tactics and an [[Elbereth]] cage can double for reflection in special circumstances.
 
  
 
==Messages==
 
==Messages==
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==Variants==
 
==Variants==
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===SLASH'EM===
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[[Nighthorn]] grants reflection while wielded.
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===SporkHack===
 
===SporkHack===
SporkHack introduces a spellbook of reflection.
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In [[SporkHack]], reflection only partially deflects damage from reflected rays, with the remaining damage subject to the relevant resistance for that ray's damage type - this also means that reflection does not always prevent inventory damage from rays.
  
===SLASH'EM===
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SporkHack also introduces a [[spellbook of reflection]].
[[Nighthorn]] will grant reflection when wielded.
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===dNetHack===
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In [[dNetHack]] and [[notdNetHack]], normal reflection does not reflect a dragon's breath weapons - specifically, the breath weapons of [[Dragon (dNetHack)|dragons]] and [[half-dragon]] monsters that are at least [[experience level]] 14 bypass reflection from sources that are not [[Dragon armor (dNetHack)|dragon armor]]; the exception is the black dragon, whose breath is a [[disintegration]] beam. Dragon armor and some other items, typically artifacts, confer "dragonbreath reflection" that additionally reflects these breath weapons and functions the same as typical reflection would in ''NetHack''.
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===FIQHack===
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In [[FIQHack]], dragon breath weapons and rays from wands [[Wands Balance Patch|used at Skilled or higher]] ignore most sources of reflection with the exception of [[dragon armor]].
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===EvilHack===
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In [[EvilHack]], reflection functions as it does in SporkHack, and the spellbook of reflection is also available. [[Reflection (monster spell)|Reflection]] is also available to monsters as a [[monster spell]].
  
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==References==
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<references/>
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{{nethack-367}}
 
[[Category:Properties]]
 
[[Category:Properties]]
{{nethack-361}}
 

Latest revision as of 11:21, 30 March 2024

Reflection is a property in NetHack that causes magical rays to bounce back from whatever they hit.

Description

If a ray of any type hits you or a monster with reflection, it will have no effect and be rebounded back in the direction it originated from. Reflection does not protect against beams.

Reflection also protects against floating eyes' passive paralysis gaze and Medusa's stoning gaze: Medusa is also special-cased so that if she can see you or a monster that reflects her gaze, she turns to stone instead.

Sources

Reflection can be obtained extrinsically from the following items:

The item must have the property of reflection, rather than merely being reflective; crystal plate mail and mirrors cannot grant reflection. The only way to obtain intrinsic reflection is to polymorph into a silver dragon.

The top level of Sokoban has a 12 chance of containing an uncursed amulet of reflection. In the variation of Medusa's Island that generates a titan, the statue of Perseus has a 14 chance of containing a cursed +0 shield of reflection, and has a 34 chance on other maps.

If you have multiple sources of reflection, only one of them will be triggered when a ray hits you. Rays will reflect first from a shield, then from a wielded artifact weapon, then from an amulet, then from body armor, and finally from the silver dragon polymorph form.[1]

Strategy

Reflection is a high priority in the early game, and the preferred means of obtaining it are usually an amulet of reflection or silver dragon scale mail (SDSM). Players who get a wish from a magic lamp in the Gnomish Mines often use it for SDSM; dragon scale mail does not interfere with spellcasting, making it ideal for roles such as Wizards. A shield of reflection hinders spellcasting and prevents two-weapon combat and use of two-handed weapons, making it the preferred wish for characters in roles that cannot use or do not seek to use either skill, e.g. a Caveman. While multiple worn sources of reflection are almost always redundant, the order that reflection sources activate in when reflecting rays may become relevant if you are trying to identify the amulet of reflection.

Reflection is especially important for dealing with high-damage wands and breath weapons, particularly ones such as the black dragon's breath attack that can result in instadeath otherwise - while disintegration resistance also offers protection against black dragon breath specifically, it is very difficult to obtain without killing a black dragon first. Later in the game, reflection's protective uses against rays are somewhat superseded with enough elemental resistances and magic resistance, but remains critical to prevent inventory damage from those rays, especially wands and rings.

History

Dragonbane's reflection property is added in NetHack 3.6.1.

Messages

A user has suggested improving this page or section as follows:

"This doesn't list all reflection messages yet."

But it reflects from your <foo>!
A ray hitting you was reflected.
For some reason you are not affected.
As above, while you are blind.
But it reflects from <monster>'s <foo>!
A ray hitting a monster was reflected.
It reflects from your <foo>!
A lightning bolt from an angry god was reflected.
For some reason you're unaffected.
As above, while you are blind.
<Monster>'s gaze is reflected by your <foo>.
A reflectable gaze attack against you was reflected.
Medusa doesn't seem to notice that her gaze was reflected.
Medusa's reflected gaze attack had no effect because she can't see the reflection.
The gaze is reflected away by <its> <foo>!
A reflectable gaze attack against a monster was reflected.

Variants

SLASH'EM

Nighthorn grants reflection while wielded.

SporkHack

In SporkHack, reflection only partially deflects damage from reflected rays, with the remaining damage subject to the relevant resistance for that ray's damage type - this also means that reflection does not always prevent inventory damage from rays.

SporkHack also introduces a spellbook of reflection.

dNetHack

In dNetHack and notdNetHack, normal reflection does not reflect a dragon's breath weapons - specifically, the breath weapons of dragons and half-dragon monsters that are at least experience level 14 bypass reflection from sources that are not dragon armor; the exception is the black dragon, whose breath is a disintegration beam. Dragon armor and some other items, typically artifacts, confer "dragonbreath reflection" that additionally reflects these breath weapons and functions the same as typical reflection would in NetHack.

FIQHack

In FIQHack, dragon breath weapons and rays from wands used at Skilled or higher ignore most sources of reflection with the exception of dragon armor.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, reflection functions as it does in SporkHack, and the spellbook of reflection is also available. Reflection is also available to monsters as a monster spell.

References