Vrock
& vrock 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 11 |
| Attacks |
Claw 1d4, claw 1d4, claw 1d8, claw 1d8, bite 1d6 |
| Base level | 8 |
| Base experience | 176 |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | 0 |
| Base MR | 50 |
| Alignment | -9 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 2 (Quite rare) |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 1450 |
| Nutritional value | 400 |
| Size | Large |
| Resistances | Fire, poison |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
A vrock:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line2605 |
The vrock, &, is a type of major demon that appears in NetHack.
Generation
The vrock is normally only generated in Gehennom, but is also a valid polymorph form and so may appear in other branches of the dungeon due to polymorph traps. Vrocks are also eligible for gating by other major demons, and may appear as the minion of a chaotic god or Moloch.
Strategy
Vrocks have a decent AC at 0, move at the same speed as an un-hasted, unburdened hero and possess five attacks per move, all of which can be deadly to an unprepared player: they are capable of gating themselves, and are notorious for summoning more vrocks themselves, potentially filling the area and cornering you.
This is mostly mitigated by the fact that you will typically not meet one until Gehennom, but polymorph traps make facing vrocks a possibility in deeper branches and floors. Though a decently enchanted weapon and solid AC can be enough, the quicker you can eliminate an unexpected brock, the better. They are much easier to deal with in Gehennom, by which point you will have much more AC and a highly enchanted blessed and/or silver weapon.
History
The vrock first appears with many other demons in NetHack 3.0.0.
Variants
In dNethack, they can be summoned by attempting to convert a unaligned (aligned to Moloch) altar, such as the ones in the balrog version of Mine's End.
Encyclopaedia entry
The vrock is one of the weaker forms of demon. It resembles
a cross between a human being and a vulture and does physical
damage by biting and by using the claws on both its arms and
feet.
References
