Rust monster or disenchanter

The rust monster or disenchanter is a monster class that appears in NetHack, and is represented by the uppercase R glyph (R). Rust monsters and disenchanters are designated internally by the macro S_RUSTMONST.

The monster class contains the two namesake monsters:

• R rust monster
• R disenchanter

Common traits

Rust monsters and disenchanters are animals that can be seen via infravision, and both degrade equipment: Rust monsters erode non-proofed metallic equipment, while disenchanters drain enchantment from armor and weapons.

Generation

Randomly generated rust monsters or disenchanters are always created hostile.

2-3 rust monsters or disenchanters are generated in the central room of the Castle at level creation - this is generally one of the few means of encountering a disenchanter outside of Gehennom, which is otherwise the only area where they are randomly generated.

Strategy

This monster class is a prime candidate for genocide: though the rust monster is an annoyance that can be dealt with using proofed and/or non-metallic armor and weapons, disenchanters are difficult to hit reliably and sap enchantments from weapons that you do land hits with.

History

The rust monster first appears in Hack for PDP-11, which is based on Jay Fenlason's Hack, and the monster "class" is established with all others in NetHack 3.0.0. The disenchanter first appears in NetHack 3.3.0.

Variants

Some variants add other monsters to the class, making the name a misnomer.

UnNetHack

UnNetHack adds one new monster to the monster class:

• R disintegrator

dNetHack

In dNetHack, the Sign of the Scion Queen Mother ward can repel rust monsters and disenchanters.

SpliceHack

SpliceHack adds one new monster to the monster class:

• R transmuter