Undead

Undead in Nethack are a class of unliving monster. They include all liches (L), all mummies (M), all vampires (V), all wraiths and wights (W), all zombies (Z), [[ghost]s, and shades.

Undead take extra d4 damage from a blessed weapon. Drinking holy water also harms them; however, unholy water actually exercises their constitution.

Priests and knights can turn undead, which can make them flee or destroy the low-level ones completely. A wand of undead turning has a similar effect.

Undead are immune to life drain, such as from the Staff of Aesculapius.

Reading the Book of the Dead while cursed will summon (hostile) undead, while a blessed book will calm and even possibly tame them.